Import COBie spreadsheet

[Anonymous]

Hi!

I've installed the COBie extension for Revit 2017 and I have populated the fields of the parameters that belong to the model. Now I've to export the COBie spreadsheet in order to fill the last empty fields with the suppliers data.

So my question is: can I later re-import the xls file in Revit, in order to make the model complete with all the component properties?

The result has to be an IFC file totally compatible with the final COBie spreadsheet: how can I do that?

Thanks in advance!!

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @Anonymous

I see that you are visiting as a new member. Welcome to the Autodesk Community! 

Exchange of data is possible between Revit and COBie data using Maximo. Let me see if I can fetch more information on this.

Regards,

[Anonymous]

Hi Viveka! Thank you for the answer, 

So in Maximo you can load the data in the model, right? And is it possible then to come back in Revit from Maximo, after the import of the COBies? What is the relationship between Maximo and the .rvt files? Is Maximo able to export in this format?

Sorry for the numerous questions, but I'm quite new in this topic!

Thanks in advance! 🙂

[Viveka_CD · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous

Currently, there is no way to re-import the data back into the Revit model. COBie itself was specifically designed as a “one-way street”, and we followed that logic when building the COBie Extension.

This is not the first request like this, and this request is already on the wishlist.

Regards,

[Anonymous]

 Dear Viveka,

How can I assign the task parameters to model objects? When I am exporting the sheet, "Assembly, Connection, Spare, Resource, Job, Impact and Document are in black. Is There no way to create paramaters on the model to connect this sheet part?

Thank you so much.

Kind reagards

[alewis3NRDE]

I think this response is a little misleading. It is true that the COBie Extension does not reimport COBie data from a spreadsheet, but there are ways to push data from a COBie spreadsheet back into Revit. For example, a well written Dynamo Script can do the trick. In addition, there are other ways to edit COBie data in Revit through linked spreadsheets using tools DB Link, Ideate. I do agree that it would be great if this capability was more incorporated into the COBie extension though. That app (which was bought by Autodesk) was actually developed and is managed by CADD Microsystems, you could always reach out to them and request this functionality.  

[cbcarch]

You might also check here:

http://www.onuma-bim.com/

[Anonymous]

hi @alewis3NRDE,
response your answer,

---

@alewis3NRDE wrote:

I think this response is a little misleading. It is true that the COBie Extension does not reimport COBie data from a spreadsheet, but there are ways to push data from a COBie spreadsheet back into Revit. For example, a well written Dynamo Script can do the trick. In addition, there are other ways to edit COBie data in Revit through linked spreadsheets using tools DB Link, Ideate. I do agree that it would be great if this capability was more incorporated into the COBie extension though. That app (which was bought by Autodesk) was actually developed and is managed by CADD Microsystems, you could always reach out to them and request this functionality.  

---

you said , that is true possible import cobie spreadsheet to revit.
i'm sorry can you give we an dynamo script ?
to import cobie data spreadheet to revit file.

cz i has same problem but can't solved with dynamo, currently.

[Anonymous]

I have just seen this post and would like to add a few more points.

Revit DB link is an amazing plug-in to export and import. But I doubt that there would not be a link between COBie and the plug-in. It can export data as a database format like '.accdb (Microsoft Access)'. And we can import it back through the plug-in. (Revit DB link has some technical problems to export and import if you are using Revit 2017, 2018 and Microsoft Access 2016, 365 version)

The important thing is only life cycle data of a building can be managed such as warranty period, installation date and location of the element etc. This means geographic data such as shape of the element cannot be edited or changed.

As @alewis3NRDE  said, a well-written dynamo script can link between a 3D model and COBie (spreadsheet version). But as far as I know, that script might allow to edit or change or update life cycle data as Revit DB link does, to change geographic data, the script itself has to be so strong (I have never come across that kind of thing yet). Because there are loads of information in COBie under several categories and to reflect changes from COBie to the model is quite challenging.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlKnNW9KqSU&t=1465s

The above link may help you to write a dynamo script. Though the example in that video shown is Revit to Excel and Excel to Revit, you can modify it.

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @Anonymous,

I was in touch with a Dynamo expert and here's what I've heard back from him:

This is one such example that's helped others out in the past:
https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/using-data-from-excel-to-populate-label-parameters-in-revit/11272/2?u=...

Dynamo - Using data from Excel to populate Label Parameters in Revit

Hi @tkuhn89 Welcome on Forum! You just have to use Read.Excel node, get the values, write the values using Element.SetParameter node. I would suggest for a beginner to have a look at some basic information about Dynamo. Below are the links. http://dynamoprimer.com/en/ http://dictionary.dynamobim.com/#/

Let me know if this information helps you!

Regards,

[Viveka_CD]

@Anonymous, @Anonymous

Also, check out the below

• Learn about tools that can help you manage your COBie deliverable

Regards,

[jallen158]

I wanted to follow up to see if there has been a feature added to import at COBie spreadsheet back into a Revit Model? Or is there a way to easily edit COBie data for multiple items as excel can be used for?