Do you ever feel overwhelmed on getting started with something new? We’ve all been there… you start searching the web and find an overwhelming amount of information, some of which is solid and some of which isn’t relevant to what you’re looking for at all. This is exactly what I experienced when I  was looking to learn how to start using the Revit API. To keep you from going through the endless searching that I endured in my efforts to learn about the Revit API, this article will direct you with the best tools and places to find information to help you leverage the Revit API.

Revit API Help Docs aside, the most valuable resources out there to leverage the REVIT API from Autodesk itself is The Revit Developer Center. 

Once there, take a look at the My First Revit Plug-in tutorial. This tutorial is built for those who know Revit but who are brand new to programming so it’s highly recommended. Following this tutorial, you can have your first functioning add-in built within an hour – again, this is assuming no programming experience so it is not bogging you down with the details right away. 

Autodesk Revit has a .NET API which means you can use any of the .NET compliant programming languages (C#, VB.NET, F#, etc.) to develop a plug-in. While each language has its own relative benefits, C# is my preferred language. It is easy-to-learn, easy-to-use and leverages the power of the underlying .NET Framework.

A few of the most common applications for the Revit API are bulk editing Revit data, batch printing or exporting of sheets and views, or creating a section box around a set of families for coordination purposes. While all these tasks can be done in Revit, working with the API can significantly improve the time needed to perform these tasks. Additionally, don’t feel you need to start from scratch with any of those common applications mentioned, you can quickly find free sources of this code on the internet. 

Once you get your feet wet with the Revit API, you are more than prepared to get started with the UNIFI API offering. 

The UNIFI API is a REST API which stands for Representational State Transfer. The REST set of constraints which will make your APIs easier to use and also easier to discover, meaning a developer who just started  to use your APIs will have an easier time learning how to do so. 

The UNIFI API has two platforms; Content Management and Project Analytics. If you’re using UNIFI, you know that you are not able to modify, add or delete parameter values in bulk. This hurdle can be overcome by leveraging the Content Management API for customization.

 The Project Analytics API can also be customized to improve your BIM workflows. By utilizing this API, it is possible to take the data gathered from our Project Analytics platform and organize it a number of custom ways. 

Namely, if you want to see the model health scores of all your projects at a glance or check your Revit content within the project for certain parameter data, you can do that quickly with our Project Analytics API. 

Just like the Revit API, no coding experience is required to take advantage of the UNIFI API. Don’t take our word for it, check out the API sample created by UNIFI’s own BIM Manager here.

For more advanced customizations, our partners at VIATechnik can help you leverage the UNIFI API for your unique needs.

In closing, APIs can certainly be overwhelming especially to those just getting started. By knowing where to start and just diving in, you can begin to understand the power of Revit API and the potential to save you from time consuming, manual tasks.

Interested in learning more about UNIFI’s APIs? Please don’t hesitate to contact us today!