Show Surface Patterns in Navis, applied by filter or material

[Andrew.Frey]

Hi all,

We're experimenting with using surface patterns on some of our equipment and conduit to specify different statuses. Colors work great, but I can't get surface patterns to show through. I've tried using a material on an electrical fixture, but the pattern won't show through, and I've tried using a filter on our conduit, since you can't apply materials to conduits. Is there a way to have the patterns show in Navisworks? We export from Revit 2018 -> DWF and then import into Navis Manage 2018. 

Thanks

In Revit(pattern is same color as solid hatch conduit):

In Navis:

Thanks!

[Zsolt.Varga]

Hi @Andrew.Frey,

without testing this, my first thought was to see if the patterns go through when opening/ appending the Revit model directly in Navisworks or to use the Navisworks NWC Export Utility to create an NWC from the Revit file and opening that NWC in Navisworks?

Have you tried this approach?

Does it help?

Best regards,

[Andrew.Frey]

Hi Zsolt,

Thanks for the reply! Yes, I have tried this. The reason we have to export to DWF instead of NWC is when you export to NWC, you cannot get the colors to show up from using a filter (unless some setting has changed recently). We use the colors to give a quick, easy visual cue to our field team to indicate the size/service of the conduit. When you export to NWC, all the conduit comes through white (since you can't apply a material to electrical conduit).

As far as appending in the entire Revit model, this doesn't really help us as that is not how we use Navis for our coordination with the field. 

Thanks again 

Andy

[Zsolt.Varga]

Hi @Andrew.Frey,

Can you maybe send me a simplified Test project file (in Revit (!)) to play around with - I´d be happy to take a closer look and see if I can find out something.

Best regards, 

[Andrew.Frey]

That's really kind of you! 

I just made quick project with some conduit and two filters to give the same effect:

[Zsolt.Varga]

Hi @Andrew.Frey,

Thanks for the file, this helps. 

I reproduced the same behavior that you have described.

To be honest, at the moment I am not sure myself either, if this is possible - but I posted this question internally, maybe someone in our team has a good  idea for a solution or a workaround. 

We will keep you informed.

Best regards,

[Andrew.Frey]

Again, very kind of you. I appreciate it. 

[Zsolt.Varga · Accepted solution]

Hi Andrew, 

thanks for your patience. 

So this is what I found out. 

Exporting view filter generated surface patterns of plan views to dwfx works as expected, but it is indeed a limitation currently with 3D views. 

In order to let this work with 3D views as well we might need to adjust the code of Revit - so I went on and started an investigation with the development team in this regard. 

I published the current findings and the status of the investigation in this article: 

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/article/Revit-exporting-view-filter-generated-surface-patterns-in-dwfx

This article will be active in a couple of hours, so that it can help other users as well to get information about the current status. 

We will keep this article updated with news, so that they will be available for all users as soon as they come along. 

In order to help other users with the same question to find this information more easily, I will go ahead and mark this post as an "Accepted solution" for now.

I wished that I could have even better news for you, but at the moment it looks that we will have to wait a little for a product enhancement - I hope you´ll find this information helpful anyways. 

Best regards, 

[Andrew.Frey]

Thanks for looking into it. Fingers crossed these enhancements can be made!

Thanks again

[debdipm]

Hi,

Can anyone suggest me why the surface pattern used in revit is not showing in navisworks???