The Building Coder

Structural Questions and the Future of REX

We ponder some structural rebar questions and the future of the REX structural Revit extensions included with the Revit SDK – Future of REX – Rebar API questions – GetCustomDistributionPath – Number of segments – IsRebarInSection... Read more →

TBC Samples 2023 and the New Structural API

Migrating The Building Coder samples, I encountered the same problems as others trying to update obsolete structural API code, so let's take a look at some resources assisting us in that area – Not migrating the derived analytical model – Revit 2023 Structural API... Read more →

Utility Classes and Constraining Stirrups

Taking a look at yet another overlooked Revit API utility class, rebar constraints, and learning basics of power, energy, entropy and information – ParameterFilterUtilities – Constrain stirrup to host cover – Rowers illustrate power and building energy – Wordle entropy and information... Read more →

New Analytical Model API

Important news coming for structural developers, further development in RevitLookup, notes on extensible storage and JavaScript – New Analytical Model API – Praise for modeless RevitLookup – Benchmarking generic Any versus Count – Escape RevitLookup – Use extensible storage carefully – jQuery is widespread but outdated... Read more →

Hiding Edges, AU, Roadmaps and Vasa

Numerous exciting announcements leading up to AU this week – Revit roadmap update and AMA at AU – Structural news at AU – Revit category guide – How to hide internal edges of solids – VASA 3D voxel-based architectural space analysis... Read more →

View Sheet from View and Select All on Level

Increasing numbers of of Python and Dynamo oriented topics in the Revit API discussion forum, and a final deprecated API clean-up – The Building Coder samples clean – Retrieving all elements on level – Get ViewSheet from View – Fabrication transaction in Dynamo... Read more →

Boundary Elements and Stirrup Constraints

A lengthy and fruitful conversation on implementing valid rebar stirrup constraints and more advice on determining boundary elements for the entire building and individual rooms – Rebar stirrup constraints – Exterior bounding walls – All walls including non-bounding interior walls – Floors and ceilings – Revit API and UX style guide – Today's collective action problem... Read more →

Selection in Link, Cancel in Export, Multithreading

Cool topics to wrap up this hot and exciting week – Are you using the derived analytical model? – Pick room in current project or linked model – Determine whether custom export was cancelled – Multi-threading with the single-threaded Revit API – Beginner’s guide to abstraction... 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 →

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 →

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 →

DevCon Invitation and Dynamo for Infrastructure

Let's highlight another class from BILTNZ and a personal invitation to the upcoming DevCon in Las Vegas – Invitation to Forge DevCon in Las Vegas – Visual Programming in Infrastructure – Class description – Table of contents – Placing an instance along an edge – Most popular programming languages 1965-2019... Read more →

Roadmap, Rebar Curves, Wizard Zip and More

Topics for this week – Revit public roadmap July 2019 – Rebar curves – Built-in zip utility for add-in wizard – Only detail section views can be used for top view direction – Displaying an RFA family instance in DA4R – Revit 2020 alters the TEMP file system variable – Lattice multiplication... Read more →

Precast API and Cloud Open Callback

As usual, I am over-active in the Revit API discussion forum, so you can see most of what I have been up to right there. Here and now, I'll highlight one of those threads and clarify how to access the Revit 2019 Precast API – Structural Precast API – IOpenFromCloudCallback and the DefaultOpenFromCloudCallback class... Read more →

Rebars in Host, .NET Framework, Importance of Fuzz

Here are a couple more Revit API discussion forum threads well worth highlighting – Retrieve rebars attached to structural element – Installing the .NET framework 4.7 for Revit 2019.1 add-ins – Importance of fuzz for curtain wall dimensioning... Read more →

Using an Intersection Filter for Linked Elements

Intersecting elements has always been a hot topic, cf. various previous discussions on 3D Booleans, cutting and joining elements; intersecting with elements in a linked file is even more challenging. Happily, the Revit API provides tools to support that as well – Intersecting linked elements with current project ones – Retrieving rebars intersecting a structural element... Read more →

Resources, Rotated Rebar Stirrups and Steel Stuff

I'll start this week with several solutions from the Revit API discussion forum and elsewhere, especially two different approaches to create rotated rebar stirrups – Embedded tooltip icon resource – Revit 2019 tooltip videos are MP4 – How to read and write bolt, plate and weld – Creating rotated rebar stirrups... Read more →

REX SDK Templates for Revit Structure 2019

Apparently, the Revit SDK REX Visual Studio templates are obsolete. Let's fix that problem. Also, two little notes on a C# optimisation trick for math-heavy code, and the current status of the Forge Design Automation API for Revit – Revit Structure 2019 REX Extension SDK Visual Studio Templates – Improve C# Performance Using Struct Instead of Class – Update on the Forge Design Automation API for Revit... Read more →

Exported File Path and Revit Structural Analysis SDK

I am busy in the Revit API discussion forum. However, you can check the discussions there yourself. Here and now, I'll mention some different topics – oops, one of them is from there after all – RST and the Structural Analysis SDK – Determining the path of a recently exported file – Driving NavisWorks programmatically via ExecuteCommand – The Autodesk assistant Ava and the uncanny valley... Read more →

RevitLookup 2019 and New SDK Samples

I migrated RevitLookup to Revit 2019, which was very easy. Next, I compared the directory contents to discover the new SDK samples – RevitLookup 2019 – New Revit 2019 SDK samples... Read more →

NewFamilySymbolProfile Sample Add-In

Questions on how to use NewFamilySymbolProfile have come up a couple of times in the Revit API discussion forum. The short answer is: retrieve the family symbol from the profile family, then call the creation application NewFamilySymbolProfile method. I implemented a new sample add-in for you to demonstrate the steps using the Profiles_L-Angles.rfa profile family... Read more →

AreaLoad Force Direction, CMake and SDK Access

Here are some of the topics I dealt with in the last couple of days – CMake and YoAudio – AutoCAD and Revit SDK Access and Content – Determining AreaLoad direction and value from its force vectors – ExportCncFab 2018... Read more →

How to Use GetAnalyticalModelSupports

I'm trying to retrieve connected framing elements through the API. My end goal is to select a beam and retrieve the element id of the elements its ends are framing into. I have been able to do this by checking location intersection of all other beams, but this scales by n^2 based on the number of beams for the check. I read the article on finding connected structural elements, but I'm confused on the actual implementation of it. Has anybody come across a working example showing how to call GetAnalyticalModelSupports? ... Read more →

Edge Loop, Point Reference Plane and Column Line

A whole bunch of exciting Revit API topics to start the week – RevitLookup updated to use NuGet Revit API package – Determining the outer-most EdgeLoop – How to determine the location curve for a steel column – Determining a reference plane from a reference point... Read more →

Revit 2017 and 2018 SDK Samples

The Revit API discussion forum thread on drawing or rendering over the active view brought to my attention that an important new SDK sample created to demonstrate the use of the Revit 2018 functionality DirectContext3D for display of externally managed 3D graphics in Revit is missing in the SDK. I added it right here, in DuplicateGraphics.zip, and also provide an overview of the new SDK samples – CapitalizeAllTextNotes – DuplicateGraphics – GenericStructuralConnection – BRepBuilderExample – MultistoryStairs – PlacementOptions – Structural Analysis CodeCheckingConcreteExample and CalculationPointsSelector – REX SDK DRevitFreezeDrawing... Read more →

What's New in the Revit 2018 API

The Revit 2018 includes numerous exciting enhancements for add-in developers. The What's New section always provides very important information, both for discovering and exploring the newly added API functionality and for later reference. If you encounter any issues migrating your existing add-ins between different versions, this is one of the first places to look... Read more →

Revit Server API Lib, Truss Members and Layers

Today, we proudly present – NuGet Revit Server REST API Library – RevitLookup Updates – Truss Members and FamilyInstance Sub-Components – GeometryObject Layer Name... Read more →

AU, Revit 2017.1 SDK and REX FreezeDrawing

I returned from the Munich Forge accelerator, travelling back to Switzerland by train. For ecological reasons, I prefer to avoid flying whenever I possibly can. Last Friday was the deadline for submitting my Autodesk University handout, so that kept me busy. I still need to improve it a bit, and I hope a post-deadline update is feasible. I am presenting two classes, and I have a special discount to offer you. Lots of other things are happening as well – My classes at Autodesk University – $400 AU registration discount – Revit 2017.1 SDK – REX SDK FreezeDrawing sample – Determining the height of a column... 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 →

Voodoo Magic Retrieves Global Instance Edges

I recently shared Scott Wilson's reference stable representation magic voodoo, and you may have asked yourself what use it is. Well, here is one example making effective use of it, raised and solved by Ola Gunnar Skippervik of Multiconsult – Goal: retrieve family instance edge to create direct shape – Snooping the family instance geometry – Partial answer and suggestion – Confirmation – Summary – Structural concrete setout point add-in... Read more →

UnitUtils Converting Units for Unit Weight

Here comes a quick clarification of the units used for the UnitWeight built-in parameter PHY_MATERIAL_PARAM_UNIT_WEIGHT. One example usage is to calculate the total weight of rebars in a project... Read more →

Point Boundary Condition and Revit 2017 SDK

I arrived safe and sound in San Francisco via Vancouver and am now working on the final preparations for the Forge DevCon and 3D Web Fest. Before getting to that, here are some quick notes from my short exploration last week to produce a rather overdue list of the new Revit 2017 SDK samples and on creating a point boundary condition on a structural column – New Revit 2017 SDK Samples – Creating Point Boundary Condition on End of Structural Column... Read more →

Location of Hooks in a Rebar Shape Family

Here is a slightly tricky structural rebar Revit API issue raised in the Revit API discussion forum thread on getting the location of hooks in a rebar shape family: When editing a Rebar Shape family I would like to find out what lines in the family the hooks are attached to. In other words I would like the id of the line the start hook is attached to and the coordinate of this hook... 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 →

SVG, In-Memory Family, RevitLookup BoundingBox

The cloud accelerator kept me busy last week, I am working hard on the CompHound project and documenting that work on The 3D Web Coder. Besides that, I submitted several enhancements to various Revit add-in projects. Here are some of my recent activities – CompHound component tracker project development – RevitLookup displays element bounding box – SvgExport for Revit 2016 – In-memory family creation and structural stiffener migration from 2012 to 2016... Read more →

Framing Cross Section Analyser and REX in Revit 2015

Back in December 2013, I discussed structural cross section analysis, i.e. determination of the cross section profile of beam, columns, braces, etc., and several completely different approaches one can take to achieve that. I also demonstrated how to make use of the powerful functionality provided by the REX toolkit without building the entire add-in on top of the REX framework. By the way, here are some other earlier discussions of REX: The REX SDK Extensions for Revit 2012 REX Content... Read more →

Robot Structural Analysis and Mac App Tabbing

Let's look at these two little issues today: Adapting Robot Structural Analysis Tabbing between applications on Mac Adapting Robot Structural Analysis Question: I installed the Revit SDK and am looking at customising Revit Structure and Robot for my needs. I could only find tutorials for examples of API, but I can't find any information about the database code. I would like to enhance the implementation based on Eurocode for Brazil. How can I open and create a new database, like... Read more →

Concrete Setout Points for Revit Structure 2015

I was prompted by a Revit API forum discussion thread on Jeremy's setoutpoint to take another look at my SetoutPoints structural concrete setout point add-in, publish it on GitHub and migrate it from Revit Structure 2013 to 2015. SetoutPoints is a Revit add-in for automatic placement and management of structural concrete setout points. Setout point markers are automatically generated at all vertices of structural members. They can be manually designated as minor or major: The major points are automatically numbered,... Read more →

New Revit 2015 SDK Samples

Rather belatedly, I went through my usual analysis of the Revit SDK to determine the new samples added to the Revit 2015 SDK. While I was at it, I also migrated the DevDays samples for Revit 2015 UR1, since some new SDK functionality is not yet covered by new SDK samples, and the ones posted with the DevDays online recording were still compiled for one of the early pre-release versions of Revit. New Samples in the Revit 2015 SDK To... Read more →

Detach Beam from Plane

Here is a long-standing question raised once again now by Miroslav Schonauer of Autodesk Consulting and solved with help from Sasha Crotty of the Revit development team: Question: Is there a way to programmatically replicate the 'Detach from Plane' functionality accessible in the user interface through the beam context menu? I can right click on a structural beam and select 'Detach from Plane'. Revit removes the parameter 'Work plane', i.e. BuiltInParameter.SKETCH_PLANE_PARAM, and enables the 'Reference Level' parameter, which is read-only... Read more →

Security, Framing Cross Section Analyser and REX

My topic for today is structural cross section analysis, i.e. determination of the cross section profile of beam, columns, braces, etc., and the various completely different approaches one can take to achieve this. I also demonstrate how to make use of some of the powerful functionality provided by the REX toolkit without building my entire application on top of the REX framework. Before getting to that, though, let me mention where we are with the DevDays conference tour: DevDays in... Read more →

Viewport Positioning and Conceptual Design Automation

Not all location relevant properties of viewports are currently accessible through the Revit API, which makes it slightly challenging to precisely define their position. Let us look at a clever trick to align viewports exactly that works around that limitation, sheds some light on their location calculation and the modification of it that was made between Revit 2013 and 2014. After that, I would like to briefly present a non-Revit-API BIM topic, a single-page MSc thesis overview on completely conceptual... Read more →

MultiReferenceAnnotation Example

Miguel Angel Alanis asked on the Autodesk Revit API discussion forum for an example of making use of the new MultiReferenceAnnotation. I put together this blog post to make sure the solution is easily found. First, a note on something more imminent: Portathon Day 1 Today is the first day of the Portathon! Earn $100 Submitting an Autodesk Exchange App Exchange App Videos Portathon reminder and video Cloud and AppStore usage growth Wish us all luck and much success, please.... Read more →

Happy Birthday, Dear Building Coder!

This is the thousandth and fourth post on The Building Coder, and today is its fifth birthday, a good double reason for celebration. The first post ever was a warm welcome on August 22, 2008. Here is a nice new and very professional Building Coder flash screen created by my son Christopher, also known as the composer Allerdings, to celebrate the occasion: Thank you, Christopher! I love you. A better reason still is that we hear how important this resource... Read more →

Setting the Compound Structure Core and Shell Layers

Modifying the compound layer structure of a wall or floor type is pretty well documented, and we already discussed the use of the SetCompoundStructure method to update the compound layer structure. However, how to define which layers are and are not part of the core is less obvious, which lead to the developer query below. Before I get to that, here is a snapshot of the north-east ridge and summit of the Hinderi Spillgerte (German) that I recently climbed: The... Read more →

Animation and the DisplacementElement Class

A recent developer query asks about animating elements in the Revit model and updating the display within a loop in the external command to show the step-by-step displacements. This provides a welcome opportunity to highlight another one of the Revit 2014 SDK Samples: The DisplacementElementAnimation SDK Sample One of the very visually impressive Revit 2014 API samples is the DisplacementElementAnimation application. It automatically animates groups of structural building members in any Revit BIM, proceeding sequentially from bottom level to top.... Read more →

Recursively Disable Architecture Mismatch Warning

I recently explained the cause and resolution of the processor architecture mismatch warning MSB3270. On closer consideration, I decided to fix it for all the ADN training material labs and samples, and actually for the entire collection of Revit SDK samples as well. This is obviously not something you want to do manually, considering that it involves a modification of hundreds of project files. Here are the steps involved in automating and testing this process: Disable mismatch warning utility Project... Read more →

Dynamically Hide and Display a Ribbon Panel

Here is a quick little question on dynamically toggling the display of a custom ribbon panel, e.g. depending on the currently activated Revit disciplines. First, however, let me share this nice and wise little quote regarding the current weather situation and actually life and happiness in general from the German humourist Karl Valentin (1882-1948): I am happy if it rains – because if I am unhappy, it still goes on raining (Ich freue mich, wenn es regnet – denn wenn... Read more →

More on Structural Analysis Code Checking

I am busy be making the final preparations for my trip to Moscow tomorrow. However, I also received some new input to share with you first on the Structural Analysis SDK that I mentioned last week, introduced in the Revit 2014 SDK. It enables engineering experts to provide specialised structural code checking applications on top of Revit, and now also supports storage of analysis results. Augusto Goncalves recently took a more in-depth first look at it from a technical point... Read more →

Structural Analytical Code Checking and Results Builder

In case you have not noticed, I would like to point out one important specialised addition to the Revit 2014 SDK: the new Structural Analysis Software Developer Kit. It lives in its own sub-directory Structural Analysis SDK and consists of documentation, sample code and Visual Studio templates for two main components: Code checking framework Facilitate code checking workflows For both users and developers Complete extensible add-in User interface, report generator, data storage Documentation, samples, Visual Studio templates Results builder framework... Read more →