Streamline your Revit to NWC exports, eliminate user error, and save valuable time by scheduling automated exports outside regular work hours. Pre-define all your variables for consistent and accurate NWC deliverables.
Prerequisites
Sample Scripts
Export the Default 3D View
Export to NWC using Revit Views/Sheets Set
Export to NWC using a Dynamic View Set
Generating a Navisworks Export Options file
To export to NWC, you need to have the Navisworks NWC Export Utility per Revit version installed on the machine executing the automated task.
There are two sample scripts that are supplied with the Sample Content.
Script Name | What to Export? |
AUT-Export_NWC | Name of View Set defined in the Revit Project |
AUT-Export_NWC_Dynamic | Views defined by a BIMLink link definition |
The AUT-Export_NWC script allows you to export the default 3D view to an NWC file. When the ‘View Set (optional)’ value is left blank, the export will use the Revit default 3D view to generate a single NWC file. The export will include all phases and the primary design option, if applicable.
The AUT-Export_NWC script is used to generate one or more NWC files, using the Revit Views/Sheets Set name in the script's ‘View Set (Optional)’ value.
The Revit Views/Sheets Set used for this script should ONLY contain Views, as the Navisworks NWC files are designed to contain solely 3D model data. To review or modify the Revit Sheets/Views Sets, refer to Autodesk Revit’s instructions on working with View/Sheet Sets for Printing.
Ensure that the set is saved in the project to be later utilized in the script. The Revit View Set is static and needs to be updated to include newer views. For a more flexible approach, refer to the Dynamic View Set option below.
The AUT-Export_NWC_Dynamic script utilizes a list of views defined by a specified BIMLink Link definition. This Link definition filters Views that begin with “NWC”. The script ships with a pre-defined BIMLink Link definition located here: C:\Program Files\Ideate\Ideate Automation\en-US\Samples\Ideate Software Scripts\01 Publishing - Dynamic\Views-NWC.link. In the script, this location is shortened to ${Script.Folder}\Views-NWC.link.
The BIMLink Link definition file filtering criteria can be edited using Notepad to suit your needs, here is how:
• Open “C:\Program Files\Ideate\Ideate Automation\en-US\Samples\Ideate Software Scripts\01 Publishing - Dynamic\Views-NWC.link” in Notepad.
• All information within the <filter></filter> headers are related to filtering performed by BIMLink. This filter generates a list of Views that begin with the letters NWC and passes this list during the export process.
• Change the search criteria to suit your needs.
TIPS:
• When the editing is done, we recommend performing a SAVE AS to a new location. Then browse to the new location for the Ideate Automation script.
• You can also modify or create your custom BIMLink link definition with the BIMLink UI, please refer to this How to guide.
Our scripts can utilize an external Navisworks Export Options file to determine the settings used for the NWC export. This external settings file, formatted in XML, can be generated, and used in the script as an input.
To create your customized XML file, follow these steps:
• Open Revit.
• Go to File > Export > NWC > Navisworks Settings…
• Choose your preferred settings.
• Click Export to generate the XML file. This XML file contains Navisworks options configuration for use within the script.
The XML path can be utilized in the script in the ‘Navisworks Export Options file (Optional)’ value. If this value was left blank, the default Navisworks export options settings will be used.