Export to and import from Autodesk Revit

Note: To import/export models between Tekla Structural Designer and Autodesk^® Revit^® you will need to have installed the Tekla Structural Designer Integrator for the version of Revit that you want to use. This can be downloaded from the Tekla Structural Designer Downloads page by selecting your Tekla Structural Designer version and setting the File Type to "Integrator for Autodesk Revit".

Guidance documentation

An extensive guidance document is available which provides information about workflows, model synchronization, section mapping and much more.

This document is automatically copied to the machine on which the integrator is installed, by default to: 'C:\ProgramData\Tekla\Structural\TSD Integrator\XXXX' folder. (where XXXX is the version installed).

It can also be accessed directly as follows:

In Revit, click the Tekla Integration tab
Click Advisory Notes

Export a model to Autodesk Revit

Note: Prior to running the export you can control which levels will be included by setting Include in export as required in the Level Properties. This allows individual levels to be:

only included if the level is a floor
always included
never included

In Tekla Structural Designer, on the BIM Integration tab, click Autodesk Revit Export.

The BIM Integration wizard opens.
Adjust the location and rotation of the model, and click Next.
Select the items that are included in the model, and click Next.
Specify the export names of material grades, and click Next.
Specify the file name and location.
Select whether the file is exported for the first time, or whether you want to update an existing model.
Click Finish.
In Revit, on the Tekla Integration tab, click Integrator for Structural Designer.
At the splash screen which provides information about the Integrator, click Next.
On the next dialog choose the required import into Revit option (either First time import, or Update existing model, as required), then click Next.
Select the file (and location) that you wish to import, and click Next.
Select the structural objects to import, and click Next.
The Section and Material Mapping page indicates the different section families detected in the importing file. If there are any numerical entries in the Not Recognized column then there are some mapping discrepancies, these should be investigated before continuing further.
Even if the mapping is correct and no problems exist, the actual mapping can be checked by clicking to select the appropriate Review Mapping option.
Click Finish.

Import a model from Autodesk Revit

In Revit, on the Tekla Integration tab, click Integrator for Structural Designer.
At the splash screen which provides some information about the Integrator, click Next.
On the next dialog choose the required export from Revit option (either First time export, or Update existing model, as required), then click Next.
Select the structural objects to export, and click Next.
The Section and Material Mapping page indicates the different section families detected in the exporting file. If there are any numerical entries in the Not Recognized column then there are some mapping discrepancies, these should be investigated before continuing further.
Even if the mapping is correct and no problems exist, the actual mapping can be checked by clicking to select the appropriate Review Mapping option.
Click Next.
Specify the name (and location) for the file.
Click Finish.

A CXL file is created at the specified location. Once the processing of the CXL file has been completed, a log file will be shown. The log file is simply a text file recording the objects exported, deleted or altered along with any warnings encountered.

The CXL file can now be imported to Tekla Structural Designer as follows.
In Tekla Structural Designer, on the BIM Integration tab, click Structural BIM Import.

The BIM Integration wizard opens.
Use the […] button to browse and select the appropriate CXL file.

The remainder of the fields are populated with the settings read directly from the file.
Click Next.

The Import Options page shows the settings related to the file, it will indicate if this is a first time import or an update, and allows the user to choose Metric or Imperial for the units, a design code and the default level type. The level type can later be adjusted in the construction levels dialog if required.
Click Next to continue.

The Relocate Import Model page allows for models to be moved to around the datum position in Tekla Structural Designer from a real world co-ordinate. The extent of the model can be seen from the information displayed on the right hand side of the dialog.
Click Next.

The Integration Filter will be displayed. The five options shown here allow you to verify if grids, levels etc. are to be imported. Please note that the settings held in the Delete Existing… and four Update… columns should not be used when performing a First Time Import and are only used when synchronizing changes into an existing Tekla Structural Designer model.
Click Next.

Mapping of materials to recognized grades will be shown now. Here you can view the different materials recognized in the incoming CXL file and the options to alter materials with a more preferred grade.
Click Next (if available).

Following on from Material mapping, the dialog for Decking mapping will be shown (if applicable). Again this allows users to view the decking types being imported and have the option of overwriting the details if required.
Click Finish.

After the file has completed processing, the model will be displayed within the Structural 3D view and you can then proceed with validation of the structure before applying any analytical information.