Thursday, October 30, 2008

ARCH-652 : Facility Information Technology class project2

Accessing the Building Information Model

The second project for the curriculum was to create a DWF file from a Revit model and present it on a web page. Another task on this project was to create a database of all the components present in the 3D Revit model. In this project I basically used the Application Programming Interface (API) for creating the database and Macromedia Dreamweaver software for developing a webpage, which incorporates various navigation tools for the embedded DWF file.

The first step in this project was to develop an external tool within Revit using the Application Programming Interface (API). For this purpose, I downloaded the Visual C# projects which were readily available on the Autodesk website. The projects were compiled to create their solution files. Later on I made few modifications in the Revit.ini file which allowed me to have the external tools (RVTSamples) toolbar within Revit. This toolbar consists of various advanced tools which can be used to perform various actions within few seconds. These tools provide the same functions as the regular tools available in Revit, but the number of steps involved in these tools is comparatively less. Once I had the external tools menu (RvtSamples) available, I exported my Revit model into the ODBC database using RDBlink tool in the RvtSamples menu.



Firstly we need to create the Data Source Name (DSN name), Click "NEW" and then select Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb) type and give the source name and path as desired.



After creating the DSN, select the created DSN file, Database radio button and click "OK" to export the model into the database file.




















Click the link below to visit Project2 webpage

http://thelab.tamu.edu/classes/arch652600/web/Patel/Project2.html

The second step in the project was to develop a web page using Dreamweaver in order to present the DWF file. Firstly, the DWF file was generated within database the the "Publish 2D DWF" option available in Revit. The webpage was then developed using Dreamweaver software and various navigation tools were created in this webpage using the knowledge of htlm programming. These tools were helpful for navigation through the DWF file.















Click the link below to access the database file in Microsoft access.

http://thelab.tamu.edu/classes/arch652600/web/Patel/Project2.mdb

ARCH-652 : Facility Information Technology class project1