ARCHIBUS Smart Client Extension for Revit

Populate Command

The Populate command uses a data-driven means of adding assets, such as equipment and jacks, to your drawing.

The Populate command inserts graphic symbols in the current model in rooms that:

have existing records in the ARCHIBUS database
do not already have corresponding graphics in the current model.

The application places both family symbols that already exist in the model, or those that are external to the model. Families external to the model are found in the standard Revit Family search paths, or in a User-Defined Search Path that you can set using the Map Asset Standards to Family Symbols command. When searching for external files, the application searches for families in all subfolders of the folders in the search paths. See Prerequisites for using this command.

The actual location of the families can be found on your local machine at a folder such as:

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RAC 2015\Libraries\US Imperial

Prerequisites for using the Populate command

In order for the Populate command to place symbols in a Revit View, the following prerequisites must be met:

You should create a list of items for an area -- such as equipment for a room. This can come from manual entry, import, or mobile bar code inventory.
You should run the ‘Asset Standards to Symbol Mapper’ command. This command maps a selected asset standard to a family symbol, and specifies the search paths that the Populate command uses when looking for external files. The search paths can be the Revit Family search paths, or a user-defined search path that you enter. See Map Asset Standards to Family Symbols.

Once the list of items for an area is created, and the assets standards are mapped to symbols, you can invoke Populate to insert an equipment symbol for each item into your Revit drawing.

Note: Only Revit families that are considered free-standing are supported, such as desks, computers, boilers. Revit families that use a wall host and other non-free standing Revit families, such as duct work and wall sockets, are not supported.

Populating assets to your drawing

To run the populate command:

Select the Populate command from the Ribbon to access the CommandPopulate form.
Select the Container and the Contained asset types to process.
Specify the selection scope by selecting Select Multiple, Select Multiple by Rectangle, Current View, or Entire Model.
Click the OK button to execute the command.

After you select the container assets, such as Rooms, the Populate command inserts a new family instance symbol near the center of the room. Each graphic will be placed next to the previously inserted one. Each inserted graphic will be fully cataloged; that is, appropriate Revit parameters are set, and the associated ARCHIBUS record is updated to include the handle and drawing name values.