Export entire sets to pdf or dwg

[pieterschiettecatte]

We're currently investigating whether switching to Bim360 makes sense for our office.

We are currently using a combination of Dropbox and Plangrid and for the most part that has worked well. What we are hoping to get out of moving to BIM360 is a better coordination workflow with all the shareholders.

Our issuance process is pretty cumbersome. We export dwg's, export pdf's (painfully slow), e-transmit the model and then upload everything to a dropbox folder that we then share a link to.

What we are hoping to do: publish the model to the cloud and shoot an email out to the consultants that they can fetch it there. Every consultant should then be able to use the model as they see fit:

- Revit-able consultants can download the Revit model

- Cad people can download the entire set (or a single drawing) as dwg

- Clients, client rep, contractors can download entire set (or single drawings) as a pdf.

The publishing part seems pretty straightforward but

1- I wasn't able to find a way to download drawings as DWG?

2- I wasn't able to find a way to download an entire set as PDF?

3- When I downloaded a single drawing as pdf it seems to be rasterized (not vector). Is there a way to print vector? 

4- Can consultants link to our Revit model straight from the cloud using Desktop Connecter? Does that work even if you have worksets in the Revit model? Or is this only an option with Bim360 Design

Also, I'd appreciate any feedback, ideas or suggestions regarding this type of workflow!

Pieter

[pieterschiettecatte]

Anyone any ideas?

Autodesk support suggested that I should contact a 'consultant who works with industry standards' which is interesting as I am basically asking about features in Autodesk software :). It's weird that we would need an external consultant to figure out whether or not an Autodesk product supports certain features?

[jayson.sterba]

Hi @pieterschiettecatte,

The benefit of BIM 360 is not isolated to just a document management service. You can directly collaborate the live models with consultants from other offices through the BIM 360 service. You can choose how and when the models get shared or have them direct linked to always have everyones latest model. 

1- I wasn't able to find a way to download drawings as DWG?

2- I wasn't able to find a way to download an entire set as PDF?

Neither of these functions are currently available in BIM 360. You can extract individual sheets but the source data would be Revit not Autocad or PDF. 

as for the other two questions, let me look into those a bit further for you.

Thank you!

[jayson.sterba]

Hi @pieterschiettecatte

In reference to your question on desktop connector:

Members of the project should be able to link to RVT files (with or without worksets enabled) via Desktop Connector. Published versions should show up as well in the BIM 360 connected drive. 

In general, you should be able to link to any RVT model that appears in the BIM 360 connected drive and have it be considered a cloud link.

Thank you 

[pieterschiettecatte]

Hey Jayson,

At least that's good news. Any news on a vector pdf print?

Very unfortunate that one is not able to export an entire set as pdf or dwg. We are contractually obliged to deliver in those formats. If people could download it themselves from the platform that'd be ideal. It'd free us from a cumbersome workflow.

[jayson.sterba]

hi @pieterschiettecatte,

I totally understand. I used to have to do the same thing when I was working at an Architecture firm. 

As I mentioned it does not currently support it but I can see how it would be a great feature if Docs could eventually do that. Do you mind posting the idea on the ideas board here? BIM 360 Ideas Board

by downloading the pdf do you mean downloading an uploaded pdf or do you mean when you view a file on docs ie a revit model and then print the page?

Thanks!

[pieterschiettecatte]

By downloading a pdf I mean anyone invited to the project would be able to select one or multiple published sheets (or the entire set) and download a pdf from them (vector + all combined in one pdf, not an individual pdf for every single page). 

I don't mean downloading an uploaded pdf.

The idea would be that BIM360docs would take care of generating the pdf's/dwg/etransmit on a per request basis and that we would just need to publish. Would save a lot of (boring) work/time 🙂

[pieterschiettecatte]

Added BIM360 idea for this here: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/bim-360-ideas/download-entire-set-as-multi-page-pdf-or-dwg/idi-p/8285...

[jayson.sterba · Accepted solution]

Hi @pieterschiettecatte

Thank you for the clarification. 

This would also be a new feature request. I agree with you though, would be a nice time saver! 

so in conclusion the answers would be:

The benefit of BIM 360 is not isolated to just a document management service. You can directly collaborate the live models with consultants from other offices through the BIM 360 service. You can choose how and when the models get shared or have them direct linked to always have everyones latest model. 

1, 2, and 3 would be feature requests as BIM 360 does not currently do these for you. The BIM 360 Ideas board post you created: Download entire set as (multi-page) pdf or dwg

4) Members of the project should be able to link to RVT files (with or without worksets enabled) via Desktop Connector. Published versions should show up as well in the BIM 360 connected drive. 

In general, you should be able to link to any RVT model that appears in the BIM 360 connected drive and have it be considered a cloud link.

Thanks for your continued support of BIM 360 and for raising these great questions on our forums. 

Please “Accept As Solution” if a reply or replies have helped resolve the issue or answered your question, to help others in the community.

[jayson.sterba]

hi @pieterschiettecatte,

I'm just checking in to see if you need more help with this.

Thanks!

[pieterschiettecatte]

Appreciate that Jason. I have made a BIM360 idea for this here: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/bim-360-ideas/download-entire-set-as-multi-page-pdf-or-dwg/idi-p/8285...

You can close this topic.

[jayson.sterba]

hi @pieterschiettecatte

thanks for posting the new ideas post!

have a great day!