Revit API vs. ReCap API for Historic Project?

[Anonymous]

See below email sent to the ReCap API group. I am sure you folks have a lot more than 2 cents to add.

TIA,

-Ramon F. Herrera
JFK Numbers

ramon@jfknumbers.org
====================

Hello:

My one-person, not-for-profit organization was the fortunate recipient of a donation, the point cloud data collected for this 2013 program:

PBS NOVA Cold Case JFK: Laser Scanning and Models 

The data resides here:

Dealey Plaza Laser Scan Data from PBS Nova 

I have already produced a lot of value added, such as:

Rendered TSBD from PBS Point Cloud

My question is about the next project, which -frankly- should be historic. See attached mock up images below.

What I want to develop is a very easy, web based tool that allows any user to measure any desired distances, angles, colinearity of 3-4 points, etc.

I am working with the author of this:

Motorcade 1963 by Mark Tyler 

who needs to convert his 2D work to 3D.

I am ready to hire an expert to implement the first step: extract information (perhaps colored triangles?) from either:

(a) My point cloud file (sounds like a lot of work)

(b) The Revit model that I have, already extracted from that point cloud:
Revit Model from PBS Point Cloud Data 

Questions:

(1) Which of the two mentioned APIs is most appropriate for this task?

(2) It seems to me that the Revit API is commercial while the ReCap API is Open Source (my kind of price)

I have the academic versions of much Autodesk software (thanks again!!!).

TIA,

-Ramon F. Herrera
JFK Numbers

-------------------------------

This should further clarify:

Some fellow asked: "Ramon, I am interested to check this pet theory of mine. I wonder whether the real fatal shot is not seen in the Z-film because Kennedy was lying on the limo seat at the time, injured. The fatal bullet was actually shot from the southwest window, opposite the sniper's nest. Is there a line of sight at the precise time?"

"Bob: Make a generous contribution, and yours will be the first theory to be tested".

He offered five bucks.

When the producers of the PBS Nova documentary donated the 36,146,767 3D, RGB colored measurements, doctor Randy Robertson was impatient. He asked me to find somebody in Dallas who would take the 4-5 measurements that he needs. Perhaps they could be extracted right away from my raw data? I contacted my/your/our benefactor, Mike McCormick "can you correspond directly with doctor Robertson?". He'd rather not, preferred to keep it between enginerds. I explained to the Notable Doctor that the issue is not that simple, that measurements had to be synchronized with the Z-film and other images. There would be ranges, some +/- numbers.

GUI Tool Number One: The Robertson Measurement Tool. See preliminary prototypes attached below.

[The trajectory shown comes from another building, which will be measured at laser precision]

Users will be able to measure anything with the accuracy that only laser can provide: not only distances and angles but the Philosopher's Stone:

 "How close are these 3-4 points to colinearity?" (The Single/Magic Bullet Theory, SBT/MBT).

A Rhino PluginRobertson Measurement Tool

[Anonymous]

ps: Stay safe!!

-Ramon
JFK Numbers

[jeremytammik · Accepted solution]

Dear Ramon,

Welcome to the Revit API forum.

I believe the Revit and ReCap APIs are both equally commercial or non-commercial. I do not believe there is a significant difference there. However, if you have access to Autodesk software for free educational purposes, making use of the API will definitely add no additional cost, i.e., it is free as well.

If your goal is to extract triangles and you have a choice between n unprocessed point cloud (which contains zero triangles, just points) and a Revit API model (does it contain triangles?), the choice should be pretty straightforward.

The Revit API supports a feature called custom exporter which is specifically designed to extract all triangles from a model:

https://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#5.1

Best regards,

Jeremy

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

---

@jeremytammik wrote:

Dear Ramon,

Welcome to the Revit API forum.

If your goal is to extract triangles and you have a choice between n unprocessed point cloud (which contains zero triangles, just points) and a Revit API model (does it contain triangles?), the choice should be pretty straightforward.

The Revit API supports a feature called custom exporter which is specifically designed to extract all triangles from a model:

https://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#5.1

Best regards,

Jeremy

---

Perfect! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jeremy. You da man!

Rereading my post above, I realize that I mentioned the term "Notable Doctor" without defining it. They are the ones who have received permission by the Kennedys (today, just Sweet Caroline remains) to handle the autopsy material. Everything else belongs to the government (in theory, to you) but the autopsy (bloody, etc) material was given to Jackie. The National Archives are guarding that stuff, under precise temperature, etc. on behalf of America's Royal Family. See below the 3 Scenarios that are being subjected to precise (with VXR -Virtual X-Rays- plus FEA/CFD component) simulations.

==========================================
Scenario No. 1: Boston University School of Medicine (the School of Engineering was not invited to participate). The X-rays are genuine, the fatal bullet's trajectory was left to right (from Zapruder's point of view). The violent back snap mystery remains unexplained.

Scenario No. 2: Led by doctor Randolph Robertson. The X-rays are genuine, the fatal bullet's trajectory was right to left. The victim was hit high in the head, pushing him back.

Scenario No. 3: Led by doctor David Mantik. The X-rays have been falsified to disguise the large back hole seen by 40+ at Parkland and Bethesda Hospitals. The bullet trajectory was right to left. The victim was hit lower in the head, opening a hole in the back of the cranium.
==========================================

NB: The Notable Doctors that uphold Scenario No. 2 and 3 have been very helpful. I sent them plastic craniums which they marked:

That is Lee and Marina's Cheap Camera

Meanwhile the Notable Doctor that supports Scenario No. 1 and his team have refused to cooperate with my little project or to publish anything.

Creation from Boston University Medical School

-Ramon
JFK Numbers
ramon@jfknumbers.org

Virtual X-Rays (thanks to Autodesk!)

[Anonymous]

---

@jeremytammik wrote:

Dear Ramon,

Welcome to the Revit API forum.

The Revit API supports a feature called Custom Exporter which is specifically designed to extract all triangles from a model:

https://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#5.1

Best regards,

Jeremy

---

Jeremy: You are modest man! I just noticed that the great tool in question is in your website. BTW: Did you lose/gain some weight?   : -)

Jeremy from Switzerland

As long as you have been so generous and useful may I ask you for something else? I am trying to decide whether coding the Revit API/SDK is something that I (in my day job I am a Software Engineer, have never used any 3D SDK) can easily handle or whether I should attempt to find in the Freelancer site a professional  with experience using that SDK.

Request: Can you please upload a "Hello, world" code segment that uses the Custom Exporter feature?

TIA,

-Ramon F Herrera
JFK Numbers

ramon@jfknumbers.org

[Anonymous]

I just discovered these great resources:

Revit 2019 SDK and My First Plugin Update 

My First Revit Plug-in: Introduction to Programming 

My next question is this: the Revit API/SDK can be used to develop plugins. However, I would like to implement a standalone tool to extract the colored triangles from a *.rvt file.

Can that be achieved with the Revit programming tool(s)?

Bonus question: What is the relationship between the Revit API and the Revit SDK?

TIA,

-Ramon F. Herrera
JFK Numbers
ramon@jfknumbers.org

[jeremytammik]

> implement a standalone tool ... Can that be achieved with the Revit programming tool(s)?

No.

> Bonus question: What is the relationship between the Revit API and the Revit SDK?

Ask Wikipedia:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_programming_interface
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_development_kit

[Anonymous]

---

@jeremytammik wrote:

> Bonus question: What is the relationship between the Revit API and the Revit SDK?

Ask Wikipedia:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_programming_interface
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_development_kit

---

Jeremy:

I have two engineering degrees and one of them is in Software Engineering. Have been making a living in that field (and like you, contributing to Open Source) for about 30 years.

I like you better than I like Wikipedia (and I like Wikipedia a lot). Different companies implement those tools in different ways.

"An SDK can take the form of an application programming interfaces (APIs) in the form of on-device libraries of reusable functions used to interface to a particular programming language, or it may be as complex as hardware-specific tools that can communicate with a particular embedded system."

My question stands.

Cheers!

-Ramon

JFK Numbers

ps: Stay safe!

[jeremytammik · Accepted solution]

Cool! 

Sorry for being so short.

OK, next attempt to answer:

(Please note that I almost never answer a question, because I already have, oh, so many times over.)

Please read the getting started material overview that I probably already pointed out to you above:

https://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#2

"The Revit SDK or Software Development Kit includes API documentation and samples. "

The Revit API consists of nothing but the Revit API .NET assemblies that are included with the Revit product installation. You need nothing but those .NET assemblies to work with and access the Revit API.

The Revit SDK includes nothing but API documentation and samples. 

I hope that clarifies better.

Cheers,

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

---

@jeremytammik wrote:

I hope that clarifies better.

Cheers,

Jeremy

---

It definitely does. In my job, I have been unofficially appointed as the explainer (to pointy haired bosses, etc). The way I have simplified the SDK/API duo is "The SDK is the package that Santa brought, one of the goodies inside is the API".

Interestingly, in the company where I work, I am currently in the never-ending implementation of something VERY similar, but the target is Excel. Using C# I load my plugin which adds a main menu, several buttons, etc.

What I trying to decide is the demarcation line between my work and the Freelancer that I planning to hire in this project:

Use the Revit API to Write Code to Extract Colored Triangles from *.rvt files 

This is the most promising bidder:

His First Project

As you can see, this is his first time.

Thanks again! Don't go too far. : -)

-Ramon
JFK Numbers

ramon@jfknumbers.org

[Anonymous]

I badly need advice from Jeremy or anybody in the community. After a long interview I decided that I had found THE perfect professional. He offered to:

 - Create an *.exe program
 - Based on Forge (a paid per usage service).
 - The app will extract all the colored triangles from my *.rvt file.

He lives in Canada (bad news for me) and is asking for $5,000 to write that program.

He may as well have kept the initial 1/4 million bucks since I cannot remotely afford that amount.

So I am back where I began: many plans, illusions and shallow pockets.  : -(

Advice?

-Ramon
JFK Numbers

[jeremytammik · Accepted solution]

Learn programming, or find some other enthusiastic person willing to do so.

You are now talking about using Forge.

You have left the simple domain of the pure Revit API and entered the combined domain of Forge Design Automation for Revit:

https://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#5.55

Still, this task is simple and can be solved by a motivated newbie.

You could join a Forge accelerator to get live and advice and complete it in a week:

https://forge.autodesk.com/accelerator-program

[Anonymous]

---

@jeremytammik wrote:

Learn programming, or find some other enthusiastic person willing to do so.

---

I am sure you mean learn Revit, its API (your wonderful creation, right?), Forge, etc. The good news is that after some intricate, detailed 🙂 negotiations, I was able to persuade the ambitious bidder to decrease:

 - From $250,000 to $5,000
 - From $5,000 to $1,000 (still steep, but the cause is worth it)

There is a little problem with adding that programming skill to my looong list:

(1) See image:

The Subject That Never Dies

 (2) The long term plan is to reproduce this, in which Revit cannot possibly play a big role:

We Have Been Fed Bovine Manure

Perhaps Unreal Engine is the proper tool for the long term, definite task?

-Ramon
JFK Numbers

[Anonymous]

---

@jeremytammik wrote:

Learn programming, or find some other enthusiastic person willing to do so.

https://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#5.55

Still, this task is simple and can be solved by a motivated newbie.

---

Hi Jeremy: I have followed your wise advice. Have located an outstanding Freelancer specialized in the intricacies of the Revit (and other) SDK/API. I can also start coding, as an apprentice and motivated newbie.

My current doubt is this:

Custom Exporter but which of these??

TIA,

-Ramon
JFK Numbers
ramon@jfknumbers.org

[jeremytammik]

You should read first and ask later.

There is only one 3D custom exporter.

[Anonymous]

---

@jeremytammik wrote:

You should read first and ask later.

There is only one 3D custom exporter.

---

I read first, read second and read third.

You provided a link to:

https://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#5.1 

Section 5.1

Which leads to:

My Quesition Remains

If this is "specifically designed to extract all triangles from a model" how come the word "triangle" is not seen there?

Then, you provided another link to:

https://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#5.55 

Which is:

Is That What I need? Which One?

Ramon: Never mind the second link, that is something else, equally confusing.

At this rate the tragic murder will not be solved, as I expected, with Autodesk software making worldwide headlines, soon but it will take another 60 years.

I am running as fast as I can, barely sleeping, learning multiples 3D apps at once to make it to the upcoming Oliver Stone 3-hour documentary. The head writer is Jim DiEugenio, a long time associate who I introduced to 3D and the Numerical Solution (only one left). I was under the impression that Autodesk software and its great forums were designed to make things more efficient.

AGC Television Acquires Worldwide Rights to Oliver Stone Doc ‘JFK: Destiny Betrayed’ 

AGC Television Picks up Worldwide on Oliver Stone’s ‘JFK: Destiny Betrayed’ rayed-1203368818/ 

-Ramon

JFK Numbers