2.1 - Starting in Revit

Models with options

Sample file

For this step-by-step tutorial, you can use a sample Revit file, found on our Downloads page. Choose the file Configurator.

Revit is the place from which all configurators or publications are built. When you want to start using the Innobrix Housing Configurator, the first step you basically take is to think about the "scale" of the project you want to put in Innobrix. How many housing types are you dealing with? How many options are on these? Are these options all already known? As opposed to exporting models without options, you will have to work with Model Groups if you want to use the Home Configurator. In almost all cases, it is desirable to know in advance which project or models will be in Innobrix. You can take them into account in advance, so that your model is optimally suited to be used in Innobrix.

Module 1: Introduction!

How do you export to Innobrix?

Innobrix Parameters

When looking at the example file, you can see that all (parts of the) models are completely built from Model Groups. These groups are given their own Innobrix parameters from our Revit add-in (instance based). These parameters are:

• Innobrix: Type(s)
• Innobrix: Column
• Innobrix: Row

This set of parameters are used to create a so-called Configurable (read: 'Configurable object') within the Innobrix web environment. All groups that are provided with a complete set of parameters and that have the same Innobrix: Type(s) interpretation are bundled into one IBX file during export. The definition of a type is often a rather abstract one, but given the number of groups you may need, we ourselves often set the boundary at the beam size level. Within the example file you will encounter 2 types: Detached and Row house.

STEP 1

Use the Generate and Export button (Innobrix --> Generate and Export) within a 3D view to create an Innobrix file (*.IBX). (View--> 3D View). In the Export screen that appears, you can (for now) choose to only the Detached house. Once the export process begins you will see that 45 'cells' (groups) are exported. This is the file that can be loaded into Innobrix in a moment. However, the theory below is important to read before proceeding to the next article.

Grid field Structure

The Model Groups that make up your model can be single elements, but also composite parts, such as the shell, roof shapes, layout variants or facade options. These Model Groups are prepared in a grid within the Innobrix environment, also called the bag field. The location of each Model Group within this bag field is determined from the (filled in) Innobrix parameters.

The base groups you see in the image above can be extracted from your "base" situation in Revit. Option groups can basically be placed anywhere within your document. Make sure that the origin point of the Model origin point) of the Model Groups is correct. It should be relative to the 'type'. You can think of the columns as a sort-of category; groups that can exchange each other based on an option.