NavisWorks 2009 & Revit 2009

[Jason Grant]

Is there any reason you can not just have the plugin for export in revit without having to own NavisWorks or is it I just can not find the install?

From my view it looks like they are essentially forcing NavisWorks users (contractors and others) to own Revit so that they can convert a Revit File or they are forcing architects to buy NavisWorks so that they can send files to others. They are all the same company... they should have a plugin or be built into Revit already for this. It is like saying that you can not export to autocad(dwg) without having autocad. Everyone would think this is rediculous.

I'm in a large company so we own both programs anyway but I would think this could be hard on a smaller company.

[david.kingham]

Unfortunately there is no free exporter and I had requested this pre-Autodesk, I should file a support request again, as should everyone else, if enough people request a free exporter they may actually pay attention.

The options right now are to export from Revit to dwg, ifc or dwf (dwg being the best) and bring that into NW which is not a great option imho, nwc files are much more robust and reliable

[TroyGates]

Does the 30-day trial version of Navisworks install the Revit exporter? And if it does, will it continue to export after the 30-day trial?

[mcuevas]

I agree, everyone in the industry is pushing collaboration between architects and contractors and between different disciplines. The fact that one has to buy the software to export that type of file is insane! It wouldn't be such a problem if the software didn't cost so much either....

[D.Williams]

Does the 30-day trial version of Navisworks install the Revit exporter? And if it does, will it continue to export after the 30-day trial?

As of the version prior to 2009, it did install the exporter, but after the 30 day trial it went kaput - giving an error when you clicked on the export function.

[mcervantes]

UPDATE: 11:25 AM

Solution:
We had installed Revit 2009 after Navis 2009 and once I updated the .ini file for Revit to include the external commands in the tools menu, it started to work just fine.


As a side note, I would agree with comments above to allow individuals to export to an nwc file without having to own Navisworks. Not being able to do so will kill the benefit of using Navisworks as a collaboration tool for BIM becuase I would anticipate most companies would not want to pay for both programs just to be able to export the model.
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10:39 AM--
I am having the same problem as Jason Grant and have both Revit 2009 and Navis 2009 on network license. Any updates to this?

My export from Revit 2008 to Navis 2009 worked just fine.

Thanks,

Michael Cervantes
Steinberg Architects

[Jason Grant]

Michael,

I found that if you go to add/remove programs on your control panel, select Autodesk NavisWorks Manage 2009 and click change remove. You will then get a box that allows you to Add or Remove Features. Select that and scroll down to Revit 2009, check the box and it will install the plugin in Revit for the Export to Navisworks.

Let me know if you have any issues with this. Don't know why it did not do this automatically but this worked for me. Just make sure you close Revit before doing this.

[anthony.foster-davis]

I am using Revit Architecture 2009 and when I go to the add/remove programs and follow the steps it does not give me the option for Revit Architecture...only Revit Building 9.0. Does this mean I need to have Revit Bulding 9.0 to export NWC files into NW?

[Jason Grant]

You need to own NavisWorks Manage to get the export to .NWC

If you own that then you need to go through the add/remove programs for NavisWorks to get the plugin installed. It is not found on the Revit 2009.

I would urge everyone to send a message to Autodesk stating that it is imperative for them to add the plugin by default within Revit at a minimum. It would be nice though if you could just import a Revit file from within NavisWorks but who knows when that will happen. They already have a working plugin... you should not need to buy an additional piece of software to use it.

[david.kingham]

Add this to the end of your Revit.ini file which is located here C:\Program Files\Revit Architecture 2009\Program

[ExternalCommands]
ECCount=1

ECName1=NavisWorks
ECClassName1=NavisWorks6.LcRevitExportCommand
ECAssembly1=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk\NavisWorks\2009\nwexportrevit2009\nwexportrevit2009_6.dll
ECDescription1=File exporter for NavisWorks 2009

If you already have any external commands you need to change the ECCount and the number after ECName, etc. to coincide with how many you have.

[Jason Grant]

David,

Have you tested the .ini file change on a computer that did not have NavisWorks. As you can see on the coding, it points to a common files folder so unless you have NavisWorks it will not work. At least that was my experience.

Although, if you have Navisworks on one computer you can copy the folder from the common files and place it on a non-NavisWorks computer and it will export. You do loose the options functionality so it just exports with the default settings. It is basically a couple .dll files and some naming files. I think something in the .dlls point to NavisWorks and that is what gives you the export options capabilities.

[david.kingham]

It does seem to work if you just copy the dll's as you said. I can't imagine Autodesk would condone this though

[Jason Grant]

I have never posted the actual files nor given them out because I knew Autodesk would probably not be happy about it... I just tested it for curiosity. Although, If I could get it to work somewhat it should be fairly simple for Autodesk to release their own plugin for this that they would support.

Is that too much to ask?

Keep up the good work David

[Jason Grant]

David - Sorry... that last comment may have sounded strange.

I meant that I appreciate all the work that you do... especially with the save local file .ahk. I have been adapting my own one to use with modifications to work with out workflow.

[david.kingham]

Thanks for the kind words Jason. I have also been working on automating the NavisWorks exporter in Revit....it still has some issues and I haven't updated it for the 09 products, but here is what it looks like now if you have any interest...

You need a 3dview called x-NavisWorks and a project browser filter that only shows that view. If you export the entire project instead of current view this could be simplified quite a bit.

[taiebat_mojtaba]

I have student version of Revit Arch 2008 and trial version of NW 2009. I followed what David said. [as I have Revit 2008, I changed "nwexportrevit2009\nwexportrevit2009" to "nwexportrevit2008\nwexportrevit2008"] but it did not add any other export option in revit. I checked the path Jason said and I had Revit Arch 2008 checked in the list. But still I have those previous export options in my revit and no new one for nwc.
[it is left 20 days from my navisworks trial version.

any solution?

[david.kingham]

You either need Revit 2009 or NavisWorks 5, the older version of either will not work with the newer versions. You could download a 30 day trial of Revit 2009

[taiebat_mojtaba]

David
Thanks for response.
I downloaded a trial version of Revit 2009 and I have a registered version of Navisworks 5.3 (server license). When I go to control panel to define Revit for Navisworks, there are only options for Revit 8.1, 9.0, and 9.1 and not 2009, however, in NW 5 there was no option for Revit at all!
I tried to do what you said: “add … to the end of revit.ini ….”
When I pasted these lines to the end of revit.ini, I wanted to check if I have this path in my computer:
ECAssembly1=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk\NavisWorks\2009\nwexportrevit2009\nwexportrevit2009_6.dll

in C:\Program Files\Common Files\ I have a “autodesk shared” folder instead of “Autodesk” and no folder named “Navisworks” or similar name in it. But instead, in C:\Program Files\Common Files\ I have a “Navisworks” and a “Navisworks 5” folder. But in “Navisworks” there is only one folder “SolidEdge” with five *.dll file in it, and in “Navisworks” there are two folder “SX” and “DX” with a lot of *.name and *.dll files. So at the end of the day, I don’t have the path you said at my computer.
FYI, I installed NW 5, then revit 2009, and then I promote NW from 5 to 5.3 but ….
I talked a lot :) need a complete answer ….

the other question is: after having every thing worked, in Revit, I have to go to file -> export and there would be a new option for nwc there that I have to select it? that would be all?

[mitch.cornelius]

I submitted another support request for this one, has everyone else?

[david.kingham]

You need Revit 2009 and NavisWorks 2009 together or Revit 2008 and NavisWorks 5 together they are not forward or backward compatible.

[dramage.190144]

Michael,

I found that if you go to add/remove programs on your control panel, select Autodesk NavisWorks Manage 2009 and click change remove. You will then get a box that allows you to Add or Remove Features. Select that and scroll down to Revit 2009, check the box and it will install the plugin in Revit for the Export to Navisworks.

Let me know if you have any issues with this. Don't know why it did not do this automatically but this worked for me. Just make sure you close Revit before doing this.

How in the world do you get Navisworks manage 2009 to function on even a 32bit machine? I have a 64 bit Dell duo Quad with 14 gigs of ram and it definitely will not install on it so I placed it on my VM 32 bit drive. It crashes there also. I also work for a large Global Engineering\Architectural firm and I need to either cut my losses or fine some solutions. any help would be appreciated.
Daniel R.

[Jason Grant]

Navisworks works fine on my XP Pro 32Bit system. It is very fast manipulating a model.

Did you install it on a Virtual Machine or on the 32Bit directory on the 64Bit OS? Can you give more info on the process and error messages?

My Specs:
Dell Precision 490
Windows XP Service Pack 3
3GB Switch
Intel Xeon CPU (4) Core 2.66GHz
4GB RAM
Paging File 12GB
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500 - 256MB

[david.kingham]

I received 2009.1 yesterday and so far I'm pleased, it actually opens and seems stable so far. I also found if I set XP's visual effects to "Adjust for best performance" it's more stable and much easier to see the icons

[steve.perkio]

David,

Where is this setting located?


I received 2009.1 yesterday and so far I'm pleased, it actually opens and seems stable so far. I also found if I set XP's visual effects to "Adjust for best performance" it's more stable and much easier to see the icons

Perk

[David Haynes]

I received 2009.1 yesterday and so far I'm pleased, it actually opens and seems stable so far. I also found if I set XP's visual effects to "Adjust for best performance" it's more stable and much easier to see the icons

Does anyone know where to download NavisWorks 2009.1?

[david.kingham]

Steve, if you right click on my computer and go to properties, then advanced, then performance settings

David, you can download a 30 day trial here http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/mform?siteID=123112&id=10885869 but you won't be able to license that until you receive the box
http://content.screencast.com/users/david.kingham/folders/Jing/media/5b1774f7-e0d1-416f-8c03-c069ca57fa03/2008-07-30_1809.png

[steve.perkio]

Thanks,

I didn't remember where that was even though I had set some custom settings there before, to turn off most of the windows effects.

I'll give it a try.

I have the new discs (well our I.T. dept does) for Manage 2009 v6.1. they arrived a couple of days ago. I have the new version of Manage installed, but the early version of Review is still currently onboard (for stand alone use without the license server).

What kills me is the time to do a network install remotely, about 6 hours!
No discs are allowed into the hands of the remote users (I'm in Southern California and Corporate is in Denver Co.)

Perk

[D.Williams]

David,

Where is this setting located?

Perk

Control Panel - System - "Advanced" tab. This is within Windows, not Navis.

[david.kingham]

What kills me is the time to do a network install remotely, about 6 hours!
No discs are allowed into the hands of the remote users (I'm in Southern California and Corporate is in Denver Co.)

I noticed this when creating a deployment, it takes an insane amount of time

[Dimitri Harvalias]

I have all flavours of Revit on my machine and installed Navisworks Manage. The export plug-in installs fine on Structure and MEP and is available on the Tools menu but it does not appear in the RAC menu.
David, I've checked my Revit.ini file (as suggested in previous posts) and it seems to be fine it just doesn't seem to be registering with Revit.

ECName3=NavisWorks 2009
ECClassName3=NavisWorks6.LcRevitExportCommand
ECAssembly3=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk\NavisWorks\2009\nwexportrevit2009\nwexportrevit2009_6.dll
ECDescription3=File exporter for NavisWorks 2009


Could this be a permissions issue somewhere along the line?
As always, any help or insight appreciated.

[david.kingham]

Could you post the entire ini?

[Dimitri Harvalias]

Thanks David. It did turn out to be a permissions issue.

If I run RAC as administrator it shows up. Although I'm the only user on my laptop and I have designated myself as admin and have admin priveleges apparently that's not enough for Vista to prevent it from protetcting me from myself :banghead: (did I mention I hate Vista?)

I'm still not clear why the installs for MEP and Structure would not have this problem but that's for another day.
Thanks again.

[david.kingham]

Ahhh that damn dirty Vista, I hate that OS so much.....glad you figured it out

[J3F]

Hello.

I already have NavisWorks Manage 2009.1 installed and have all of the associated Object Enablers installed on my laptop.

Tomorrow, IT will be installing the Revit Architectural Suite (Revit Architecture 2009/AutoCAD 2009/AutoCAD Architecture 2009) on my laptop.

Since we installed NavisWorks Manage 2009.1 BEFORE we are installing the Revit Architectural Suite, does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to perform this task, or any particular order of steps that we should perform?

I would most definitely need to install the plugin for Revit to Export to NavisWorks. In fact, I would need the entire Architectural Suite software programs to be able to Export to NavisWorks.

Thanks!

[david.kingham]

After everything is installed go to add/remove programs and modify the navisworks installation, select add or remove features and there will be an option to reinstall the exporters, if you have 64 bit AutoCAD you will need to do the same with the 64 bit exporter plugin

[JohnASB]

Does the plugin work for Revit 64? I get the menu but it doesn't activate the exporter. View is Normal and edit is at Modify.

[mitch.cornelius]

The exporters don't work in Revit 64, I have Revit 32 installed alongside revit 64 for that reason.

[Phil Palmer]

The exporters don't work in Revit 64, I have Revit 32 installed alongside revit 64 for that reason.

Very suprised at this issue.
We have purposely had to move over to Revit 64Bit due to model sizes and memeory issues.
I have then installed Navisworks and am stuck on not being able to export large Revit models to navis.

They need to sort this as a matter of urgency

[mitch.cornelius]

Very surprised and frustrated too. I think the fix should have a pretty quick turnaround. Luckily I've been able to open the incredibly large revit models in Revit 32 on this 64-bit workstation when I couldn't on the 32-bit workstations.

[Aaron.Wright]

Mitch / David,

Question since the last post brought up the 64 question. We've been having a serious apparent graphics card issue with Timeliner playbacks in Navisworks on our "new" Lenovo W500 laptop 64 w/ Vista. I've been looking for information on Navisworks 64 and saw the possible release in 2010 by David in an earlier post. I've been pushing our IT guys to possibly switch over to HP Laptops with very high end graphics cards, but obviously getting a little resistance. I've also put the same question out to Autodesk, but my question to you guys is: "What is the maximum hardware recommended for a laptop and what would be the average?"

Autodesk's recommended are seemingly more along the minimum requirements, but I'm not sure I'm even looking in the right place for these questions. I'm told a 1GB graphics card costs more than the laptop itself. Is this even the issue? Navisworks seems to play fine on XP, but terrible on Vista. Any help? Thanks guys.

[mitch.cornelius]

When I asked for a 64-bit machine, I was told they would take care of me. They purchased and built a custom desktop for me and it has a 2GB graphics card. It screams in NavisWorks. I think it's a bit excessive but they didn't want to have to upgrade the graphics card at another time.

As for recommendations...you've got me. I've found working on a laptop with 128 mb integrated graphics works well on some models but can't navigate others. This beefy workstation I have now doesn't seem to have any problems with any of our models. Yet.