The Building Coder

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 →

Curve Projection, Detach and FBX in DA4R

Two little hints on Forge Design Automation for Revit or DA4R issues, projecting a curve onto a planar surface and an impressive list of add-in video samples – DA4R supports FBX and IFC – DA4R wrong user – Projecting curves onto a plane – Revit add-in versus Dynamo zero-touch node – Revit add-in sample videos... Read more →

Texture Bitmap and UV Coordinates

Yesterday, I mentioned the new custom exporter framework providing direct access to the Revit viewing and rendering graphics pipeline. That brings new possibilities to a related area that we discussed way back in 2010: how to obtain texture data UV coordinates. At the time, the Revit API did not provide this information, and a work-around based on the Revit FBX export helped a little. Happily, the custom exporter framework opens that up a bit more. Let us look at that... Read more →

Ensure WPF Add-in Remains in Foreground

Autumn arrived and passed in a flash. The woods are beautifully coloured, and, unusually, the first snow is already lying on the surrounding hills. Here are some items of interest from cases we looked at last week: Ensure WPF add-in remains in foreground Retrieve all model lines Set linked file visibility Access linked file elements and data Visual Studio 2012 Model Editor Supports OBJ and FBX Sie Mögen Sich Ensure WPF Add-in Remains in Foreground Here is an issue concerning... Read more →

Keep Dialogues Modal!

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, at least in the parts of the world I normally frequent. Just as the sun reached the end of its descent, we finally reached the end of our conference tour, here in the UK. I am exhausted and very much looking forward to returning home. There will be only rather a short time left to prepare for Christmas and my children's visit when I arrive. Meanwhile, here are a... Read more →

Material Assets and FBX

Last year, we discussed analysing the FBX files exported by Revit to access the texture data UV coordinates and other material and rendering information. However, even something as simple as retrieving the material name from the FBX file is apparently no longer possible. This has led to several questions such as the following: Question: When using either the FBX SDK version 2010.2 or 2011.3.1, I can no longer read the material attached to an object from an FBX file exported... Read more →

Texture Data UV Coordinates and FBX

Still on vacation in Andalusia, mostly dealing with pretty basic issues and facts of life such as cold rainy weather and a leaking roof, here is another quick post from cold storage: Question: How can I access the texture data on a Revit model using the Revit API? I am interested in extracting the UV coordinates, colour and texture data on element faces. How can I retrieve the UV texture coordinate information? I am currently using the FBX SDK to... Read more →