McMillan Pazdan Smith Streamlines Processes with Ideate Explorer

Since 1955, McMillan Pazdan Smith has been helping clients “create environments that embody their personalities, enrich their lives, and enhance the quality of their community.” The company is a proven design industry leader with their use of building information modeling (BIM) technology on all their projects. McMillan Pazdan Smith has successfully leveraged BIM technology to improve engineer coordination, enhance stakeholder communications, and increase building efficiencies and cost savings.

McMillan Pazdan Smith and Ideate Software

McMillan Pazdan Smith learned about Ideate Explorer, “and I immediately saw that it could help my BIM support team resolve Revit issues that OoTB Revit simply couldn’t,” said Dan Warren, the firm’s BIM Operations Administrator.


“The amount of time we spend troubleshooting models has decreased significantly. Additionally, we’re better able to document specific situations where modeling and drafting practices have impacted performance. This has led to a broader understanding of the importance of Revit model health within our production team.” 


“The Ideate Explorer tool allows rapid assessment of model health and quick identification of ‘less than best practices’ within our troubled models,” said Dan. “Ideate Explorer allows our team to rapidly triage problems, so we spend our efforts on issues that provide the greatest return on model health. Providing a thorough model health assessment used to take a half to full day; now, we can turn our reports around in less than half the time. Additionally, it’s great to get a better data on the actual modeling behaviors that are causing problems on our production floor, so that we can provide more effective training and support. "

“The interface is quick, reliable, and easy to understand. Most of my BIM team had no problems picking the tool up and getting immediate value out of it,” said Dan.

 

“Having used Ideate Explorer for a while, I can say that it is by far the best tool I’ve ever seen for both managing model health and resolving pesky Revit issues that plague our project teams. Also, it has helped our users better understand and respect the importance of data structure and modeling practices in their models. I cannot imagine how we could efficiently resolve the issues we face daily without this tool.”


Positioned for Continued Success


Ideate Explorer provides numerous ways for users to decrease the time spent on model management, increase the accuracy of their models, and reduce file space. It also includes Warnings Manager for reviewing and managing Revit warnings, Navigate for navigating through view-based elements within Revit, and Query for searching on parameters.


“I’m looking forward to expanding our use of Explorer as the value continues to grow,” said Dan. “Thank you for making such a reliable and useful solution.”


About Ideate Software


Ideate Software allows Revit users to have unprecedented control over their data and solve persistent problems in Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Owner (AECO) workflows. Ideate Software solutions enable Revit users to save time, increase accuracy, improve project deliverables, and elevate design.


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  • 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.

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