CSiXRevit

ISO ETA062609M19 Rev. 2 Version 2011

Berkeley, California, USA February 2011

ETABS® and Revit

® Structure 2009/2010/2011

Data Exchange Documentation

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Copyright

Copyright © Computers and Structures, Inc., 1978-2011

All rights reserved.

The CSI Logo® and ETABS® are registered trademarks of Computers and Structures, Inc. Watch &

LearnTM

is a trademark of Computers and Structures, Inc. Revit® is a registered trademark of

Autodesk.

The computer program ETABS and all associated documentation are proprietary and

copyrighted products. Worldwide rights of ownership rest with Computers and Structures, Inc.

Unlicensed use of the program or reproduction of the documentation in any form, without prior

written authorization from Computers and Structures, Inc., is explicitly prohibited.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or

stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior explicit written permission of the

publisher.

Further information and copies of this documentation may be obtained from:

Computers and Structures, Inc.

1995 University Avenue

Berkeley, California 94704 USA

Phone: (510) 649-2200

FAX: (510) 845-4096

e-mail: [email protected] (for general questions)

e-mail: [email protected] (for technical questions)

web: www.csiberkeley.com

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DISCLAIMER

CONSIDERABLE TIME, EFFORT AND EXPENSE HAVE GONE INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF

THIS SOFTWARE. HOWEVER, THE USER ACCEPTS AND UNDERSTANDS THAT NO WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED

OR IMPLIED BY THE DEVELOPERS OR THE DISTRIBUTORS ON THE ACCURACY OR THE RELIABILITY OF THIS

PRODUCT.

THIS PRODUCT IS A PRACTICAL AND POWERFUL TOOL FOR STRUCTURAL DESIGN. HOWEVER, THE USER

MUST EXPLICITLY UNDERSTAND THE BASIC ASSUMPTIONS OF THE SOFTWARE MODELING, ANALYSIS,

AND DESIGN ALGORITHMS AND COMPENSATE FOR THE ASPECTS THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED.

THE INFORMATION PRODUCED BY THE SOFTWARE MUST BE CHECKED BY A QUALIFIED AND

EXPERIENCED ENGINEER. THE ENGINEER MUST INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE RESULTS AND TAKE

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INFORMATION THAT IS USED.

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Introduction

This document describes how to exchange Building Information Modeling (BIM) data between

Revit Structure 2009/2010/2011 and ETABS 9.7.2 or later, a three-dimensional physical object

based analysis and design package developed specifically for building type structures, including

commercial, residential, healthcare and educational facilities.

CSiXRevit supports four different workflows:

1) Exporting from Revit Structure to create new ETABS model

2) Exporting from Revit Structure to update an existing ETABS model

3) Importing from ETABS to create a new Revit Structure model

4) Importing from ETABS to update an existing Revit Structure model.

The flow of information is idealized in the schematic below:

Revit® Structure

Export from Revit Structure to create a new ETABS model.

Export from Revit Structure to update an existing ETABS model.

Import from ETABS to create a new Revit Structure model.

Import from ETABS to update an existing Revit Structure model.

ETABS®

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Supported Workflows

Exporting from Revit Structure to create a new ETABS model The chart below specifies details about data that is transferred into ETABS when exporting from

Revit to create a new ETABS model.

Action Model Element Supported Notes

Creation of…

Grids

Materials Equivalent ETABS materials will be

automatically created in ETABS.

Frames Geometry, offsets, cardinal points, and end

releases, transferred to ETABS. All columns

will be automatically broken at story levels.

Frame Sections

Steel Sections Will be automatically mapped to ETABS

database sections

Concrete Sections Equivalent ETABS sections will be

automatically created and mapped

Walls Walls will be automatically meshed at

window and door openings

Wall Properties Equivalent ETABS sections will be

automatically created and mapped with _w

appended to the wall section name.

Floors

Slabs Properties Equivalent ETABS sections will be

automatically created and mapped with _f

appended to the floor section name.

Deck Properties Equivalent ETABS sections will be

automatically created and mapped with _f

appended to the floor section name.

Footings Fixed joint restraint will be created in ETABS

wherever a footing occurs in Revit.

Point Loads

Line Loads

Area Loads

Load Cases

Load Combos

ETABS Auto Select Lists All families that are loaded in ETABS will be

made into Auto-Select Lists in ETABS

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Grids

The following Grid attributes are being created in ETABS:

• Grid Name: Same grid name will be used in the ETABS grid bubble.

• Grid Points: The start and end points are used to define the general grid line in ETABS.

• Curved Grid: In case of curved grid, ETABS breaks it into number of segments to get the

suitable curvature.

Materials

The following material attributes are being created in ETABS:

• Material Name: Same name will be used in ETABS

• Material Type: Revit material type is used to identify the ETABS material types namely

Concrete, Steel and others

• Young’s Modulus: Revit Youngs’s modulus is used to fill the ETABS material Young’s

modulus (E). These three values (for 3 different directions) cannot be zero in ETABS. If

first value is zero then ETABS default value will be used. If any of the remaining two is

zero then it will be filled with the first non-zero value. For the Isotropic material only first

value will be used for all other directions

• Poisson Ratio: Revit Poissons Ratio is used to fill the ETABS material Poissons Ratio (u).

These three values (for 3 different directions) cannot be zero in ETABS. If first value is

zero then ETABS default value will be used. If any of the remaining two is zero then it will

be filled with the first non-zero value. For the Isotropic material only first value will be

used for all other directions

• Shear Modulus: Revit Shear Modulus is used to fill the ETABS material Shear Modulus

(G). If Revit material is defined as Isotropic then ETABS will calculate this value on the

basis of Young’s Modulus and Poisson Ratio. In case of orthotropic material, these three

values (for 3 different directions) cannot be zero in ETABS. If first value is zero then

ETABS default value will be used. If any of the remaining two is zero then it will be filled

with the first non-zero value.

• Thermal Expansion Coefficient: Revit thermal expansion coefficient is used to fill the

ETABS material thermal expansion coefficient (Alpha). These three values (for 3 different

directions) cannot be zero in ETABS. If first value is zero then ETABS default value will be

used. If any of the remaining two is zero then it will be filled with the first non-zero

value. For the Isotropic material only first value will be used for all other directions

• Unit Weight: Revit unit weight is used to fill the ETABS material unit weight (w) and unit

mass (m). In ETABS units of weight is being calculated by dividing the unit weight to

gravitational constant (g). Unit weight cannot be zero in ETABS. If it defined zero in Revit

then ETABS default value will be used.

• Damping Ratio: This value is not in used in current version of ETABS.

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• Bending Reinforcement: Revit bending reinforcement is used to fill ETABS material (if

type is concrete) main reinforcement ‘Fy’. Default value will be used if it is defined zero

in Revit.

• Shear Reinforcement: Revit shear reinforcement is used to fill ETABS material (if type is

concrete) shear reinforcement ‘Fy’. Default value will be used if it is defined as Zero in

Revit.

• Resistance Calculation Strength: Revit Resistance Calculation strength is used to fill the

ETABS material f’c factor. Default value will be used if it is defined as zero in Revit.

• Behavior: Revit behavior tag is used to identify the isotropic or orthotropic materials in

ETABS

• Concrete Compression: Revit concrete compression is used to fill ETABS material (if type

is concrete) ‘F’c’.

• Lightweight: Revit lightweight tag is used to identify the lightweight concrete material in

ETABS.

• Shear Strength Reduction: This value is not in used in current version of ETABS

• Yield Stress: Revit yield stress is used to fill ETABS material (if type is steel) yielding stress

‘Fy’. Default value will be used if it is defined as zero in Revit.

• Tensile Strength: Revit tensile stress is used to fill ETABS material (if type is steel)

ultimate stress ‘Fu’. Default value will be used if it is defined as zero in Revit.

• Steel Reduction Factor: This value is not in used in current version of ETABS.

Only those materials which are linked with the floor or frame in the Revit model are

imported into ETABS.

ETABS always give the warning and writes .wrn file in case of using any default value while

importing the materials from Revit.

Frames

The following frame attributes are being imported from Revit to ETABS:

• Frame Points: All frame points are used to define the same geometry of the frames in

ETABS.

• Frame Curves: ETABS does not support curved frame objects. All curves in Revit frame

will be converted in to number of segments. User has control over how the curve is

broken up by defining the minimum length and minimum angle size.

• Old Revit Wall Openings (Regular or irregular

• Frame Section: ETABS imports the currently assigned section to the frame in Revit along

with the whole family. ETABS converts the Revit family to ETABS auto selection list.

• Frame Releases: All frame releases defined in Revit are imported into ETABS as line

objects releases. If the frame is a column, ETABS will always fix them at the both ends

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except for the bottom end of base story. This is being done to ensure structure stability.

Similarly, beams or brace end torsion cannot be released.

• Beam Insertion point: In Revit, beam insertion point is defined by the following two

parameters

o z-Direction Justification

o Lateral Justification

ETABS calculates the coressponding cardinal point on the basis of these two parameters.

If these parameters are not defined then default cardinal point (Top Center) is choosen.

• Beam End Offset: Vertical offset are being defined in Revit for any end of the beam with

following parameters

o Vertical Projection

o Reference Level

o Z-Direction Offset Value (Geometry Offset)

o Start Level Offset

o End Level Offset

ETABS calculates the vertical beam offset of END I and END J by using the following

equations:

o END I vertical Offset = Reference Level Elevation – Analytical Level Projection

Elevation + Geometry Offset + Start Level Offset

o END J vertical Offset = Reference Level Elevation – Analytical Level Projection

Elevation + Geometry Offset + End Level Offset

If vertical projection or Reference level is not defined, then both of these parameters are

defined as 0 in the above equations.

• Column Insertion Point and End Offset: The default cardinal point for columns (mid

center) is chosen when we bring model from Revit to ETABS. Column offsets are exported

into ETABS from Revit if rigid link is being used for either column end.

• Orientation Angle: Same angle is used for defining the line orientation along with its local

1-axis in ETABS.

• Rigid Link: It is being imported and used to define the end offsets in the ETABS. To see the

effect of rigid offset in ETABS, view the model in extruded view.

Frame Sections

Mapping of Revit frame section attributes depend upon the type.

ETABS first tries to find the name of the section from it database. Most steel sections can be

mapped automatically. If it is not found in the existing database, the ETABS will try to create

these sections parametrically.

ETABS follow mapping of sections in following steps:

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1) ETABS will first try to map Revit Structure family sections to the currently loaded ETABS

database by section name comparison. If it finds a match then that section is mapped. All

geometric cross sectional properties will be used from ETABS section. We always remove

the blank spaces and always and ignore upper/lower cases dissimilarities while names

comparison.

2) In the next step ETABS try to map Revit Structure family sections to a section in the

ETABS’ .PRO databases by section name comparison. If it finds the same name then we

use that section with its all geometric cross sectional properties. The user is given the

option to add/remove or change the search order of .PRO files during the import of the

Revit Structure model. In Figure 1 below: ‘UC203x203x46’ section is loaded from

‘BSShapes.Profile’ ,

Fig 1: Import of sections from .PRO files

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Fig 2: Adding /Removing of Pro files while Revit Structure model Import

3) If a Revit Family section cannot be mapped to an ETABS section from any of the .PRO

files then ETABS check if it is a Revit Structure parametric section. In case that it is a

parametric section ETABS will create an equivalent section and use the same Revit

Structure family caption as section name. However, some special characters for inch and

feet representation will be changes to ‘in’ or ‘ft’ as shown in fig 3.

Fig 3: Mapping of Revit Structure Parametric Frame families

4) In the case that the Revit Structure family section is not parametrically defined then we

import this section with the same name (Revit Structure family caption) and map it to an

ETABS default section properties. The user has the option to add a new parametric

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section as a replacement section or to load a new section from any other .PRO file which

is not in the .PRO file list. In Fig. 2 ETABS initially maps ‘RHS150x100x5’ to the ETABS

default section property (shown in red color). However, the user can fix the mapping by

using the use ‘Add..’ button to map that Revit Family section to an appropriate ETABS

section.

5) The user has the option to save a mapping file such that user defined mapping can be

reused on subsequent imports. A sample mapping file is shown in fig 4.

Fig 4: Section mapping file

6) Some European family names do not map with ETABS European .PRO file sections, due

to prefix/suffix incompatibility. For Revit Structure families with ‘Universal Columns’ or

‘Universal Beams’ category ETABS handles this by changing suffix to prefix while import.

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The parameters list is given for concrete and wood structural families in the following table.

Member Type Family Name Parameters

CONCRETE

COLUMNS

CONCRETE-RECTANGULAR-

COLUMN

B, H

CONCRETE-ROUND-COLUMN B

CONCRETE-SQUARE-

COLUMN

B

PRECAST-RECTANGULAR

COLUMN

B, H CHAMFER

CONCRETE

FRAMING

PRECAST-DOUBLE TEE WIDTH, TEE WIDTH,

STEM WIDTH, SLAB

DEPTH, DEPTH

PRECAST-INVERTED TEE H1, H, B, SEAT

PRECAST-L SHAPED BEAM H1, H, B, SEAT

PRECAST-RECTANGULAR

BEAM

B, H

PRECAST-SINGLE TEE WIDTH, STEM

WIDTH, SLAB DEPTH,

DEPTH

WOOD

COLUMNS

DIMENSION LUMBER-

COLUMN

B, D, SY, SX, IY, IX, A

GLULAM-SOUTHERN PINE-

COLUMN


GLULAM-WESTERN SPECIES-

COLUMN


PSL-PARALLEL STRAND

LUMBER-COLUMN


TIMBER-COLUMN B, D, SY, SX, IY, IX, A

WOOD

FRAMING

DIMENSION LUMBER B, D, SY, SX, IY, IX, A

GLULAM-SOUTHERN PINE B, D, SY, SX, IY, IX, A

GLULAM-WESTERN SPECIES B, D, SY, SX, IY, IX, A

LVL-LAMINATED VENEER

LUMBER


TIMBER B, D, SY, SX, IY, IX, A

OPEN WEB JOIST B, H

PLYWOOD WEB JOIST B, H

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In-place family members

In Revit, inplace family members are imported into ETABS as a frame member including its

family and corresponding frame section.

Walls

The following wall attributes are being imported from Revit to ETABS:

• Points: All points are being transferred from Revit to ETABS. ETABS wall has 3 to 4 nodes.

In Revit wall may be defined as contentious having more than 4 points. In this case

ETABS breaks the Revit walls in to four noded walls.

• Wall Curve: Curved walls are not supported in ETABS. ETABS breaks the curved walls of

Revit in to small segments to keep the required curvature of the walls. User has control

over how the curve is broken up by defining the minimum length and minimum angle

size.

• Old Revit Wall Openings (Regular or irregular shapes): In Revit, walls are stored as loops

(including the curves) of points. In older versions, there was no tag for the loop for

opening. ETABS treats the opening loop same like wall loop. User has to manually assign

it opening after import. All irregular shapes will be converted to an equivalent mesh (by

using tessellation in vertical plane) of vertical elements having four nodes only.

• Wall Openings (Regular rectangular shape): In new Revit version, wall openings may be

drawn using “Modeling>Opening>Wall Opening”. This opening entity is transferred to

ETABS as an opening in walls.

• Wall Thickness: Revit wall has different layers, having different thickness and material

properties. However, ETABS only choose one layer which has the maximum thickness

when we export data from Revit to ETABS.

• Wall material: All the materials assigned to different layers of a Revit wall are exported

to ETABS. However, only one material is assigned to ETABS wall section property. Users

have the option in ETABS to change the material if necessary. The material of the wall

with the maximum wall thickness will be used.

Floors

The following floor attributes are being imported from Revit to ETABS:

• Floor Points: All floor points are used to define the geometry of the floor in ETABS

• Floor Curves: ETABS does not support curves in area objects. All the curves in Revit floor

will be converted into number of segments, which will give the suitable curvature for the

area boundary.

• Number of Layers: In Revit, different layers may be defined within a floor. ETABS is

reading the floor layer information and will treat the floor as deck if more than one layer

is present in the floor. Otherwise floor will be treated as a slab.

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• Layer Thickness: ETABS imports the thickness of each layer. If the floor is a deck, its

section property is defined by the maximum thickness of the layers.

Below is an example of how Revit Deck parameters are mapped to ETABS Deck Section

parameters.

Revit Deck Family

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Revit Deck Parameters vs. ETABS Deck Parameters

ETABS Deck Section

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In this example, there are following two layers in the Revit Deck section

1) Concrete – cast-in-place (Thickness = 5”)

2) Metal – Deck (Thickness = 0 )

Layer 2 is linked with a deck profile which has following properties

• HR

• WR

• RR

• SR

• THICKNESS

Here is the procedure that CSiXRevit uses to fill ETABS deck section properties

• We select a layer which has maximum thickness and treat it as overall thickness

of section. Same layer will be used to define material of ETABS deck section.

• Slab Depth tc = overall thickness of section – HR

• Deck Depth hr = HR

• Rib Width wr = WR

• Rib Spacing Sr = SR

• Composite Deck Studs diameter = RR

• Composite Deck Stud height (hs) = over all thickness of section - THICKNESS

• Layer Materials: ETABS gets the material of each layer. Same layer will be assigned to the

Slab or Deck section. A default material will be used if no material is defined in Revit.

Users have the option in ETABS to change the material of the different layer if necessary.

• Floor Span Direction: Same span direction will be used in ETABS for the decks. A default

direction will be used if no span direction is defined in Revit.

• Floor Opening (Regular or Irregular): Openings defined in Revit by

“Modeling>Opening>Vertical Opening” are being imported in ETABS from Revit. All

curves in this opening will be converted into number of segments, which will give the

suitable curvature for the area boundary.

• Ramp: All 4 noded inclined slabs are imported as ramp elements in ETABS.

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Openings

The following openings are being imported from Revit to ETABS

• Vertical Openings: These are imported as opening in floors (horizontal planes) for

details check openings in floors.

• Wall Openings: These are imported as openings in walls (vertical planes), for details

please check openings in walls.

• Shaft Openings: These are imported as openings in floors (horizontal planes), for

details please check Shaft Opening.

Shafts

In Revit, the Shaft Opening is defined as a 3D shaft having upper and lower limits (or offset

elevations from upper and lower story levels). In ETABS the shaft is imported as horizontal

openings in all stories level which lies between the upper and lower limits of 3D Shaft.

Footings

The following footing properties are being imported from Revit to ETABS:

• Points: All the points defining the shape of the footing will be imported. In ETABS all

columns, which are located in this area, will be restrained.

• Width, Length and Thickness: For rectangular cases, width, length and thickness are

being defined. In this case, ETABS locates the all columns within the rectangular area

and these columns will be restrained.

Note: Only rectangular footings will be processed.

Point Loads

The following point load attributes are being imported from Revit to ETABS:

• Load Case Name: Is used to set the corresponding load case number in ETABS.

• Location: Used to define the point of application of the load.

• Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, Mz: All forces and moments are applied in global direction in Revit

and transferred in the similar manner to ETABS.

Line Loads

The following line load attributes are being imported from Revit to ETABS


• Start and End point Location: Is used to define the start and end point of the line load. In

ETABS, if a line load is carrying the gravitational load and it is overlapping more than one

beam then it will be distributed to the corresponding beams. In case of a lateral line

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load, users must check that no line load should overlap more than one beam. Otherwise,

it will not be processed in the ETABS analysis.

• Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, Mz: All forces and moments are applied in global direction in Revit

and transferred in the similar manner to ETABS.

Area Loads

The following area load attributes are being imported from Revit to ETABS


• Points: Points will be used to define the geometry of the loading area. It should be noted

that each curve is used as straight line in ETABS.

• LoadX, LoadY, LoadZ: All loads are applied in global direction in Revit and transferred in

the similar manner to ETABS. The non-uniform surface load is not supported in ETABS. In

case of Revit non-uniform surface load, ETABS will convert it in to equivalent uniform

area load.

Load Cases

The following load case attributes are being imported from Revit to ETABS:

• Load Case Name: The same name will be used for ETABS Load case name except ‘Rvt-‘

will be added at the start of the name.

• Load Case Category: It is used to define the load case type in ETABS. The mapping is

shown in the following table:

Revit Structure Load

Case Category

ETABS Load Case Type

Dead Dead

Live Live

Wind Wind

Snow Snow

Roof Live Live

Accidental Other

Temperature Other

Seismic Quake

Load Combos

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The following load combination attributes are being imported from Revit to ETABS:

• Load Combination Name: The same name will be used for ETABS Load Combination

Name. The following names are reserved and Load Combinations will not be added in

ETABS if same name is used in Revit.

o DCON

o DSTL

o DWAL

o DCMPC

o DCMPS

o DCMPD

• Load Cases: The same load cases list will be used in ETABS to define the Load

Combination.

• Load Case Factor: The same load case factors will be used for the corresponding load

cases in the ETABS load combination.

ETABS Auto Select Lists

ETABS will automatically create Auto-select lists based on Revit family types that are

loaded in the current Revit model being exported to ETABS.

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Exporting from Revit Structure to update an existing ETABS model

The chart below specifies details about data that is transferred into ETABS when exporting from

Revit to update and existing ETABS model.


Creation of…

Grids

Materials Equivalent ETABS materials will be automatically

created in ETABS.

Frames Geometry, offsets, cardinal points, and end

releases, transferred to ETABS, All columns will

be automatically broken at story levels.

Frame Sections

Steel Sections Will be automatically mapped to ETABS database

sections.

Concrete Sections Equivalent ETABS sections will be automatically

created and mapped.

Walls Walls will be automatically meshed at window

and door openings.

Wall Properties Equivalent ETABS sections will be automatically

created and mapped.

Floors

Slabs Properties Equivalent ETABS sections will be automatically

created and mapped.

Deck Properties Equivalent ETABS sections will be automatically

created and mapped.

Footings Joint restraints will be created in ETABS

wherever a footing occurs in Revit.

Point Loads

Line Loads

Area Loads

Load Cases

Load Combos

Updating of…

Grids

Materials X All material parameters will be updated.

Frames

X

Geometry, offsets, cardinal points, and end

releases, updated in ETABS. All columns will be

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automatically broken at story levels.

Frame Sections X Frame section assignments will be updated.

Steel Sections X

Concrete Sections X Parameters for frames sections will be updated

Walls X Wall geometry will be updated accordingly.

Wall Properties X Wall section parameters will be updated.

Floors X Floor geometry will be updated accordingly.

Slabs Properties X Slab section parameters will be updated.

Deck Properties X Slab section parameters will be updated.

Point Loads X Point load values will be updated accordingly.

Line Loads X Line load values will be updated accordingly

Area Loads X Area load values will be updated accordingly

Load Cases X

Load Combos Load Combos will be updated accordingly.

Deleting of…

Grids

Frames

Walls

Floors

Point Loads

Line Loads

Area Loads

Load Cases

Load Combos

IMPORTANT NOTE: Deletion of elements when updating a model will only work if you are

sending the ENTIRE model. If you use “selection only” update feature, deletion of items is not

supported.

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Importing from ETABS to Create a new Revit Structure Model

The chart below specifies details about data that is transferred from ETABS into Revit Structure

to create a new Revit Structure model.


Creation of…

Grids

Materials

Concrete and Steel materials are being

imported from ETABS to Revit. The only

limitation is Revit model should have one

default concrete and one default steel

material for duplication, otherwise material

will be created in Revit but their parameters

will not be updated.

Frames

Geometry, end releases, offsets and cardinal

points all created in Revit Structure.

Frame Sections

Steel Sections

Will be mapped to equivalent Revit Structure

sections. Will be loaded if not already loaded.

Concrete Sections

Equivalent Revit Structure sections will be

automatically created and mapped.

See NOTE 1 below.

Walls

All wall geometry, and openings will be created

in Revit Structure.

Wall Properties

Equivalent Revit Structure wall sections will be

automatically created and mapped with

corresponding material property.

Floors

All floors and openings in floors will be


Slabs Properties

Equivalent Revit Structure slab sections will be


Deck Properties

Equivalent Revit Structure deck sections will be

automatically created and mapped. Only deck

width parameter will be created.

Footings

Joint restraints will be created in Revit

Structure.

Point Loads

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Line Loads

Equivalent Revit Structure point line loads and

trapezoidal line loads will be created.

Area Loads

Load Cases

Load Combos

Note 1 – To facilitate in the mapping of concrete sections, it may help if you have the various

Revit Structure sections already loaded before you import your ETABS model into Revit

Structure. If CSiXRevit cannot easily map the names, then you can set the mapping at the time

of import. If you would like CSiXRevit to be able to create equivalent Revit members of families

you must load at least one member of the family for CSiXRevit prior to import. See

corresponding table below for mapping of ETABS sections to Revit families.

Columns

ETABS Revit Family

Rectangular Concrete-Rectangular-Column.rfa

Square Concrete-Square-Column.rfa

Circular Concrete-Round-Column.rfa

Beams and Braces

ETABS Revit Family

Rectangular Concrete-Rectangular Beam.rfa

L Precast-L Shaped Beam.rfa

T Precast-Single Tee.rfa

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Importing from ETABS to Update an Existing Revit Structure Model

The chart below specifies details about data that is transferred from ETABS into Revit Structure

when updating an existing Revit Structure model.


Creation of…

Grids

Materials

Material is created. However, material definition

will not have any parameters associated with it.

Frames


points all created in Revit Structure.

Frame Sections

Steel Sections

Will be mapped to equivalent Revit Structure

sections. Will be loaded if not already loaded.

Concrete Sections

Equivalent Revit Structure sections will be


See NOTE 1 at end of previous section.

Walls

All wall geometry, and openings will be created in

Revit Structure.

Wall Properties

Equivalent Revit Structure wall sections will be

automatically created and mapped with

corresponding material property.

Floors

All floors and openings in floors will be


Slabs Properties

Equivalent Revit Structure slab sections will be


Deck Properties

Equivalent Revit Structure deck sections will be

automatically created and mapped. Only deck

width parameter will be created.

Footings Joint restraints will be created in Revit Structure.

Point Loads

Line Loads

Equivalent Revit Structure point line loads and

trapezoidal line loads will be created.

Area Loads

Load Cases

Load Combos

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Updating of…

Grids

Materials

Steel and Concrete materials are being updated

Frames


points all created in Revit Structure. If coordinate

geometry is changed in ETABS, it will delete the

geometry in Revit Structure and create a new

frame with new geometry. If frames were

meshed in ETABS, you are given the choice to

bring the frame back as a single element or as the

meshed elements in ETABS.

Frame Sections

Steel Sections

Beam, Column and Brace section assignments will

be updated.

Concrete Sections

Beam, Column and Brace section assignments

will be updated; however section parameters

themselves will not be updated. If you would like

to bring changes in parameters back to Revit from

ETABS create a new section with the desired

parameters in ETABS and assign the new section

to the frame.

Walls

Changes in wall geometry will only be updated if

the wall was not meshed when brought into

ETABS and a 1:1 ratio between Revit Structure

wall and ETABS wall exists. If walls were meshed

in ETABS, you are given the choice to bring the

wall back as a single element or as the meshed

elements in ETABS.

Wall Properties

Changes in wall thickness will be updated.

Changes in wall material will not be updated.

Floors

Changes in floor geometry will only be updated if

the floor was not meshed when brought into

ETABS and a 1:1 ratio between Revit Structure

floor and ETABS floor exists. If floors were

meshed in ETABS, you are given the choice to

bring the floor back as a single element or as the

meshed elements in ETABS.

Slabs Properties

Changes in slab thickness will be updated.

Changes in slab material will not be updated.

Deck Properties

Changes in deck thickness will be updated.

Changes in deck material will not be updated.

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Point Loads

Line Loads

Area Loads

Load Combos

Updating of existing load combination equations

is not supported. Workaround is to create new

Combo and import.

Deleting of…

Grids

Frames

Walls

Floors

Point Loads

Line Loads

Area Loads

Load Cases

Load Combos

IMPORTANT NOTE: Deletion of elements when updating a model will only work if you are

sending the ENTIRE model. If you use “selection only” update feature, deletion of items is not

supported.

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Procedures

Exporting from Revit Structure to Create/Update a New/Existing ETABS Model

IMPORTANT NOTE: CSiXRevit only exports the analytical model of Revit Structure. All

connectivity must be ensured in the Revit Structure analytical model before exporting to ETABS

to ensure connectivity.

The following steps describe how to send your Revit Structure analytical model to ETABS:

1. If you would like to create a new ETABS model, from the Revit Structure menu

select, Tools>External Tools>Export to Create New ETABS Model.

If you would like to update an existing ETABS model, from the Revit Structure

menu select, Tools>External Tools>Export to Update Existing ETABS Model.

2. Click the Start button. The current file name is listed, and the objects in the

model are counted. The Send Model to CSI Software dialog box will look as

follows:

28

If you are only interested in sending selected objects only, please make sure that

the check box at the bottom of the dialog box is checked.

3. Once you click OK, you will get the Export Options dialog box shown below. From

the box below, select the elements that you would like to send to ETABS. Once

you have made your selections, click OK and your will be asked to create a file

name. The file will be given the extension, .EXR.

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4. Now go open a session of ETABS.

5. If you would like to create a new ETABS model from your Revit Structure model,

you should not have any other model open. By default ETABS it will create a new

model based on your .EXR file.

If you would like to update an existing ETABS model, please open the ETABS

model that you would like to update.

6. From the menu select, File>Import>Revit Structure .exr file, and then select your

.EXR file you would like to import. You will then see the screen below:

30

The top section of this dialog box is where you can see and organize how all of

your Revit Structure elements get mapped to ETABS elements.

Any property that might have a default value or zero value will show up as a

warning in the dialogue box. Sometimes certain values in Revit were not defined.

The ETABS import gives you the opportunity to fix those problems parametrically

before your ETABS model is created. You can fix these problems by clicking the

“Edit” button next to element.

The bottom section of the box is general controls that ETABS will use when

importing the Revit Structure model. The units selected here will be used as the

default units of the ETABS model. The length tolerance is the tolerance that will

be used by ETABS to create connectivity when created the finite element model

for analysis. The Minimum Curve length and Angle are controls given to the user

so they can control how a curve gets broken up into straight line segments.

7. To see the various Levels that were brought in from Revit Structure click the

Show button. Level data is not editable at this stage. Level data can be edited

once the model is brought into ETABS. Below is a screen shot of all of the levels

imported in this model:

31

8. To see the Revit Structure material properties that were imported, please select

the “Edit” button next to “Total Materials”. The Material Mapping dialogue will

be shown:

32

In this model, there are only 2 Materials that were brought in. An ETABS material

will be created with the same name as the Revit Structure material name. If you

would like to map the Revit Structure Material to something other than the

ETABS material that has been created, you can do so by clicking on the ETABS

material name. A combo box will appear with all of the existing ETABS materials

currently in ETABS model. If you would like to create a new material property to

map your Revit Structure material to, please click “Add”. The ETABS Add Material

dialogue box will appear. To see the mapping of material parameters select the

Material property and click “Edit”. The Material Mapping Details box below will

then be shown:

33

On the left hand side you can see all of the properties of the Revit Structure

material. On the right hand side you can see how they have been mapped to an

ETABS material. You can change any of the parameters in the Revit Structure

material, and you will see the change reflected on the ETABS material property

on the right hand side. You can see the units in the Revit Database Units by

clicking the check box at the bottom.

9. To see the Revit Structure Frame Sections that were imported, please select the

“Edit” button next to “Total Frame Sections”. The Frame Section Mapping box

will be shown:

34

The first three columns show the Revit Structure section name, the Revit

Structure Section Family Name, and the Revit Structure Material. The fourth

column is the ETABS section that the Revit Structure Section was mapped to, and

the final column tells you how the section was mapped or created.

The only column that is editable is the ETABS Section column. If you click on any

row on that column, you will see that a combo box will drop down that includes

all of the section properties that are currently loaded in the current ETABS model.

If there is a section that you do not see there that you would like to add to list,

you can do so by clicking the “Add” button the right hand side.

When ETABS imports the Revit Structure data, it first tries to match the Revit

Structure section name to an ETABS Section name. It will do so by first searching

through the loaded ETABS database sections. I it cannot find it there, it will then

search all of the ETABS database .Pro files. It will map it to the first section name

that matches. If you would like specify which ETABS database it searches you can

do so by clicking the “.Pro Files” button on the right hand side. The .Pro Files

dialogue box will be shown:

35

All of the .Pro files from the ETABS installation directory will be selected by

default. You can add or remove a profile from the ETABS search by checking or

unchecking its checkbox in the list. If you would like to add a new .Pro file, you

can do so by clicking on the “Add .Pro File button”. If would like to change the

order in which ETABS searches the .Pro files, you can do so by moving the .Pro

Files up and down in the list.

If ETABS cannot create a section mapping by name, it will then try to create the

section parametrically. For most steel sections ETABS will be able to find a match.

But for most concrete sections will create the sections parametrically. To see how

Revit Sections properties are mapped, please see the section under “Supported

Workflows” called “Exporting from Revit Structure to create a new ETABS

model”.

Similar to the Material Mapping, you can edit details about the Frame section

details mapping by selecting the row, and clicking the “Edit” button.

If you would like to save the mapping that you have created, you can export the

mapping file by clicking the “Export Mapping File” button.

Likewise, if you would like to import a mapping file that you have created in the

past, you can do so by clicking the “Import Mapping File” button.

36

10. To see the Revit Structure Floor Sections that were imported, please select the

“Edit” button next to “Total Floor Sections”. The Floor Section Mapping box will

be shown:

Similar to other section mapping, you can select the ETABS floor section that the

Revit Structure Floor gets mapped to. By default an equivalent ETABS floor

section will be created and mapped. If you would like to create a new deck or

slab section you can do so by using the buttons on the right hand side. After

adding the deck or slab, the new ETABS floor section will appear in the drop

down box.

To see the Floor Section Mapping details, click on the row that you are interested

in and then click the Edit button. You will then see the Floor Section Mapping

Details box below:

37

If you would like to change any of the data in the fields, you can edit them on the

left hand side and see how the data is mapped. Revit Structure decks and slabs

can have many layers. ETABS does it best at mapping the parameters. If you need

to make changes to the mapping, you can do so here. If any field has a zero value,

we highlight it in red to make sure you check it.

11. To see the Revit Structure Floor Sections that were imported, please select the

“Edit” button next to “Total Floor Sections”. The Floor Section Mapping box will

be shown:

38

Similar to other section mapping, you can select the ETABS wall section that the

Revit Structure Wall gets mapped to. By default an equivalent ETABS wall section

will be created and mapped. If you would like to create a wall section you can do

so by using the buttons on the right hand side. After adding the wall, the new

ETABS floor section will appear in the drop down box.

To see the Wall Section Mapping details, click on the row that you are interested

in and then click the Edit button. You will then see the Wall Section Mapping

Details box below:

39

If you would like to change any of the data in the fields, you can edit them on the

left hand side and see how the data is mapped. Revit Structure walls can have

many layers. ETABS does it best at mapping the parameters. If you need to make

changes to the mapping, you can do so here. If any field has a zero value, we

highlight it in red to make sure you check it.

12. Once you are satisfied with the way you have set up the mapping parameters,

from the Revit Data Overview/Controls box, select the OK button and your ETABS

model will be created.

40

Importing from ETABS to Create/Update a New/Existing Revit Structure Model

IMPORTANT NOTE: Before importing any .EXR file into Revit Structure please be sure that you

have a Shared Parameter file defined in Revit Structure. CSiXRevit uses the Shared Parameter

file as a place to store pertinent data. To create a shared parameter file in Revit Structure

2009/2010/2011, go to File>Shared Parameters. You just need to create a blank shared

parameter file so CSiXRevit has a place to write data to.

The following steps describe how to export your ETABS analytical model to create or update a

Revit Structure model:

1. Once you have edited, analyzed and designed your structure in ETABS, save the

ETABS file by selecting the File > Save….

2. Select the File > Export > Revit .EXR File… within ETABS to display the Export File

For Revit dialog box shown below. Please select either to create a new or update

an existing model. If you have selected parts of the model, and only would like to

send those selections, please check the box accordingly below.

3. Now go open up a session of Revit Structure.

4. If you would like to create a new Revit Structure model from your ETABS model,

please first open a Revit Structure template that you would like to import your

ETABS model into. It isn’t necessarily required, but the import will come in much

41

cleaner if you load all of the beam, column, brace, deck, slab and wall families

that you would like ETABS sections to map its sections to prior to importing.

From the menu select, Tools>External Tools>Import to Create New Revit

Structure Model from ETABS. Select the .EXR file that you would like to import.

CSiXRevit will then try to load families that are not already loaded.

If you would like to update an existing Revit Structure model, please first open

your Revit Structure model that you would like to update. If you have new

sections that you defined in ETABS the import will come in much cleaner if you

load all of the beam, column, brace, deck, slab and wall families that you would

like ETABS sections to map its sections to prior to importing. From the Revit

Structure menu select, Tools>External Tools>Import to Update Existing Revit

Structure Model from ETABS. Select the .EXR file that you would like to import.

5. Whether you are created a new Revit Structure model or updating an existing

Revit Structure mode, after you have selected your .EXR file, the following screen

will be displayed:

On left hand side, you can control exactly what ETABS elements you would like to

import into your Revit Structure model. Under “Mapping Options”, if you click

the “Frame Sections” button. You will see the Frame Section Mapping dialog box.

42

This dialog box gives you the opportunity to make any changes to the mapping of

ETABS sections to Revit Structure sections. All of the Revit Structure column

beam and brace families that are currently loaded will show up in drop down

boxes.

Similarly if you click the “Floor Sections” button, you will see the “Floor Section

Mapping” dialogue box below:

43


ETABS floor sections to Revit Structure sections. All of the Revit Structure floor

families that are currently loaded will show up in drop down boxes.

Similarly, if you click the “Wall Sections” button, you will see the “Wall Section

Mapping” dialogue box below:

44


ETABS wall sections to Revit Structure sections. All of the Revit Structure wall

families that are currently loaded will show up in drop down boxes.

When updating a Revit Structure model from an ETABS model, there will be

instances in which the 1:1 mapping of Revit Structure elements to ETABS

elements will be lost because elements in ETABS were meshed. For this situation

the user has two options:

1. To delete the existing Revit Structure Elements, and have CSiXRevit create

new instances which were meshed in ETABS.

2. To keep the existing elements as they were and use object mapping to

guide the import.

In the case of option #2, there can be situations in which the user has to make

some decisions. For example, if we have a column in Revit Structure that runs

from the ground floor to the top floor as one single element, when it is imported

into ETABS, that column will be broken at every floor level. When it is designed, it

might have different sections assigned to each segment of the column. When this

column (that is now meshed in ETABS) is being imported back into Revit

Structure, the user has the option to 1) delete the original and have CSiXRevit

create column with the varying sections or to 2) select one of the frame sections

45

for the entire length of that column. They can do this by selecting deselecting the

corresponding checkbox on the right hand side of the dialog box and then clicking

the “Objects” button under Mapping Options. The “Object Mapping” dialog box

below will then appear:

In the Revit Structure model, Column ID (186711) spans 5 floors, but in ETABS, it

was meshed into 5 pieces. When coming back into Revit Structure, the user has

the option to choose which section they would like to assign to the entire length

of the column. The same methodologies can be applied to meshed beams,

braces, floors and walls.

Once you have set up all of your mapping, select the “OK” button and your ETABS

model will be imported.

46

Reviewing the Log File (.log) Every time a model is sent from Revit Structure to ETABS or from ETABS to Revit

Structure, a file with the extension .log is created. This file will list any errors or

omissions encountered when generating the EXR file, and therefore, should be checked

each time an exchange of data is performed. The .log file also lists the build numbers for

CSiXRevit and Revit Structure, which should be identical to ensure that no

misinterpretation of data occurs. The first few lines of the .log file will have the following

format (the actual data may be different):

CSiXRevit Revit API Build = 20100326_1700

Current Revit Version = 2011

Current Revit Build = 20100326_1700

It is the “Build =” numbers that should be the same – having the same Version numbers

but different Build numbers does not guarantee data consistency.

47

Known Limitations

1. Windows Vista: Users must run as administrator (ETABS, ETABSIO and Revit.exe). If

Revit is not run as administrator then there is a possibility that CSiXRevit will not able

to open .log file. In this case, CSiXRevit will not able to write any warning in the log

file and all warning messages will be displayed on the screen time to time. Directly

sending data to ETABS may not work if Revit is not run as administrator.

2. Sometimes updates to end release conditions in ETABS are not updated in Revit. This

is because sometimes the end releases in Revit Structure are marked as Read-only.

Warning (1) - Unable to set the releases for the member..

Source = RevitAPI

Message = Operation is not valid due to the current state of the object.

Stack trace = at Autodesk.Revit.Parameter.Set(Int32 value)

at CSiXRevit.modImportAndExport.UpdateOneFrameEndReleases(rvtLines

OneLine, FamilyInstance& Element)

3. Sometimes updates to cardinal points in ETABS are not updated in Revit because the

z-justification and offset parameters are Read-only.

4. If the user updates the material property of a wall, deck or slab in ETABS, that change

will not be brought back into Revit Structure. Workaround is to create a new wall,

deck or slab property in ETABS and then bring it back to Revit.

5. While importing ETABS model as new Revit model, only those openings which lie

completely within a wall or floor, will be imported. It is recommended to break the

openings if it is not completely inside the wall or floor before importing. Also

openings which are not inside any wall or floor cannot be imported into Revit.

6. Revit Structure floors which are grouped together may be treated as openings while

importing model into ETABS.

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7. It is recommended to avoid double byte characters for Revit Structure Families for

entities attached with analytical model. ETABS will not support double byte

characters in definition of frame and shell sections.

8. Import of European and Chinese steel sections from Revit to ETABS are possible if

their corresponding .PRO files are present in ETABS folder.

Documents

CSiXRevit