You're reading from Increasing Autodesk Revit Productivity for BIM Projects

Product typeBook

Published inJun 2021

PublisherPackt

ISBN-139781800566804

Edition1st Edition

Tools

AutoCAD

Concepts

Computer Aided Design

Authors (2):

Fabio Roberti

Decio Ferreira

View More author details

Chapter 6: Visual Programming with Dynamo

Visual programming enables users to create a script by changing graphical elements rather than text programming, which is the typical process for developing a code. Basically, we are creating algorithms without writing code:

Figure 6.1 – Dynamo graphical elements

Users don't require any programming experience to start using visual programming applications, such as Dynamo, and automate Revit tasks, but it requires dedication to learn and master a new process.

Dynamo is an open source software that enables visual programming for Revit, Civil 3D, and other software.

The principles of Dynamo follow three basic processes:

INPUT + FUNCTIONS AND OPERATIONS + OUTPUT

We will be able to increase productivity in Revit by using Dynamo to automate multiple workflows and complete repetitive tasks quickly.

This chapter will provide you with a basic knowledge of Dynamo and demonstrate the importance of mastering...

Technical requirements

In this chapter, you will need access to Autodesk Revit. The version used to describe all of these exercises is Revit 2021, but you can follow along with another version. It's important to take the following into consideration:

Different versions might be slightly different from each other.
Older versions of Revit cannot open files from an earlier version.

All datasets used for this chapter can be found in the book's GitHub repository at https://github.com/PacktPublishing/-Increasing-Autodesk-Revit-Productivity-for-BIM-Projects.

Introducing Dynamo

Productivity in business is a significant factor for a company's performance. Increasing productivity is a process for working smarter in a pre-defined time frame to match your project deadline.

Productivity methodologies are as follows:

Time management
Tasks completed by the workforce
Personal performance
Ratio to manufacture a product

Dynamo will increase productivity by improving your performance to complete a repetitive task and work with complex geometry.

Dynamo is an open source application that can be used as a standalone Sandbox or connected with other software, such as Revit, Maya, Civil3D, or any other application that has an API (short for Application Programming Interface) available.

It is designed to expand Revit's capability by automating processes and workflows. It will not add new tools to Revit, but it will help to automate existing tools for almost unlimited tasks and modeling processes.

Let&apos...

Expanding Dynamo

When working with Dynamo, some scripts will require further development by using the Python computational language. Using Python is an essential skill in becoming an expert in Dynamo.

As the Dynamo community is based on an open source environment, many users share these graphs with all other users and are available to be installed at any time. These packages are Dynamo version-specific, and that's why it is essential to always keep track of all versions that are available and have been installed.

It is not recommended to update them in the middle of a project but, if it is really necessary, update them only if the design team agrees. By not doing this control, it may happen that the scripts developed and used during the project will no longer work because of these updates.

Bear in mind that if this is an open source community, there is no guarantee that these packages shared previously will be maintained for future versions.

Advanced users will develop...

Best practices

When constructing a graph, it is quite common to add nodes all over the place:

Figure 6.41 – A disorganized Dynamo graph

When a graph becomes more complex, it will be hard to read or even to maintain. For that reason, it is essential when a user is developing a script to keep it organized as much as possible. This becomes a critical aspect when it is distributed across multiple teams.

As best practices, we recommend the following:

Organize the graph properly:
a. Group the graph as much as possible into different functionalities.
b. Order the script from left to right.
c. When having parallel processes at the same time, order the script vertically:

Figure 6.42 – A properly structured Dynamo script

Name everything properly:
a. All groups should be named with a clear title indicating the group's overall function (with a large font size to be visible when zoomed out).
b. All code blocks,...

Summary

In this chapter, we have learned what Dynamo is and how users can work with Dynamo to improve performance and productivity.

We learned that Python is one of the most common Programming languages, and it can be used in Dynamo together with the Revit API. This connection can enhance what can be altered in Revit.

We learned how to use Dynamo Player as a feature to run scripts on a project. We also looked into how to set up a folder that can be used across the organization to share the most common scripts that can be used in multiple projects.

We shared the best practices that should be used when developing Dynamo scripts (which can be extended to all the software that requires specific visual programming, such as Grasshopper).

In the next chapter, we will cover how we can get and manage the dashboard using Power BI or other software, such as Excel.

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Authors (2)

Fabio Roberti

Fabio Roberti is a Regional Practice Technology Leader (EMEA) and Associate at HKS Architects, where he develops and implements the digital strategy to consolidate processes and workflows to enhance project deliverables. He supports BIM processes in innovative ways to improve technology adoption with a thorough understanding of British Standards and the ISO 19650 framework and has many years of experience using Revit across all design stages. He holds a Master's degree in Architecture, the Autodesk Revit Architecture Professional Certificate, and a BIM Level 2 Certificate from BRE Academy. Fabio has presented at multiple conferences, including Digital Construction Week and Autodesk University in London and Las Vegas. His passions for digital technology and teaching others new skills helped him achieve his company's objectives and support many colleagues over the years. Besides BIM excellence, Fabio is interested in the rapidly advancing artificial intelligence sector, programming, and technologies that support superior construction deliverables.
Read more about Fabio Roberti

Decio Ferreira

Decio Ferreira, with over 20 years of professional experience as an Architect, is a BIM and Design Systems BIM Coordinator at Foster+Partners, where he is responsible alongside with his team for developing and implementing standards, methods, and procedures across the practice. He is a strong, committed individual who thrives when developing and researching BIM strategies, workflows, and approaches to improve what he believes to be the most important: collaboration. He holds three BIM certifications: BIM Level 2 Fundamentals and BIM Level 2 BS1192-2 Project Information Manager and Task Information Management, both from BRE Academy, and BS EN ISO 19650-3:2020 from BSI, both in London. In terms of software, he has worked with Revit since 2000 and holds Autodesk Revit Architectural, Structural and Mechanical Professional Certificates (since version 2011), along with an AutoCAD Professional Certificate (since version 2005), and is an Autodesk Certified trainer. He lectures at several academic institutions as a guest lecturer and actively lectures at NossoBIM on the International Master BIM Manager program and also at Polytechnic Institute ISEP (Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto), providing a high level of expertise in the BIM software training field. Decio has presented at multiple conferences, including at Autodesk University in Las Vegas and Sao Paulo. Decio is passionate about photography, planes, and traveling, which allows him to contact, learn about, and understand new cultures and different lifestyles. For him, there is nothing more important than his family!
Read more about Decio Ferreira

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