Furniture Specs

[cdchristian]

Could someone point me in the direction of a plug-in or workaround to interface Revit to furniture specs. Currently we use MS Access linked with ACAD to generate furniture specs/schedules/etc. This has been a great tool as it allows us to maintain a working database for all of our specs and have those specs directly tied back to our dwgs. Now, in Revit, we are confronting a dilemma as we are no longer able to have the link to access feature. Anyone have any success/ideas/strategies for developing furniture specs with Revit?

Thanks!

[wmullett]

What data do you need. You can build your furniture families to contain all sorts of data. That's the "I" in BIM.

So - maybe your furniture is a generic item but has instance parameters for name-model number-color-finish-cost-manufacturer-URL to Manufacturer's website... whatever you want and if all of these are shared parameters, the can be scheduled, tagged, or outputted to ODBC for direct read by excel or whatever.

[cliff collins]

E-Specs for Revit..............

Links the Revit model directly to Masterspec/Spec sections.

Well worth checking out.

cheers.......

[cdchristian]

Thanks Cliff, I'll look into it e-specs.

Yes, we can absolutely use the parameters in the families to generate quick furniture schedules, but they are no substitute for the furniture specification sheet that we are currently accustomed to which includes photos of the actual piece and well as an image of the fabric or other material specified. (see attached)

[cliff collins]

We have the exact same issues--

with hotels and FFE specs.

The ID dept'. has a legacy MS Excel format with links, photos, etc.
which we are trying to "BIM-enable" with Revit.

E-Specs looks like the way to go.

[jgabriel]

Our Interior Design group is experiencing the same difficulties as we transition to Revit. We previously used Archibus FM software with AutoCAD Architecture to extract data and customize the reports similar to your sample spec sheet. I'm not certain that Archibus works with Revit, we decided to stop using the software because we were experiencing too many "phantoms". We need to print sheets in 8.5"x11" format, with page # of total pages, to pass along to furniture vendors for quotes. We need room distribution sheets so vendors can install the specified products. Autodesk doesn't seem to understand this concept. Wall and floor finish materials are only part of our job.