EVOLVE Electrical 7.2.1

Updated 3 weeks ago by Adam Heon

Resources

Compatibility

  • Autodesk® Revit® 2021.1.7
  • Autodesk® Revit® 2022.1.3
  • Autodesk® Revit® 2023.0.1
  • Autodesk® Revit® 2024.1.1

Summary

EVOLVE 7.2 Release notes:

Upgrade Notices

  • Spooling Configuration data format was updated. The migration to the new format will occur automatically on a per project basis where this configuration already exists; however in order to ensure there are no issues with future versions, companies and/or users who have defined default settings should update their Spooling Configuration default settings by exporting from this version.
  • Content specific Parameter Sync System Rules have been been removed and are not processed by default. To use these rules in your project, open Configuration Exchange and import from the Resources\DefaultConfigurationEntries.eVBatch file. As needed, default configurations for Parameter Sync may need updating.
  • Removal of Windows User Profile Path as a transient path name may result in file path errors for configurations saved in version 7.0. These paths may now have {UserProfilePath} or {AllUsersProfilePath} in the path name. These will need to be updated manually to the correct path on the local machine.
  • This release has no connection or integration with Foresite. This functionality will be made available via a future Revit addin. If integration with Foresite is currently required, do not install this update until the Foresite addin is made available.

Configuration setting incompatibilities

Some feature's project configurations may not be compatible with previous versions. To prevent compatibility issues, all project members should be on the same version.

🎉New:

👍Improvements:

  • Add/Remove Unions option to not align unions on placement
  • 'GetDataTableDescription', 'GetDataTableLastUpdated', and 'GetDataTableMetadata' report formulas
  • Add Refresh Cable Data button to Cable Schedule
  • PowerShell 'Get-PromptValue' global system function
  • Option for Space Key to serve as Shift functionality trigger
  • Kick 90's supported in Align Bends
  • Family Browser custom column name changes are applied without a restart
  • Data Tables remember the last Excel import source
  • 'eE_ConduitRun_SegmentId' & 'eE_ConduitRun_SegmentLength' pushed to nested elements

🔧Changes

  • Organize Selection Configuration dialog
  • Remove Foresite integration
  • Include default configurations in a Batch Configuration import file
  • Better handling of missing linked models in Sleeves Settings
  • Move Convert To Smart Bend to its own button
  • Standardize "Would you like to continue?" prompts
  • Hanger Placement Settings move Tolerance option in Collision Detection tab
  • Expansion Options on new Element Filters default to 'off'
  • Remove Windows User Profile path as a transient path name
  • Shortcut to Configuration Exchange on applicable configuration dialogs
  • Element Filter 'Hide unchecked categories' is remembered across dialogs
  • Data Profiles uses multi-line editor for Description column
  • Use Id based registrations for API endpoints
  • Update verbosity level of Parameter Sync log messages
  • Hold Shift on error log prompt to open output file
  • Display error messages returned from Foresite on login/license retrieval failures
  • Show product abbreviation on suppressible dialog titles
  • Option to opt out of usage statistics reporting

💪Stability

  • Bends may not warn on elevation change in some circumstances
  • Hangers may not place correctly on sloped runs
  • Hanger clash avoidance may not work when a floor is directly above
  • Hangers attach to level instead of sloped floor in some circumstances
  • Single Placement Coupling on top of another placement produces error
  • Family Browser favorites may not be remembered after Library Configuration changes
  • Stub 90 within 2-piece kick does not extend correctly
  • Remove incompatible fields available in Bulk Update
  • Assign Location does not work with Flex Duct or Flex Pipe
  • Macro Automation does not run in Refresh Project/Current View operation
  • Do not send Selection column when exporting (most) grids to Excel
  • Adjust Mark 2 formula on Offsets
  • Quick Dimension may crash with a reference line error in some circumstances
  • Starting Multi-Trim with a preselection causes infinite loop
  • Sheet generation may fail with 'Object Reference' error in some situations
  • Include required URLs in error message when a block might be present
  • Unions may not place on cable tray in some situations
  • Hanger rods extend past clash
  • Converting two bends to a Kick 90 gives an error
  • Fix Back-to-Back setting on 2-peice offsets without a custom angle
  • Modify Package does not clear package information from spooled elements or nested components
  • Assign/Apply template setting is not honored during sheet schedule generation
  • Fix Elevation View generation in Spool Sheets
  • Colorizer Refresh Current View potentially runs against unintended views
  • Parameter Sync refresh operations may flicker when processing

📂Content Updates

  • Default feature configs and .eVBatch file.
  • Updated titleblock template.

🧠Technical Notes

API Notices

  • New API methods
    • eVolve.Core.Revit.Integration.API.GetProfileFieldNames
    • eVolve.Core.Revit.ProductInfo.API.IsLicensed
    • eVolve.Core.Revit.ProductInfo.API.IsOnline
    • eVolve.Core.Revit.ProductInfo.API.ProductName
    • eVolve.Core.Revit.ProductInfo.API.ProductVersion
  • API signature changes
    • eVolve.Core.Revit.Integration.API.RegisterFieldColumnNamesSelectionList
    • The design of the interface eVolve.Core.Revit.Utilities.IModelDataExportDestination introduced breaking changes. Custom implementations will require updating.

Known Technical Issues

Supported alongside installation of eVolve Mechanical v7.2 See Multi-Product Install Notes below.

Compatibility issue with other addins

Our product uses DevExpress 22.2.6 for it's UI components. Any other Revit addin (regardless of vendor) installed on the client also using DevExpress but on a different version may cause crashes and/or unpredictable behavior with our product and/or the other addin. When this is the case, the user must either uninstall the other addin or contact the vendor to issue a new release with updated DevExpress references.

External communication

Access to the following must be allowed and unfiltered on all client machines:

  • api.evolvemep.com
  • app.pendo.io
  • cognito-idp.us-east-1.amazonaws.com

Revit Project Units

Unit precision

Content and/or default configurations shipped with the product use measurements of a set precision level. Revit projects must use (at a minimum) this precision level otherwise content and/or configurations may produce errors, incorrect results, or behave unpredictably.

Length units must be set to a precision of at least:

  • 1/16" in imperial
  • 0.001 m in metric

Conduit Size units must be set to a precision of at least:

  • 1/8" in imperial
  • 0.001 m in metric

Cable Tray Size cannot use imperial notation. Fractional values should be used when imperial measurements are used.

Rounding

Configuration data will be saved against the precision level at the time of save, regardless of the precision level of the previous value.

For example, assume a configuration value is currently set to 2 1/32" and the current precision level is 1/16". When the user opens the configuration form, the value will show as 2 1/16". Upon the user clicking OK or Apply, the value will be saved as 2 1/16" even if the user did not explicitly update this particular value. The value will remain 2 1/16" even after the precision level is changed to 1/32", however at this point the user can update and save the configuration value as 2 1/32".

Licensing

When a license is disabled, the following automatic processes will not run which can cause the elements they update to become "stale" and/or lead to data issues:

  • Data protection prompts and integrity enforcement on elements with a Pre-Fab Package (eV_PackageId) assigned
  • Conduit Schedule (Parameter Push) run assignment and updates on modifications during modeling
  • System Families/Content
    • Update of eVolve_Description on modeled content
    • Working with Bends, Offsets, and Kicks may fail or produce incorrect results
    • Working with Family Hangers may fail or produce incorrect results
  • Clearance change monitoring
  • Spool Modeling
    • Deletion: disassociates parts, deletes generated spool sheets
    • Change monitoring: assists in monitoring spools on the document
      • If this is re-enabled in a session where spools have been modified then this must be rebuilt by either closing/reopening the model or by opening Spool Manager.
        Failure to do so can cause incorrect behavior with the execution and/or detection of spooling events.
    • Reset on Copy: when a spool is created via a copy from existing, associations of the "source" spool (packages, status, etc.) are removed from the new spool
    • Assignment to Locations based on part assignments
  • Automatic control of product specific View Template parameters
  • Parameter Sync
  • Workset Manager
  • Macro Automation
  • Colorizer
  • Part Encoder
  • Automatic Point Status updating
  • Automatic Renumber

Localization

On startup, our product will set the Revit process' localization/culture according to the language settings configured. If the auto detect setting (which is the default) is used the culture will be set to the language which Revit was launched in.

Examples:

  • Auto detect is set and Revit is launched in English. The culture will be set to "en-US".
  • Auto detect is set and Revit is launched in French. The culture will be set to "fr-FR".
  • French is set as the language and Revit is launched in English. The culture will be set "en-US".

When the environment is in a hybrid setup where all of the following localizations are not consistent: Windows, Revit, and eVolve - the following inconsistencies can occur:

  • Some dialog messages may display in a different language
  • Numeric formatting may be inconsistent
    • For example, if Revit Project Units define numbers using the #,###.## format and the culture is set to use French, some numeric values may appear as # ###,##
    • Certain input fields may require for data to be entered in the format of either the Project Units or the culture
Number Formatting

The following are supported number formats for decimal values. If the settings below are not used, some features may not work as expected.

  • 123,456,789.00 when running in the English language
  • 123.456.789,00 when running in the French language

Revit Limitations

In Revit versions prior to 2023, eVolve Properties and Compare Data may not update when selecting similar elements. To refresh the data displayed in this situation, click on a empty space within the view to clear the grid and then select the target element.

Misc

  • Family content, Parameter Sync, Workset Manager, Colorizer, Macro Automation, Part Encoder, and Automatic Renumber may not work correctly until a project is saved with a unique RVT file name.
  • If a Revit Workset referenced in a Workset Manager rule is deleted then Workset Manager configuration must be addressed immediately, otherwise elements may continue to be assigned to the deleted Workset.
  • A licensed version of Microsoft Excel must be installed on the local machine for some import/export functionality to work.
  • Background processes required for successful operation of the product are flagged as optional within Revit. If Revit fails to load them for any reason, the user will not be notified.
  • PowerShell 5.1 is used for execution of scripts.
  • Some file operations may not work as expected when using either a network path, mapped folder location, or a directory which utilizes Windows symbolic or junction links. When this is encountered, it is recommended to use a local user path (such as the user's desktop) to perform the operation.

Foresite endpoints used

  • v1/admin/entitlement?userId={foresiteUserId}&productName={revitProductName}&clientId={uniqueMachineId}
  • v1/admin/user/username/{tokenUserName}
  • v1/message/message?MessagePriority=false&AccessedOn=false&take=25&skip={recordsProcessed}

Multi-Product Install Notes

This section applies when both eVolve Electrical and eVolve Mechanical are installed on the same computer and both are active within Revit.

General Guideline

In general, it is recommended that only a single product be installed and/or active on the current machine as this will ensure the best experience in terms of performance and consistency. Our internal testing processes attempt to eliminate possibly of catastrophic events such as data corruption, infinite loops, unreasonable inconsistencies, etc. when multiple products are installed but do not place heavy emphasis on performance.

Background Processes

Each product registers its own set of background processes which can be redundant and, in some cases, may impact performance. When both products are installed, it is generally required that a Revit model is saved after updating the configuration of one of the listed background processes in order to ensure consistency.

Background processes effected include:

  • Parameter Sync
  • Workset Manager
  • Macro Automation
  • Colorizer
  • Part Hash Generator
  • eVolve Properties
  • Family Hangers processing
  • Point Status updater
  • Spool and Package data integrity checks
  • Automatic Renumbering
  • View Template parameters initialization

Dockable Panels (Dock Panes)

Each product includes its own distinct registration of common features utilizing a dock pane. While the functionality of these features is identical, each can have different configuration options and embedded settings which may lead to a slightly different experience depending on the product the respective dock pane is registered to.

Features:

  • Family Browser
  • Find Elements
  • Selection Filter

Default Configurations

Default feature configurations (what is applied when a feature is first used within a model) is applied in the following order (first match wins):

  1. Configuration exists within the model (i.e. the project template the model was created with contains configuration information)
  2. Default configuration is defined within Network Default Configuration of Workstation Settings
  3. Default configuration exists in the local machine's user profile folder for the product the feature was opened under
  4. Factory defaults are used

Example

Consider a common feature such as Renumbering.

If resolution falls to the local machine's user profile and the current user opened the feature for the first time from eVolve Mechanical - the default configuration under the local user's eVolve Mechanical user profile will be applied even if a different default configuration is saved under the local user's eVolve Electrical user profile folder.

Conversely, if the user (on the Renumbering configuration dialog) clicks the Save as Default option when the feature was launched from the eVolve Electrical menu - the currently set configuration will only be applied to the local user's eVolve Electrical user profile folder even though they also have eVolve Mechanical installed.

To prevent this and have consistent settings, regardless, one of the following should be done:

  • Configure company standards via Network Default Configuration in Workstation Settings for all installations within the company
  • When performing a Save as Default, immediately open the same configuration within all other installed products on the machine and perform a Save as Default within them as well. This will ensure the same default configuration is applied on all products

Workstation Settings

Because our products are based off a common core, many of the local machine user profile configuration options are common between them. This section lists configuration settings which are both common and stored on the local machine. If a machine specific setting is not explicitly mentioned here, it is product specific and not applicable to these lists.

The following are shared across all products (changes apply to all installed products):

  • Licensing
  • Language
  • Network Default Configuration location
  • Messaging Configuration
  • PowerShell execution options
  • Properties Panel options
  • Selection Prompt options
  • Space as Shift indicator option
  • Default Grid options
  • Logging options
  • Disable background process on worksharing sync
  • Theme Selection
  • Stats opt out option

The following are not shared across products (changes only apply to the product the feature was opened from):

  • Add/Remove Union
  • Assign Level
  • Compare Data
  • Family Browser
    • Custom library location
    • Custom column headers
    • Favorite/Recent selections
    • HotKey bindings
  • Form/Dialog size and positioning
  • Grid States
  • Hide Ribbon Panels
  • Reconnect Tolerance
  • Rotation Angle
  • Run Alignment
  • Spooling
    • Sheet opening options
  • Selection Filter
    • Network location
    • Ranking/Last Used data
    • HotKey bindings
  • System Family Reference Project
  • Suppressed Messages
  • View Sheet Names (last used)
    • Location
    • Package
    • Spool

Reset Workstation Settings will only apply to the product settings under which the command was run. To completely reset workstation settings, this should be done on all installed products in immediate succession.

After installation notes

The first time a product is run after a new installation, configurations should be reviewed as shared options may be inherited from an existing installation of a separate product.

For example, if eVolve Mechanical has been installed on the machine for some time and then eVolve Electrical is installed, some shared configuration options may appear within the eVolve Electrical Workstation Settings which were previously set within eVolve Mechanical. These should be reviewed and adjusted as needed - keeping in mind what is shared and what is not.

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