Batch E-Transmit

[RobertAGlover]

I would like to be able to schedule a regular e-transmit of my files and maybe even upload to a common service such as A360, Box, or similar. We have to do it every week so why not make it easier. Also if we can e-transmit multiple models at once that would be better. In my case we have a large number of models per project so rather than having to e-transmit each one so they get scrubbed, I'd like to say: e-transmit these files with these settings every week. It would save me hours and hours.

[Anonymous]

I second this request.

Although typically I only deal with one/two models per project, but if I am doing 10 project concurrently then every Friday is taken up with cleaning up our models to send to our clients. I don't think it could all be done autonomously, but I think at least a few of the steps could be autonomous. 

[craigh_bim]

The Transmit a model tool allows the exporting of Linked models. If you link them all together in a dummy model, you can export that one model and the rest will go along for the ride.

[RobertAGlover]

Yeah I've thought about that option too. I don't think it purges the links completely. We had been using the "Add Files" option and assumed that would work but it didn't.

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to use e-transmit to batch process multiple Revit links(multi select). instead of selecting of REvit link at the time,

Thanks!

[shawn.tuthill]

This thread was started a year and a half ago. Any progress?

We have to e-transmit 30+ models every Friday and having the ability to select multiple models for transmittal would save a lot of time.

[RobertAGlover]

Shawn,

  Thanks for kicking the can on this. Though it was only eight months ago, not a year and a half.

But to your question, I have not had any progress with this. I have since moved companies, and being a GC, I don’t have to send models to others on a regular basis so I’ve let it drop. Even so, I think it would be a good service to have built in. But as these things do, need drives progress. Need has gone, so progress has dropped. And of course Autodesk, in their infinite wisdom has decided that saving their users hours of time a week just isn’t important enough to warrant any actual work. Sorry.

I have some contacts at programming companies like FlyPaper Technologies, and CADD Microsystems that might be able to make something, but I am not holding my breath. 

[Anonymous]

Have the same question, need to clean big pack of models couple of times a week. How can i automatize and schedule this process using .bat files ?

Thank you

[f.muzard]

Hello,

I don't have a global solution but to be faster, you can:

1. Make a script to gather the files in a temporary folder.
2. Use etransmit by pointing to this folder
3. Make a script to copy files to specific folder (BIM 360 Drive in our case)

Tell me if it's faster for you.

regards,

[RobertAGlover]

@f.muzard good idea. I seem to recall that e-transmitting a whole folder, rather than a single file, doesn't give you the same level of purge and control. But in my defense it's been over two years since I've done it.

Even so, I doubt we'll see any progress on this idea given how much effort Autodesk is putting into BIM360, especially the design module, which basically handles the concern of weekly uploads. And conveniently enough, its a paid service for Autodesk, so they make more money. Every month. For every user. 

[Derek.McGearty]

If you are using Revit server this can be done via a batch routine. See below for routine in RED text. Also a longer more problematic workaround if not using Revit server is included at the bottom.

The 1st section calls the location of the tool

"C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit 2020\RevitServerToolCommand\RevitServerTool.exe"
2nd Section the Command
createLocalRVT

3rd section the Path on the Revit server 

"2017\0000-01\MyModel_Coordination_PCT.rvt"

4th Section the Revit server and switches "-s" followed by server name followed by "-d" and then the destination path followed by "-o" to overwrite

-s ipslicense01 -d "\\SERV01\N\2017\0000-1\B. PROJECT DESIGN DATA\B.09 Project Drawings\Navisworks\BIM\MYModel_Coordination_PCT.rvt"

"C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit 2020\RevitServerToolCommand\RevitServerTool.exe" createLocalRVT "2017\0000-01\MyModel_Coordination_PCT.rvt" -s license01 -d "\\SERV01\N\2017\0000-1\B. PROJECT DESIGN DATA\B.09 Project Drawings\Navisworks\BIM\MyModel_Coordination_PCT.rvt" -o

I used this to create a local model on our network and then used another set of batch routines to build update dwg container files with xrefs and then pull it all into NWD federated model for posting to various locations on BOX, Dropbox/Network and Remote site systems etc. It still has worksets enabled so its a little messy.  You can also use this to create a local version for all users if you have larger models overnight so they are working on a fresh local 1st thing without the initial opening delay. Also it runs non GUI so its very fast even on larger models.

A nice add to this tool would be the ability to run on non Revit server models and also to add a detach/preserve worksets switch.

Another option which I found kinda works is create a playable Journal file for the opening/detach from central/save to a specific location and exit. Copy that journal file somewhere then use windows task scheduler to call journal file to the revit.exe. Then use a bat file to copy that detached file to various locations/synced drives etc. As it runs in a GUI mode if user prompts popup it can stall the whole process and if using license make sure one available to run late at night. Checking out a license creates a user prompt so avoid if possible.  If you have routines dependent on its completion prompts will cause headaches. (Stuff like, Missing links, Errors, Coordination notifications etc.)

More info on Revit server command line here https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/EN...