Export Revit to VIZ/MAX?

[Kroke]

Hi all :wink:

I know there is a PDF out there about exporting from Revit to VIZ/MAX, however, has anyone had any good success with this?

My new roomate owns 3DMax and we are determined to do this on our current project, and depending upon how it goes, perhaps a few more in the future.

If you have tried with any success, can you give any pointers, heads up or general info that would streamline the texturing process once in MAX (exporting options even, really anything with bennefit)?

Thanks, we'll give it a shot within the next few weeks. I can't get rolling too soon as I'm moving back into my house (Court order to move the ex out ) . . . So we'll have our own room for our office once again. :P Yeeuah :P

Thanks for any info...

~Kroke

[Arnel Aguel]

Hi Kroke,

If you are using Max you might be having problem using the revit-viz linking white paper. Max does not have file linking utility unless you have purchased the design extension (design extension integrates all viz features into max including file linking utility). In max you are only allowed to import your model through .dwg extension and this will be a separate file from your revit file that means whenever there are changes with your revit model you have to re-import your model again and re-apply you material assignment in max. Unlike if you are using file linking utilities you can just update your changes in revit model and reload the link model in viz/max without having to reapply any material already assigned to your model in max.

Hope this helps.

[mlgatzke]

Kroke,

If you're interested, I know someone at Autodesk that is currently working on this issue. I've been in communication with him and he said that he'd be sending me more information on the translation this next week. They're using a Revit model that I created a while back. If you'd like, and with his permission, I'd be happy to post his findings in this forum.

[Kroke]

Yes, of course, please post in this forum. I'd be interested for sure.

Well, me not knowing much about MAX/VIZ, I still see what you mean about the file linking, however, the proposed projects we want to market will be of finished projects only so that isn't really a big issue for us. We basically just want to render and create animations of finished Revit projects. (Yeah I know, they always change before you're done hehe). But, if we start the process about the time the permits are issued, I KNOW they won't be changed, they're just meant for marketing spec homes in the area.

I talked to my MAX guru guy today, he said he didn't see any probs with doing this once I sent him the famous Revit to VIZ PDF. Between the two of us I think we have a chance here, heh.

Thanks! Looking forward to getting in deep with this end of it...We'll be sure to post the results, but as I say, it may be some time...I don't move back into my place till Dec 1...it'll probably take a couple of weeks to get all moved in and set up :cry:

~Kroke

[Phil Palmer]

What we have found is to use worksets to give you another option for 'filtering' the 3d data out of the model.
For example your layer map file can only put all walls onto one exported layer. We take walls that require various different textures and place them on sepreate worksets and then just turn off worksets under visibility of the 3d view and export.

Also Viz seems to prefer the external wall corners to be mitred.
I caught one of my Viz guys spending ages going through his model and mitreing the wall joins - one command in Revit !

[cliburn]

I had a layer export problem recently. I created a layer export file as specified in the VIZ white paper, but when I opened the model up in AutoCAD all the roof components (for example) were grouped together on the same layer (A-ROOF-OTLN) even though there is another layer set up for Surface patterns (A-ROOF-PATT). My question is, how do you link a specific roof layer (under structure) to the A-ROOF-PATT designated layer for export?

Thanks,
David

[rakarpassoc]

Element Information Embedded in DWG Exports
When Revit exports a dwg/dxf file, a range of element information will be written into XDATA.

Category, Subcategory, and Type IDs will identify the nature of the exported element. Element IDs of host objects and family instances will provide an invariant way to tag geometry.

Material IDs and an indicator for faces with overridden material will provide correct material information for other rendering applications.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?

[Kroke]

I have lost my .pdf with this exporting to viz/max. Does anyone have it or a link? I'm setting up a slave machine to be my render farm and I want to have all my textures/models/tutorials/pdf's etc on this machine, and I can't find this now that I need it :(

TIA

~JJ

[Thomas Cummings]

Is this the white paper of which you speak?

Thomas

[Les Therrien]

So has anyone here tried this and been successful?

[hand471037]

I have followed this approach, but not with Viz. I've exported to other 3D rendering engines.

However this approch falls short when it comes to different material walls. They won't go to different DWG/DXF layers, i.e. your gyp bd walls and concrete walls could wind up on the same layer & color. Sucks. So the best way I've found around this is to use worksets, devide up the project more, and then export it in pieces. Works like a charm!

[Kroke]

Is this the white paper of which you speak?

Thomas

Thanks Thomas, that was the one I was looking for.


However this approch falls short when it comes to different material walls. They won't go to different DWG/DXF layers, i.e. your gyp bd walls and concrete walls could wind up on the same layer & color. Sucks.

Sigh...I'm really not looking forward to this task. :( I'll probably end up having to re-model a bunch of stuff with Rhino for this. *cringe*

[Chad Smith]

So the best way I've found around this is to use worksets, divide up the project more, and then export it in pieces. Works like a charm!
I haven't used worksets yet, but are you saying you have to export each wall style as a different workset, then link/import each one seperately into VIZ? That sounds like a lot of work.

I've only every tried one project with VIZ, and definitely the walls were the biggest problem.

I like the ADT/VIZ method where you can link your ADT model straight into VIZ. A one model approach. I'd like to see the same with Revit. I've asked the VIZ dev. team to include Revit linking into the next version, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Even though the current Revit 6.0 may export XData as mentioned in various posts here, you still have to export the model to another file. That is a real pain in the ***. File linking would be the ultimate choice.

I find it quicker to re-draw a project in ADT and render in VIZ. Revit just doesn't cut it for use with VIZ at the moment.