RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-On for ARCHICAD 21

14 Pages·2017·0.47 MB·English

RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-On
for ARCHICAD 21
RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-On for ARCHICAD 21

Copyright

This document is copyright © BIM6x. 2017 All rights reserved worldwide. Revit is a trademarked name of Autodesk.

You may not copy, reproduce, publish, sell, rent, transmit or distribute, or otherwise use any of the contents of this
document without prior written permission from BIM6x. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, corporate names
or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference, without
intent to infringe. There is no implied endorsement if one of these terms have been used within this document.

Disclaimer

Use at your own risk. Not intended for actual construction. BIM6x will accept no liability for any problems encountered as
a result of using this manual and/or all files.

Document Revisions

Author: Link Ellis
Version R elease Date
1.0 0 6/09/2017

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RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-On for ARCHICAD 21

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4
IMPORT RFA AS GDL OBJECT.......................................................................................................................................................... 5
HOTLINK RVT 3D GEOMETRY ......................................................................................................................................................... 7
Match Stories of Multi-Story Hotlink ............................................................................................................................................... 12
EXPORT AS RVT 3D GEOMETRY .................................................................................................................................................... 13

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RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-On for ARCHICAD 21

INTRODUCTION

Use the RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-on to import and export 3D models via native Revit file formats: .RVT and
.RFA.
The RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-On has three functions:
• Import RFA as GDL Object
• Hotlink RVT 3D Geometry
• Export as RVT 3D Geometry
The RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-On is an extension to ARCHICAD 21.
System requirements are the same as for ARCHICAD 21.
Each Add-On function is described below. Please see the FAQ section for expectations, limitations and general information.

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RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-On for ARCHICAD 21

IMPORT RFA AS GDL OBJECT

This command imports a Revit Family (RFA) object (mostly manufacturer content) and generates a GDL Object, Door or
Window having the same precise geometry and all parameters.
The resulting object will lose its editable parametric capabilities. The Add-On uses the ODA Teigha BIM Engine, and imports
RFA file versions 2011-2018.
1. Use File > Libraries and Objects > Import RFA as GDL Object.
2. Browse for an RFA file to import, then click Open.
3. In the appearing Import RFA as GDL Object dialog, customize the import options:

• Select 3D View to Define Import Geometry: Choose a Revit 3D view (if there is more than one) from which to
import the RFA object. ARCHICAD will create a GDL Object based on the content of the selected view.
• Import as Library Part Type: Based on the Revit Family Category and Host Object Category, the Library Part
type will automatically select the best match: Object, Door or Window. You may override the type here.
• Segmentation of Curved Geometry: Use the slider to set the level of geometric detail (polygon segmentation)
at one of three levels. The more polygons, the larger the resulting object. It is recommended to keep this
setting in the middle. If the object is too large, use Fewer Polygons. If the result is too segmented and rough,
then use More Polygons. To check the Polygon count, download and install the Polycount add-on which is part
of the Goodies package available at http://www.graphisoft.com/downloads/goodies/index.html
4. Click Import.
• The imported family object is converted to a GDL Object, Door or Window in the ARCHICAD project from which
you issued the Import command.

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RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-On for ARCHICAD 21

• The generated GDL Object, Door or Window is placed into the project’s Embedded Library. It will become the
default Object, Door or Window. Use the Object, Door or Window tool to choose and place it into the project.
Notes:
• Imported as Object – the following parameters are created:
Edge Snapping, on or off.
o
Rotation Angle (x axis), to rotate the object 0/90/180/270 degrees or a custom angle around the x axis.
o
2D Representation: Projection Line Pen on Floor Plan.
o
Parts Visibility by Category, to control the visibility of parts of the Object as defined by its RFA Categories
o
Parameters: data as defined in the RFA file. This data is locked as read only, as it has no effect on the
o
object geometry.
• Imported as Door or Window – the following parameters are created:
Edge Snapping, on or off.
o
Stretch Thickness. When on: enables you to modify the Thickness of the Door/Window (will stretch the
o
geometry).
2D Representation: Projection Line Pen on Floor Plan, Wall Contour Lines: can be turned on or off and set
o
line type and pen; Wall End Lines can be turned on or off and set line type and pen.
Parts Visibility by Category, to control the visibility of parts of the Door/Window based on their Revit
o
Category. This option is visible only if there are multiple Categories defined in the RFA.
Parameters: data as defined in the RFA file. This data is locked as read only, as it has no effect on the
o
object geometry.
• The ‘Host Object’ will be automatically filtered out during Import.
• Once imported; the Object, Door or Window will then become the default library part in its relevant tool settings,
allowing for quick placement after import.

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RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-On for ARCHICAD 21

HOTLINK RVT 3D GEOMETRY

Use this workflow to import 3D model elements from Revit RVT files, placing them as a Hotlink in ARCHICAD. The resulting
GDL objects use the precise geometries and properties, including true colors, of the imported elements.
By hotlinking, you place an RVT file directly into the currently open Project as protected reference content. You can place
this hotlink as many times as needed. Thus, in a project using repeated building blocks/parts, you do not need to request
a huge file based on the entire Revit project - a smaller RVT file that contains just the required module is enough.
The Add-On uses the ODA Teigha BIM Engine, and imports RVT file versions 2011-2018.
1. Use File > External Content > Place Hotlink.
2. In the appearing Place Hotlink dialog box, click Select Module.

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RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-On for ARCHICAD 21

3. From the New Module pop-up button, click From File.

4. The New Hotlink Module dialog appears: browse for an RVT type file.

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RFA & RVT Geometry Exchange Add-On for ARCHICAD 21

5. Click Select to return to the Place Hotlink dialog. The RVT file you selected is shown as the module to be placed.
6. For the Elements’ Elevation option, make sure you choose Keep Elevation as in Story Structure of Hotlink Source
(as shown below). Otherwise, the imported model may “fall apart” when its elements are placed in a different
story structure.

7. Click Place Hotlink.
The Hotlink RVT 3D Geometry dialog appears. Here, customize the import options:
• Select 3D View to Define Import Geometry: Choose a Revit 3D view (if there is more than one) from which to
import the model elements. ARCHICAD will create GDL objects based on the content of the selected view.
Only Revit objects created in a 3D view of Revit can be imported to ARCHICAD.

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• Import Element Parameters and Categories:
Imports Revit parameters (General, Integer, and True/False only) as ARCHICAD Properties. The
o
imported parameters will be added to the ARCHICAD project as a Property Group, under the Group
name you enter here (e.g. RVT). (After import, you can see these data in ARCHICAD’s Property
Manager.)
Revit Categories are imported to ARCHICAD as a Classification System. (All Categories of the Revit
o
project are recreated in ARCHICAD - not just the ones assigned to the hotlinked content.) The
Classification System name will also use the Group name you defined above (e.g. RVT). Its Version is
the version number of the RVT file format you have placed. (After import, you can see these data in
ARCHICAD’s Classification Manager.)
• Choose how to handle imported Revit Building Materials and Surfaces:

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