January

19

2024

As a developer of Revit add-ins that support the AECO community, Ideate Software is pleased to help AIASF advance the architecture and design professions in the Bay Area by serving as a Gold Sponsor of the 2024 AIA Design Technology Symposium.

Ideate Software in San FranciscoThis event, which will be held on February 8, is a collaboration between AIASF, the Center for Architecture and Design, and the AIASF Design Technology Knowledge Community.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear experts talk about the future landscape of design and construction through discussions that will include an exploration of the role of technology on architectural education, and in particular design technologies such as:

  • BIM
  • VR/AR
  • Generative Design
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Machine Learning
  • The Internet of Things

Representing Ideate Software at the event will be Business Development Managers Rahul Verma and Moe Kress.
 

 

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January

15

2024

Customers often comment on how easy we make it for them to download, learn, and use our software. This blog post makes looking up the answers to common workflow questions even easier!

Throughout 2023, we tracked the number of visits to each of our Help file pages. Below are the top Help pages sorted by product. You can bookmark this page, or simply search for “Most Viewed Help Files” for quick access to the content.

For added convenience, we included links to other popular pages at the bottom.

Top Help Files in 2023

IDEATE AUTOMATION

IDEATE EXPLORER

IDEATE BIMLINK

IDEATE STICKY

IDEATEAPPS

IDEATE STYLEMANAGER

Other Frequently Viewed Pages

Have a question about a different workflow? Chances are the answer is on our website. You can also contact our Support team

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January

11

2024

San Francisco, CA, January 11, 2024 – Customers of Ideate Software will be pleased to learn that IdeateApps has been updated to include more customer-requested features as well as some fixes and improvements.

“The recent updates include several new workflows related to Ideate Annotate, the 10th tool added to the IdeateApps collection that streamline common Revit processes,” said Glynnis Patterson, Director of Software Development, Ideate Software. “Subscribers automatically get the updates at no additional cost.” 

New Workflows

Ideate Annotate - Tag tabWith the new version, users can now use the new “Tag” tab in Ideate Annotate to

  • Intelligently batch-add tags with customizable rules such as only tag rooms greater than a certain area
  • Control tag locations relative to the tagged element as a default or override
  • Tag the active view or all open views

Fixes and Improvements

In addition to the new workflows, Ideate Software added some fixes and improvements to Ideate Annotate and Ideate ViewCreator, another tool in the IdeateApps collection. 

  • Ideate Annotate
    • Added customizable display filter
    • Increased speed of review process
    • Added Ideate Query
    • Fixed bug related to tags with two calculated parameters that reference each other
  • Ideate ViewCreator
    • Improved elevation crop size for duplicate level or thick floor conditions
    • Fixed bug in the Room View method related to room names with colons
    • Improved handling of text casing within the Room View method
    • Added support for sequenced letters/numbers for elevation views within the Room View method

Subscribers can get the latest version of IdeateApps from the Download page. Non-subscribers can learn more on the Ideate Software website and download a free 30-day trial.


About Ideate Software - Ideate Software, Autodesk® AEC Industry Partner and Autodesk® Authorized Developer, empowers Revit users to gain unprecedented control over their data. They developed Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, IdeateApps, and Ideate StyleManager to solve persistent problems in architecture, engineering, and construction, and owner-operator (AECO) workflows. They 
developed Ideate Automation as a scripting solution to easily automate repetitive Revit and Ideate Software tasks for consistent and repeatable results.

Autodesk and Autodesk Revit are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries

 

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January

3

2024

In the fast-paced world of business, staying ahead requires innovative thinking and efficient processes. Ideate Automation has emerged as a powerful tool to streamline workflows and boost productivity across an organization.

Ensuring a Successful Implementation at Your Company

Scaling and managing Ideate Automation effectively can be a game changer for your company. In this blog post, we explore key tips to help you navigate the challenges and ensure a successful implementation across your entire organization. 

Tips for Scaling Ideate Automation:

  1. Start with a Clear Vision and Strategy: Before diving into Ideate Automation, define your goals and expectations. Understand the specific pain points you aim to address and how Ideate Automation can enhance your workflows. A clear vision will guide your implementation strategy and ensure alignment with organizational objectives.

    Example: You have a list of models that need the same task performed, such as Model Health Checks or weekly PDF Exports. You can utilize our “Use File List” to perform the same task on the same list of models. Use Task “AUT-Generate_Revit_File_List” to generate a file list based on selected Revit files. The resulting .txt file can be used by other scripts that use the File List option. This enables you to reuse and update the same .txt list for other tasks.

    Ideate Automation

    Example: Some of your Revit models are big, and processing all the data is a time-intensive task for your machine. Keep your Workset naming consistent across your organization. Worksets are important when working in the Revit model as well as when running an Automated Task. What are Worksets? They are a portion of the file that can be opened and closed and managed independently to utilize less of your computer resources when you’re running a task. Run “AUT_Get_File_Data” and define your Workset conditions before running a task. 

    Ideate Automation

    Example: You need regular exports to PDF/DWG/NWC, but the Revit Sheet Sets are different every time, and they’re difficult to manage as Revit Sheet Set are static! We have the solution for you! Utilize our Dynamic publishing methods that utilizes Ideate BIMLink to generate a Dynamic Sheet Set via parameter value on the fly without altering your model. 

    Ideate Automation
     
  2. Prioritize Processes for Ideate Automation: Prioritize tasks that are repetitive, time-consuming, and prone to human error. Start with smaller, manageable processes to build confidence and gradually scale up to more complex workflows. While you are prioritizing tasks, review the time it takes to run a task and when it should run given the amount of information that needs to be processed. 

    Example: You are running tasks on 100 models. Should these tasks be run at the same time? Keep in mind if task is triggered on these models, they will all get triggered based on their scheduled time. You should give some thought to staggering these tasks to allow your machine to run this effort. We recommend running tasks after hours and on weekends. Please review our Performance Tips that will ensure your Ideate Automation tasks are executed with speed and reliability to support your Revit workflows.
     
  3. Identify Ideate Automation Champions: Identify and nurture champions within your organization. These individuals can act as advocates, driving enthusiasm and adoption of Ideate Automation initiatives among their peers. They can also be the ones that build tasks and monitor progress and ensure teams know that some of these tasks are automated for their specific projects and proper setup is in place. Working closely with someone in that project is helpful in setting up these tasks during project setup or when Ideate Automation adoption is taking place for this specific project. 

    Example: Letting the team know that their model is being published regularly to BIM 360/ACC that aligns with their BIM execution plan, or that their PDF exports are being uploaded automatically weekly to BIM 360/ACC for submissions.
     
  4. Training and Support: Our website contains extensive Help files, getting started guides, product documentation, workflow blogs posts, and educational videos. Empower your team with the skills needed to leverage Ideate Automation tools effectively.

    We also have an exceptional technical team that is always available and ready to help and troubleshoot issues that come up on any tasks. Email: [email protected].

    Training programs and workshops can help bridge knowledge gaps and ensure that employees feel confident using Ideate Automation tools in their daily tasks. Contact your Ideate Software account manager for questions related to training: [email protected].
     
  5. Collaborate Across Teams: Fostering collaboration across different teams will help you identify automation opportunities and gather diverse perspectives. Involving stakeholders from various areas ensures that the implemented solutions are comprehensive and beneficial to the success of the project.

    We provide three distinct collaboration methods for Ideate Automation scripts, catering to diverse needs in both script development/creation and task execution. We firmly believe that adopting a one-size-fits-all solution is not the optimal approach. We can easily see all three approaches implemented at a given organization, requiring no specialized IT setup. 

    Now, let’s delve into the three methods:
     
  • Run Tasks on Your Own Machine: 
    This method allows you to run the tasks on the same machine the task was created on. 

    This allows for automated tasks to be run on any user’s machine. A good example of that is the daily file open task: AUT-Open_RVT_Files. This enables all users of any skill level to save time on their file open tasks and have it scheduled every day ready for them to use.
     
  • Dedicated Machines Running Tasks: 

    This method allows multiple users to build scripts on their personal machines that can later sent to dedicated machines to run the tasks. This allows you to offload tasks to differently managed machines, while relying on other team members to send in task requests that are already created to run.
     
  • Dedicated User Building Tasks: 

    This method allows a dedicated user to build tasks that can later be sent to multiple teams to run the tasks on their own machines, and then later, these users can manage the progress of these tasks. 

    When distributing scripts across machines for task execution, please consider the following requirements for the machines involved: 
     
  • Ensure that the machine has a valid Ideate Automation license.
  • Ensure the machine has the latest “Refresh File List”. 
  • Verify that it has the necessary access to models utilized in automated tasks, whether it be access to server locations or connectivity to BIM360/ACC.
  • Confirm that the machine is equipped with a licensed version of Revit, with appropriate permission levels for accessing BIM 360/ACC models.
  • Note that specific tasks may necessitate the appropriate license for BIM 360/ACC, particularly for actions like publishing to BIM 360.

How can you share scripts across machines? 

  1. Execute a task on a local machine to verify smooth operation, schedule it, and then export the scheduled .xml task and import it for execution on a different machine.


    Ideate Automation

    ​​​​​​​
  2. You can reconstitute a script task when retrieving the log file. Go to line: “Command Line Input” in the log and copy everything starting from -t until the next timestamp item. Then you’re able to “Import Command” to review the variables within the Ideate Automation UI. Then proceed to running the task ad hoc or schedule it. 

    Ideate Automation

Check out this link on more information on task sharing and reconstitution. 

Successfully scaling and managing Ideate Automation across your organization requires strategic thinking, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement. By starting with a clear vision, involving diverse teams and investing in the right tools and training, you can harness the full potential of Ideate Automation to drive efficiency, innovation, and long-term success. With these specific tips, your journey to organizational efficiency through Ideate Automation becomes not just a goal but a reality with measurable and sustainable outcomes.


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.

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December

29

2023

Architects, designers, engineers, and others around the world use Autodesk Revit software to design amazing structures. Explore sample Revit projects on the Autodesk Website to see some working models. Samples on the website include:

This sample file showcases many commonly used Revit features, including:

  1. Architectural, Structural, and MEP models with detail typical in early construction documents
  2. A site model incorporating Civil design completed in Autodesk Civil 3D software
  3. Landscape Architectural design
  4. Commercial kitchen design
  5. The most standard Architecture, Structure, and MEP toolsets
  6. A point cloud file that was the basis for the façades model
  7. Phasing in the façades model that differentiates the existing to remain and demolition of the building elements from the point cloud
  8. Custom fill patterns in the façades model that represent historical bricks in the existing buildings
  9. New Construction phase that includes all work in the architectural, structural, and MEP models
  10. Level 1 set-up that involves three view ranges and the Plan Regions
  11. Three egress stairs and two elevators
  12. Groups used for repeating items
  13. Design options
  14. Customized floor shapes
  15. Solar panels that incorporate custom tapered wall types and a sloped curtain wall type
  16. Incorporated toposolids
  17. Additional views to showcase Revit software’s documentation features
  18. Custom view types and view templates to ensure graphical setting consistency
  19. All view types: Plans, Ceiling plans, Sections, Elevations, Callouts, Details, 3D Views, and a Walkthrough
  20. Area Plans 
  21. Many “Working” views
  22. A Variety of Schedules
  23. A complete set of sheets

Now that you are inspired, want to learn how you can spend more of your time on the exciting design activities possible with Revit and less time on tedious tasks or dealing with poorly performing models? 

Work Faster in Revit by Adding Ideate Software Applications to your Toolset

speedometerAs demonstrated in the Autodesk sample files, Revit has extensive capabilities that can help professionals in the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operator (AECO) industries design, build, and operate structures that address complex needs. The software also requires a great deal of manual, repetitive tasks and, when left unchecked, can lead to bloated files that don’t work well. That’s where Ideate Software comes in. 

Ideate Software is an Autodesk® Authorized Developer and a member of the Autodesk Developer Network. Our Revit addins help companies in the areas of building design, engineering, construction, and facilities management get the most out of their Revit. 

Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, Ideate StyleManager, and IdeateApps are our Autodesk Revit addins that solve persistent problems in AECO workflows.

Ideate Automation is the newest tool in our suite. It is a scripting solution that easily automates repetitive Revit and Ideate Software tasks to deliver consistent and repeatable results. 

Here are some highlights of how these applications will help you reduce the time you spend on model management, so you can discover more ways to use Revit.

Ideate Explorer – Do you spend too much time searching for elements in your Revit model? You are not alone. It’s a common challenge, because Revit comes with a project browser, not a model browser. Ideate Explorer is a model browser that makes it fast and easy to find and delete incorrect, obsolete, and hidden problem items—including imported or linked DWG drawings. You can also find, refine, and revise elements that aren’t in the Revit project browser. The following four features included with Ideate Explorer will reduce the time you spend searching even more: 

  • Ideate Query – Search in parameters for elements like unused annotations, design options, in-place usage, structure usage/area scheme, and revisions
  • Ideate Filters - Filter model elements quickly based on your specified parametric conditions
  • Ideate Warnings Manager – Audit warnings ranked by importance; fix problems with Revit tools while the Ideate Warnings Manager dialog box is open
  • Ideate Navigate – Navigate view-based elements; find unused sheets and views; find and filter legends, schedules, sheets, or views by category and/or keyword; customize work environments without changing the project browser 

Ideate BIMLink – Do changes that require model updates make you cringe because you know you’ll need to spend hours changing elements one at a time? Use Ideate BIMLink instead. With this powerful Revit addin, you can export data from your Revit model into an Excel file, where you can easily view and manipulate large amounts of data. After updating the data, you simply use Ideate BIMLink to import the data back into Revit, and the model will automatically update. 

Ideate Sticky – Is it difficult to communicate critical project details with team members in various locations? Do miscommunications create errors or delays? These are not problems with Ideate Sticky. Use it to live-link Excel, Word, and PDF documents into a Revit model. These “stickies” look nice, are easy to read, and can be updated easily when changes are made to the original source documents.

Ideate StyleManager – Do unused styles clog up your Revit models, cause them to perform poorly, and create documentation errors? That’s because it’s easy to accidentally bring unneeded styles into a model when pasting needed information. With Ideate StyleManager, you can easily analyze, merge, or delete non-standard Revit styles, and you can see the view filters applied to views and clean object and line styles and patterns, text, fonts, parameters, and more. 

IdeateApps – So many Revit tasks are repetitive. They take a lot of time, are boring to do, and open the door to errors. The 10 tools that come in the IdeateApps collection tackle the repetitive tasks performed by Revit users most often:  Ideate SpellCheck, Ideate Align, Ideate Clone, Ideate ViewCreator, Ideate SheetManager, Ideate Annotate, Ideate XRay, Ideate ReNumber, Ideate SmartDelete, and Ideate QuickSelect

Ideate Automation – You and your staff will have more time for interesting, meaningful work when Ideate Automation runs time-intensive BIM tasks silently in the background. You can start a script manually or schedule it to run at a convenient time, like during non-working hours or when you are occupied in a meeting or on a call. Here’s a new video we created with a short, technical overview of Ideate Automation:

 
 

Stay Connected

Connect with Ideate SoftwareLearn more about our top Revit plugins.

Check us out on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, FacebookYouTube, and Instagram.

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 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 our addins for Revit, which includes Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, Ideate StyleManager, and IdeateApps for six months.

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