Revit 2027 Add-in Installation folder changes

[luca_oeler]

Hi,

i just checked the Revit 2027 SDK for migrating Revit 2027 into my add-in.

I noticed that Revit 2027 has a new location for non-user-specisific add-in bundles. 

My problem is that this is not compatible with older Revit versions.

My add-in uses the bundle structure to provide the same ressources for multiple Revit versions.

I dont understand the idea how to support older Revit versions and Revit 2027 in a application bundle in a non-user specific scenario.

I attached the documents im refering, but i tested the bundle and it did not work in programdata for Revit 2027 and for the other Revit versions 2024-2026 in program files.

Can you please help me?

best regards

p.s. the "Getting Started with the Revit API.docx" has the wrong path!

[ricaun]

Yes, the folder ProgramData is deprecated and replaced by Program Files in Revit 2027.

Here is the online docs: https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2027/ENU/?guid=f7165618-24c9-4160-a7a4-09979fe4a981

And there is a discussion on the Autodesk Feedback - Enhancement - Improved File Permissions Security for Addins

I guess if you really need to install the bundle for all users you gonna need to install in two folders, kinda annoying but that's the way...

In my case I stop using the ProgramData folder and replace to the %AppData% just because works in all Revit versions and does not require Admin privilege, so make simpler to auto update the bundle.

[GaryOrrMBI]

In addition to now having to make a choice between all users and adding Admin rights or switch to per user installs... has anyone noticed an absence of the new designated location or is it an installation issue on my computer?

-G

[luca_oeler]

Revit install does not create the folder at my machine too, but if you create it by yourself it works.

[frankiewiczKZD3X]

I wonder if there was any one who ask for it, I didn't notice any one who what it. Explanation that it was made for security is a nothing burger, this bring more problems and solve nothing. Now we have to make exception in instalation scripts just for this case. I wish autodesk stop changing things and start maybe fixing bugs. 
It was already pathetic when they write on first page abaut 'Expose Property Line API ' some thing that idea was made in 2017 and post is from 2015.  

[ricaun]

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@frankiewiczKZD3X wrote:

I wonder if there was any one who ask for it, I didn't notice any one who what it. Explanation that it was made for security is a nothing burger, this bring more problems and solve nothing. Now we have to make exception in instalation scripts just for this case. I wish autodesk stop changing things and start maybe fixing bugs. 

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There other discussion about this folder change Add-In installation folder in the Autodesk Feedback, a user noticed that AutoCAD was removing the ProgramData folder and ask if gonna happen in Revit.

Nobody ask for that change and because ProgramData is a weird folder that sometimes allow to change files in there without admin privileges (at least in my Windows 11 is working like that), any new user could play around with files in the ProgramData folder.

Anyway I already know that change would happen and did all the changes in the installation for the plugins, I just swap to only install in the current user (%AppData%) and every thing is fine.

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@frankiewiczKZD3X wrote:

It was already pathetic when they write on first page abaut 'Expose Property Line API ' some thing that idea was made in 2017 and post is from 2015.  

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Don't think Autodesk care enough about Revit API to make better for the developer, a lot of things is missing in the API, a bug take ages to be fixed, and most of the time a workaround is the only solution.

[frankiewiczKZD3X]

ProgramData work for most of us beacuse windwos can have a wierd security set up.

Most users in corporation do not have write or acces to use ProgramFiles, witch mean if dll is sign with difrent certificate it can make imposible to use addin.
Most people in organizations do not have admin privalage. 

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Anyway I already know that change would happen and did all the changes in the installation for the plugins, I just swap to only install in the current user (%AppData%) and every thing is fine.

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cool but when your instalation process have version for 2026 and 2025 it become not just simple swap, what pains me that they didn't make a time to go from one to anothere, even one year would make life much easier. 

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Don't think Autodesk care enough about Revit API to make better for the developer, a lot of things is missing in the API, a bug take ages to be fixed, and most of the time a workaround is the only solution.

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and that is big problem we still pay money for this and it is very poor quality. And in way this is going making product similar to it on the same rules as Blender seems like cheaper way.