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Sample Content
Ideate Automation contains several sample script (.testdef) files that can be used to open Revit and run several Ideate BIMLink processes in the background. The scripts can be used by the Ideate Automation Queue, as shown in the images below, or used in conjunction with other tools, like the Windows Task Scheduler. In this topic you can learn about the purpose of each sample script.
Single RVT Exports
- IBL-Export / IBL-Export-NoViewer
- IBL-DIR
- IBL-Export_Links / IBL-Health_Check / IBL-COBie
- IBL-MX-QC_Links
Multiple RVT Exports
IBL-Export
The IBL-Export script is designed to automate the export of a specific Ideate BIMLink definition to a single Excel file. Before using any Ideate Automation script it is best to be logged into your Autodesk Desktop App and to have Revit closed. This script’s defaults are setup to automatically export quantity takeoff (QTO) information for a single Revit project.
To use this link:
- Browse to pick a Revit file. This script works best with local and published cloud models because the resultant Excel export is placed in the folder where the local file lives.
- Select a link definition to describe the data to be exported. The default uses the Construction_QTO link definition that ships with Ideate BIMLink.
- Review the Task Name. By default the Task Name will be “IBL-Export” with the name of the selected link definition appended. Using a unique task name is useful if you need to repeat the task later. It can be manually modified within the dialog if needed
- Select Create and Run to launch the script.
This script will launch the correct version of Revit based on your Revit file selection (#1 below), then open that Revit file, launch Ideate BIMLink, load the link definition specified, use the Export function to create an Excel file matching the name of the link definition, then close out Revit. See below for a variation on this script.
IBL-Export-NoViewer
The script called “IBL-Export-NoViewer” is almost identical to “IBL-Export” but the difference is that it does not utilize Revit’s Viewer mode. In some conditions worksharing-related messages can only be suppressed in non-Viewer mode.
IBL-DIR
The script called “IBL-DIR” is similar to “IBL-Export” and is designed to work along with the Excel macro template used to automatically create document issuance records. Ideate BIMLink subscribers may request the macro template from our support team.
Before launching this script it is useful to place the macro excel file in the specified folder location (#2, below) so that it can be updated with the new data.
To use this link:
- Browse to pick a Revit file. This script works well with local, published, and cloud models because it allows the export folder location to be defined separately from the Revit file location.
- Select a folder location for the Excel export. For cloud models you may want to browse to the corresponding BIM 360 Desktop Connector location of the project.
- Review the name of the exported file. This script is designed to overwrite the Ideate BIMLink custom macro template.
- Review the location of the revision links needed. If your Ideate BIMLink content is customized, you may need to browse to that location.
- Select Create and Run to launch the script.
This script will launch the correct version of Revit based on your Revit file selection (#1 below), then open that Revit file, launch Ideate BIMLink, load the Revisions and “Revisions_on_Sheet” link definitions and then use the Export function to create or update an Excel file matching the name specified. When done it will close out Revit.
NOTE: This script uses “link_source” instead of “link_path” because there are two explicit Ideate BIMLink definitions that are being referenced by this script. Learn more on this Help Topic: Basic Scripting with Ideate Automation
IBL-Export_Links
The IBL-Export_Links script is designed to automate the export of any Ideate BIMLink definition found within a specified folder. The results are published as multiple worksheets within a single Excel file. Before using any Ideate Automation script it is best to be logged into your Autodesk Desktop App and to have Revit closed. This script’s defaults are setup to automatically all of the link definitions found within the Project Standards folder (see image below), making it easy to review and edit all project standards from Excel.
To use this link:
- Browse to pick a Revit file. This script works well with local, published, and cloud models because it allows the export folder location to be defined separately from the Revit file location.
- Select a folder location for the Excel export. For cloud models you may want to browse to the corresponding BIM 360 Desktop Connector location of the project.
- Review the name of the exported file. This script is designed to create a new Excel file with the name Project Standards ${today.yyyy-MM-dd}.xlsx
- Review the location of the link source folder. If your Ideate BIMLink content is customized, you may need to browse to that location.
- Select Create and Run to launch the script.
This script will launch the correct version of Revit based on your Revit file selection (#1 above), then open that Revit file, launch Ideate BIMLink, load any of the link definitions found within the linksource folder and then use the Export function to create or update an Excel file matching the name specified. When done it will close out Revit.
NOTE: This script uses “linksource_folder” instead of “link_source” shown above to allow for all links to be imported. Learn more on this Help Topic: Basic Scripting with Ideate Automation
Related scripts: IBL-Health_Check
IBL-Health_Check
The script called “IBL-Health_Check” is almost identical to “IBL-Export_Links” but instead of pointing to the Project Standards folder, shown above, it references the Health Check folder and does not include the default file naming date suffix that is part of “IBL-Export_Links”.
IBL-MX-QC_Links
The IBL-MX-QC_Links script is designed to automate the export of any Ideate BIMLink definition found within the Quality Control folder. For each link definition, this script will create a separate Excel file with a file name that matches the name of the link definition. We are not sure if you’ll want this method so let us know if this seems useful.
IBL-MP-Export_Cloud
This multi-project (MP) script highlights two special conditions. The first is that the default browse behavior is set to look for cloud models instead of published or local files. The second is the default folder is not specified. When a cloud model is accessed the file is a local copy buried deep on your hard drive. For this reason it is not practical to automatically place the export results in the same location — a separate location must be selected. Where appropriate you can browse to a corresponding BIM 360 Desktop Connector location.
IBL-MP-Export_List
This multi-project (MP) script highlights the ability to reference a pre-established list of files that have been saved as a .txt file. You can use the sample file that ships with the software to see the syntax required for this list.
IBL-MP-Export_Publish
This multi-project (MP) script highlights two special conditions. The first is that the default browse behavior is set to look for published models instead of cloud or local files. The second is that the default export folder is set to be relative to the selected files. This would create a new folder if necessary and create or update the exported results via the BIM 360 Desktop Connector.