Revit 2018 No material browser

[Anonymous]

I just startet using Revit 2018, student version. Have not tried revit before.

I found out that the material browser does not work. I cannot open the browser at all (Manage/Materials) or change any materials by using "Edit type"

Tried to repair and uninstall the Material Library but that did not work. Then I tried to reinstall the entire software. That did not help either. 

I have looked at the File/options/File location, and it is the right path. 

(As I know very little of software, I do not know if this information will help. But when I look at my computers local disk (c:)/Program data/autodesk/rvt 2018/librarys/Denmark and chose any of the folders there is a lot of rfa files. If I go throug revit/options/File location and choose the path, there are no files in the Denmark subfolders)

Hope someone can help me.

[ToanDN]

@Viveka_CD

I uninstalled every Autodesk program and Microsoft Visual C++ and ran the Fix It utility to make sure they were gone for good.  They were.  I then went through the drive and manually deleted any folders with Autodesk in their name, deleted all previous installation files and folders, cleared %%TEMP%%.  Restarted the computer, disabled UAC, Windows Defender's Virus and Firewall, and re-downloaded Revit 2015 to 2018 via Virtual Agent.  Installations went smoothly without a single error.  Everything opens and works fine so far.

Except for the Revit 2018's material dialog, of course.

I gave up.

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @ToanDN

I'm sorry to hear that this still doesn't solve the material browser issue after you have tried all the recommendations as mentioned in your post.

Can you try to repair you material library if you can see it listed or else try manual install for Revit 2018 from the Material library content download link HERE  

Also, the dev team requested a few details to get a better idea of this behavior before reporting:

• Failure to launch material browser fails in what way? Just nothing happens or error or user is stuck in command?
• From all the places materials can be accessed or just the ribbon? 

I've looked into few cases details with similar material browser issues that stem from the use of the direct web installer and problems downloading that specific installer, and graphics card compatibility.  This seems to work if the preference was set to browser download from changing the settings on the account management page.

I'm wondering if you have run the updates for Revit 2018 from your desktop app - Please check the latest updates and hotfixes HERE from the download finder.

If none of the above work, I have also sent you a utility to collect your log files. Please upload the log files and journal to troubleshoot further. 

Looking forward to your reply update.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Regards,

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @Anonymous

I just wanted to follow up here, any progress on this issue? Let us know if you were able to resolve your issue.

Please mark any posts that help with "Accept as Solution" and thanks! 

[ToanDN]

---

@Viveka_CD wrote:

Hi @ToanDN

I'm sorry to hear that this still doesn't solve the material browser issue after you have tried all the recommendations as mentioned in your post.

Can you try to repair you material library if you can see it listed or else try manual install for Revit 2018 from the Material library content download link HERE  

I have already tried that, multiple times, running all the MSI files manually to override the material library.  It did not fix the problem.

Also, the dev team requested a few details to get a better idea of this behavior before reporting:

• Failure to launch material browser fails in what way? Just nothing happens or error or user is stuck in command?
• From all the places materials can be accessed or just the ribbon? 

Click on the Materials button on the Manage ribbon, the Material Assets menu from Additional Settings drop-down, or Edit Material from elements, does not bring up the dialog.  The button is pressed visually but nothing happens, no warning, no glass clock.  And no, the dialog is not off-screen, because I can activate any other command next without ESC.

I've looked into few cases details with similar material browser issues that stem from the use of the direct web installer and problems downloading that specific installer, and graphics card compatibility.  This seems to work if the preference was set to browser download from changing the settings on the account management page.

Yes all the installation files were downloaded via Virtual Agent.

I'm wondering if you have run the updates for Revit 2018 from your desktop app - Please check the latest updates and hotfixes HERE from the download finder.

Updated  successfully to 2018.2 changes nothing.

If none of the above work, I have also sent you a utility to collect your log files. Please upload the log files and journal to troubleshoot further. 

Looking forward to your reply update.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Regards,

---

I think I might have found the issue, but I need to test it on the failing computer tonight before giving a conclusion.  Stay tuned.

[Viveka_CD]

@ToanDN

Great, thanks for the detailed answers and let us know how it goes.

A system NFO file would also help in addition to the journal and log files if you are unable to resolve.

Looking forward to your update.

Regards,

[Viveka_CD]

@ToanDN Can you try disabling hardware acceleration and see if it helps?

[ToanDN]

---

@Viveka_CD wrote:

@ToanDN Can you try disabling hardware acceleration and see if it helps?

---

No it did not help.

[Viveka_CD]

@ToanDN 

OK, so Hardware acceleration ruled out.  Is Revit the only application running? 

Also, can you share a journal, there may be warnings to look for.

Thanks,

[ToanDN]

---

@Viveka_CD wrote:

@ToanDN 

OK, so Hardware acceleration ruled out.  Is Revit the only application running? 

Also, can you share a journal, there may be warnings to look for.

Thanks,

---

Of course Revit is not the only application running.  I had Chrome open to follow your steps and accessing the Autodesk Account information and YouTube blaring heavy metal tunes into my eardrums.  One should not open Revit as the only application to avoid insanity.

I will send a journal if my last attempt tonight fails.

[Viveka_CD]

Well good luck and let us know for updates!

[ToanDN]

Okay it didn't work.  Here is the failed attempt:

Upon comparing the registry between my laptop (no material browser) and my workstation, I realized my laptop's does not have the Dialog key below.  So I thought I struck gold, exported the registry key from the workstation and imported it to the laptop, restarted, opened Revit, alas, the Material browser still not opening.  There went imaginary gold.

I even reset Windows 10 to stock, wiped out every apps and settings, then installed Revit 2018 as the 1st app, to no avail.

Regarding hardware acceleration, turning it off cause 2018 to crash upon opening any file, even a blank template, so I have to keep it on.

So here I attached the journal files and you can see the error below:

Jrn.Command "Ribbon" , "Modify materials , ID_SETTINGS_MATERIALS"
' 0:< Unnecessary nesting;ArrowUI_4;-1;ID_SETTINGS_MATERIALS ;N++EB(NB);
' 0:< Revit Graphics Information
' 0:< Current Mode : DirectX Hardware
' 0:< Use Hardware: ON
' 0:< Use Overlays : ON
' 0:< DBG_WARN: Can't get OGS device (DisplayUtil::getCMUIDevice): line 98 of UtilityUI\ManageMaterialUI.cpp.
' 0:< DBG_WARN: Initialization required external components failed. Material Browser dialog can't be created: line 230 of Dialog\MaterialBrowserDlg.cpp.
' 0:< DBG_WARN: Creating Material Browser dialog failed: line 71 of UtilityUI\MaterialUIImp.cpp.

I forgot the system NFO file so I typed out the laptop spec below:

Intel i7 2nd gen quad-core 2.4GHz

16GB RAM

nVidia GeForce 555M GT + Intel built-in graphic

1TB SSD (OS and all Apps) + 750GB HDD

Windows 10 Home Premium update 1709 and all security updates

GeForce driver 381.65 (detected and installed from nVidia driver webpage).  I tried a newer version and nothing changes.

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @ToanDN 

Thanks for sharing your journals.

This issue is under investigation for a resolution. I will let you know for an update.

Also, were you able to extract your log files from the collector utility for Revit 2018

Regards,

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @ToanDN

I wanted to share an update:

• The below warning from your journal is indicative of the fact that something is wrong with graphics.

0:< DBG_WARN: Can't get OGS device (DisplayUtil::getCMUIDevice): line 98 of UtilityUI\ManageMaterialUI.cpp. 

• Can't get OGS device is like Revit cannot get information about the graphics driver, even though you have updated it to the latest version.
• Also on the certified hardware page for Revit 2018 - AMD graphics card is recommended.
• Test results on this page are valid only for the tested combination of hardware and driver.

However, The only thing that stands out is your graphics card - NVIDIA GeForce 555M GT

On testing a fresh install of Revit 2018.2 on a laptop with similar specs, the material browser works fine. (I was able to test with Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M) the 555M and 960M  both are NVIDIA GPUs Supported Under Windows 10 so ideally it should work, but as mentioned before the driver's information is not read.

• The static XML file used to check for certification does not include the card. 

  The resolution for this error will be to:

  Update the AdskHardwareCertificationReport.xml with the attached file:

  1. Rename the existing XML file to the following (replacing #### with the product version):
     C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit ####\AdskHardwareCertificationReport.old
     (If you don’t see the XML extension see: How to enable hidden file extensions in Windows)
  2. Copy the attached AdskHardwareCertificationReport.xml to the folder above.
  3. Restart Revit.

• You could try would be to remove the security updates, for Windows 10, version 1709 IT Pro content

• Another recommendation was to reinstall DirectX

• If the material library lives in this location, C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Materials\<product version>, then can you try to map the path when editing the structure of a basic assembly like a wall.
• Also, few material browser launch error were encountered when a project template of a previous version of Revit was used.
• If none of the above work, then try with a certified graphics card.

Let us know if any of the recommendations work and you were able to resolve.

Regards,

[ToanDN]

Thanks for the details analysis. I will take a stab at it tonight. Hopefully the XML approach works because I can't replace the video card for my laptop.

[Viveka_CD]

Sure thing. Looking forward to your update.

Also please see this fix for broken links related to the material browser failing to launch.

Regards,

[ToanDN]

---

@Viveka_CD wrote:

Hi @ToanDN

I wanted to share an update:

• The below warning from your journal is indicative of the fact that something is wrong with graphics.

0:< DBG_WARN: Can't get OGS device (DisplayUtil::getCMUIDevice): line 98 of UtilityUI\ManageMaterialUI.cpp. 

• Can't get OGS device is like Revit cannot get information about the graphics driver, even though you have updated it to the latest version.
• Also on the certified hardware page for Revit 2018 - AMD graphics card is recommended.
• Test results on this page are valid only for the tested combination of hardware and driver.

However, The only thing that stands out is your graphics card - NVIDIA GeForce 555M GT

On testing a fresh install of Revit 2018.2 on a laptop with similar specs, the material browser works fine. (I was able to test with Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M) the 555M and 960M  both are NVIDIA GPUs Supported Under Windows 10 so ideally it should work, but as mentioned before the driver's information is not read.

• The static XML file used to check for certification does not include the card. 

  The resolution for this error will be to:

  Update the AdskHardwareCertificationReport.xml with the attached file:

  1. Rename the existing XML file to the following (replacing #### with the product version):
     C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit ####\AdskHardwareCertificationReport.old
     (If you don’t see the XML extension see: How to enable hidden file extensions in Windows)
  2. Copy the attached AdskHardwareCertificationReport.xml to the folder above.
  3. Restart Revit.

• You could try would be to remove the security updates, for Windows 10, version 1709 IT Pro content

• Another recommendation was to reinstall DirectX

• If the material library lives in this location, C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Materials\<product version>, then can you try to map the path when editing the structure of a basic assembly like a wall.
• Also, few material browser launch error were encountered when a project template of a previous version of Revit was used.
• If none of the above work, then try with a certified graphics card.

Let us know if any of the recommendations work and you were able to resolve.

Regards,

---

I don't see any attached XML file.  Could you send it again?

Also, I have compared the 2017 and 2018 XML files and they are identical, GeForce GT 555M is not listed in either of them.  But Revit 2017 works and 2018 does not.

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @ToanDN

Please find attached XML file and replace NVIDIA Quadro FX 580 to GeForce GT 555M

Compare your existing XML to match the new one with the missing lines.

Let me know if this resolved the issue.

Regards,

[SL-Gh]

Thanks For Ur Reply 

I've tried this but Nothing changed 

[ToanDN]

@Viveka_CD

Replacing the XML did not fix it.  Attached please find the System NFO file.

[Viveka_CD]

@ToanDN sorry that didn't fix the issue. 

The dev team requires a most recent journal. Please resend.

Thanks for sharing the NFO file.