At Ideate Software, we like to provide a wealth of support to our customers, either via our website, which has a ton of useful information, or within our products. For example, Ideate BIMLink ships with a great extent of preconfigured content; you get more than 350 predefined link definitions to help you get up and running as soon as possible.

All the content provided within Ideate BIMLink is displayed as shown below and can be manually imported as needed into the Revit project.

The Ideate BIMLink content is saved and loaded from this folder C:\ProgramData\Ideate\Ideate BIMLink\en-US\Samples

You might not be aware, but you can also load additional content for some of our other applications too, for example, Ideate ViewCreator, one of the tools in the IdeateApps collection.

Start from the settings cog and select Manage View Rules.

You can also import additional Room rules.

From here you can choose to import additional rules into your projects to help with your workflows. 

You can also Export custon rules from this dialog, for wider use within your company.

This opens a folder where you can load the additional rules that ship with Ideate ViewCreator. The default folder shown below, called Basic Rules, contains the list of rules that automatically import into any new Revit project where Ideate ViewCreator has been previously used.

Lots of additional content is available.

If that wasn’t enough, there is also a Bonus Rules folder! My favorite bonus rule within Ideate ViewCreator is the one called “DUPLICATE - Phase New.” This rule can be used to copy existing views to make '-New' views. Newly created views have a hard-wired Phase and Phase Filter override.

Bonus time!

For more information see our Help file on this topic.

Additional content is also available for Ideate ReNumber, another tool within the IdeateApps collection. See more in our Help file.  

Our European and UK customers might find the bonus rule called “Sheets - BS ISO 19650.rule” particularly valuable. This rule is designed to work with customer parameters within a title block as described in my earlier blog post, Renaming Sheets to ISO 19650.

For additional training tips, check out our Training blog series

Browse our website to learn more about how Ideate Software add-on products help Revit users save time, increase model accuracy, improve deliverables and elevate design. You can give them a try by downloading trial versions or purchasing the bundle for access to the Revit plugin solutions Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, Ideate StyleManager, and IdeateApps for six months. 

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About the Author

Steve Deadman - Customer Success Manager - EMEA
Steve provides support to customers and helps them get a strong return on their software investment. He has a B.Eng (Hons) degree in Mechanical Engineering and various certifications in engineering. Before joining Ideate Software, he worked at several top architectural firm in the United Kingdom where he specialized in the implementation and management of BIM processes and technology. Find Steve on LinkedIn.

 

 

Ideate BIMLink can be utilized to batch rename and renumber sheets in your Revit project. The Revit interface has limitations in terms of editing large amount of data. Ideate BIMLink allows you to edit model data by exporting it to Excel and pushing it back into Revit. The basic steps for this process are covered in our Help topic: How to Batch Rename or Renumber Sheets.

If you need to tackle some more complex challenges, in this blog post I’ll highlight the power of Excel functions and formulas when utilizing Ideate BIMLink for sheet renumbering.

Here is an example:  

1. Utilize the adjacent column to enter the following formula, then drag down to autofill the values.
   
   =LEFT(A1,1)&"."&TEXT((RIGHT(A1,3)+10),"000")
   
   List of Excel functions utilized in this function:
    

   =LEFT(text,[num_char])	Returns the specified number of characters to the start of a text string
   =RIGHT(text,[num_char])	Returns the specified number of characters to the end of a text string
   &	Operator to concatenate string data by merging and combining
   “ ”	Converting operators, numbers or symbols into string
   +	Addition
   =TEXT(value,format_text)	Converts value into text into a specific number format

2. Copy the resulting information from column B and use the Paste Special>Values function to move the data back into Sheet Number column, save Excel, and import it back into Revit via Ideate BIMLink.
   
   
   
   This is the result: 
   
   

   
For additional training tips, check out our Training blog series.

Browse our website to learn more about how Ideate Software add-on products help Revit users save time, increase model accuracy, improve deliverables and elevate design. You can give them a try by downloading trial versions or purchasing the bundle for access to the Revit plugin solutions Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, Ideate StyleManager, and IdeateApps for six months. 

 

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About the Author

Nivin Nabeel, Customer Success Manager, Americas

Nivin has a background in architecture, visual arts, and computer science and has extensive experience in managing and manipulating BIM data, developing and implementing BIM standards and workflows, and applying BIM workflows to ancillary project components for improved efficiency. Before joining Ideate Software, Nivin worked at several architecture and design firms where she learned about Ideate Software products, used them, advocated for them, implemented them, and trained others on how to use them. She earned her Bachelor of Architectural Science degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. Follow Nivin on LinkedIn.

Ideate Software is all about increasing the productivity, or the quality of work, plus the efficiency, or how well the resources available are used to produce that work, of architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operator (AECO) professionals that work with Revit. As BIM tool adoption among AEC firms rises, and since Revit is the top BIM tool in the AEC community, the Ideate Software team has the opportunity to work with companies of all sizes and in all disciplines in multiple countries around the world. We learn about the workflows that create challenges, both in terms of model accuracy and time spent on model management, and we develop plugins for Revit that address those challenges. Visit our website for details about our solutions for Revit users, including product details, how-to videos, blog posts with step-by-step instructions, and information on free trials and subscription options. 

Confirming the Value of our Revit Solutions

There are many plugins for Revit on the market, and some of them are inexpensive or even free. At Ideate Software, we deliver value, and we charge appropriately (see blog post). So how do we get the message out about Ideate Software products and demonstrate that they deliver a strong return on investment? One way is by sharing the results of a survey in which we asked Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer customers from around the world about the amount of time they save by using the products.  

Survey Results - Ideate BIMLink 

Our Ideate BIMLink plugin for Revit saves users time and increases the accuracy of the data in their models by enabling them to export data from Revit to Excel, where they can quickly verify, correct, and update massive amounts of data, and then import that data back from Excel to Revit in order to make changes in the Revit model.

Here are some of the most significant time savings reported by Ideate BIMLink users:

In the “Common Workflows for Any Discipline” category, our customers reported that they saved an average of:

• 40 hours per project preparing for COBie deliverables by editing and completing COBie-required data fields for the handover deliverables
   
• 25 hours per project developing project health checks by scheduling multiple Revit properties and categories, both visible and not readily visible within the model, to make informed decisions on what to include as part of a health check
   
• 25 hours per project managing overall schedule data by editing in Excel instead of Revit, insuring speed and accuracy of model data editing and management

Here’s a link to the information on our website, and here are links to the detailed reports by discipline:

• Any Discipline
• Architects and Interior Designers
• Structural Engineers
• MEP Engineers
• Construction and Design/Build Professionals

Want to determine how much time and money you could save by using Ideate BIMLink plugin for Revit? 

Check out our Ideate BIMLink ROI Calculator. Simply select the tasks that your office performs from a list of common tasks and input:

• How often each task is performed on a project
• How long the task takes
• Your average number of projects a year
• The average billing rate of Revit users 
  
  

Survey Results - Ideate Explorer

Building information modeling (BIM) with this plugin for Revit is much faster because the tool reduces the time that Revit users spend searching for and editing elements in a Revit model. 

When surveying Ideate Explorer users, we asked them how they use Ideate Explorer and how often they use it. Here’s a link to the whole report. Below are three examples:

• Frequency: Daily
  Task: Select and Filter Instances
  Ideate Explorer is a great substitution for the Revit selection filter, because it allows users to select from a list of Revit elements down to the individual instances. Then they can use its built-in functionality and Revit commands to further review or make changes to the selection.
   
• Frequency: Weekly
  Task: Review Element Counts
  Ideate Explorer allows users to track the progress of Revit models over time by gathering total model element counts and total counts per category, such as under/over usage of certain categories and families, placed vs. unplaced views, etc. Users can drill down to element counts for each category and type used.
   
• Frequency: Varies
  Task: Refine Element Selection
  The Query function within Ideate Explorer allows users to refine a selection of elements by selecting from a large list of parameters, including some not accessible by Revit. The many additional parameters listed include Created By, Last Edited By, Is Pinned, Is In Place, Is Flipped, and Is Nested.

To help Ideate Explorer customers calculate the time savings and convert that time savings in cost savings, we developed the Ideate Explorer ROI calculator. Stakeholders simply enter information about the average time savings per week, average number of Revit users, and average number of work weeks per year to determine the approximate hours saved per week and per year. Then simply plug in the average hourly billing rate of Revit users to get the approximate cost savings.  

By taking the time to calculate the return on investment and truly understand how money is spent and how our Revit plugins can save money, stakeholders will be well-prepared to have a discussion with leadership about recommendations.

A Customer Example - Steinberg Hart

We were pleased to present a blog post by our customer Steinberg Hart in which they shared how they got their team and leadership to support subscribing to IdeateApps, a collection of tools that automates common Revit tasks. Gautam Shenoy said, “For team buy in, I show how the technology will streamline processes, save time, and improve quality. For leadership buy in, I justify the expense by demonstrating a positive ROI based on its inference on the fee, time invested, and time spent.”

To determine the value of the tools in the IdeateApps collection, Gautam noted the relevant tasks performed by each tool, how much time he and his team spent performing them manually, and how much time they would take using the tools. He used this information to understand the value of the tools and to justify the move to IdeateApps to both his team and company leadership.

In addition to presenting the details in a blog post, we welcomed Gautam to present his process on a webinar, Developing Efficient Processes with Ideate Software and Gautam Shenoy from Steinberg Hart.  

Read Customer Success Stories

We are proud to be associated with leading architecture, engineering, constructions, and owner-operator companies around the world. To read about how some of them use our Revit plugins to save time, improve data accuracy, and increase the health of their Revit models, see the success stories we have posted on our website. 

Learn More about how to Increase Productivity and Efficiency with Plugins for Revit by Ideate Software 

If you’re interested in BIM, you likely use Revit. Our plugins for Revit are worth a look. Browse our website to explore Ideate Software’s range of Revit tools and see how they can make your Revit projects faster, simpler, and more productive and efficient.

Stay Connected

Check us out on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

If you have any questions, reach out to us. We are here to help you understand and use our Revit plugin solutions. 

Browse our website to learn more about how Ideate Software add-on products help Revit users save time, increase model accuracy, improve deliverables and elevate design. You can give them a try by downloading trial versions or purchasing the bundle for access to the Revit plugin solutions Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, Ideate StyleManager, and IdeateApps for six months.

We at Ideate Software love Revit software. We know how powerful it is and how it transforms the way Revit users in the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operator fields perform their jobs. As powerful as Revit is, it does have some limitations. Our goal as a company is to talk with Revit users, learn which of those limitations create the greatest challenges, and develop plugins for Revit that address those challenges.

Reasons the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Owner-Operator Industries use Revit

Used by an estimated 4 million subscribers around the world, Revit is the most popular BIM tool within the AEC community. Why? People love it because it excels at transforming data created in 3D models into realistic documentation and visualizations of buildings and structures that architects, MEP engineers, structural engineers, construction workers, building managers, and others use to share, review, update, and confirm designs. The single platform used for multidisciplinary BIM workflows, from design through operation, leads to enhanced designs, fewer errors, and less rework, all which contribute to an outstanding employee and client experience. 

In addition to enabling the sharing, syncing, and iterating designs between architects, engineers, contractors, building operators, and others, Revit software also delivers specialty toolsets that offer capabilities specific to each discipline. Here are a just few examples: 

• Architects
  • Architects create fully functional mock-ups of buildings that not only support construction, but also help sales and marketing teams because they can walk potential clients and other stakeholders through the building and point out specific features that interest the specific audience.
  • For remodels and renovations, Revit software can integrate with Autodesk ReCap, which allows the user to take points from photographs of existing structures and import them into Revit, so architects work with an accurate portrayal of the buildings.
  • Using the analysis features in Revit, architects can optimize the performance of a building in the early stages, run cost estimates, and monitor performance over the lifetime of the project and the building.
     
• Structural Engineers
  • Complying with local requirements is easy in Revit because the software works with localized libraries and templates that can be edited to meet the needs of any project.
  • Detailed 3D Revit models are used to create many bidirectional views, like 3D details, schedules, and sections. Since all the views are stored in the same model, when the engineer makes a change to one, the others automatically update. 
  • While creating the physical model in Revit, the engineers use the analytical model to conduct structural analysis and export to analysis and design applications.
     
• MEP Engineers
  • This easy-to-use modeling tool increases the productivity of MEP professionals by automatically placing ducts, pipes, and fittings.
  • With access to manufacturer-specific content, the engineers create exact digital representations prior to construction as well as as-built models after construction.
  • By using the multiple views in a Revit model, engineers check for clashes and issues in the design process, avoiding costly on-site mistakes.
     
• Contractors/Construction
  • Construction teams prepare construction documents with 2D drafting services that include elevation plans, foundation plans, roofing, sectional drawings, structural framing, floor plans, and more.
  • By automatically calculating the amount of material needed, Revit helps contractors minimize waste, reduce the cost of the project, and keep the project moving forward instead of dealing with material shortages.
  • Before any construction begins, contractors confirm that the designs can be successfully implemented by assessing the steadiness of the foundation, systems, fixtures, material choices, etc. to detect flaws.     

Enhancing the Power of Revit with Ideate Software Plugins

Ideate Software is an Autodesk Authorized Developer and is a member of the Autodesk Developer Network. We develop Revit plugins that give customers unprecedented access to and control over their Revit data. In 2008 we launched our first Revit plugin, Ideate Explorer. Since then, we added Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Sticky, Ideate StyleManager, and IdeateApps to our list of tools that solve persistent problems for Revit users in architecture, engineering, construction, and building management. In June 2022, we launched Ideate Automation 2.0 to boost the power of our plugins for Revit by running time-intensive activities in the background. All our tools help Revit users perform tasks in much less time, freeing them to spend more time on interesting and valuable activities.

Here are highlights of the capabilities of our tools:

1. Ideate Explorer – To solve the challenge of finding hidden problems in a Revit model, we developed Ideate Explorer, which is a model browser that shows each instance of elements within the Revit model; the browser in Revit is simply a project browser. With Ideate Explorer, users can easily:
   • Search for and find hidden problem items including DWG imports or links
   • Navigate through view-based elements within Revit
   • Search on parameters such as elements assigned a certain size
   • Review and manage Revit warnings 
      
2. Ideate BIMLink – Data in Revit models needs to be checked regularly for accuracy, and when design changes occur, it needs to be updated. The process in Revit can be time consuming and frustrating for everyone involved, from the person entering the data to the people waiting for the end product. Ideate BIMLink eliminates the problem by enabling users to move data from Revit into Excel, where its powerful functionality makes verifying, correcting, and updating data fast and easy. Then, when the data is correct, the user simply uses Ideate BIMLink to bring it back into the model, which automatically updates. Tasks that once took hours take just minutes.
    
3. Ideate Sticky – Revit teams need access to a wealth of non-BIM data, which, without Ideate Sticky, is difficult to format nicely. With Ideate Sticky, users live link formatted text in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PDF documents to their Revit projects, ensuring everyone has access to the correct information, such as:
   • Building codes
   • Specifications
   • General notes
   • Abbreviation lists
   • Consultant data
   • Document issue records
      
4. Ideate StyleManager – A bloated Revit file doesn’t perform well, and one of the most common causes of a bloated file is extraneous data which often comes from copying and pasting data from other files. Done incorrectly, this process brings in all the style information associated with the original file. With Ideate StyleManager, one of our plugins for Revit, this is never a problem, because users can quickly analyze, delete, or merge non-standard styles.
    
5. IdeateApps – This collection of 10 tools streamlines common tasks identified by Revit users as tedious, time consuming, and error prone, such as batch-creating views, copying sheets, aligning plan views, renumbering elements, ensuring the legibility of annotations, and more. Whether used as Revit architecture plugins or by MEP or structural engineers, the IdeateApps Revit plugin delivers insight into models, improves the quality of Revit models, and frees the users’ time to do more interesting and valuable activities.
    
6. Ideate Automation – We developed this scripting tool to automate time consuming tasks in Revit and Ideate Software solutions, such as:

• Creating PDF exports from Revit files
• Auditing Revit family size
• Checking compliance with standards in Revit
• Automating common tasks in Ideate Software applications for Revit to:
  • Create health check reports
  • Create document issue records
  • Manage COBie data
  • Generate quantity take-off data
  • Extract model warnings data
  • Review Revit model style information
  • Review annotation clashes on views and sheets

Here’s an overview video on Ideate Automation.

  

Visit our website to learn more about our Revit BIM Tools. When you’re ready to take the next step, contact us, get 30-day trial versions, or choose the subscription option that best meets your needs. 

See Workflow Demonstrations

There are hundreds of ways to use Ideate Software plugins for Revit. Check out our Video Library to see how to streamline the Revit workflows causing you trouble. 

Stay Connected

Browse our website to explore Ideate Software’s range of Revit tools and see how they can make your Revit projects faster, simpler, and more accurate.

Check us out on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

If you have any questions, reach out to us. We are here to help you understand and use our Revit plugin solutions. 
 

Every day, our Ideate Software Support team fields all types of questions from AECO professionals all around the world. You can review some of these recent question and answers via our Ideate Software Support Series blog category.

Recently, we heard from a customer who couldn’t save their Ideate BIMLink link definitions to their model. The log file informed us that another user had ownership of the storage data workset containing the Ideate BIMLink data.

This error message shows that the element is still owned within the central model.

To correct the problem, the customer needed to relinquish the data storage workset owned by the user.

A quick Google search revealed the four-step solution from Autodesk on how to relinquish the ownership of model elements:

1. Click the Collaborate tab > Manage Model panel > Mange Cloud Models
2. Select Autodesk Docs project
3. Select a model, click Actions, and then Relinquish
4. Select the user from whom you want to relinquish elements, and click Relinquish

Learn More

Browse our website to learn more about how Ideate Software helps Revit users save time, increase model accuracy, improve deliverables and elevate design. You can give them a try by downloading trial versions or purchasing the bundle for access to the Revit plugin solutions (Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, Ideate StyleManager, and IdeateApps) for six months.

Stay Connected

Check us out on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, reach out to us. We are here to help you understand and use our Revit plugin solutions. 

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About the Author

Steve Deadman - Customer Success Manager - EMEA
Steve provides support to customers and helps them get a strong return on their software investment. He has a B.Eng (Hons) degree in Mechanical Engineering and various certifications in engineering. Before joining Ideate Software, he worked at several top architectural firm in the United Kingdom where he specialized in the implementation and management of BIM processes and technology. Find Steve on LinkedIn.