Centralized management of Families / Types / Properties

[Duncan Lithgow]

I'm wondering if anyone watching this forum has input on tools for managing families and types? We only really know about local products and thought you guys might know about products from further away?

What we're looking for can do the following:
* Well structured lists og types and families including views of their meta-data synchronized
* Multi user environment
* Simple user interface
* Quality Assurance tools for the BIM model (does the data in the model fit the data in the type database)
* Access to standard data such as classification and property sets
* Easy integration of project specific data, families/types & parameters
* Possibility for flexible sorting of information
* Generation of object lists including data (for sending to tender and project documentation)
* Generation of tender lists with quantities
* Two-way synchronization of data
* Easy/automatic editing og type names to fit naming structures

Is that too much to ask?

We're looking at these products:
BIMShark https://bimshark.com/
GlassHouse http://www.glasshousebim.com/index-EN.html
dRofus https://www.drofus.no/en/product.html > Items
BIMeye Asset Manager https://www.bimeye.com/product/asset-manager/
NTI https://nti.biz/produkter/NTI-produkter/NTI_FACT/
Ajour BIM https://ajoursystem.com/produkter/ajourbim/
Dalux Project (preferred solution but discontinued)

[david_peterson]

Hi Duncan.
We went thru this process a while back and settled on Unifi.
Cloud based, updates instantly. You also get some great metrics included for model heath.
It's not cheap, but it's been serving us well.
We were also tried Content Studio for a while and decided against that. Didn't work with the way our network was set up for multiple offices.
As far as the other stuff on the list, I'd look at the CTC Family Processor tools. They have a standard checker and a processor for adding, changing or removing parameters and such.
For the lists of data to send out, I'd be looking at setting up a Dynamo script for that kind of thing. CTC also has a room family manager tool it's sim to dRofus, but a hell of a lot cheaper.
Hope this helps. If have questions, let me know.

Edit
Also I forgot to mention the spreadsheet link took. Awesome tool, simple to use to dump data out of a model to excel for manipulation and the ability to import it back into the model to update parameters. It's one of my favorites.

[Duncan Lithgow]

Also I forgot to mention the spreadsheet link took. Awesome tool, simple to use to dump data out of a model to excel for manipulation and the ability to import it back into the model to update parameters. It's one of my favorites.

Thanks for getting the ball rolling Dave. Which spreadsheet link tool do you mean? My problem with all the ones I've seen is that you need to be very careful with ownership of model worksets so the whole thing doesn't break.

I'll have to take a look at the CTC tools. I haven't looked at them for years.

Is Unifi similar to Kinship? https://kinship.io/ Can I ask how much you pay per seat for Unifi?

[david_peterson]

CTC's BIM Project and Managers Suite includes it.
https://apps.autodesk.com/RVT/en/Detail/Index?id=5735354759086980010&appLang=en&os=Win32_64
(note, this isn't an advertisement. Just wanted to provide a link to the suite of tools I'm trying to explain)
It's nice in that if it can't do something because of workset ownership, you'll get a warning and an export as to what was modified and what wasn't.
But like with any tool that's going to modify a database, it's still best to do that kind of work in a silo. Depending on what you're doing a test run is usually a good idea as well, until you get used to the things that might go wrong.
it's also go a lot of nifty feature for adding new content to a model, like new sheets, or rooms or spaces.... You can do a lot with it. It's one of my go to's when I can't find things as well. You get the ability to pull any parameter into an excel sheet. Much more than the typical parameters the schedules let you get into. If you're going to AU in Vegas this week, CTC usually has a booth. They also tend to frequent the BiLT events. But I'd check out their trials. They also have pretty good customer service as well. Again, not trying to sell for them, but I'd put them on a recommended list if I had one.
Bottom line is we use a lot of different tools in order to get our jobs done. We haven't found one tool, product or company that does everything, but we've found enough individual ones to do what we need to.
Let me know if you need anything else.

[brokhoward]

David - I agree that the CTC tool is great and a lot more advanced for content management. The dRofus content link is more of a bonus feature for teams already using dRofus. Here are a few links for those interested in how it works https://wiki.drofus.com/display/DV/2.+Load+Family+in+Revit https://wiki.drofus.com/display/DV/1.+Save+Family+to+dRofus

Another one to look at is https://unifilabs.com/

[david_peterson]

I'll add that link for Unifi.
We use it. Love it. No Add here, just the truth. it's not cheap, but we've found it very useful.
https://unifilabs.com/

[david_peterson]

Thanks for getting the ball rolling Dave. Which spreadsheet link tool do you mean? My problem with all the ones I've seen is that you need to be very careful with ownership of model worksets so the whole thing doesn't break.

I'll have to take a look at the CTC tools. I haven't looked at them for years.

Is Unifi similar to Kinship? https://kinship.io/ Can I ask how much you pay per seat for Unifi?

Haven't looked at Kinship, but sounds similar. I'd look at both if I were you.

We got in on the ground floor when they were just starting. So I'm not sure if we got a price break or not. I can tell you that it isn't cheap when compared to Say Content Studio or some of the other similar non-cloud based options. They also give you more of a flex option. So Say you have 150 seats of revit, you might only need 100 for Unifi. It'll also do Cad, Sketch and I think a few other file formats. So it's not just for Revit content. Which is nice. There's another option out there called Availi? I It's similar to Content Studio, but had the ability to do any file format if I remember right. Both of those options are cheaper, but require you to sync file servers if you have multiple offices. We tired using content studio from a central location and it was horrible. We also didn't get much support from them at that time.

[Steve_Stafford]

Kinship is only open to new clients by invitation at the moment. It is a content search tool and project data analysis tool. It does not come with content and its search focus is on users, finding the best stuff (available to them) faster. It learns and improves the longer it is used. It is difficult to do a trial for this reason. It takes a commitment to use it, get users to use it and add projects to it for the real value to become apparent. That's assuming you can't reach that conclusion merely by looking at the examples of data they have.

To be clear, I'm a fan of what they are trying to do. I really like that they design it so it does not add more work to a manager's routine. I frequently speak with their development team (as a technical advisor with a Revit user perspective). I was in their booth helping out at the last two Autodesk University events. Their personal schedules prevented them from being their this year.

[david_peterson]

Sounds a who like like Unifi, only a next generation of it maybe. Unifi now also offers project analytics. In theory it remembers what families are used more than other and pushes them to the top of the search list. Kinship sounds like a solid product.
Steve, I'm wondering if you looked at Unifi and would be wiling to give a comparison.

[Steve_Stafford]

...Steve, I'm wondering if you looked at Unifi and would be wiling to give a comparison...I have not used Unifi recently enough to know what it does or doesn't do in comparison to Kinship. The key to either being successful as a search engine is getting users to use them. The project analysis side is only dependent on projects being added to Kinship, the magic all happens without any other effort. The conclusions reached and actions a project team or firm should take based on the information (includes both family and project data) is another matter.

[ken.peters]

We have been using a product called Avail (found at www.getavail.com). It provides a graphical view of the families with multiple methods of organizing them. It is very affordable as well. They offer a free trial version
hope this helps.

[DanielBang]

I'm wondering if anyone watching this forum has input on tools for managing families and types? We only really know about local products and thought you guys might know about products from further away?

What we're looking for can do the following:
* Well structured lists og types and families including views of their meta-data synchronized
* Multi user environment
* Simple user interface
* Quality Assurance tools for the BIM model (does the data in the model fit the data in the type database)
* Access to standard data such as classification and property sets
* Easy integration of project specific data, families/types & parameters
* Possibility for flexible sorting of information
* Generation of object lists including data (for sending to tender and project documentation)
* Generation of tender lists with quantities
* Two-way synchronization of data
* Easy/automatic editing og type names to fit naming structures

Is that too much to ask?

We're looking at these products:
BIMShark https://bimshark.com/
GlassHouse http://www.glasshousebim.com/index-EN.html
dRofus https://www.drofus.no/en/product.html > Items
BIMeye Asset Manager https://www.bimeye.com/product/asset-manager/
NTI https://nti.biz/produkter/NTI-produkter/NTI_FACT/
Ajour BIM https://ajoursystem.com/produkter/ajourbim/
Dalux Project (preferred solution but discontinued)

Hi Duncan! I know we're late to the party. I work at Ajour Systems and we have just launched our newest tool, AjourObjects(https://ajoursystem.com/en/products/ajourobjects/), which I believe does (at least some) of what you've requested.

* Well structured lists og types and families including views of their meta-data synchronized
Heres a preview of the way we structure the lists of families and types:
https://imgur.com/Jmcv2l2
https://imgur.com/1Ln4IfB

* Multi user environment
With our web platform coming soon and our Revit plugin, you already now have the opportunity to work with your entire team across continents with AjourObjects.

* Simple user interface
Heres a few images of the UI:
https://imgur.com/a/v2rPzhy

* Quality Assurance tools for the BIM model (does the data in the model fit the data in the type database)
We sync all data on objects between your project and the database at all times ensuring that the data is connected. You also have the option to chose the synchronization direction of each individual parameter (say, you want some data to only flow from Revit to the database or you want some data to only flow from database to Revit.)

* Access to standard data such as classification and property sets
We have built in classification systems but also allow the users to create their own grouping of objects.

* Possibility for flexible sorting of information
You can filter and sort all data as you wish:
https://imgur.com/jHoCcCT

You are always more than welcome to contact our technical BIM & ICT guy, Thomas, on th@ajoursystem.dk

- - - Updated - - -


Hi Duncan! I know we're late to the party. I work at Ajour Systems and we have just launched our newest tool, AjourObjects(), which I believe does (at least some) of what you've requested.

* Well structured lists og types and families including views of their meta-data synchronized
Heres a preview of the way we structure the lists of families and types:



* Multi user environment
With our web platform coming soon and our Revit plugin, you already now have the opportunity to work with your entire team across continents with AjourObjects.

* Simple user interface
Heres a few images of the UI:


* Quality Assurance tools for the BIM model (does the data in the model fit the data in the type database)
We sync all data on objects between your project and the database at all times ensuring that the data is connected. You also have the option to chose the synchronization direction of each individual parameter (say, you want some data to only flow from Revit to the database or you want some data to only flow from database to Revit.)

* Access to standard data such as classification and property sets
We have built in classification systems but also allow the users to create their own grouping of objects.

* Possibility for flexible sorting of information
You can filter and sort all data as you wish:


You are always more than welcome to contact our technical BIM & ICT guy, Thomas, on th@ajoursystem.dk

so.. I just realised I cannot post links.. anyhow, Ill try it this way
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