The Building Coder

Generating Graphics and Collecting Assets

Here are some relevant topics for today – Can you avoid generating graphics? – Read all thermal and physical assets – Collection of old add-in managers – Compiling an add-in without Revit installed – Xeokit 3D BIM and CAD viewer – Software development manager job opportunity... Read more →

Secret Series 2, CAD Link Status and DWG Blocks

Joshua Lumley shares video #2 in his secret series, access to the CAD link status string and block in DWG export – Secrets of Revit API coding part 2 – Video 2 in the secret series – Getting CAD link status – Making blocks in Revit DWG export... Read more →

TestRunner – Run Unit Tests in Revit

A new Revit add-in unit testing framework, a short note on support assembly locations, and an article on importing PDF files – Revit.TestRunner runs unit tests in Revit – Getting started with TestRunner – Unconfusing support assemblies – Importing PDFs made easy... Read more →

Rapid Prototyping, Testing and Deployment

The pyRevit rapid application development environment can be used for the entire add-in lifecycle, supporting rapid debugging, testing and deployment as well. I successfully implemented invoking an external command defined in a stand-alone Revit plugin assembly from pyRevit! It's proving extremely useful... Read more →

Close Doc and Zero Doc RvtSamples

Still getting up to speed with Revit 2020 and my new virtual machine that I set up for it... First, however, an interesting adaptation of RvtSamples to run in zero document state – RvtSamples adapted for zero document state – Migrating The Building Coder samples to Revit 2020 – Installing PowerTools Copy HTML Markup – Using PostCommand to close document... Read more →

What's New in the Revit 2020 API

The Revit 2020 API includes exciting enhancements for add-in developers, including numerous developer wishes and requests that have now been explicitly addressed – Information sources – Installation and migration from previous versions – What's new in previous versions – Detailed TOC of major changes and renovations – API Changes – API Additions... Read more →

The Revit 2020 FCS, API and SDK

Revit 2020 has been released, and we go through the same procedure as every year, looking at the DevDays online presentations highlighting the API news, getting the system requirements set up, installing, compiling the Revit SDK samples and setting up RvtSamples to load them – Revit 2020 first customer shipment – Revit 2020 DevDays Online – Setting up Windows 10 – Installing Revit 2020 and the new SDK – Visual Studio and .NET 4.7 – Compiling the Revit 2020 SDK samples – Setting up RvtSamples... Read more →

Revit Add-In Locations and BIM360 EU

I am just getting ready to leave for Darmstadt, for the Forge DevCon and German Autodesk University. Here are some quick recent topics I want to share before jumping on the train – BIM 360 Docs API change for European data centre access – Revit add-in locations – Autodesk AppStore bundle format – Juli Zeh über das Turbo-Ich – YouTube video subtitles and auto-translation... Read more →

Multi-Targeting Revit Versions, CAD Terms, Textures

Here comes another solution for efficiently compiling add-ins for multiple Revit version targets from one single code base, a note on resources for CAD term databases for consistent terminology translation, and a discussion on accessing custom texture maps in Forge and Revit – Multi-targeting Revit versions using TargetFrameworks – Further enhancement using the CSPROJ Import tag – CAD terminology resources for consistent translation – Showing a custom Revit texture map in the Forge Viewer... Read more →

Installing the Revit 2019 SDK April Update

After the significant struggle I had to compile the initial release of the Revit 2019 SDK samples and set up RvtSamples 2019, I am happy to report that installing and compiling the Revit 2019 SDK April 27 update is a lot easier – Downloading the April 27 SDK update – Initial compilation – 41 warnings – Processor architecture mismatch suppressed – 5 warnings – Update reference to RevitAPISteel.dll – 3 warnings – Setting up RvtSamples – Updated RvtSamples download... Read more →

Compiling the Revit 2019 SDK Samples

I installed Revit 2019 and compiled the Revit 2019 SDK. That was quite a struggle – Installing Revit 2019 – Installing the Revit 2019 SDK – Installing the .NET Framework 4.7 – Compiling the Revit 2019 SDK samples – Processor architecture mismatch warnings – DimensionLeaderEnd OutputPath missing – Numerous Revit API assembly reference conflicts – SampleCommandsSteelElements lacks components – AppearanceAssetEditing using deprecated API... Read more →

Pipe Fitting K Factor, Archi+Lab and Installer

Two recent Revit MEP related cases brought up some new information on the pipe K factor table and custom calculations for pipe fittings, the Forge DevCon class recordings are now available, and I discovered Konrad Sobon's wonderful archi+lab Revit API blog, which helps resolve an installation and setup issue – Pipe K factor table – Custom K factor calculation for pipe fittings – Dynamo code to change loss coefficient – Forge DevCon 2017 class recordings – Archi+Lab – Revit add-in installer and buttons... Read more →

Forge, Installed Version, Move Group, Name Filter

A biggish post rather late in the week... still answering too many cases – Forge for AEC demos and sample code – Determining the starting view – Detecting installed Revit version – Detecting installed C3D version – Moving items inside a detail group – Filtering for family instances and types by family name... Read more →

Revit versus Forge, Ids and Add-In Installation

Forge versus Revit programming – Access Revit BIM data and element ids from BIM360 – Unique IDs for Forge viewer elements – Edit and export Revit properties in Forge – Upcoming Forge accelerators – Updated Visual Studio Revit add-in wizard installation – Question on RevitLookup installation – RevitLookup cannot snoop everything... Read more →

Revit 2018 Visual Studio .NET Add-in Wizards

I updated the Visual Studio Revit C# and VB add-in templates for Revit 2018. They enable you to create a new C# or VB Revit add-in in Visual Studio with one single click on File > New > Project... > Visual Basic/Visual C# > Revit 2018 Addin and define a complete skeleton Revit add-in, ready to immediately compile and run, including an add-in manifest file, external application and external command. Just hit F5 to start debugging; the add-in manifest is installed, Revit launched and the command is immediately available... Read more →

RevitLookup 2018 and Forge DevCon CFP

Revit 2018 has been released. The Revit 2018 SDK is available from the Revit Developer Centre. I migrated RevitLookup and The Building Coder samples. Finally, the call for proposals has opened for the Forge DevCon at Autodesk University in Las Vegas – Revit 2018 Software Developers Kit – RevitLookup 2018 – The Building Coder samples 2018 – Forge DevCon call for proposals... Read more →

Add-In Templates Supporting Edit and Continue

Last week, I presented Andrey Bushman's new Visual Studio templates for Revit add-ins. Furthermore, we discussed many aspects of edit and continue in the past, including the solution to use the Add-in Manager. These two topics have now met and united, because Andrey added support for that and a bunch of other new functionality in his commit... Read more →

TextNote Rotation, DevCon, TensorFlow and Keras

The Forge DevCon developer conference has been happily united with Autodesk University, text note rotation is easy, and I continued my deep learning exploration for implementing a Revit API question answering system – Forge DevCon at AU – Setting TextNote rotation – TensorFlow and Keras – Updating restricted Python packages – Rules of machine learning... Read more →

NuGet Revit API Package

Most of the work of the year has been done, and it is time to settle down and clear out for the new. Tomorrow is the winter solstice, followed by Christmas and Yuletide, ending with the Twelfth Night. For me, this is a time of retreat, calm, reflection, and renewal of energy. Today brings a nice gift from Andrey Bushman – NuGet Revit API package – RevitLookup using the NuGet Revit API package – Creating a NuGet package from assembly DLLs – More NuGet packages... Read more →

Trusted Signature Motivation and Fishing

Topics for today – How does code signing of Revit add-ins increase security? – What happened to LoadCaseArray? – How and where to search for help on a Revit API question? – Dynamo 1.1 Update... Read more →

Visual Studio 2015 Revit 2017 Add-in Wizards

I updated the Visual Studio Revit C# and VB add-in wizards for Revit 2017. They enable you to create a new C# or VB Revit add-in in Visual Studio with one single click on File > New > Project... > Installed > Templates > Visual Basic/Visual C# > Revit 2017 Addin. The wizard creates a complete Revit add-in skeleton, ready to immediately compile and run. Just hit F5 to start debugging; the add-in manifest is automatically created, copied to the proper location, Revit launched in the debugger, and your shiny new add-in is available in the external tools menu... Read more →

The Building Coder Samples 2017

Last night, I migrated The Building Coder samples to Revit 2017 – Flat Migration – Updated RvtSamples Include File – Automatic Transaction Mode is Obsolete – Obsolete Plane Constructors and NewPlane Methods – Obsolete NewPlane Method Taking a CurveArray Argument – Replace View.SetVisibility by SetCategoryHidden – Use DirectShape ApplicationId and ApplicationDataId – All Obsolete Revit API Usage Eliminated... Read more →

Revit 2017, RevitLookup and SDK Samples

Revit 2017 was released yesterday. Here is the official Autodesk statement stating that Revit 2017 advances BIM for the future of designing buildings. I downloaded and installed my version from the Autodesk Revit family free trial web site. Let's look at what I did to install and first add-in compilation experiences – Uninstalling prior versions and cleaning the registry – Dummy API assembly folder for compiling samples – Resolving hiccups compiling Revit 2017 SDK samples – RevitLookup for Revit 2017... Read more →

.NET Runtime Security Blocks External Command

Here is a Revit API add-in installation issue that came up in various forms in the past and now again in the context of Windows 10 configuration: I have a plugin that has been working fine for all pre-Windows 10 platforms. Under Win10, the DLL loads into Revit.exe correctly. The add-in manifest contents are displayed correctly in the Revit UI. When I issue the command, however, nothing happens... Read more →

BIM 360 Docs, Add-In Folders, Stallman and Abc

I am going to the University of Bern this afternoon to listen to Richard Stallman speak For A Free Digital Society. Here are some other recent and not-so-recent topics – BIM 360 Docs – Richard Stallman in Switzerland – Is the abc conjecture proven? – Add-In Folders – BIM 360 Docs is the new Autodesk platform for construction document management. It provides web services to ensure that the entire project team is always building from the correct version of documents, plans, and models... Read more →

REX Add-In Development and Migration

It's been a while since I talked about REX. Some old dedicated posts include – The REX SDK – Extensions for Revit 2012 – REX Content Generator. More recent mentions occur in my discussion of a framing cross section analyser with and without REX and its migration to Revit 2015. Now the time has come for another look... Read more →

Revit Add-In Wizard GitHub Installer

I recently mentioned the unrestricted VendorId in Revit 2016, and pointed out that I would like to update the Visual Studio Revit add-in wizards accordingly. I now went ahead and did so, adding a couple of other enhancements as well along the way – oh, and I did some work on putting my personal calendar online, as well: Sharing a calendar via GCal, Google API, and GitHub Pages. Visual Studio Revit add-in wizards on GitHub. Updated VendorId tag value. Wizard... Read more →

Batch Processing, DWFx Links and Future-Proofing

The never-ending stream of Revit API topics continues. Today, let's look at: Unrestricted VendorId. Retrieving DWFx links. Batch processing Revit documents. Future-proofing The Building Coder samples. Recent Revit API AEC DevBlog posts: Delete custom family parameter. JoinGeometryUtils.JoinGeometry for walls and columns. Reading gross and rentable area elements. Unrestricted VendorId In the past, we recommended using an Autodesk registered developer symbol or RDS as your vendor id, stored in the add-in manifest VendorId tag (starting from the Revit 2012 extensible storage... Read more →

CopyElements, Revit 2016 Scalability, Python and Ruby

Here are a bunch of infos on and updates for Revit 2016, as well as some important hints on the use of the ElementTransformUtils.CopyElements method: CopyElements view argument is for 2D only Revit 2016 scalability enhancements Revit 2016 Python shell Revit 2016 Ruby shell RevitLookup for Revit 2016 CopyElements View Argument is for 2D only You should only use the ElementTransformUtils.CopyElements views argument when working with view dependent elements, i.e., 2D elements. This was pointed out by Arnošt Löbel in... Read more →

Add-in Migration to Revit 2016 and Updated Wizards

I updated my Visual Studio Revit C# and VB add-in wizards for Revit 2016. Before presenting them, a quick important note on how to approach resolving issues that you may encounter migrating your existing add-ins: Please read What's New in the Revit 2016 API! Revit add-in wizards for Revit 2016 Revit add-in wizard customisation Revit add-in wizard usage Download and installation Please Read What's New in the Revit 2016 API! Every major Revit API release so far enhanced the existing... Read more →

Autodesk View and Data API

I was away for a few days last week in the beautiful Italian speaking southern part of Switzerland. Back again, as usual, I am confronted with a host of Revit API issues. The most important event last week for me by far, though, was the release of the Autodesk View and Data API. Some of my Autodesk University related tasks and upcoming meetup events are also related to that: Autodesk View and Data API View and Data API presentations Autodesk... Read more →

Exchange Apps Webinar Recording and Resources

As you certainly know by now, the Autodesk Exchange Stores provide an efficient means to showcase and distribute your applications addressing a large world-wide audience. Furthermore, it is very easy. As krispy just said in this Revit API forum thread on creating an installer for a Revit application, "You can just zip up the files they require (dll, addin, etc.) and upload that... the exchange app team will create the installer for you. They are pretty good with telling you... Read more →

Debugging Revit 2014 API with Visual Studio 2013

The officially supported development platforms for Revit add-ins are Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Express Edition. The important factor is really only the .NET environment, Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0. Of course, you can also use the built-in SharpDevelop development macro environment. This information comes directly from the horse's mouth, i.e. the Revit 2014 API Developers Guide – happily, back online again – section on requirements. The Revit Python Shell and Revit Ruby Shell, based on IronPython... Read more →

Revit 2014 Update Release 2

Revit 2014 Update Release 2 has been posted to the Autodesk Revit product pages: Revit 2014 Update Release 2 Revit Architecture 2014 Update Release 2 Revit MEP 2014 Update Release 2 Revit Structure 2014 Update Release 2 As usual, the update release uses service pack technology and does not require a full install. Prior to installing the Update Release 1, please verify that you are running the First Customer Ship build of Autodesk Revit 2014, build 20130308_1515 or the Update... Read more →

Revit 2014 Update Release 1

Rather belatedly, let me point out that Revit 2014 Update Release 1 has been posted to the Autodesk Revit product pages: Revit 2014 Update Release 1 Revit Architecture 2014 Update Release 1 Revit MEP 2014 Update Release 1 Revit Structure 2014 Update Release 1 As usual, the update release uses service pack technology and does not require a full install. Prior to installing the Update Release 1, please verify that you are running the First Customer Ship build of Autodesk... Read more →

External Command Lister and Adding Ribbon Commands

I have been asked a couple of times how you can integrate multiple Revit add-ins from different sources together into a single ribbon panel. This topic has also been discussed on the web, e.g. towards the end of whether to install to the add-ins tab or make new ribbon tab, and at Autodesk University, where Jose Guia presented CP3766 – Tying All of Your Revit Add-ins into a Pretty Little Ribbon. Unfortunately, none of these offer any very useful solution,... Read more →

Compiling the Revit 2014 SDK

Here are some notes on the small issues I encountered compiling the Revit 2014 SDK: Compile and install RevitLookup Set up the Revit API assembly paths First compilation run causes expected errors Set up the RevitAddInUtility assembly path PointCurveCreation Office reference CancelSave RevitAddInUtility Reference Set up the RvtSamples application Fix errors in RvtSamples.txt Download RvtSamples and RevitLookup I already described this same process during the Revit 2013 timeframe. Let's see if anything changed, or, better still, improved. Compile and Install... Read more →

Perpetual GUID Algorithm and Revit 2014 Product GUIDs

Every year anew, people ask for the Revit product GUIDs used to identify the Revit installation and stored in the Windows registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall I already answered several queries from developers lately wishing to update their installers for the new version. I discussed this topic on a yearly basis in the past for Revit 2010 and previous versions, Revit 2011, Revit 2012, when the 'perpetual GUID algorithm' was introduced, and Revit 2013. The install path is less of an issue... Read more →

Getting Started with the Revit API

I am regularly forced to return to this topic, to provide a useful starting point for beginners. The amount of available material is getting huge, and some help is required deciding where to start exploring the Revit API. The most important thing to be aware of is the Revit Developer Center. Start there by looking at the three DevTV video introductions and then work through the My First Revit Plug-in tutorial. In these tutorials, you are shown how to locate,... Read more →

Determine Revit Demo Mode and Serial Number

Last week's updated Revit demo mode determination prompted a lively discussion between two strong Revit API experts and blog contributors, Victor Chekalin and Rudolf Honke the Revitalizer, partly on how to further improve the demo mode detection, and mainly on the value and risks of using unsupported features in your products. The thread is well worth a read, and I like Victor's final suggestion of reading the Revit serial number instead of using the language dependent title bar caption enough... Read more →

Determine Revit Demo Mode Revisited

Almost a year back, we talked about how to determine whether the current running Revit application is a demo version or not. The initial suggestion was to test this by trying to execute real functionality modifying the model and then save it. That obviously incurs significant overhead and may cause other problems as well. Rudolf Honke suggested simply reading and evaluating the Revit main window title text instead. Now Madmed created and posted an implementation of Rudolf's idea. I took... Read more →

Update API Assembly References and Wizards

I finally completed my disk clean-up and managed to install the Autodesk Building Design Suite Ultimate 2013. Phew. Update API Assembly References That requires me to update the Revit API references in the projects I am working on accordingly. In order to easily compile all the SDK samples, I always create copies of the Revit API assemblies in the default installation locations for Revit Architecture, MEP and Structure. Here is the batch file cprvtapi.bat that I used to achieve this... Read more →

Revit 2013 Product GUIDs and GUID Algorithm

Every year anew, people ask for the Revit product GUIDs used to identify the Revit installation and stored in the Windows registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall There are different keys for each of the three Revit flavours, plus the Revit 2013 one-box solution, and for 32 and 64 bit operating systems. We discussed this topic in the past for Revit 2010 and previous versions, Revit 2011 and Revit 2012, when the 'perpetual GUID algorithm' was introduced. The install path is much less... Read more →

Determine Revit Demo Mode

Here is yet another interesting example of an apparent gap in the Revit API that can be easily filled using a little workaround. We have seen numerous examples of performing a certain operation within a temporary transaction that is then rolled back to cancel it, such as to determine gross material quantities for an element with openings, a host reference and, more generally, all object relationships. Here is an example of using a related but different approach: the trick consists... Read more →

Mixed Mode C++ in Revit 2012

Here is a short note to start the week, on an issue that arose a couple of times using mixed mode C++ development in Revit 2012. This information was originally published on the members-only ADN web site as a technical solution on the development environment for mixed mode C++ for Revit 2012: Question: I have a mixed mode C++ application. When I run it on a machine where no version of Visual Studio was ever installed, I see the following... Read more →

Preparing for a Hands-on Revit API Training

Question: I have registered for a hands-on Revit API Training, but I have little experience in programming, and almost none in .NET or C#. How can I prepare for it to make best use of this opportunity? Answer: This is actually all described in the discussion on getting started with the Revit 2012 API. Still, let's highlight some of the points and put them in proper order for you. The first of the following items is of interest for anyone... Read more →

Revit Add-in File Load Exception

Back from my vacation in Andalusia, and now moving full speed ahead towards Autodesk University, my lecture and hands-on lab on the Revit extensible storage API and all the other exciting goodies there. Meanwhile, here is one little issue that immediately arose with the Revit String Search utility published last week: Probably the most common problem that people keep running into with add-ins on Windows Vista, both in Revit and other environments, is the need to unblock the zip file.... Read more →

Product and Add-In Wizard Updates

Here are several interesting updates and other little news items that appeared recently. Revit 2012 update release 2 Visual Studio Revit add-in wizard update Removing an Add-In Registered by the Wizard Global Leadership Summit at the One Team Conference Revit 2012 Update Release 2 A few days ago, I was very surprised to hear that some people neglect to update their Revit products when intermediate updates appear. I find that incomprehensible. I updated all three flavours myself yesterday with zero... Read more →

Getting Started with the Revit 2012 API

We already published 'Getting Started with the Revit API' guides for Revit 2009 and 2010. Here is a completely revamped and much expanded version for Revit 2012. Actually, before even reading any further on this page, go to the Revit Developer Center and see what material is available there. That is always the most up-to-date place to look. Still, this overview may help your orientation as well: Getting Started with the Revit 2012 API 1. Setting up the Environment The... Read more →

Visual Studio, C# and VB Express

Yesterday Kean mentioned that debugging AutoCAD.NET projects using the Visual C# and VB Express editions is now directly supported by the latest version of the AutoCAD .NET Wizard. That prompted me to have a look and see what the current situation is with Revit add-ins. Obviously, we poor Revit developers do not have such a sophisticated wizard available ... or so I thought! I installed Visual C# Express and started my experiment: I launched the new installation and selected New... Read more →