The Building Coder

Duct Shape, BipChecker Facelift and @ Fonts

I begin this week with a rather mixed bag of interesting issues from the last – Get MEP duct shape update – Determining differences between DLL versions – BipChecker facelift – Fonts with '@' prefix... Read more →

Creating Material Texture and Retaining Pixels

A bunch of interesting discussions on creating material with texture, modifying element level, cutting off image pixels and other things – Creating a material with texture in Revit and Forge – Export image cutting off pixels – Change level of existing element – Physics is cool – Forge job openings... Read more →

Changing Element Colour and Material

The question of how to change the colour and material of individual elements has come up repeatedly over time – Change element colour in a view – Assign new material to an element – Replace a material in a wall or floor... Read more →

Revit 2021 Visual Studio Add-in Templates

Our tidbits for today – Revit 2021 Visual Studio add-in templates – Four important design patterns – Invisible shared parameters don't make it into Forge... Read more →

Split Pipe Tutorial and Related Cases

Today, let's focus on splitting pipes and other things, starting with a nicely structured tutorial – Abdelaziz' split pipe tutorial – Calling the SL split element command – Splitting a conduit... Read more →

Automatically Open Correct RVT File Version

Today, let's address a couple of quick questions and share a useful utility – How to determine Revit export image coordinates – Problems compiling and installing the Revit SDK samples – RvtVerFileOpen utility opens correct RVT file version – Angular and react tutorials – Give and take... Read more →

Using ReferenceIntersector with a Linked File

Here are our topics for today – What is Forge in 90 seconds – Locally opening RVT file managed by BIM360 – Programming tools for Robobat – Using ReferenceIntersector in linked files... Read more →

Setting up RvtSamples for Revit 2021

Another busy week so far – Loading all Revit 2021 SDK samples – Loading The Building Coder samples and labs – What database is best for Revit data?... Read more →

Compiling the Revit 2021 SDK Samples

Let's start the week with two pretty fundamental topics – Compiling the Revit 2021 SDK samples – Reading the value of a parameter... Read more →

Convex Outer Loop, Non-Migration and 15-Year Stint

Various noteworthy items this week, both Revit API related and not – My second stint of 15 years at Autodesk – Forge trainee career launched – Why does my add-in still run? – Determine outer loop around points... Read more →

References to Symbol versus Instance Geometry

Sooner or later, every serious Revit add-in developer will be scratching her head a bit over symbol versus instance geometry. Here is a nice juicy challenge... Wrap you head around this one in depth and future challenges in this area will seem trivial. Retrieving references from symbol versus instance geometry when placing an instance on a line throws an ArgumentsInconsistentException... Read more →

Revit Camera FOV, Forge Partner Talks and Jobs

Today we resuscitate a five-year old Revit API answer, still as fresh and useful as ever, followed by Forge and job opportunities truly fresh off the presses – Determining the Revit Camera FOV – Forge Partner Talks – Jobs at Autodesk... Read more →

DA4R I/O, Logging, Updater and Custom Properties

Forge Design Automation for Revit or DA4R is really starting to take off – Display custom properties – Upgrade Revit file version – Logging – Input and output files – CesiumJS open source 3D mapping – Banksy's wife hates home office – Virtual Forge accelerator... Read more →

2021 Migration, Add-In Language, BIM360 Research

I am too busy! Ouch! Here are just a few of today's topics – BIM360 Question? Join Accelerator! – What language to choose for a Revit Add-In? – The Building Coder samples 2021 migration... Read more →

Revit 2021 Unit Types in Family Type Catalogues

Unfortunately, the new unit type name functionality can cause a problem loading a family with a type catalogue – Unit type update affects family type catalogue loading – New FreeCodeCamp courses – Padlocking The Building Coder... Read more →

What's New in the Revit 2021 API

The Revit 2021 API includes exciting enhancements for add-in developers, including numerous developer wishes and requests that have now been explicitly addressed – Information sources – What's new in previous versions – Detailed TOC of major changes and renovations – API Changes – API Additions... Read more →

RevitLookup 2021 with Multi-Release Support

I hope you are happy and healthy and enjoyed your Easter eggs! During the holiday, I updated RevitLookup for Revit 2021, and Harry Mattison added his multi-release building enhancements into the main solution as well – Revit 2021 add-ins require .NET 4.8 – RevitLookup flat migration to Revit 2021 – Support for multi-release building... Read more →

Revit 2021 Cloud Model API

A nice big egg has been laid just in time for Easter, with the beautiful springtime in full bloom – Revit 2021 – BIM 360 Docs folder permission API – Revit 2021 multi-region cloud model API – Cloud model API changes – How to open a cloud model – How to save a local file to a non-workshared cloud model – SaveAsCloudModel information in web browser and via the Forge DM API... Read more →

Stair Point References, BIM360 Users, Zoom, Jobs

I hope you and your friends and family are all safe, sound and managing well. Our main solution today reveals a new trick handling multistory stairs – Point element references in multistory stairs – BIM 360 GET project users API – Zoom tips – Jobs at Autodesk... Read more →

Satellite Images and Instance Transforms

I hope you are doing well and remaining healthy! Topics for today – Transforming symbol geometry to instance placement – Importing and displaying satellite images – Free time? Learn! Free code camp... Read more →

Autorouting and Reference for CreatePipeConnector

Today we pick up two recent MEP related discussions, on creating a new pipe connector for a hydraulic fitting family and on automatic pipe system routing, and a couple of other odd items – The names they are a-changin – Getting a ReferencePlane for CreatePipeConnector – Auto-routing a pipe system between plumbing fixtures – Handling dialogue and failure messages – Retrieving a geometry reference... Read more →

Command Binding Conflicts and Face UV Coords

Today, let's pick up two recent discussions on the UV coordinate space on a face and the replacement of add-in command bindings – Understanding the Face BoundingBoxUV – Handling add-in command binding conflicts... Read more →

Splitting a Duct in More Depth

We recently shared a brief note on using the BreakCurve API for splitting a pipe. Matt Taylor now pointed out a much more comprehensive discussion asking, is there any API available to split a duct programmatically? That is not just an example, but an entire tutorial, so I think it is very useful to share here as well for all to enjoy.. Read more →

Panel Schedule Slots and Changing Room Level

An amazing solution to move existing rooms between levels while retaining all their information, some thoughts on managing slots in panel schedules, and a couple of useful JavaScript debugging console hints – Moving rooms to other levels – Slots in panel schedules – JavaScript debugging console commands... Read more →

Split Pipe

A short note on splitting pipes... Read more →

Another Async Await, REX + Structural Analysis SDK

Here are two important utilities, one eagerly awaited, the other a nice surprise: the updated REX and Structural analysis SDKs and a powerful async and await wrapper for the Revit API external event – REX SDK and Structural Analysis SDK 2020 – Revit.Async – Background – Standard approach – Revit.Async approach... Read more →

Coding, Interior Elevations and Command Line Opts

Another inspiring guide to getting started with the Revit API, creating interior elevations and revisiting the Revit command line switches – Learning to code with interior elevations – Revit command line switches updated – World-wide connectivity... Read more →

Adjust Wall Location Curve and Visual Presentation

An exciting discussion on applying minimal adjustments to the model, and yet another research result on the effectivity of visual presentation – Adjusting versus recreating wall location curve – Multimedia communication versus bullet points... Read more →

24x24 StackedItem, Ribbon Utils, Journal Encoding

Let's start the week with some ribbon button item and encoding topics – How to create 24x24 stacked ribbon items – Update on moving a ribbon button between panels – Revit journal file character encoding... Read more →

Multi-Threading Family Instance Placement Monitor

Kennan Chen perfected his family instance placement monitor by elegantly combining the Revit API with additional .NET timer and multi-threading functionality in a novel fashion seldom seen in a Revit add-in... Read more →

Lat Long to Metres and Duplicate Legend Component

Today, we discuss duplicating legend components in Python, my own non-API Python work and some undocumented utility methods – Duplicate legend component in Python – Convert latitude and longitude to metres in Python – UIFrameworkService utility methods – Exceptions should be exceptional... Read more →

Getting Title Block Data and ViewSheet from View

Today, let's highlight two view related data access topics – Get ViewSheet from View – Title block data access... Read more →

Ini File, Localisation and Torsion Tools Two

More Revit API tutorial material and tools, plus a couple of hints from the Revit API discussion forum and the Forge blog – Torsion Tools two – Retrieve path to Revit.ini – Updated NeXLT localization URL – Volume and area of triangulated solid... Read more →

Search for Getting Started Tutorials and Videos!

Getting started material and questions galore. Please search before asking, and work through the available material before trying to shoot yourself in your feet, knees, and elsewhere – Marko's plugin development playlist – Overview – Table of contents – Getting started with an API script – Getting started with a macro – OBJ mesh import with materials – 2D Booleans in the Revit API... Read more →

External Communication and Async Await Event

async and await external event wrapper! Communicating from outside with Revit is often better replaced by the Forge Design Automation API for Revit. However, it is also possible to make use of Revit as a server in a limited way via an external event – Communicating with another process – Autodesk open positions... Read more →

Revit WPF Add-Ins and Template

The long-standing topic of WinForms versus WPF for Revit add-in user interface seems to be nearing a conclusion – WinForms or WPF? – Revit WPF template – Readme – Build – Customize – Documentation... Read more →

DevDays Online and Add-In Migration

I share a contribution from fellow blogger Eric Boehlke and the announcement of the upcoming yearly DevDays Online presentations – Add-in migration – Update API references – Join us for our DevDays Online webinars... Read more →

Unit Testing and the UsesInstanceGeometry Method

Quick notes on two recent interesting Revit API discussion forum threads – Unit testing – UsesInstanceGeometry IFC utility method... Read more →

Torsion Tools, Command Event and Info in DA4R

As always, interesting topics keep pouring in from the Revit API discussion forum and elsewhere – Torsion Tools GitHub launch and solution overview – Detect command launch – SelectableInViewFilter – Access project location in Forge – Distinguish structural elements and access volume information in Forge... Read more →

C# Book, Chinese Revit API Tutorial and Insight

I very much enjoyed my quick visit to Swissbau Basel yesterday and meeting so many wonderful people there. Here are some recent getting started tips on various areas: programming in general, C#, the Revit API and Insight – The C# Yellow Book – Chinese Revit API tutorial – Insight into Insight... Read more →

Swissbau Basel and Comparing Family Part Atoms

Here is a last-minute announcement that I will be attending the Swissbau Basel on Wednesday, a quick hint to answer a support case that just came in today, a forum thread issue, and a pointer to a drum solo – Attending Swissbau Basel on Wednesday – Comparing families using part atoms – Maximum area rectangle in polygon – Neil Peart drum solo... Read more →

Unit Migration Toggle Imperial and Metric Project Unit

I just helped address a wish in the Revit Idea Station. I also started taking a course on AI, designed for absolutely everybody – Single-click imperial and metric project unit toggle – Solution – Elements of AI – crash course for everyone – Zhonghu solo music... Read more →

Extrusion Analyser and 2D Boolean Element Outline

Happy New Year to the Revit add-in developer community! My main holiday project was the implementation of an external command to determine the 2D plan view outer boundary of a room in the XY plane, including all its bounding elements' geometry – How to generate a 2D polygon representing the birds-eye view of an element – CmdExtrusionAnalyzer element outline using ExtrusionAnalyzer – Cmd2dBoolean element outline using 2D Booleans – CmdRoomOuterOutline outer room outline using 2D Booleans... Read more →

DA4R, FindInserts, Deployment and SplitButton

So many interesting things going on in the Revit API discussion forum. Also, the newest DA4R recording is now available online – Forge Design Automation API for Revit recording – Design Automation for Revit supports IFC – What does the FindInserts includeShadows flag do? – Easiest solution to deploy add-in – Always show the same button in SplitButton... Read more →

Dashboard, CreateViaOffset and Room Outer Outline

An inconclusive struggle to use CurveLoop.CreateViaOffset leads us once again to thank the powers that be for the integer-based 2D Boolean Clipper library, and some thoughts on project dashboards – Extracting data for project dashboard – Specifying a list of offsets to CreateViaOffset – Alternatives to determine room outline including surrounding walls... Read more →

Forge Rooms, Effective Filtered Element Collectors

I successfully made it from Switzerland to Paris and the Forge accelerator in spite of the French strikes. My only worry is how to get back again tomorrow. Again, the train I have booked has been cancelled. Meanwhile, let's take a look at – DA4R room support and new samples – Effective filtered element collection... Read more →

Comparing Symbols and Comparison Operators

Family symbols, aka family types, should normally be relied on to be constant. However, since families and types can actually be edited at will, they are sometimes not. Hence, the need to check and compare may arise... Read more →

Cyrillic Lookup, Moving Grids and Combining Edges

Topics to start this week – Why SVG? – Internet privacy – Pointless meetings research – Cyrillic characters in lookup tables – Moving a grid – Combining edges... Read more →

Design Automation API, Stacks, Collectors and Links

The ultimatively painless introduction to the Forge Design Automation API, a solution for creating two stacked ribbon items, reinitialising filtered element collectors and picking a face in a linked file – Forge Design Automation API webinars – Stacking two 24x24 ribbon items – Reinitialising the filtered element collector – Use CreateReferenceInLink to select a face in a linked file... Read more →

Retrieving the Electrical Load from a Fixture

Today is my birthday, so I am trying hard to work less. Very kindly, Alexander Ignatovich provided a gift for the day in the form of a new external command CmdElectricalLoad in The Building Coder samples. showing how to retrieve the value of the `Load` column in the electrical system browser for a specific fixture family instance... Read more →