Accessing detailed parameters in a structural steel connection

[karlalex]

We are looking to manipulate the new structural steel connections in Revit using the API.

I can access a connection e.g. a 'Baseplate' connection and read its parameters. The properties dialog in Revit allows one to 'edit' the connection and set e.g. stiffeners, bolts - numbers and sizes, plate thickness etc. The readable parameters however do not contain these settings I mentioned, only those that are otherwise visible in the properties dialog. The detailed dimensions etc. must be stored in another object. Does anyone have an idea how to access the dimension and other data of a steel connection. Any help or comment will be appreciated.

Thanks. Karl

[jeremytammik]

Dear Karl,

Thank you for your query.

I cannot say off-hand, so I am forwarding your question to the development team that knows.

I'll update as soon as I hear back from them.

Thank you for your patience.

Best regards,

Jeremy

[karlalex]

Thank you very much Jeremy.

Regards

Karl

[jeremytammik · Accepted solution]

Dear Karl,

I am sorry to have to announce sad news to you from the development team.

They say:

These parameters are stored in the Extensible Storage data of the Steel Connection element and are read and written only by the Steel Connection add-in that knows the GUID and ES schema definition, so it cannot be read by a third party.

I am afraid that I cannot suggest any way to access this data using the Revit API at the moment.

Thank you for your understanding.

If you are totally committed to accessing it programmatically anyway, you could of course try to use the Windows and .NET Automation APIs to simulate the user interaction with the Revit properties dialogue to extract the data that way.

I hope this helps.

Good luck and best regards,

Jeremy

[karlalex]

Dear Jeremy

Thank you for the clarification.

Please ask the development team to look at allowing more interaction for Revit 2018.

Best regards

Karl Eschberger

[jeremytammik]

Dear Karl,

Thank you for your request.

I submitted the wish list item CF-4610 [API wish: access to detailed parameters in a structural steel connection -- 11971887] on your behalf for the functionality you suggest, as this issue requires exploration and possibly a modification to our software. Please make a note of this number for future reference.

You are welcome to request an update on the status of this issue or to provide us with additional information at any time quoting this wish list item number.

This issue is important to me. What can I do to help?

This issue needs to be assessed by our engineering team, and prioritised against all of the other outstanding change requests. Any information that you can provide to influence this assessment will help. Please provide the following where possible:

• Impact on your application and/or your development.
• The number of users affected.
• The potential revenue impact to you.
• The potential revenue impact to Autodesk.
• Realistic timescale over which a fix would help you.
• In the case of a request for a new feature or a feature enhancement, please also provide detailed Use cases for the workflows that this change would address.

This information is extremely important. Our engineering team have limited resources, and so must focus their efforts on the highest impact items. We do understand that this will cause you delays and affect your development planning, and we appreciate your cooperation and patience.

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Jeremy

[karlalex]

Dear Jeremy

Thank you for the positive approach to the issue.

In short, I will explain what we are trying to achieve and the impact it could have.

In our region (EMEA), structural steel modelling and detailing has been dominated by a competitor.

With the introduction of Advance Steel, we are able now to compete more effectively.

Specifically now that structural steel connections are available in Revit, it almost completes all the pieces for the workflow required to model and design a steel structure in detail and provide the documentation for production of the elements needed for construction.

We are Autodesk resellers in the AEC space, specifically the structural engineering side. We can offer Revit, Advance Steel and Civil 3D as base tools.

Our own products link Revit to analysis and design tools to do code checking and then to update the Revit models.

Part of our design suite offering are modules that can do structural steel connection design to various design codes (code checking) for a wide range of jurisdictions around the globe.

To complete the workflow regarding connection design, it would be advantageous to import the results from our connection design modules and apply these directly to the connections in Revit. Specifically, bolt sizes, plate thicknesses, weld sizes, stiffeners layouts and sizes, bolt hole sizes and so on.

Currently users will have to manually edit the connections in Revit and input these one by one from the code checking output.

Making the detailed connection parameters available through the API would enable us to provide a far better solution to our customers and provide answers to competitor products. As such our customers, Autodesk, Advance Steel and we ourselves will all benefit.

Timescale: the sooner the better. We are also a small team with limited resources, so we understand fully the constraints that it brings.

Thank you very much for the assistance

Best regards

Karl Eschberger

[jeremytammik]

Dear Karl,

Thank you for your update, appreciation and business case.

I wish I could approach everything in life positively, always  🙂

I added your new input to the wish list item CF-4610 [API wish: access to detailed parameters in a structural steel connection -- 11971887] to make the development team aware of its importance.

They in turn already took a look at it and assigned it to the appropriate team for further investigation.

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Jeremy

[ChristianBlei]

Hi Jeremy,

I have an equivalent problem at the moment. I am assigned to create a Revit plugin that should create "Advance Steel" base plates. I am really amazed that it is not possible to access the parameters that drive the connection using the API.

Without this option this API part is just worthless. A more complex base plate has 203 parameters. Does it make sense to automate design processes and leave a heap of editing work to the users?

Also, in Advance Steel the connections have a template function. You can save and reuse sets of parameters. This allows to configure Advance Steel better and is a big time saver. Revit doesnot seem to have this function.

best regards,

Christian Blei 

[jeremytammik]

Dear Christian,

Thank you for your input.

I prompted the development team for some feedback on current status of the issue CF-4610 [API wish: access to detailed parameters in a structural steel connection -- 11971887].

Best regards,

Jeremy

[ChristianBlei]

Hi Jeremy,

just as an update: I got an Inquiry from the Munich office of Autodesk if I could build an AS joint for Revit for a POC for an AS/ Revit client.

I forwarded the link to this thread....

I really think the access to AS joint parameters with the Revit API is a must........

best regards,

Christian

[m.gawelVP8H7]

Hello,

Is there any way for users to vote on that case? Voting would show how many people need this functionality.

In my opinion it's crucial for effective work with steel connections.

[jeremytammik]

You cannot directly access or vote for the internal development database issue.

However, what you can do, and what I also suggest doing:

Raise a wish list item for this functionality in the Revit Idea Station (if not already present), quoting the development database issue number, and collect as many votes as you can for that.

Cheers,

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

Has this problem been solved? I am looking to connect to the Revit API to speed up connection design. Please assist with API extensions.

[jeremytammik]

Dear Kelby and all,

I will check with the development team for an updated status report.

Meanwhile, I'll repeat the suggestion from above:

Please raise a wish list item for this functionality in the Revit Idea Station (if not already present), quoting the development database issue number, collect as many votes as you can for that, and post a link to the wish list item here in this thread. That will help drive this forward. Thank you!

Best regards,

Jeremy

[jeremytammik]

The Revit SDK includes a sample showing how to update detailed parameters for a steel connection in Revit; you can find it here:

\Samples\SampleCommandsSteelElements\CS\UpdateConnectionDetailedParameters.cs

Mentioned here by The Building Coder listing the new Revit 2019 SDK samples:

https://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2018/04/revitlookup-2019-and-new-sdk-samples.html#3

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

Hi Jeremy,

Thank you for the response.

I am now faced with the next problem. I need access to the following references:

Where can I get access to the Advance Steel API?

Regards,

Kelby

[karlalex]

Hi Kelby

Add the following references:

ASCADLinkMgd

ASGeometryMgd

ASObjectsMgd

RvtDwgAddon

These are found under C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit 2020\AddIns\SteelConnections

Hope this helps.

Regards

Karl 

[Anonymous]

Hi Jeremy,

Thank you for the feedback.

I have now found a way to read and edit the parameters within the connection.

My next task would be to visualize the modified connection within my 3rd party WPF application. Does the Revit API provide for this feature?

Regards,

Kelby

[jeremytammik]

Afaik, the only preview functionality provided by Revit is the PreviewControl:

https://www.revitapidocs.com/2020/50112279-5c9d-0351-bbd1-698e76be9e36.htm

Alternatively, if a static view is sufficient, I would suggest you simply create a screen snapshot.