API instructions requested

[xiqx]

Hi

I'll be meeting an interesting small company that so far makes a tool for AutoCAD to let you easily design curtain systems. Their curtain systems program includes the libraries of 18 big curtain system manufactures in Europe. They had not heard of Revit yet and I am would like them to adapt their program to interact with Revit through the API.

I have no programming experience myself so I do not know what they would need to see whether they can adapt their program to Revit.

I am bringing the SDK stuff from the Revit install dvd but I am wondering whether there is other info I should bring for them. It's a bit difficult of course because i don't know yet how they have programmed their software.

any suggestion would be nice.

thanks

[GuyR]

Do you need the API? FWIW no curtain system API access.

Guy

[MikeJarosz]

Why do you need to use the API? We got very far into the original Freedom Tower (the torqued diagrid design) using Revit 6.1. The cable structure on top was just amazing and the API hadn't even been invented yet!

[dtownsend]

If they are making tool(s) for AutoCAD, they should be a member of the ADN (AutoDesk Developer Network). If that is the case they should be able to get all they need via that - as far as support, SDKs, examples, etc goes.

With a program like Revit, like the previous post say, they may not need the API or even be able to use it. Revit is really a different ball game then AutoCAD. They probably just need to learn how to create advanced parametric objects inside of Revit.

FYI - There are a few companies already do this sort of thing in the States.
- BIMWorld
- Tectonic Networks

[MikeJarosz]

I failed to mention that Phil Read had the insight that enabled us to do the exterior in Revit. Up 'til then we were doing it in Acad.

[emile.kfouri]

At AU there was a a really cool building that was presented at a Revit Structure session and at one of the API sessions. (Designed by a Hong Kong company and being built in Dubai). The Engineer/Architects created families for the curtain walls and then used the API to place the walls on the building based on some very interesting equations that drove the form of the building.

Even though there is not direct access to curtain wall creation using the API. There are still a lot of cool things that can be done using families and the existing API.