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AutodeskHelp is extremely honored to showcase Nauman Mysorewala in this month's edition of the Expert Elite Highlight series. Nauman has vast experience as well as the breadth and depth of knowledge in the use of multiple Autodesk products, which is truly admirable. Here, Nauman shows his extensive experience in the field by sharing a list of free Revit apps that could help maximize productivity while minimizing time and effort. Let's begin!
Free Subscription extensions/add-ons from Autodesk
These add-ons have been around for many releases and some are a must have for any Revit user. I will list them in the order of my favorites. To download these, you will need to have access to them via your Autodesk Account.
Here are instructions on how to download them: http://autode.sk/2dXRU7K or https://manage.autodesk.com
→ Revit/Building Design Suite → Downloads → Updates & Add-Ons
For older versions, click "View All Enhancements" at the bottom of the pop-up. You will need be on subscription and have authorization from your Contract Manager or Software Coordinator. Educators and students are also eligible.
- eTransmit
This is by far my favorite tool. If you have used Etransmit in AutoCAD then this is what you need for Revit. It allows you to created a transmitted Revit model and dependent files to a single folder for transmission. It also can Purge, STRIP out the selected types of Views and Sheets. A great embedded jewel in the product is the ability to upgrade all linked models from a prior release to current version, stripping out the pathing as well.
Originally developed by EaglePoint, Site Designer enables architects, designers, and planners to shape the terrain for building sites using grading tools to model pads, parking lots, streets, sidewalks, and retaining walls. Site Designer uses Revit families, components, and toposurfaces, so designs become part of the overall building information model without the need to transfer between design systems.
- Space Naming Utility
The Autodesk Revit Space Naming Utility assigns the names and numbers from architectural rooms to MEP spaces used for building performance analysis.
- Work-sharing Monitor
Work-sharing Monitor for Autodesk Revit facilitates the use of software in a file-based work-sharing environment, in which multiple people work on one Revit project. You can learn who is currently working on the project, whether your local copy of the project is up to date, when a Synchronize with Central operation will finish, and more.
- Revit Extensions
Revit Extensions extend the capabilities of Autodesk. Key tools are Structural Analysis Toolkit, Structure generation of Timber Framing, Grids, Frames reinforcement, interoperability and construction documentation. The latest version contains a portion of all previously released Revit Extensions (some content is no longer supported) plus several modules migrated from Autodesk Exchange Apps. Some modules have been split out and have their own install.
- Revit DB Link
DB Link for Autodesk Revit provides exporting of Revit project data to a database, make changes to the data, and import it back into the Revit project.
- Steel Connections
Use Steel Connections for Revit to view detailed structural connector geometry and to modify additional parameters in the Revit modeling environment.
- Roombook / Areabook / Buildingbook Extension
Roombook calculates the room-related surface areas of walls, floors and ceiling elements as well as room circumferences and furnishing elements for a complete material calculation of the interior finish. Areabook calculates living and net areas by rooms and room groups as well as net, gross and construction floor areas by projects for a comprehensive floor area calculation. Buildingbook calculates the material-related quantities of constructive building parts for a detailed quantification of materials under consideration of layers, parts and components.
- Batch Print
Batch Print for Autodesk Revit provides an easy way to print a large number of drawings (views and sheets) from a Revit model unattended.
- Model Review
Allows you to validate the accuracy and consistency of Revit models.
- Autodesk® Revit® Extension for Autodesk® Fabrication
This tool allows users to save models that have been produced in Revit 2017 using Fabrication Parts to a file compatible with Autodesk® Fabrication 2017 software products.
- Civil Structures Enhancements
Using these Bridge Modeling enhancements, you can generate bridges based on user-defined criteria. Users can define basic parameters of the geometry of a bridge including: a road profile, a deck, abutments, piers and railings. The road profile may also be imported from a LandXML format file.
Some other small plugins and apps by Autodesk are also available from the Autodesk App Exchange as well.
All Free Apps http://bit.ly/2dBuIx9
This ever evolving market place for all Autodesk verse add-ons, plugins and extensions for many products. Easily access specific product store from within the Autodesk product. Click on the icon on top right corner. The first few listed are my favorites.
Revit Apps
- COINS Auto-Section Box | http://bit.ly/2dEm2qK
In my opinion, this is the BEST and extremely useful app on the market. The COINS Auto-Section Box tool gives you tremendous speed and agility over managing three-dimensional views when analyzing model areas of particular interest. It allows you to quickly create temporary and permanent views to be used for immediate interrogation of the model or for construction document deliverables. This works by allowing you to focus on the model instead of managing views or a view’s properties. The side by side options is great too.
Revit 2016 added some of the functionality this plugin provided, however it still beats it hands down.
- Juan Osborne Free Apps: Transfer Single, FilterMore, Workset Creator | http://bit.ly/JOsborneRvt |
http://www.juanosborne.com/
Transfer Single: One of the extremely useful apps. Tired of all or nothing regular Transfer Project Standards? Not being to able to import Legends, Plans, or Section Views? With Transfer Single you will be able to transfer just one item of most of the standards, even to multiple files! You will be able to copy additional elements like views, printing setups, section boxes; worksets. Even legends with contents! However, I was not able to transfer sheets.
Workset Creator: and if you have tons of worksets (why?) Mass change workset names with options like double click name editing, “Find and Replace”, or by “Adding a Prefix”. Also it will create a bunch of worksets in just a few clicks letting you paste names from other apps like text files. WorksetbyAverage will let you assign workset to multiple elements based in category, family or type, and will suggest you best target workset based in average workset of same elements.
FilterMore | http://bit.ly/FilterMore
FilterMore is an advanced filter that will let you view your current selection as single elements and grouped by category, family and type. It will also let you expand your current selection through different options like nested, hosted or host of elements.
- BIMOne Apps | http://www.bimone.com/en/Apps
Export/Import data between Revit and Excel | http://bit.ly/IEExcelRvt
The Import/export Excel allows you to synchronize data back and forth between Revit and Excel. It also means you can alleviate the data management process by delegating tasks related to the model to team members that don’t use the model.
Batch Revit 3D view exporter for Navisworks
The NWC Batch Export is a tool to batch export your 3D views to a predefined folder.
You can use the BIMOne Installer to install Case apps as well.
- Case Apps - Pro & Free both open sourced for 2015-2017
Thank you WeWork for making them open source.
A revolutionary set of Autodesk Revit Add-ins and Tools, CASE Apps enhances your daily BIM workflows allowing your teams to do more—better and faster. Previously offered as pro and free subscriptions, the open-source software comes with a simple installer. There are a lot of awesome tools that were available for free in the past. Since WeWork acquired the company, they went off line. They were greatly missed. Don Rudder developed most of these tools. Matthew Nelson, Matteo Cominetti, and Kyle Morin contributed.
These are available from BIMone installer (which give you the opportunity to control which apps are installed) or you can download the full installers from Github directly.
App Installer: https://github.com/WeConnect/case-apps/releases | There are two separate installers. One for 2017 and 2015/2016.
Source Code: https://github.com/WeConnect/case-apps
The descriptions are missing as the original site went offline. Someone has collected all the links to the blogs published in the past. I had copied the compilations and now cannot find the page where I borrowed this content from. I will not take credit for the compilation of this list.
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- Add-in Manager
- Basic Reporting
- Change & Replace Family and/or Type Names
- Change and Replace Line Styles
- Create Plan Views by Discipline
- Delete Sheets, Views, and Revit Links
- Door Mark Updater
- Exceler8
- Export Families to RFA Files
- External Wall Directions
- Extrude Rooms to 3D Mass
- Import Images to Drafting Views
- Import openNURBS (3dm File Data)
- Migrate Parameter to Parameter
- Multiple View Duplicator
- Object Styles Exporter
- Parallize Walls
- Place 3D Room Tags
- Railing Length Data Porter
- Rename Families and Types from Excel
- Report Groups By View
- Reusable and Sharable Selection Sets
- Revision Cloud Data Export to Text File
- Room and Space Insertion Point to Centroid
- Room Sync with Linked Models
- Super Shared Parameter Loader
- Super Tag
- Ungroup All
- View Template Controller
- View Template Manager
- Workset Browser
· Palladio X BIM Windows Layout
Using this addin, all open windows can be arranged by a scheme. Contrary to the built-in windows arranging tool which allows you only to tile or cascade windows, PXBIM WindowsLayout assumes that you want the active window to get most of the screen space.
· Room Finishing
We use this for creating Finish Floors for our projects, pretty handy and free. The Room Finishing application allows you to automatically create a skirting board or a finish floor all the way around any architectural room.
· ClarkDeitrich Wall Type Creator
The ClarkDietrich Wall Type Creator™ is the first Autodesk® Revit® add-on design tool that intelligently incorporates detailed information on wall elements and design properties, such as UL assemblies based on fire rating requirements, STC sound ratings and limiting height design.
· ASSA ABLOY Openings Studio™
It is a full-featured, web-based suite of BIM software tools for creating and visualizing 3D doors, frames, and hardware objects and modifying their associated parameters for use in design, construction, and facility management. It has an extensive feature set with Assa Abloy providing Hardware consulting services. The real benefit to general Revit user is its ability to create Revit Door families using an intuitive GUI based interface. Create parametric, intelligent door families “on the fly” for libraries or projects; custom configurable to various levels of detail. The Opening Studio can be used to create Curtain Wall Door families as well. They also have some manufacturer family content available on their website as well.
The process to create a new door family is extremely easy. Select the Door Panel Type and size. Select the Frame type and size. Click Export to load it into Revit project. IT can generate complex door families as well.
ASSA ABLOY Openings Studio™ requires an activation code to register the software. You can fill out the online form or call your local Assa Abloy sales rep to provide you with the code.
There are a few collections of Suites, BIM Manager Suite, BIM Project Suite and the newest is BIM Batch Suite. A lot of the tools in there are paid tools, but all suites have some free gems that can be used.
FREE TOOLS:
BIM Manager Suite
These set of tools are intended to help the BIM Manager maintain the model.
- Family Tools
This tool contains a collection of utilities that assist with the family creation process, including: Deleting backup families, working with type catalogs and shared parameter files, listing the version of Autodesk® Revit® in which families were last saved. - Project Cleaner
This tool deletes views, sheets, schedules, legends and Revit links, which can be useful for preparing projects to send off to consultants. - Revision Cloud Remover
This tool makes it fast and easy to remove non-issued revision clouds from your project.
BIM Project Suite
These set of tools are geared towards project related tasks.
- BIM List
This tool is a content management solution providing the ability to browse, sort, search and leverage your families more effectively, helping to enforce company standards. - Detail Link
This tool automates the process of linking AutoCAD® DWG details for use in the Autodesk® Revit® project environment. - Length Calculator
This tool calculates the length of selected duct, pipe, conduit or cable tray runs. - Project Link
This tool provides a system for finding and organizing documents and web site addresses from within Revit. - Quick Select
This tool quickly changes which elements are selected by using filters for categories, parameter values and views. - Renumbering
This tool provides a fast and simple way to renumber your rooms and doors, including adding separators and suffixes to room and door numbers. - Revit Properties
This tool shows Revit file properties (including Revit version) by right-clicking on the file in Windows Explorer.
BIM Batch Suite
BIM Batch Suite provides tools to allow Revit users to process workflows en masse, with a focus on importing and exporting data.
- Family Loader
This tool allows users to select multiple families to load or to nest into multiple projects/families, reload only those families into an existing project, and provides the option to overwrite existing parameter values. - Family Exporter
This tool allows users to easily select specific families to export from projects, automatically create folder structure based on family categories and geometry, and add customized text to exported family names. - Autodesk BIM Interoperability
Expands the functionality of built in IFC capabilities within Revit. It is updated quite often to keep up with the changes.
· Revit Plugins available at http://autode.sk/2dGIEJx
Revit Model Checker
Developed for the US Army Corps of Engineers. Use this free tool to automatically check your Revit models based on a set of BIM requirements and generate a compliance report. Checking for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, COBie, overall reporting, and many more. Use the Model Checker Configurator to create your own configurations files to be used by the Model Checker, No HTML coding required.
COBie Extension for Revit 2017-2014
Set up Revit models to capture COBie data and then export that data to a COBie compliant spreadsheet with this free tool. With simple set up and use, produce COBie-compliant deliverables, at any level of Revit experience. Visually assign rooms/spaces to zones with dynamic zone management tool. Visit the Knowledge base to download the guides and sample files. The guides and sample files are for 2016 and below, however they work with Revit 2017. The plugin for 2017 is also available at the link above.
Navisworks Plugins
- Auto Search Set | http://goo.gl/9owrNl
Search Sets are very powerful tool and can be used in many ways in Autodesk® Navisworks®. However it is generally time consuming to create multiple Search Sets for different value of a property. This App does the job for you and Auto creates the Search Sets.
The App creates multiple Search Sets in a very short time for using in Clash Detection, Auto-Attach to Timeliner, Create Viewpoints, Hide/Unhide Elements easily and even for many more function.
- Properties+ | http://goo.gl/mpW98j
The Properties+ plugin allows you to select just the model properties you are interested in, and displays them all together in the same window
That's it for now, looking forward to further communication with the Autodesk Community.
Credits: Some of the descriptions comes from AutodeskHelp, Plugin/App/Extension publisher descriptions and other websites.
Nauman Mysorewala is a registered Architect with more than 23 years of experience with the Autodesk® family of products including AutoCAD®, AutoCAD Architecture, Revit®, Navisworks® and 3ds Max®.
Nauman is a BIM Manager for GBBN Architects Inc., a multinational architectural design firm focused on innovating the essential building blocks of our communities - housing, healthcare, education, and cultural venues.. His expertise’s are in healthcare and research architectural projects. He assists the GBBN’s in4mation facilities management team with resolving complex implementation issues with Archibus and Autodesk products. He also teaches BIM applications at University of Cincinnati as an adjunct faculty.
Nauman is an Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture 2011/Revit Architecture 2015 certified professional, Autodesk Expert Elite, and LEED® AP.
He enjoys discovering new products and technologies and implementing them in architecture. He utilizes his advanced knowledge of computers and Building Information Modeling software applications to better realize the design process as well as solve complicated connection detail issues.
Please join Autodesk in thanking Nauman for this detailed and valuable inventory of free Revit apps that may be useful in the day-to-day Revit use. We hope his guide will help folks to maximize their Revit use.
For more articles like these, please subscribe to the AutodeskHelp blog to learn about helpful product tips and updates.
BIMologist / Dr. Revit
Approved Autodesk Services Marketplace provider - BIM Consulting
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A Very great and useful wrap-up of everything that would improve our work !,
Thanks for the great article Nauman 🙂
great article buddy!
Charles Berteaux IV
EDT BIM/VDC/Technology Department Manager | SSOE Group | Hillsboro
www.ssoe.com
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EDT BIM/VDC/Technology Department Manager | SSOE Group | Hillsboro
www.ssoe.com
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