topic Re: Revit structural automation link with excel spread sheet in Revit API Forum

Revit structural automation link with excel spread sheet

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 09:52:03 GMT

Dear all!

I have been using revit software since 2years in my company, now I'm isolated for automation job in the field of revit structural by my company I'm trying for two months for creating element link with excel sheet but I couldn't. Can anyone suggest me which way to creat automate the software. In revit structural we are creating layout such as foundation layout, plinth beam layout, floor beam and slab layout and TG duck foundation and ID and Auxiliary fan foundation and boiler foundation layout these are we create in revit. So I have to automate these kind of drawings. Please suggest me what I have do and learn

In Ky knowledge for revit automation such as Dynamo and revit API

Re: Revit structural automation link with excel spread sheet

BenoitE&A — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 14:11:05 GMT

Hey,

Funny question. Could you explain what you intend to automatize?

What I could imagine: you have a beam in Revit, and you want to send its properties in Excel : length, section, supporting conditions, load cases... The problem is: most of these depend on your modelization and have to be interpreted from the geometry. So I don't see what you expect to automatize...

Here is what is feasible though: for each beam you can extract an image of the beam (and sections if needed) which you send to Excel so that you make your calculations in Excel.

To do this Dynamo is clearly too weak (your stuff will get too complicated to be debugged) so I definitely advise to use the API and C#. You could use the Excel Interop library to manipulate Excel, though it has many flaws.

We did a project of this type for doors in about 2 months programming, but we know the API rather well.

Good luck!

Re: Revit structural automation link with excel spread sheet

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 09:07:14 GMT

Thanks for your valuable response!

My intention is I want to automate the revit work flow like i.e., if I want to place a footing with help of structural tab>isolate footing > pick that and place it where I want to place that. Instead of that I want to control that all sequences into excel spread sheet....

Can you guid me for what I expect and which I want to learn to that I develop.

I'm as a structural modular in our company they want that automate the revit work flow for next level.. that is my new challenging in my core field because I dont know about the programming and dynamo script so that now im studying and developing. Now I'm started first step which was standardised all familes what wear often using in our drawing. Then I'm move on next level that is automation. Here I'm stuck with how to develop.

Thank you!

Re: Revit structural automation link with excel spread sheet

BenoitE&A — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 09:54:30 GMT

Hey,

Ok I definitely don't understand what you intend to do. You want to place your footings (for example) from Excel? Good luck with that! Where will they be placed? At the bottom of walls and pillars? What if you don't want them centered?

Re: Revit structural automation link with excel spread sheet

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 10:50:24 GMT

How can I explain?.. okay I'll clear tell that what I expecting...the placement of elements that means all families (not only fooing) with the help of excel spread sheet. I want create model link with excel sheet that placings should be grid coordinates and I should not manually create the model in revit.

I'm so confused sir.

Re: Revit structural automation link with excel spread sheet

BenoitE&A — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 11:11:14 GMT

The interest of Revit is precisely to offer you a visual interface so that you can check that your model is what you expect and not a pile of numbers that are in fact not a building.

Going your way you would have to deal with many issues, among which: the real placement of your elements (for example you can place a wall by its center line or any of its two faces) ; the localization of their holes (windows, doors, builderswork...), etc... and for each category you will have the same issues. And consider the links wall/wall or wall/floor, for which Revit is not very precise...

Enormous work down there with no significant gain in productivity if you ask me. Rather consider how to apply your structural tools as fast as possible using a Revit model in order to save your engineer's hours. There is plenty of ideas down there to extract geometry from a model and transfer it into specialized structural algorithms.