Export Node Type

• Analytical Model, As-Is: Exports Revit’s Analytical Model as it is defined, with no adjustment based on the physical members provided.
• Generate Centerline Offsets: The Global-Z coordinates of all member nodes will be at the elevation of the reference level and the members in VA will have a centerline offset equal to half of the member depth.
• Create Nodes At Beam Centerline: Member nodes in VA will be created at the actual member centerline (half the member depth) and the members will not have centerline offsets. Note that this will result in multiple nodes getting created at beam/column intersections. If this mode is selected, you should closely inspect your VA model to ensure the geometry is how you intended.

Composite Beam? - This option is available when the Export Node Type is set to Generate Centerline Offsets. This value represents the largest offset value to use before separate nodes will be created instead of choosing Revit’s analytical nodes. In some cases, the Revit model might be created with very large offsets and the VA model would not be accurate using these offset values. This is a way to use offsets for small values like setting the beam top to match the slab level and use large offsets to represent “mid-column height” members.

Source: This shape will be used if a “similar” VisualAnalysis shape cannot be found. Most Revit Family Symbols can be used to find an equivalent shape in VA. These include rolled steel shapes; concrete circular, rectangular and square shapes; and wood solid sawn, glued-laminated, and machine laminated lumber. When a shape cannot be found in VA, the shape entered here will be used. Use the dropdown to use the VA Shape Database to select the preferred shape. The default value for the Source is Revit Undefined. When left unchanged, VA will generate a blob shape named Revit Undefined, which may be useful to you because once inside of VA, the members can be filtered to quickly locate any shapes that did not match so they can be corrected.

Undefined Material: This material will be used if a “similar” VisualAnalysis material cannot be found for a member being exported. Most steel, concrete, and wood materials will be matched in VA. The default value for the Source is Revit Undefined. Similar to the Default Member Shape Source parameter, this can be useful in locating any materials that we unmatched during the export process once in VisualAnalysis.

Wall Material: This material will be used if a “similar” VisualAnalysis material cannot be found for a wall area being exported. Most concrete and masonry materials will be matched in VA. In the case they are not, this material will be used.

Floor Material: This material will be used if a “similar” VisualAnalysis material cannot be found for a floor area being exported. Most concrete materials will be matched in VA. In the case they are not, this material will be used.

The VARevitLink offers several options that are meant to help you export the Revit Analytical Model and get a VisualAnalysis Model that closely match one another. The options listed below address many of the common issues that result from differences between Revit and VA.

Extend Members?: Check this option to have members which have “free ends” extended to the next crossing member or node. This option is useful to get members which fall short of their connected member to be extended so the connection is made. If you don’t check this option you might get “floating” members which you will have to manually extend in VA so that everything is connected.

Maximum Member Extension: This value is available when Extend Members? is checked. If a member’s extension to make a connection would exceed this value the end will not be extended.

Fix Overlaps?: If this option is used, the VA model, once created, will be examined for members that overlap each other. The overlapping members will be combined into a single member to eliminate the overlap.

Consolidate Nodes?: When checked, any nodes generated in the VA model will be consolidated into one node when within the Close Node Tolerance. This consolidation will occur once all the VA model members and areas have been assembled.

Close Node Tolerance: This value is available when Consolidate Nodes? is checked. Any nodes within this distance with other nodes will be consolidated into one node.

Remove Free Nodes?: Check this option if you would like to remove any nodes that are not connected to a member or an area once the VA model has been assembled.

Minimum Member Length: If a Revit analytical member has a length less than this value, it will not be imported into the VA model.

Minimum Floor/Wall Area: If a Revit floor or wall has an area that is less than this value, it will not be imported into the VA model.