Restore .fbx export function?

[Anonymous]

Dear Autodesk,

Could you please let me know if Autodesk would consider restoring the .fbx export function from Revit?

I did ask this same question a couple of years ago and the answer was to either: purchase FULL REVIT as opposed to REVIT LT, or to purchase 3DMax (as a very expensive file converter). I am already aware that Lumion and D5 Render plug-ins within FULL REVIT work well. Therefore, could you please not suggest this as a solution again. I am asking again in the hope that I may get a more constructive answer from someone else this time around.

I used my perpetual FULL REVIT 2010 license for many years and had no issues exporting to .fbx (with all materials recognised) and importing into LUMION. I was extremely happy with the workflow.

I am now using REVIT LT (from 2019) and cannot export files via .fbx as all of the materials are missing. I have tested REVIT LT 2022 and an educational version of FULL REVIT 2022 and have discovered no improvement.

Ideally, I would like to be able to export .fbx files from REVIT LT (with materials recognised), so that I can import them into LUMION and D5 render. I have tested every kind of alternative export option available, but have not found a good solution. Every other type of file export is problematic for one reason or another. The closest solution would be to either export as:

1. a .dwg file set to 'ACIS Solids' (to allow for smooth curves, however composite walls become one element with one material which is terrible. Exporting as a .dwg 'Polymesh' will split a composite wall into different materials, but all smooth objects like 'cornices' will be segmented which is unacceptable for rendering purposes.). The biggest issue with exporting as a .dwg file, is that the heirarchy of material/family names (eg: WALLS - Exterior-1) will change when a new family element is introduced within the Revit File. Materials in LUMION will shuffle around and have to be re-applied when the Revit model (via .dwg) is refreshed.

2. Exporting REVIT LT as .IFC and converting it into an .fbx file appeared to be the best solution as materials and smooth curves are maintained. (however composite walls are still exported as one element with one material). I thought this was the best solution until I did a 'House Swap test' within LUMION (which is very important for  workflow as we don't want to reapply materials every time we want to present an alternative design for the same project). I discovered that the 'House Swap test' failed because numbers were added to the beginning of all material names. For example: For Project 1, '_WALL - Brick', changed to '8083__WALL - Brick'; and for Project 2, '_WALL - Brick' became '10451__WALL - Brick'. Could you please let me know if there is any way to export Revit as an .IFC file while maintaining the original material names. ie: export as an .ifc without the numbers added to the beginning of each material?

I have attached 2 short videos of the 'House Swap test' so that you can see how material names remain unchanged for a .dwg export, but are altered (numbers added) when exported as an .IFC file.

In short, will Autodesk consider restoring .fbx export function? If not, could you please let me know if there is any way to export as an .IFC file without numbers added to material names? 

With kind regards,

Leah

[RDAOU]

I am guessing/afraid the reply is still the same for now. You could try your luck using Formit (not 100% sure but I think you can use Formit exporter with Revit LT...and Formit can export FBX)

However, this is a user forum, such question you should address straight to Autodesk or post on Revit Ideas forum

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Thank you so much for your suggestion. I will certainly look into Formit
and re-post my question via the Autodesk ideas section. I didn't realise I
posted my question to the wrong area.

Thanks heaps,
Leah

[Anonymous]

Hi RDAOU,

Thank you for guiding me back to this link where I can 'Accept Solution'. I have reposted via the ideas section and have opened a 'help - case' with Autodesk. 

I have looked into Formit, but it appears that it would only work with FULL Revit, not REVIT LT. Please let me know if I am wrong. 

So far there has been no solution, therefore I would like to keep this post open on the Forum for a bit longer as it would be great to receive feedback and suggestions from the Autodesk community. 

With kind regards,

Leah

[syman2000]

Do you have access to 3ds max or Naviswork? You can open Revit file from both of those software and able to export to FBX.

[RDAOU]

@Anonymous 

As per Autodesk, Formit exporter is available for Revit LT under BIM interoperability tool...

• you need to make sure you have installed all updates..
• And you need BIM Interoperability tools installed from your account management

Refer to below article exactly on the same topic Formit/Revit LT

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-lt/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Option-to-use-FormIt-Interoperability-is-missing-in-Revit-LT-2022.html

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Thank you, I did actually discover this feed earlier. It mentioned '... FormIt
Interoperability is missing in Revit LT 2022'. There didn't appear to be a
clear solution.

It would be great if I could somehow connect Revit LT with Formit and then
export out as an .fbx.

Could anyone confirm if this is possible, and if so...how would it be done?

With kind regards,
Leah

[RDAOU]

@Anonymous 

Clear solution? You need to install the update and the interoperability tools!!! 

Instead of asking someone to test and confirm that for you you can simply do it yourself! Unless your were not really looking for a solution the first place 🙂

[Anonymous]

Sorry... I don't know what an 'updaze' is.

I am desperate for a solution to this, so am a little miffed as to why you
think I may not really want one.

I have been spending hours, no...days...actually years (since Autodesk
decided to destroy the .fbx function so that they can push a $3000/yr file
converter called 3dMax) testing and re-testing every combo of files that I
can think of so that I have decent model from Revit LT that can be rendered
without never-ending problems within Lumion and now in D5 Render.

Since your last email, I have downloaded the free 30 day trial of Formit
(Suggested as a solution) and tested it to see if it would open .rvt and
.rfa files. I was disappointed that it could not do so.

I have looked into your suggestion of 'interoperability tools':

*'The Autodesk BIM Interoperability Tools for Revit are a suite of
free Revitadd-insthat are designed to support a data driven workflow leveraging the power of
the Revit model as a database.'*

https://download.archsupply.com/get/download-bim-interoperability-tools-revit/

I assumed that you misunderstood that I need help with Revit LT, not FULL
REVIT. Revit LT, to my knowledge will not allow *'add-ins'*.

Rather than encouraging me to press the 'Accept as Solution' button, it
would be greatly appreciated if you would provide feedback that is
constructive, patient and non-judgemental.

I don't want my original question to turn into a never-ending saga ending
in upset, so if the latest version of Revit LT (2022) allows 'add-ins',
please let me know so that I can download and test it.

Leah

[Anonymous]

Hi Syman,

Thank you for trying to help.

If the answer to my original question 'Would Autodesk consider restoring the .fbx function?' is a 'NO', ...and if there is no way to export Revit LT files as an 'IFC file without the added numbers to the material names, I would certainly consider a 'middle-man' software package that can convert files.  

However, for me, paying $2,390/yr for 3DMax or even $1365/yr for Navisworks is a little too steep for an .fbx converter. 

It would certainly be wise to wait for answers to my original questions before I fork out more money.

With kind regards,

Leah

[RDAOU]

@Anonymous 

Installation and setup of Autodesk products can be frustrating but I'm not sure why you would go to a third party website.  Download it from your account management as mentioned in previous reply OR from Autodesk Desktop App...

However, for Version 2022 once the update 2022.1 is installed properly and you open a 3D view you should have access to an option Formit 3D Sketch 

If that doesn't work, you should either look into the full version or getting a license for 3DS Mx if you do not have one already...There are 3rd party fbx exporters but those will definitely not work with LT

[lucdoucet_msdl]

@RDAOU 

Thanks for coining a new term: Updaze 😉

Noun

a state of stupor while waiting up to date one or more versions of something.

" You need to install the updaze and the interoperability tools!!!"

-luc

[RDAOU]

Typos happen when using mobile interface...but it was fixed!

I probably need to upgrade to pro max

[syman2000]

One thing I always remind people is don't go with the cheapest option because your workflow will limit to certain tools. Sadly a lot of developer don't even bother with LT. So you are at the mercy of Autodesk. Always evaluate your workflow base on what you need and expand on it. When you are asking for alternative, there isn't much available because RVT is proprietary format. Crying to add that function to LT will be uphill battle since Autodesk mainly focus on the full Revit. If you need FBX option ASAP, you can always install 30 days trial of these software and export it as FBX.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Simon,

In general, Revit LT works well and satisfies my needs. Unfortunately, there is just one small but very frustrating hurdle to jump over to make LT work beautifully, which is quite sad.

I haven't given up yet as there is still hope. I still have hope with the Revit LT to Formit link via Bim Interoperability Tools. As Rob (Autodesk Mentor) suggested, I have upgraded / downloaded Revit LT 2022 plus the latest Update. I still haven't progressed as I don't know how to install the Interoperability Tools for Revit LT. I got as far as the Autodesk link: https://interoperability.autodesk.com/index.php

I thought my original 2 questions were quite simple:

1. Would Autodesk consider restoring the .fbx function? 

A 'Yes' or 'No' answer would have been helpful. I assume the answer is 'No'.

Therefore it would have been great to have an answer to the next question.

2. Is there any way to export as an .ifc file without numbers being added to material names?

The answer to that question could have either been a 'No' (so I could stop being fixated on the idea and stop testing every .ifc option), or

the answer could have looked something like this:

- Yes, export as 'IFC 4 Design Transfer View' as opposed to 'IFC2x3 Coordination View' (or something like that), or

- Yes, ensure you check the 'Use Family and Type name for material', or

- Sorry, no combination of IFC export settings will remove the numbers from the material names, so why not try writing a Dynamo script to remove all of the numbers from materials before exporting to .fbx.

I hope I can get some constructive answers so that I can move forward, and it would be truly sad to think that Autodesk would abandon Revit LT customers. I hope not.

With thanks,

Leah 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

So sorry Syman for calling you Simon.

Cheers,

Leah

[syman2000]

No worries.....I agree Revit LT is a cripple software. You would think Autodesk would have gotten feedback from their customers. I am not sure why Autodesk would remove such feature that is needed for collaboration workflow. The whole point of Revit is about collaboration. I will bring these issue up with their developer team since a lot of customers would love interoperability instead of crippling the software.

[lucdoucet_msdl]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I haven't given up yet as there is still hope. I still have hope with the Revit LT to Formit link via Bim Interoperability Tools. As Rob (Autodesk Mentor) suggested, I have upgraded / downloaded Revit LT 2022 plus the latest Update. I still haven't progressed as I don't know how to install the Interoperability Tools for Revit LT. I got as far as the Autodesk link: https://interoperability.autodesk.com/index.php

---

If you've installed the Revit LT 2022.1 update, no additional Interoperability Tool installation should be required. You will find the 3D Sketch to send your Revit LT model into FormIt in the Site and Massing tab.

This said, I've tried to reproduce a Revit LT -> Formit -> FBX with Revit 2022 inplace of Revit LT and you will loose the material textures in the initial export into FormIt but maintain the material names in the exported FBX file, which is what Lumion uses when reloading an FBX file. This workflow will then work only for fully replaced materials in Lumion. See example screen captures below.

It does seem that Revit 2022 default FBX export, and I presume that Revit Lt is the same, includes the material maps as the same FBX imported into 3dsMax/Navisworks/Infraworks will import the textures, but importing into FormIt does not. This would seem to be a FormIt limitation.

-luc

Revit 2022.1 model:

3D Sketch export visible objects in FormIt:

- Materials retain: Name, base color, transparency but not texture maps

3ds Max to check material names (retained)

[lucdoucet_msdl]

---

I used my perpetual FULL REVIT 2010 license for many years and had no issues exporting to .fbx (with all materials recognised) and importing into LUMION. I was extremely happy with the workflow.

I am now using REVIT LT (from 2019) and cannot export files via .fbx as all of the materials are missing. I have tested REVIT LT 2022 and an educational version of FULL REVIT 2022 and have discovered no improvement.

---

Here's a possible FBX workflow:

1. From Revit LT 2019, export to FBX 2015 (click on filetype to change from simple FBX);

2. Download and convert from FBX 2015 to FBX 2010 using the legacy FBX 2013.3 Converter for Windows 64-bit (see options below);

3. Import the FBX 2010 into Lumion

You may have to use all "Legacy materials" as Autodesk introduced new material properties in 2019 following NVDIA's discontinuance of the Mental Ray standards your Revit LT 2010 materials were based on. If you don't, the FBX export and FBX conversion may simply strip them from the model and you are back to the starting point.

Which makes me think, does a Revit LT 2019 with only Legacy materials export OK through FBX to Lumion? You could try to open an old Revit 2010 project in Revit LT 2019 and also try the FBX export to Lumion to ensure all materials are Legacy.

-luc

Download link: Autodesk FBX Converters and Plug-ins Archive

[Anonymous]

Hi Syman,

What a breath of fresh air. Thank you so much for your empathy.

A very small change to one simple thing would improve the workflow from
Revit LT immensely. Furthermore, it would also help FULL REVIT users as
there are still issues with exporting files that will allow for both smooth
curves and split composite walls (ie: different materials on either side of
a composite wall without the need to employ 'Parts', or to model interior
walls and exterior wall separately).

This thread seems to be coming to a dead end. I believe I got a bum-steer
about the whole Revit LT to Formit thing (as Revit 2022 with the latest
update still does not have an 'add-ins' tab. I'm sure only FULL REVIT
allows this feature). I will close this one down by clicking the 'Accept
Solution' and re-post the .ICF export question in the hope that I get a
different Autodesk mentor or someone in the community has an answer.

Many thanks and kindest regards,
Leah