by: Paul Crickard
RevitRevit Platform MEP
product focus
2012
Revit, in a Database ➲B
uilding information modeling (BIM) is often seen by outsiders and unfortunately, many insiders, as the creation of a 3D model. Actually, BIM is much more. BIM is about information— architectural design information, systems information, cost information, and schedule information. The information model is equally important, if not more, than the physical model.
Autodesk® Revit® stores not only the location and types of components required to make up the building, but also a host of information about those components—height, length, width, cost, manufacturer, and custom parameters. More often than not, the information included in a model Figure 1: Link a Revit model with a database.). is limited to what is needed to be scheduled in the construcYou can export to MS Access via an ODBC link, which will also tion documents. In this article, I will demonstrate how the link to other databases, and MS Excel; however, the plug-in will Revit DB Link plug-in—available in the Autodesk Subscription allow us to go straight to Access. Center—allows all the information in a model to be exported to a database and imported back into Revit. I will conclude by disFirst, create a new Access database and save it as a 2002-2003 cussing some of the benefits of having a model in a database. database. Next, select the Revit DB Link plug-in. Under the Revit to Access MS Access tab, highlight [Select a new connection] and click The Revit DB Link plug-in is available at the Autodesk SubscripEXPORT. Select the database you created in the first step and tion Center. After downloading and installing the file, it will click SAVE. If your model is large, the exporting may take several become available under Add-Ins > External Tools > Revit DB minutes. When the progress bar completes, open the database. Link. When you are ready to export your model, select the plugYou should now have a database with several tables. in and you will be prompted with a dialog box.
June 2011
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