Linked Parameter settings

If the user adds Revit shared parameters to an assembly and fills out the data that IMPACT needs to read, then there is a possibility to manually control the values of parameters like, for example, IMPACT Element Mark. Once the Revit shared parameters are mapped with IMPACT parameters, then MPACT will read the data from the Revit shared parameters during the saving process. This functionality is available for Save Linked element command in IMPACT Revit. 

Basic Linked parameters

In order to get a consistent naming convention, the user-created Revit shared parameter name could consist of the company name + IMPACT Linked + the parameter name:   

´´COMPANY  IMPACT Linked PARAMETER NAME´´ 

For example, if the Company name is called ABC, the parameter could be called ´´ABC IMPACT Linked Element Mark´´

Required parameters:

Element Mark 

Secondary parameters:

Element Mass 

Element Length 

Element Width 

Element Height 

In order to make Linked Parameter settings, go to IMPACT -> Settings -> Linked Parameters tabs. (refer to figure 1) Activate the ´´Use parameter mapping´´ setting, which will give the user possibility to start mapping the IMPACT parameters with the user-created Revit shared parameters on assembly. 

Activating the ´´Use parameter mapping´´ setting is a one-time activity when a new IMPACT project is created. If the user activates the ´´Use parameter mapping´´ setting, presses on OK, and closes the Revit model, IMPACT will remember the setting next time the Revit model is opened again. 

There are two columns available in the Linked Parameters tab:

• IMPACT parameter: Parameters used in the IMPACT database. 
• User parameter: Revit shared parameters, created on Assembly category. If user-created Revit shared parameters are available, IMPACT will display them in a falling menu. 

Total Geometry parameters

If the user requires to preview the Total geometry of the saved Linked element in Project Manager, extension Revit shared parameters could also be created. The Total geometry parameters in IMPACT Project Manager are Total Length, Total Width and Total Height, usually used in the Cast and Transport planning of the element. (refer to figure 2)

In order to achieve calculation of Total geometry parameters in IMPACT, the following shared parameters are available in the Linked Parameters tab: Extension left, Extension right, Extension front, Extension back, Extension bottom and Extension top. The user must create those Revit shared parameters on the assembly category, and map them in the Link Parameters tab. In that way, the Total geometry will be calculated and shown in the IMPACT Project Manager.

Figure 1. Linked Parameters settings in IMPACT Revit. 

Total Geometry parameters:

Extension Left - used for calculating Total Length in the IMPACT database. 

Extension Right - used for calculating Total Length in the IMPACT database. 

Extension Front - used for calculating Total Width in the IMPACT database. 

Extension Back - used for calculating Total Width in the IMPACT database. 

Extension Bottom - used for calculating Total Height in the IMPACT database. 

Extension Top - used for calculating Total Width in the IMPACT database. 

Figure 2. An example where Width parameter of the element has a different value than the Total Width parameter in the IMPACT database. This could be caused, for example, by a sticking CIM or reinforcement component.  

Storing the settings

Mapping and saving the default values for the linked parameters is a one-time job. Once the settings are made, usually by the IMPACT administrator, they are stored in a .json file under the IMPACT standard. The settings are stored under Common, Local or both levels and available to all IMPACT users, that have access to the IMPACT standard. It is up to the IMPACT administrator to choose storage of the .json file in the Common or Local level, depending on the company IMPACT standard organization and practices. 

See below a preview of where the .json file is stored at the Common or Local level. 

Common level: 

Figure 3. Storage of the parameter mapping settings in a Common level. 

Local level: 

Figure 4. Storage of the parameter mapping settings in a Local level. 

Variable in IMPACT Standard Admin

RVT_USE_PARAMETER_MAPPING variable can be used in order to switch on/off the parameter mapping on a company level for all newly created IMPACT projects. The variable values are set in IMPACT Standard Admin and have two main settings: 

Value ´´1´´ - All newly created IMPACT projects will have the ´´Use parameter mapping´´ setting switched on. 

Value ´´0´´ - All newly created IMPACT projects will have the ´´Use parameter mapping´´ setting switched off. 

The variable controls whether newly created IMPACT projects have the setting ´´Use parameter mapping´´ switched on or off. 

Once the IMPACT project is created, the user can always edit the settings for the project in IMPACT -> Settings -> Linked Parameters tabs. (refer to figure 1).  It will say that the settings are flexible and the user can by any time switch on/off for the parameter mapping settings by activating/ deactivating the ´´Use parameter mapping´´ setting for the IMPACT project. 

Figure 5. Variable in IMPACT Standard Admin controlling the ´´Use parameter mapping´´ setting. 

Save Parts Assembly as Linked

Once the Revit shared parameters are mapped with IMPACT parameters and the ´´Use parameter mapping´´ setting is activated, the user is able to start the saving process. 

Part assemblies are saved to the IMPACT database via Save Linked Element command. If Revit shared assembly parameters are found, the data from the mapped parameter values will be saved. If not, data from Revit will be used according to the usual IMPACT Revit procedure - assembly name, original bounding box geometry, and mass.

Figure 6. Save Linked element command is used for saving Parts Assemblies with mapped parameters in IMPACT Revit. 

Resave as Linked

IMPORTANT!

It is important to use the Unmark Element command if the user wants to resave already saved Linked element with mapped parameters in the IMPACT database, using a different Element mark value. 

For example, if the user, would like to change the element mark name from FE001 to FE002, the following workflow  must be used: 

1. Press on the Unmark Element command (refer to figure 6) and select element FE001. Element FE001 is unmarked. 

2. Select the FE001 assembly and edit the ´´COMPANY IMPACT Linked Element Mark´´ parameter under Properties in Revit. Edit the value of the parameter from FE001 to FE002. 

3. Press on the Save Linked element command in the IMPACT tab. The element will be successfully resaved in the IMPACT database with Element mark FE002. 

Figure 7. Unmark Element command in IMPACT Tools.