Revit Plugins All BIM Managers Should Use

BIM Managers Faced New Challenges During the Pandemic

As a BIM manager, you wear many hats. In addition to supervising and supporting your technical team, your responsibilities include:


  • Developing BIM standards, protocols and templates
  • Managing the collaboration between your team, clients, contractors and others
  • Overseeing the production of project information models from design through handover


While the role of BIM manager has always involved a lot of moving parts, the pandemic-related challenges of disparate workforces, increased absences and talent shortages have put new and uncharted job duties on your plate.


Calmer Days Provide Time for Strategic Planning

Fortunately, companies around the world that have dealt with the urgency of the past two years’ challenges are starting to settle back into a routine. Now, with the raging fire down to embers, it is time to step back and make sure your team has the tools needed to enter this new phase seamlessly and position your company to succeed through increased employee and customer satisfaction.


One way to tackle employee and customer satisfaction at the same time is by investing in technology that allows employees to focus on more interesting activities while improving their designs and increasing the speed in which their designs are delivered to customers. 


Solutions for Revit Users

If your company uses Autodesk Revit software, we recommend that you spend a few minutes reading this post to learn how you, your team, your company and your customers can benefit from the leading Revit software plugins developed by Ideate Software. 
 

“We’ve been working with Ideate Software for years. Each one of their products tackles specific challenges we face with Revit software. They help us save time with a variety of model tasks, freeing up time for our designers to do what they do best, innovate and design. Ideate Software products also have a critical function in our model quality control process, giving us more control of our data in a way that Revit out-of-the-box cannot.”
~Jason Halaby, Senior Associate, Architect and BIM Manager, WRNS Studio

Ideate Software Logo

In it for the Long Haul

No doubt you are aware of Autodesk Revit plugins that are inexpensive or even free. We suggest that you ask yourself why they are free. Wouldn’t a company charge for a product it considered valuable? At Ideate Software, we invest significantly in understanding challenges faced by Revit users and developing Revit plugin solutions that stand up to the rigors of a complex dataset. 


For more than 12 years, we have successfully served the needs of the Revit community: 


  • We stay connected to the architecture, engineering, construction and building-owner industries by attending and hosting events.
  • We learn about Revit challenges through Autodesk forums, surveys, roundtable discussions and one-on-one conversations, and we develop tools that address those challenges.
  • We leverage our beta testing program to ensure our tools achieve the desired results before we release them to the public. 


Because of our rigorous development and testing process, we know that all our Revit software plugins address specific requests from Revit users, streamlining workflows, reducing time spent on data management, and improving the quality of their Revit models.


What are the Five Must-Have Revit Plugin Solutions from Ideate Software?

Below are summaries of our products that BIM managers with teams ranging from small and local to large and global count on to help them achieve their goals. For details, visit our website. 

Ideate Software Plugins for Revit

1. Move data from Revit to Excel for fast and easy editing and then move updated data back to Revit to instantly update your model – Ideate BIMLink 


“[Ideate BIMLink] is an essential tool that we rely on regularly.”

~Peter Michealsen, Modulus Consulting


Here are a few specific tasks you can perform with our Ideate BIMLink Revit software plugin:

 

  • Edit type and instance parameters in the same Excel workbook
  • Export custom revision cloud comment information
  • Ensure Revit model health

2. Find and delete hidden problem items including DWGs, find and refine elements including those excluded from the project browser, manage Revit warnings, and more – Ideate Explorer

“[Ideate Explorer] puts the filter tool in Revit to absolute shame -it is simply THE tool for finding elements in Revit models.”
~Gavin Crump, BIM Guru

See a few ways Ideate Explorer will save you time and increase the accuracy of your Revit models:
 


 3.
Elegantly connect non-BIM data from an Excel, Word or PDF document into Revit projects, enhancing cross-team workflows – Ideate Sticky

“Ideate Sticky reduces the time we spend getting Excel schedules into Revit by a minimum of nine minutes per project per reload. It paid for itself in just one month.”
~Aimee Molleken, GLHN Architects & Engineers

Learn more about Ideate Sticky:
 

 

4. Analyze, delete or merge non-standard Revit styles that enter models along with imported content – Ideate StyleManager

“After cleaning up a library of 1000+ families, I can safely say Ideate StyleManager is a must have. It saved me many days of work, if not weeks! I’m not sure how I would have kept my sanity without it.”
~Ann-Helen Wirtz, SERA Architects

Check out some of the valuable ways our Ideate StyleManager 
Revit software plugin is used to keep Revit models clean:
 

5. Streamline common tasks such as renumbering elements, determining which elements will be deleted along with a selected item, copying sheets with views, and more – IdeateApps 

“All [IdeateApps] apps are big time savers, but from a BIM management standpoint, [Ideate XRay] is my favorite time saver.”
~Anne Gustavson, NBBJ

The IdeateApps collection is made up of nine different tools. Here are just three of the many tasks it can automate for you:
 


Ready to Learn More about our Autodesk Revit Plugin Solutions?

Ideate Software Plugins for Revit

You’ve taken the first step and read this blog post. Now it’s time to dig in a little deeper. You can contact us for a one-on-one conversation; check out our blog posts for  product information, workflow demonstrations, frequent questions addressed by our Support team and more; attend an upcoming webinar or review a recording of a past event, or watch short how-to videos that provide demonstrations on how to perform specific tasks using our Revit software plugin tools. 


As you peruse the information, we are certain you will come to understand the value that these tools can bring to your team starting on the first day you launch your subscription. 

Subscribe Today!

Whether you have a small or large team and are ready to dip your toe in the water or take the plunge, we have a trial offer or subscription option for you.


  • Trial – Try any or all our products for 30 days free of charge
  • Get-to-know-us Bundle – Subscribe to all our products for six months
  • Individual Products – Address immediate needs with 1, 5, or 10 licenses for the product(s) you need today
  • Bundles – Set your team up for long-term success with a subscription to all our products


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.

  • What is a Named User license?

    A Named User license is assigned to one specific person rather than shared across a network. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see the License Wizard section of the Graitec Licensing Help Center.

  • Are Ideate Suites replacing Ideate Software Bundles?

    Yes. Going forward, Ideate Suites replace Ideate Software Bundles.

  • What's the difference between the Ideate Software Bundle and the Ideate Suite?

    Both include the same five tools: IdeateApps, Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky and Ideate StyleManager. What changes is how many people can use them at the same time.


    • Bundle: Each tool is licensed separately, so different people can work in different tools at once. For example, with one Bundle, five people could each use a different tool at the same time.
    • Suite: One license covers all five tools for one person at a time. That person can move freely between every tool. While they're using the Suite, it isn't available to anyone else on that license until they finish.

    A Named User Suite is assigned to one specific person. A Cloud Floating Suite can be shared across your team, one person at a time. 


    Bundle to Suite Infographic


  • Will my team need more licenses?

    If several people on your team use different Ideate tools at the same time, you may need more than one Suite license. Contact us and we'll review your team's usage and help you choose the right setup.

  • Can I still buy an Ideate Software Bundle?

    No. Bundles are no longer available for purchase. New purchases are offered as follows:


    • Ideate Suite: Named User or Cloud Floating 
    • Enterprise Suite: Cloud Floating
    • Active Host: Cloud Floating
    • Automation: Cloud Floating
    • Individual products: Named User or Cloud Floating (IdeateApps, Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, and Ideate StyleManager)
  • Can I still buy IdeateApps, BIMLink, Explorer, Sticky, or StyleManager individually?

    Yes. Individual products are available as Named User or Cloud Floating licenses.

  • Will floating (network) licenses still be available?

    Yes. Cloud Floating licenses are available for Ideate Suite, Enterprise Suite, Active Host, individual products, and Automation.

  • My organization has strict security requirements or no internet access. Can I still get a FlexLM license?

    Yes. FlexLM remains available for organizations with security requirements, such as environments without internet access. FlexLM is not available through the online store, so please contact your account manager to purchase.

  • I'm an existing customer. What happens to my current license/s?

    Your existing Ideate Software subscription is moving to our new licensing system at no cost. Your license quantities and expiration dates stay the same.


    • Standalone licenses become Named User licenses. Set up your Named Users in the Graitec Advantage Portal.
    • Cloud Floating (network) licenses become Cloud Floating Suite licenses. Deploy the latest release as you have in the past, using the new license code in your migration email.
    • Each Ideate Software Bundle becomes an Ideate Suite.

    To keep using Ideate, update to the latest release and activate your new license by March 31, 2027. Older Ideate licenses will stop working in Q2 2027.


    Using Ideate with Revit 2022 or earlier? Contact ideatesupport@graitec.com to review your options. For account questions, contact sales@ideatesoftware.com.


  • I have a Bundle today. What will I receive when I move to the new licensing?

    Conversions are one for one. Each Ideate Software Bundle becomes one Ideate Suite, and each network Bundle becomes one Cloud Floating Suite. Your license quantities and expiration dates stay the same.

  • I have several products that renew on different dates. How will that be handled?

    We're finalizing how to handle accounts with multiple renewal dates. Contact sales@ideatesoftware.com and we'll review your account with you.

  • Where do I manage my licenses?

    In the Graitec Advantage Portal. Based on customer requests, starting with the latest Ideate release, license management and license usage information are handled in Graitec Advantage, outside of Revit. We recommend bookmarking the portal.


    • Named User licenses: Assign licenses to people on your team in Graitec Advantage.
    • Cloud Floating Suite licenses: Deploy the latest release with your new license code as you have in the past, then manage licenses in Graitec Advantage.

    Watch the Graitec Advantage walkthrough


  • Can I transfer a Named User license to another person?

    Yes. There's no limit on the total number of transfers, but each license can be transferred up to two times within a 30-day period.

  • How are licenses issued?

    Each product on your order is issued as its own license once your order is processed. To try a product before buying, contact us to request an evaluation license.

Still have a question?

Contact

Explore recent posts

Smarter Revit Workflows: Lessons from the Field with Grimshaw and Ideate Software
October 21, 2026
TRAINING - WEBINAR | Watch the recording of this session featuring Charleen Chae, BIM Lead for North America, and Tiago Santos, BIM Coordinator in London at Grimshaw Architects, alongside Ninad Garware, Technical Evangelist at Ideate Software, GRAITEC Group.
BladeRoom Cuts Revit Workflow Time by 70% with Ideate Software and Graitec Group
August 27, 2026
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL - ARTICLE | BladeRoom Group, a leader in modular data center construction, was struggling to manage the complexity of large-scale, data-heavy Revit projects without growing their team.
Smarter Control of Complex Revit Engineering Models | Webinar, April 2026
August 25, 2026
TRAINING - VIDEO | In this recorded webinar, see how MEP and structural engineers, BIM managers, and Revit power users can take control of complex models without adding more manual work to their day, using Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, IdeateApps, Ideate StyleManager, and Ideate Sticky.
What's New in Ideate Software, June 2026 Webinar
August 6, 2026
VIDEO - TRAINING | Watch this webinar to see how Ideate ExportHub, the newest addition to the IdeateApps suite, simplifies Revit export workflows. Learn how to centralize exports, automate batch and scheduled exports, apply intelligent naming rules, and create dynamic sheet and view sets for client deliverables.
Show More