Material map scaling/grouping vs AXM file size

[lucdoucet_msdl]

I've noticed, in an extreme case of using the same material with multiple instances that have been scaled/offset/rotated, that the file size increases with each addition instance.

In my attempt to randomize the appearance of a tree bark material map on a log house type cladding, I painted the surfaces of individual groups (one for each "log") then randomly assigned scales/offets/rotations to each.

Grouping also seems to have an effect on file size. 

Here is an example:

600Kb Simple model, each log a group, 3 walls a group of log groups

331Mb Same grouped model with texture map applied to parent group (groups are all default material)

  19Mb Model above ungrouped model with texture map applied to non-grouped geometry

  1,2Gb Grouped model with texture maps painted and scaled on exterior face of logs, 3 walls a group of log groups

Is this the expected behaviour?

Thanks

P.S. (file available on demand)

[josh.goldstein]

Hi Luc,

Thanks for posting about this. We'd like to take a look at the files. I'll reach out via direct message to coordinate. 

Regards,

[josh.goldstein]

Hi Luc,

This has been fixed in FormIt 2021.

FormIt Groups now share one copy of Material bitmaps, which results in dramatic reductions in file sizes, and a modest performance improvement generally. In your case, the FormIt file went from 1.2GB to 19MB. 

Note that this fix means that files saved in FormIt 2021, then converted to Revit using unsupported versions of the Add-In (2019 and older) will not include Materials. We're recommending folks upgrade to Revit 2020 or Revit 2021 to avoid this. 

You've probably already seen it, but here's what else is new in FormIt 2021.

Enjoy!