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Revit

How to Launch a Revit File into Prospect

  1. Open your file in Revit.
  2. Create or open a 3D view of the portion of the model you would like to view in VR. Prospect loads only the geometry that is visible in the current 3D view, this includes abiding by crop boxes and elements hidden via visibility/graphics.  Learn how to optimize your file here. 
  3. With your 3D view selected & open, Navigate to Add-Ins > View in VR.  

Revit_Export_Workflow_to_PDL_IrisVR_V2.gif
Full workflow from Revit to Prospect on Desktop showcased above and described step-by-step below. 

 

Select Desired 3D Views & Properties

  1. Select any 3D views you would like to import as Viewpoints in the pop-up window.
  2. The Properties tab gives the option of configuring which BIM metadata you would like to import. The default option is to import all type and instance properties. These settings will apply to future exports until/unless it is reconfigured.
  3. Click 'Start Processing'.
  4. When the export completes, Prospect will pop up and prompt you to add the file to a new or existing Project folder. (Except Legacy Prospect Basic users)
  5. Your file is ready to review in VR! 

File Updating

Note: File updating is only available for files imported using version 2.12* or newer.

What is file updating?

File updating allows you to update the existing file in your Prospect library with the latest geometry from your source model while bringing along any issues, annotations, and photos created in Prospect previously.

How it works:

When exporting an updated file, be sure to save the file to the same Project in your Prospect Library. Revit files will be updated if the file and 3D View selected before export match an existing file in the Project.

If you do not wish for files to be updated, you may turn off the feature in your Settings section toward the top right corner of the Prospect Library under the "File Processing" section.

 

 

File Specific Settings

Materials and Textures
Settings Supported: diffuse color, diffuse texture, image fade, transparency, and tint of Autodesk Materials, as well as physically based materials introduced with Revit 2019.

  • For physically based materials from Revit 2019+ to be exported, check:
  • Manage tab > Materials > Select desired material > Graphics tab > Shading dropbox > Check "Use Render Appearance"

Settings Not Supported: reflectivity, self-illumination, bump-maps, and relief patterns. Overrides from V/G menu are not currently supported, though categories hidden in V/G will be respected. 

To see an accurate preview of how your materials will appear in IrisVR, open up the Revit Material Browser and navigate to the "Appearance" tab.

 

Prospect supports a level of detail in-between "Medium" and "Fine" and brings in materials similar to how they would appear in the "Realistic" setting.

 

Visibility Settings
With files exported with Prospect version 2.11 or newer, users have a high degree of control and reconfigurability more in line with how geometry is thought of and managed within Revit.

Mix and match Visibility Settings between geometry within the following:

  • Worksets
  • Linked Files
  • Groups
  • Categories
  • Assemblies
  • Families
  • Layers (now called DWG export layers)
    Prospect uses the American Institute of Architects Standard to map Revit Categories and Subcategories DWG export layers.

 

Object Properties 
All type and instance properties available within Revit are accessible in VR.

Use the inspect element tool to access this BIM metadata for any geometry within your project. 

 

VisibilitySettings_AlteringStates.gif

 

Links
Prospect supports linked Revit files and will include them if they are part of the Revit 3D view, these will be available to easily isolate/review in VR with the visibility settings feature. 

If you wish to omit a given linked model, you can do this in Revit prior to export under the Manage tab.

  

 

Supported Versions

  • Revit 2017 - 2023

Not Supported

  • Revit LT does not support third-party plugins and as a result users of Revit LT are unable install or use the Prospect plugin to export files. 
  • Revit 2016 or older 

Notes & FAQs:

  • Prospect works best with local files, if you are having issues loading a file or exporting a view, try to detach from central and save locally prior to export. 
  • Project phasing not supported
  • Room Tags do not currently transfer or display in VR
    • Consider using decals for room identifiers - the following workflow has some relevant tips
  • Material properties applied as rules via Visibility and Graphics menu do not currently transfer to Prospect.
  • RPCs not fully supported

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