The Building Coder

OptionsBar and Bye Bye to DA4R 2018

A great new open-source productivity enhancement tool making use of the built-in OptionsBar provides handy access to frequently used information, utilities, element selection options and more, and a reminder of the deprecated DA4R Revit 2018 engine... Read more →

Element Diff Compare, Shapely and RDBE

Exciting new and enhanced tools and libraries to check out – Revit element difference comparison – The Revit database explorer RDBE – The Shapely Python 2D geometry library – Measuring developer productivity... Read more →

System Family Predicate and Python Section Creation

Today, we shed some light on family and section view creation – System family predicate – Level-based family template – Create section view in Python... Read more →

Add-In Threads and Geometry Comparison

Deep Revit API questions requiring clarification and a simple database connection issue resolved – Add-in threads – GeometryObject comparison methods – Accessing Access – The INTERCAL programming language... Read more →

15 Years, Polygon Areas and .NET Core

A birthday celebration, a forward-looking statement or two and observations on geometry, AI and emissions – 15 years of The Building Coder – Revit API with .NET Core – Bye-bye document macro? – Polygon area algorithms – AI recreates Pink Floyd from brain activity – Create ML model with one sentence? – Compress greenhouse gas emissions... Read more →

GasTools, Cmd Ids, Key Schedule et al

A nice, varied bouquet of topics – GasTools – Key schedule browser API – Revit command id list – AI generates 3D model from 2D drawings – Careful with infant screen use – Baroque typography in the digital world... Read more →

Resx Language Management and APS DevCons

The Autodesk Platform Services APS Developer Conferences are coming up, and we all need to deal with application localisation and i18n issues – Resx language management – Ribbon panel localisation – Creating the localised WinForms... Read more →

Export, gbXML and Python Tips

Discussions on Python, handling DLLs, and various aspects of exporting to gbXML, FBX and MongoDB – DLL paradise in Python – Multiple gbXML export – GbXML energy settings – Automate FBX export with SendKeys – RFA export to MongoDB... Read more →

Bounding Boxes Axis Alignment and Transformation

Aspects of axis-aligned bounding boxes, SVG paths and AI news – BoundingBox is axis-aligned – BoundingBox transformation – Interactive explanation of SVG path – Claude.AI – Relativising the impact of AI... Read more →

RBP, Materials, Their Assets and the Visual API

Two very different aspects of BIM materials, filtering for annotations and a powerful batch processor utility: – GetMaterialArea behaviour varies – Material assets and the Visual API – Filter for annotation families – Revit batch processor RBP... Read more →

Docs, Lookup, MEP Calculation and APS DevCon

Good news on APS and the Revit API for the weekend – APS DevCon in Munich and SF – Forma for AEC – RevitApiDocs supports Revit 2024 – RevitLookup 2024.0.8 – User MEP calculation 2024 – Wastewater pipe calculation – The password game... Read more →

Unit Testing and Arc Dimensioning

Revit add-in unit testing is becoming much more accessible, and now yet another toolkit is here. We also clarify function and accessability of various Autodesk APIs and SDKs, look at programmatic dimensioning of circles in Revit and a minimalist secure file sharing tool – Revit add-in unit testing – API versus SDK – Arc dimensioning – Rotate your file... Read more →

BRepBuilder and Toposurface Interior

An update for the Revit SDK, an in-depth discussion of Revit geometry generation, a Toposurface issue and a hint at where the software development industry may be headed – Revit SDK update – BRepBuilder organisation – Change Toposurface interior point to boundary – To code or not to code, that is the question... Read more →

Sustainability, Lookup, Sub-Elements and Wall Types

Forma sustainability flyer – RevitLookup 2024.0.6 and support for previous releases – Modify view workset editable – Selection SetReferences – WallType naming best practices... Read more →

64 Bit Ids, Revit and RevitLookup Updates

Revit and RevitLookup updates and 64 bit element id handling – Revit 2023.1.2 – Revit 2024.0.2 – RevitLookup 2024.0.5 – Backward compatible 64 bit element id – 15-minute cities – Cloud data carbon footprint – Live annotated `https` request log... Read more →

Aligning Elements, Finding and Visualising Wires

Two challenging electrical wire issues addressed by @ricaun and a recurring question on element alignment for defining a constraint – Bounding box filter for wires – Visualizing circuits in 3D – Aligning two elements... Read more →

Dark Icons, NewFamilyInstance and AI News

Hacks for dark icons supporting Revit 2024 theme switching and news from the ever-accelerating AI revolution – Dark theme icons by ImageMagick – Embed dark theme icon name in BitMapSource – New NewFamilyInstance overload – Open-source AI surging ahead – Timeline of major milestones crossed – Non-technical explanation of AI and deep learning – Using AI to read your thoughts – AI emergent abilities may not be emergent after all – Risk of AI manipulation... Read more →

Configuring RvtSamples 2024 and Big Numbers

Configuring RvtSamples 2024 – DatumsModification – ContextualAnalyticalModel – Infrastructure Alignments – Toposolid – Conclusion – Consuming huge numbers of element ids... Read more →

Nice Accelerator and Compiling the Revit 2024 SDK

APS cloud accelerators in Nice and Medellin – Compiling the Revit 2024 SDK samples – Visual introduction to machine learning... Read more →

News Reel, Roadmap and RevitLookup Updates

More news and updates related to Revit 2024, and some little titbits on AI and literature: – News reel and AEC roadmaps – Revit API training – RevitLookup 2024 updates – Free Dolly open-source instruction-tuned LLM – Websites powered by AI – Walkaway by Cory Doctorow... Read more →

What's New in the Revit 2024 API

The Revit 2024 API contains significant changes and enhancements for add-in developers – Information sources – What's new in previous versions – Detailed table of contents – API Changes – API Additions... Read more →

Revit 2024 and RevitLookup 2024

Revit 2024 released and RevitLookup 2024 enhanced with new UI, Windows 11 support, new core, extensability and usability features – Brand-new user interface – Themes – Extended context menu – Tooltips – Snoop Selection on Modify tab – Smooth navigation – Windows 11 Mica effect and Snap Layouts – Searchbar – Brand-new Engine core – Extensions – Display all methods – Generic names support – Methods overloads – Extensible storage – Extending Functionality – Snoop Point, Sub-Element, UI Application – Component manager – PerformanceAdviser – Registry research: schemas, services, updaters – Explore built-in and APS (formerly Forge) units – Event monitor – Reworked search – Visual search in a project – OTA update – RevitLookup ideas – Vote: Where would you like to snoop? ... Read more →

UV, Emergence, Fuzz and the get_ Prefix

Current topics of interest from the Revit API discussion forum and elsewhere – Switch metric + imperial units – What is UV? – What is fuzz? – What is get_Parameter and get_Geometry? – Default localised workset names – Bing Chat Python and Dynamo tutor – Claude on Slack summarises and answers questions – Emergence and sparks of artificial general intelligence... Read more →

.NET Assembly and DirectShape Libraries

Two illuminating discussions on direct shapes, working with direct shape libraries, and handling Revit and third-party .NET assembly DLLs – DirectShapeType and AddExternallyTaggedGeometry – Referencing and avoiding conflict with Revit DLLs – SSSVG interactive SVG reference – Coding with eyes only... Read more →

IFC, Dimension and Reference Intersector with Links

Pros and cons of the reference intersector and how to use it with linked files and filtered element collectors, a design automation IFC exporter, dimensioning linked elements using the reference stable representation and new forays with large language models – Reference intersector with filters and links – Revit IFC exporter for APS DA – Stable representation voodoo with links – Running Dalai LLaMa locally – ChatGPT invented a game... Read more →

Lookup Ideas, Jigs and ACC Docs Access

A request for new ideas for enhancing RevitLookup, implementing a pickpoint rubber band and opening BIMs on ACC Docs – Request for RevitLookup ideas – Transient elements for jig – Opening a model in ACC Docs – Stop using JPEG – Stop using voice id... Read more →

Geometry Options and Clean Simple Curves

Geometry options and clean simple curves – Curve loop simplify and clean up – Geometry options clarification – JtClicker 2023 – OpenMEP by Chuong Ho – Unintelligible film dialogue... Read more →

Pyramid Builder, CommandLoader, et al

Pyramid Builder, CommandLoader, and more – Dynamic load, compile and run code – DirectShape pyramids – Modify level element X and Y extents – How to filter for subsets of elements – Switch document display units – Material tags displaying '?' – Sublime Text... Read more →

Back to Basics and ChatGPT

Impressed and intrigued by what ChatGPT can and cannot do, trying out new aspects myself and with my friends – Element filtering – XYZ trigonometry – Projecting points – Using ChatGPT with Revit API – Generative AI and multi-modal learning – ChatGPT in academia, education, building a VM, DIY, payment plan, Solarpunk... Read more →

Roadmap AmAs and Handling Multiple Updaters

Recordings of the roadmap presentations, handling updaters and worksharing – Community conversation roadmap AMAs – Platform Services Parameters API – Handling multiple updaters – WorksharingUtils help check element status – Chuong Ho is featured Speckle developer... Read more →

New Roadmaps, Dark Theme Possibility Looming

Happy New Year of the Rabbit, xīnnián hǎo, 新年好! Pondering the looming possibility of a dark theme in the Revit UI and API – Dark theme switching – API – icons – Code example: handling themed ribbon icons – New public roadmaps... Read more →

SDK, Add-In Wizard and TrackChanges Updates

Analysing the recent Revit SDK update, and still setting up my new Mac PC – What's new in Revit 2023.1 – Revit 2023.1 SDK update – Add-In wizard template in VS 2022 – Track work with element lister + TrackChanges... Read more →

CultureInfoChanger and IronPython3

Happy New Year 2023! Topics to begin – Copy as HTML 2022 – Size MEP connector with CultureInfoChanger – Journal files AU class – Bulk reload families with IFamilyLoadOptions – IronPython3, APS and RPS... Read more →

Exploring ARM, ChatGPT, Nairobi and the TSP

I am still in Nairobi, Kenya, getting to know the lay of the land and team here, as well as setting up my new computer; meanwhile, OpenAI ChatGPT is making global waves and first explorative steps are being made to use it with the Revit API – Outings in Nairobi – ChatGPT in Kiswahili – for music and poetry mimicry – for Revit API – for Revit interaction – teaching about the birds and the bees – limitations and improvement – acrostic poem – VS2022 on MacBook Pro M1 with Parallels – Chasing the travelling salesman... Read more →

APS, Nairobi and NetTopologySuite

I am writing this in Nairobi, Kenya, getting to know the team here; also, the new APS landing page just went live, and Benoit points out a useful geometric modelling library to help power your Revit add-in – DAS team in Nairobi, Kenya – NetTopologySuite in Revit add-ins – New APS landing page – You can create RVT using APS... Read more →

64-Bit Element Ids, Maybe?

We may need to scale up the handling of element id integer values in future, a sample snippet to retrieve schedule headers, a Dynamo book, and a web-based family showroom browser – 64-Bit element ids – Revit schedule title headers – Beyond Dynamo: Python manual for Revit – Web-based family management showroom – Tree view in pure CSS – High-documentation, low-meeting work culture... Read more →

Extensible Storage Schema Deletion

A new team member, new Revit API and WPF tutorials, and new insights on handling extensible storage – Welcome, George! – WPF form UIApplication access – Mazri's Revit, Dynamo, web and WPF playlists – Extensible storage schema deletion – Extensible storage schema conflict... Read more →

APS Accelerator and Reloading a Purged Family

New date for the Dublin onsite APS accelerator and hints on reloading a purged family – APS accelerator Dublin Dec 5-9 – Reloading a purged family – The CSS OKLCH colour space Read more →

Unit Test Your Revit Add-In

The Building Coder blog standalone on GitHub, APS accelerator in Dublin, AU announcements, learning Revit API, retrieving all fabrication item materials, Revit add-in unit testing, AI-generated code, podcasts, news and more... Read more →

WebView2, LandXML, RefPlane and Revision

Using WebView2 in an add-in and other interesting little titbits from the Revit API discussion forum – WebView2 and CefSharp in Revit add-ins – Retrieve reference plane in element – Remove revisions on sheets – LandXML P tag... Read more →

Can You Avoid Chaining Idling?

AU 2022 classes are available online now, as well as a new Dynamo book and resources project. I also present some ongoing nitty-gritty discussions on external events and Idling – Modern add-in deployment and testing – Parametric curvature in families – Awesome Dynamo online book project – Launching command after closing form – Chaining Idling events and other solutions... Read more →

Element Level and IFC Properties

Tips on handling IFC and recent discussions on controlling the level of BIM elements – TwentyTwo add-ins and tutorials – IFC tips for APS and Forge – IFC custom properties in Revit – Set level id of existing element – Set level in NewFamilyInstance... Read more →

BIM360 Links and Programming Add-Ins

An important solution to fix a problem loading BIM 360 links and lots of advice on programming Revit add-ins in general – New Revit material appearance asset – BIM 360 links not found solution – AppStore guidelines for Revit add-in – Coding Revit add-ins the e-verse way – VS wizard template location... Read more →

APS, AU, and Miter Wall Join for Full Face

Autodesk University 2022 is in full swing and brings exciting news. Meanwhile, the Revit API discussion forum continues unperturbed with other equally exciting conversations and solutions – Forge is dead; long live APS – Forma for AEC – Linked element visibility – Visibility of a specific element in a view – Miter join walls to retrieve full faces... Read more →

Aligning Connectors

A C++ sample demonstrating how to align connectors, an impressive modern platform for implementing and streamlining online API processes, and my impressions of Harari's book on the history of mankind – Align connectors in C++ – Pipedream serverless API workflow – Harari: Sapiens Read more →

Deleting Storage and Picking a Symbol

Interesting hints from the forum and thoughts on feedback, community and communication – Unload IFC links to delete extensible storage – Picking, selection and UI design – Feedback is always a great gift – Scott Peck and community building... Read more →

Point Clouds, Coloured Triangles and Faces

Let's look at accessing point cloud points and colouring individual triangles and faces – Assigning material to each face – DirectContext3D colorized triangles – Pick and access point cloud points... Read more →

Home Planet and to Dy or Not to Dy

Let's look at two serious choices that we are facing – one more serious than the other – To Dynamo or not to Dynamo – Home planet at great risk... Read more →

Instances in Room and Need for Fuzz

Common tasks include finding instances with a given room, comparing real numbers, and sharing documentation online – Get family instances within room – Again, the need for fuzz – Avoid PDF for on-screen reading... Read more →

IFC Property Set, Bulk Instances and Vary by Group

Today, we talk about Forge, IFC, family instance creation in bulk, parameters that vary by group instance and a handy spell checker – Forge hackathon – Forge IFC exporter – NewFamilyInstances2 creates 27000 instances – Set parameter to vary by group instance – AI-enhanced web-based spell checker... Read more →