SPACE GASS VERSION 12

AUTODESK REVIT STRUCTURE 2014/2015 INTERFACE

This interface provides a process where users of SPACE GASS and Revit Structure can transfer data
from one program to another. It will allow Revit Structure users to create a model in Revit Structure
including member geometry, loads and boundary conditions and export this data to SPACE GASS for
structural analysis and design. Any changes to the section sizes made in SPACE GASS during the
analysis and design phase are updated in Revit Structure by importing the changed sections back into
the Revit Structure model.

1. Complying Versions
SPACE GASS Version 12.00 or greater
Revit Structure 2014 32bit Version
Revit Structure 2014 64bit Version
Revit Structure 2015 32bit Version
Revit Structure 2015 64bit Version
Microsoft NET Framework 4

2. Linking SPACE GASS to Revit Structure

To add SPACE GASS export and import menu items to the Revit Structure AddIns > External Tools
menu you will need to first run a file called RevitSpaceGassLink.exe located by the Start Button > All
Programs > SPACE GASS 12 > Tools > Revit SPACE GASS Link. This program will add an addin file
into Revits All Users Program Data folder.
This is what the form looks like on a 64 Bit machine

The files that must be located are:

Revit14SG.dll
Revit15SG.dll
RevitSGExport.ico
RevitSGImport.ico
WFLinkCOMServer.exe (64 bit only)
These are by default located in the C:\Program Files (x86)\SPACE GASS 12 directory.
Note: A backup copy of any existing SPACE GASS addin file called spacegass12.addin.bak is made
before adding a new addin file for the SPACE GASS menus. To restore the original
spacegass12.addin file, delete the current spacegass12.addin file and rename the
spacegass12.addin.bak file to spacegass12.addin Note that these files are located in a hidden folder
and you will need to enable viewing of hidden folders to locate them.
After successfully adding the Revit Structure addin file, the next time you run Revit Structure the two
SPACE GASS menu items will now have been added to the Revit Structure Add-Ins > External Tools
ribbon.

SPACE GASS/AUTODESK REVIT STRUCTURE INTERFACE

3. Importing and Exporting Models

The typical design sequence would be:
1. The model is created in Revit Structure then exported into SPACE GASS for analysis and design
and then the changed sections are updated in Revit Structure by importing the sections back into
the Revit Structure model.
2. Any other changes to the model other than section changes should be done in Revit Structure and
not in SPACE GASS. At this stage SPACE GASS will only update the sections in Revit Structure
when importing data.
3. The steel member design data created in SPACE GASS can be optionally saved with the Revit
Structure model so that the design data can be exported back into SPACE GASS without having
to recreate the design groups again. Note that any changes made to the Revit Structure model will
not be made to the exported steel member design data. It will be exactly the same as when it was
imported. If any Revit member type elements have been modified then the steel member design
data exported should always be checked. The file should only be reused if the only changes are
related to loads or section names.

4. Export Revit Structure model to SPACE GASS

Select from Revit Structure menu > Add-Ins >External Tools >Send Model to SPACE GASS 12.
The SPACE GASS Export dialog will be displayed. A SPACE GASS file will be created based on the
options selected.

SPACE GASS/AUTODESK REVIT STRUCTURE INTERFACE

1. SPACE GASS filename the default for this is the last used SPACE GASS job.
2. SPACE GASS section library the SPACE GASS library that SPACE GASS uses to translate
Revit Structure section names into equivalent SPACE GASS section names. Not all Revit
Structure section names have an equivalent SPACE GASS section name and vice versa. Clicking
the button adjacent to the SPACE GASS library name will create a text file of the name
translations available fo the selected library. A custom section name map file should be used if
you require specific name translations. SPACE GASS will also automatically try to find a match in
any of the standard libraries if no direct name translations are available.
3. Export selected elements only only selected Revit Structure elements will be exported
4. Connect supported beams and columns if Revit Structure has identified that a beam or column
is supported by another beam or column and this intersection is within the specified tolerance the
beams or columns will be connected by a common SPACE GASS node. Note Brace to Brace type
elements are not connected together at the cross over point. Ensure support settings are selected
in Revit Structural Settings dialog.
5. Include point and line loads- any point and line loads that are within the specified tolerance of the
analytical line of the element will be exported. Point loads aligned to the Revit Structure project
axis that occur where a SPACE GASS node would be created will become a SPACE GASS node
load. Only the parts of a line load that are on an element will be exported. Area loads are not
considered.
6. Add master slave constraints for analytical links SPACE GASS master slave constraints
(FFFFFF) will be added where Revit nodes are connected with Revit analytical links. Note that
users will need to be licensed for the Master Slave module to analyse the model with Master Slave
constraints added. When creating analytical links in Revit, care must be taken that master and
slave nodes do not become daisy chained. A slave node can only have one master and a master
cannot be a slave.
SPACE GASS/AUTODESK REVIT STRUCTURE INTERFACE

7. Add member offsets for rigid links SPACE GASS member offsets will be created for any Revit
Structure rigid links
8. Add member offsets for section justifications SPACE GASS member offsets will be created to
allow for Revit Structure element section justifications. The offsets created will adjust the section
neutral axis (not centre) to the specified justification edge of the section shape. This is not always
the equivalent of what Revit Structure does with certain section shapes.
9. Export braces as tension only members any element that has a structural type as a brace will be
exported as a SPACE GASS tension only member.
10. Export existing steel member design group data if any steel member design group data was
imported from SPACE GASS for this model, the data can be exported back into SPACE GASS.
Note that no adjustments are made to this file and any changes made to the Revit Structure
member elements may affect the member numbering and grouping. It should only be reused if
there are only changes to Revit Structure loads or section names.
11. Use a custom section map file refer to separate section later in this document. Use a text file
that contains a section name translation mapping which specifies a Revit Structure section name
to a SPACE GASS section name in a specific SPACE GASS library. This will take precedence
over any standard SPACE GASS library section name translations.
12. Create warning and error log file create a text file of the export process results, warnings and
errors.
13. Add SPACE GASS member numbers to Revit element properties will add an additional
parameter to Revit Structure beam, column and brace elements, specifying the SPACE GASS
member numbers that correlate to the exported SPACE GASS member numbers.
14. Launch SPACE GASS if SPACE GASS is not currently open, after the Revit data is exported,
SPACE GASS will open with the exported SPACE GASS file.
Assumptions, Notes and Restrictions when exporting data:
1. The Revit Structure vertical project axis is the Z axis. The export process will automatically
transpose the model so that the vertical axis in SPACE GASS is the default global Y axis.
2. Only family elements that belong to the Analytical Model of AnalyticalModelFrame and have a
structural type of beam, brace or column are added as a SPACE GASS member.
3. Revit Structure project name becomes SPACE GASS project heading.
4. Revit Structure project number plus the Revit Structure project status becomes the SPACE GASS
job heading.
5. SPACE GASS designer name users first three letters of the user or computer name.
6. To create a self weight load case in SPACE GASS, you will need to have a Revit Structure load
case name called Self Weight.
7. A gap of at least 2 load cases will always be inserted between primary and combination load case
numbers.
8. Sections not in a SPACE GASS library are not exported eg rectangular concrete beams. A section
number is always reserved for these and can be added in SPACE GASS after exporting.
9. Members are only connected at junctions if the Revit Structure element has a point support type
property set. This is an internal Revit Structure property.
10. Only point type boundary conditions are exported.
11. SPACE GASS node loads are created if the Revit Structure point load is on end of a member and
is orientated to the project axes.
12. If Revit Structure loads are orientated to the workplane axes then these will be converted to the
equivalent member local axes loads in SPACE GASS.
13. If Revit Structure loads are orientated to the project axes then these will be converted to
equivalent member global projected axes loads in SPACE GASS.
14. Distributed loads on rigid links are ignored.
15. Only Revit Structure line loads orientated to the workplane axes with a local x axis moment line
load will be converted into a SPACE GASS torsional distributed load.
16. The section neutral axis is assumed if there is no section justifications not the centre of the
section.
17. Load case titles the Revit Structure nature and categories in Revit Structure load case titles are
ignored. All load cases exported.
18. Revit Structure area loads are ignored.
19. Revit Structure loads orientated to the workplane are assumed SPACE GASS member local axis.
The direction of the workplane is ignored.
20. Revit Structure distributed moments (other than torsion orientated to the workplane) are ignored.
21. Users should check section orientations in SPACE GASS to ensure the sections are orientated
correctly.

SPACE GASS/AUTODESK REVIT STRUCTURE INTERFACE

5. Import SPACE GASS data to Revit Structure Model

Select from Revit Structure menu > Add-Ins > External Tools >Update Model from SPACE GASS 12.

The SPACE GASS Import dialog will be displayed. Currently only sections are updated from SPACE
GASS.
1. SPACE GASS filename the default for this is the last used SPACE GASS job.
2 Update selected elements only only selected elements will be updated.
3 Update sections currently only Revit Structure sections are updated. The Revit Structure families
and sections MUST be loaded in the Revit Structure model before the elements can be updated.
4 Add steel member group data this will allow the exact steel member group data to be imported
into the same folder as the Revit Structure model to allow this data to be exported back into
SPACE GASS. This alleviates having to keep recreating SPACE GASS design groups. Note that
no allowance is made for any member changes made in Revit Structure when re-exporting this
file.
5 Use a custom section map file refer to separate section later in this paper. Use a file that
contains a section name translation from a SPACE GASS section name to a Revit Structure family
section name. The Revit Structure section family section MUST be loaded before importing. This
will take precedence over any standard SPACE GASS library section name translations.
6 Create warning and error log file create a text file of the export process results, warnings and
errors.

SPACE GASS/AUTODESK REVIT STRUCTURE INTERFACE

6. Custom Section Name Translation Map File

This mapping file allows the user to create a special translation file to convert Revit Structure section
names into equivalent SPACE GASS section names.
The SPACE GASS standard libraries have most standard Revit Structure section names however the
user may wish to create their own translation or use their own SPACE GASS custom library and
therefore will need to create a custom translation map file. This file is a text file and can be created in
any text editor such as NotePad.
The file is a comma deliminated text file with each translation on a separate line:
SPACE GASS section name, SPACE GASS library name, Revit Structure section name

A copy of the SPACE GASS standard section library name translations can be created from the
SPACE GASS Export dialog in Revit Structure by clicking on the button next to the SPACE GASS
section library box.

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brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product
offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may
appear in this document. 2015 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
January 2015

SPACE GASS/AUTODESK REVIT STRUCTURE INTERFACE