Automation in Revit: Essentials

Part 1: Revit Data Models and Basics of Automation

This section will focus on introducing Revit data models and basic automation concepts. You will learn the significance of data models in Revit, how to navigate through the Revit data structure, and identify elements and properties. After establishing a strong understanding of data models, we'll dive into the basics of Revit automation. We'll discuss its benefits, limitations, and areas where automation can be beneficial. We will touch upon creating, using, and running scripts in Revit, setting the foundation for more advanced automation techniques in future sessions.

By the end of the day, you will clearly understand Revit data models and the foundations of automation. This knowledge will set you up for success as we delve into more complex automation tasks in the upcoming sessions.

Introduction to Revit Data Models

• Understanding the Basics of Revit Data Models
• Navigating the Revit Data Structure
• Identifying Elements and Properties
• Hands-on Exercise: Exploring the Data Model in a Revit Project

Introduction to Revit Automation and Its Benefits

• Understanding the Basics of Revit Automation
• Benefits and Limitations of Automation in Revit
• Identifying Areas Where Automation Can Be Applied
• Hands-on Exercise: Identifying Potential Automation Areas in a Revit Project

Introduction to Dynamo for Revit Automation

• The basics of Dynamo
• Hands-on Exercise: Automating a simple task using Dynamo  

Part 2: Custom Families and Dynamo

The second section will delve deeper into creating custom families and understanding Dynamo. We will discuss family templates, the process of creating and modifying custom geometry, and adding parameters. We will also revisit Dynamo, focusing on the interaction with families.

Understanding and Creating Custom Revit Families

• Understanding Revit Family Templates
• Creating and Modifying Custom Geometry
• Adding Parameters to Families
• Saving and Loading Families
• Hands-on Exercise: Revit Family Creation
• Hands-on Exercise: Interaction between Dynamo and Revit families

Part 3: Dynamo and Data Exchange

The third part will cover the use of Dynamo for automation and the fundamentals of data exchange. We will work on creating and running Dynamo scripts and integrating external data sources with Revit.

Dynamo for Revit Automation

• Understanding Dynamo
• Working with Nodes and Packages
• Creating and Running Dynamo Scripts in Revit
• Hands-on Exercise: Automating a Repetitive Task Using Dynamo

Data Exchange in Revit

• Understanding the Data Exchange Formats in Revit
• Importing and Exporting Data in Revit
• Automating Data Exchange with External Sources
• Hands-on Exercise: Importing CSV Data into Revit

Part 4: Troubleshooting and Best Practices

This section will focus on troubleshooting common errors, debugging automation scripts, and introducing best practices for successful automation in Revit.

Troubleshooting and Debugging Revit Automation Scripts

• Identifying Common Errors in Revit Automation Scripts
• Debugging Automation Scripts
• Hands-on Exercise: Debugging an Automation Script in Revit

Best Practices for Successful Revit Automation

• Tips and Strategies for Successful Automation
• Documenting Workflows and Changes
• Testing and Validation Strategies
• Maintaining and Updating Automation Scripts

Part 5: Final Project

The final part will be dedicated to applying the knowledge and skills you've gained through a practical project: designing and automating a basic layout for a building's core and services.

By the end of this training, you will have a solid understanding of Revit data models and automation techniques, ready to tackle more advanced automation tasks in future trainings.

Project: Automated Building Core Layout and Services Design

• Understanding the Project Requirements
• Designing the Core Layout in Revit
• Using Automation Techniques for Design Tasks
• Integrating Data from External Sources
• Documenting Your Workflow
• Presenting Your Design and Automation Approach

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Exploring the Data Model in a Revit Project  

A hands-on look at Revit metadata, parameters, the “database” structure, and different data types.

Identifying Potential Automation Areas in a Revit Project  

Here are some examples of how an automation project might come about during the work in Revit. We look at how you can think about automation in Revit in general, some things to remember when identifying potential automation projects, and how to get started.

Automating a simple task using Dynamo

In this project, we create a script together that changes one parameter for all selected objects to a set value. We will create the script for the user interface “Dynamo Player.”

Creating Revit Families

Families are a central part of Revit. To understand them deeper, we will create a custom lighting fixture. This family will have four types, with parameters and geometry controlled by their type. You will learn how to use existing families, edit them, and load them into your project.

Interaction between Dynamo and Revit families

We look at how the interaction between Dynamo and Revit families looks like. We will place our lighting fixture, orient it, give it parameters, and control the type.

Automating a Repetitive Task Using Dynamo

Our first advanced Dynamo project. We will create a script that generates sheets based on scope boxes in the project.

Importing CSV Data into Revit

Dynamo can not only edit existing data and create new data in a Revit file. It can also export and import it. In this project, we look at importing data from CSV to Revit families.

Debugging an Automation Script in Revit

When writing automation scripts, there are bound to be errors. In this project, we look at how things can go awry and how they can be solved. You will be introduced to how your previous scripts might give you errors and how you would solve them.

Final Project: Automated Building Core Layout and Services Design

Understanding the Project Requirements

• We need to understand our goal before we start moving toward it. We start by reviewing the project, the goals we have for the day, and different options to reach them.

Designing the Core Layout in Revit

• Setting up the basis of the model using Dynamo script. We import shared parameters in Revit using an external sheet to map them to the correct categories.  

Using Automation Techniques for Design Tasks

• We create sheets and drawings automatically according to user input to improve the speed of the project.

Integrating Data from External Sources

• An external CSV is used to import data for types of objects in the Revit file. We also create an export for quantity takeoff.

Documenting Your Workflow

• Much like in software development, it is very important to document your approach and workflow so that others (and the future you) might understand what you have scripted and why.  

Presenting Your Design and Automation Approach

• We investigate how scripts and scripts can be shown and communicated to external parties and how they can be structured and grouped to make them readable and easier for new developers to grasp.

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