What's a good Revit launcher to open specific systems and platforms?
My previous firm had a Launcer icon that would allow you to choose the YEAR and System (Elec, Mech, Arch etc) prior to opening Revit to those settings. I'm not sure if it was something they built proprietary or is an add-in or tool available.
I just have each of the versions pinned to my windows start menu.
There is only one Revit now. The old Architecture, Structural, MEP modules were discontinued several years ago so you just need to start Revit.
Yes, but I don't need to open Struc, Arch, Mech, etc. Only Electrical systems. It doesn't hurt anything but it's very nice to open the specific platform you need.
@bcaudill_FE wrote:Yes, but I don't need to open Struc, Arch, Mech, etc. Only Electrical systems. It doesn't hurt anything but it's very nice to open the specific platform you need.
That's what he is saying. They are all the same program/"platform". They used to be different but not for a long time so that launcher is no longer valid.
The system TABS on the ribbon are still independent. With the launcher I was just using, it doesn't turn on arch, struc, mech, plumbing if I select electrical. It also opens the YEAR platform for you. This can still be all automated to clean up the loading process. I'm assuming by these replies, it's a proprietary exe.
If you are using Electrical all the time. You can customize the ribbon in Options.
@bcaudill_FE wrote:I'm assuming by these replies, it's a proprietary exe.
The behavior does sound like a custom exe to manipulate the .ini file:
https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-30C62836-F3F1-4B78-B1AF-DB4E3FD79FDF
There's a surprisingly extensive set of documentation on the .ini file that would support creating such a thing.
@bcaudill_FE wrote:It also opens the YEAR platform for you.
How do you mean?
Do you mean that you are opening a Revit file, your launcher detects the version of the file and then opens the correct Revit version?
No, the opposite. You open the launcher, choose the year and system and it opens Revit to those settings.
@bcaudill_FE wrote:No, the opposite. You open the launcher, choose the year and system and it opens Revit to those settings.
I don't understand the need for that.
Just pin all the versions to your windows start menu or group them on your desktop and start the version that you want.
If you only do electrical then, as already suggested, edit your settings to make Electrical your default discipline and choose which tabs you want to see by default every time you open the software.
I think I'm maybe missing something about why you would want this launcher app, it seems redundant to me.
@iainsavage wrote:
@bcaudill_FE wrote:No, the opposite. You open the launcher, choose the year and system and it opens Revit to those settings.
I don't understand the need for that.
Just pin all the versions to your windows start menu or group them on your desktop and start the version that you want.
If you only do electrical then, as already suggested, edit your settings to make Electrical your default discipline and choose which tabs you want to see by default every time you open the software.
I think I'm maybe missing something about why you would want this launcher app, it seems redundant to me.
It sounds like it was written for those who won't stop opening files by double clicking them..
That's part of it too. People launching files from explorer.
Also - There's a difference between an absolute NEED and a tool that eliminates everything you described. If it's not your cup of tea, great - I think its beneficial to have a one stop shopping button, rather than pinning every single version to your task bar. Same thing works for CAD. Are you telling me you have 6-8 Revit/CAD programs pinned to your task bar at all times? If so, great - That's works for you. But when you HAVE this tool, it's pretty nice.
@bcaudill_FE wrote:Also - There's a difference between an absolute NEED and a tool that eliminates everything you described. If it's not your cup of tea, great
There's no need to make it personal. I merely mentioned that the tool was designed for people who double click files to open them.
I don't know what you mean by "everything you described". I did not mention anything about it not being a good way to open files in Revit and the potential problems that it could cause.
You obviously don't need to close unneeded panels, "platforms" as you call it, every time you open Revit since all you need is electrical and you can customize your ribbon without the tool.
Platforms:
Revit 2020
Revit 2021
Revit 2022
Revit 2023
Revit 2024
Autocad 2020
Autocad 2021
Autocad 2022
Autocad 2023
Autocad 2024
Not ideal to PIN all platforms.
Closer but still not correct.
The platforms are Revit and AutoCAD.
The yearly releases are versions.
I currently have 6 versions of Revit shortcuts on my desktop and still wouldn't consider double clicking files to open them.
I've never had a need for multiple versions of AutoCAD since it is backwards compatible. Even when I was using AutoCAD MEP. I only had one version. Having multiple versions is redundant.
Obviously, my comment about double clicking files to open projects got under your skin even though it wasn't meant to. Not sure why, I must have unintentionally struck a nerve.
I'm out.
I have 6 versions of Revit pinned to my windows start menu (not the task bar). Click the window icon at the left side of the task bar and they pop up.
I've never kept more than one version of Autocad since there is no need due to backward compatibility as @RobRocks said.
To answer your original post, it seems like users on here don't know of such a launcher and feel that it is not needed but if you want to pursue it then go for it.
It sounds like you'd maybe need to create your own app to get what you want though and I just feel the effort in that probably isn't worth the minimal gain. Maybe folks on the API forum would say differently?
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