Revit is a platform-level modeling software acquired by Autodesk in 2002 and developed further based on the Building Information Modeling (BIM) concept. Alongside professional tools like Navisworks and Robot, it forms Autodesk’s comprehensive BIM solution. This software caters to various disciplines, including architecture, structural engineering, steel structure, and electromechanical equipment, offering essential features such as modeling, visualization, analysis, drafting, and collaboration.
Revit stands out in BIM technology due to its capabilities in visualization, collaboration, drafting, and parameterization. One key advantage is that any modification made in one view automatically updates the entire model and all associated views, distinguishing it significantly from traditional 2D construction drawing software.
To enhance Revit’s capabilities, Autodesk provides the Revit API (Application Programming Interface) for secondary development. This allows users to move beyond manually selecting commands and instead automate a series of Revit modeling and other operations through programming. This automation significantly boosts efficiency and encourages wider adoption of Revit.
In real-world projects, where demands are higher and more complex, designers often rely on secondary development tools to create custom functions using RevitAPI.
RevitAPI primarily includes libraries such as RevitAPI.dll and RevitAPIUI.dll that operate during Revit runtime. The RevitAPI.dll contains methods for accessing Revit applications, files, elements, and more, along with interfaces like IExternalDBApplication which handles database-level external applications. Meanwhile, RevitAPIUI.dll manages controls such as selections and provides API interfaces related to user interaction and the Revit interface, including components like RibbonPanel and TaskDialogs. It also features interfaces like IExternalCommand and IExternalApplication.
Developers use RevitAPI to integrate their custom applications directly into Revit, creating plugins that extend and enhance Revit’s functionality. These API-based applications are known for their stability. In recent years, Autodesk has progressively optimized RevitAPI, especially in terms of architecture and standards, refining methods to be grouped within classes for better usability and clarity.
Revit API development is carried out on the Microsoft Visual Studio platform, utilizing programming languages like C# that are compatible with the Microsoft .NET Framework. Essential tools for Revit secondary development include the Revit software itself, Microsoft Visual Studio, and the Revit SDK (Software Development Kit).
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