Revit to Max Design 2011_Materials issue!!!

[pnel77]

Time to moan and bitch...we paid insane amounts of money to upgrade every year...I've installed the 2011 software and yes the first error: if you have Max Design 2010 installed and you're trying to open the 2011 release you get a splash.whatever window error - yes so downloaded the fix.

Now the big problem: I model in Revit, save to dwg. and link to Max Design - problem is I can't see any (or maybe 1 or 2) of the materials that I created in Revit, which means I can't select objects by material, which means the whole file linking to dwg doesn't work as it should..it worked properly in the 2010 releases.
Of course I've got deadlines but will have to see if the fbx option gives me a proper material solution.

Why, oh why should it take me 2 weeks to upgrade and change my workflow?

Does anybody have a solution to this issue, or is there another hotfix available?

[Morne]

it might be that the screen doesn't refresh properly. I've had a similar issue where I could NOT see things in the new material browser window I had to contsantly open, close minimize maximize windows to see things. I then just set it to the previous material browser and all was fine.

If you think this might be your problem, then the fix for it is here:
http://www.chaosgroup.com/forums/vbu...evious-version

[rmejia]

The .dwg export appears to be damaged in 2011. Many of my families come into Max missing materials and other objects with materials in Revit do not bring over their material to Max and appear light red, yellow, cyan... etc colors. I filed a support request. They told me to try FBX, which is the future format they are actively working on. I had tried it but really dislike how it groups everything into multi/sub-object materials. Ended up sending a detailed comparison of .dwg and FBX, wishing there was an FBX option that imported the same way .dwg did with individual layers and materials.

I am still using the .dwg export, isolating and hiding layers to apply materials, but they get lost in the file link reload and the process is taking longer.

[MegaPixel]

I had tried it but really dislike how it groups everything into multi/sub-object materials. Ended up sending a detailed comparison of .dwg and FBX, wishing there was an FBX option that imported the same way .dwg did with individual layers and materials.

Multi-sub Mats are a very common practice in the Viz community and a solid way to manage the many materials that tend to be applied to a single object - You should give it some more time.

I've had solid results so far when using the .FBX format inside Max 2011. If I'm ever missing any materials after import, it's because the bitmap paths need to be remapped.

[rmejia]

I use multi/sub-object materials for vehicles, plants, furniture and they are well labeled and easy to manage. They are stored as separate Max files which I insert into the scene. For importing an entire scene from Revit it is different. I much rather have the import group objects by layer, rather than by creating triple the amount of materials in multi/sub-object materials.

Here is how they come in with the .dwg import. There are few materials and it is very easy to select all in scene and replace with my V-Ray material library. The layers are also great to freeze and hide objects while working on the scene.


Here is the FBX import. The usefulness of layers is gone, as everything is placed inside 1 layer. I've got about 50 Multi/Sub-Object materials inside of which are more materials. It is a huge pain to have to go through each multi material and rename it to know what it is. The multimats in this case are not helpful at all. I rather have the import bring in the individual material, like wood, select it, and change all wood on the cabinets at once, not have a separate material for each cabinet in the kitchen.


All I ask is for an FBX import option similar to .dwg, with individual materials and layers.

[bob-cat]

I have wriiten some basic scripts to help with this and some other annoying fbx import problems:

www.causticpictures.com/2share/Revit_Tools.ms

You will find them under the category "Revit Tools"

1. Reset Mesh --- sorts out uvw scaling and pivot problems. I use it straight after import (centres pivot, reset xform, collapses mesh, sets colour to layer).
2. Auto Edge --- gets rid of the edge display on internal faces. I use this second.
3. Material to Layer --- will place all your geometry in layers dependent on materials (a good starting point). The thrid script I run.

Hope this helps.

[rmejia]

Cool scripts, thanks for sharing them!

[beestee]

I have wriiten some basic scripts to help with this and some other annoying fbx import problems:

www.causticpictures.com/2share/Revit_Tools.ms

You will find them under the category "Revit Tools"

1. Reset Mesh --- sorts out uvw scaling and pivot problems. I use it straight after import (centres pivot, reset xform, collapses mesh, sets colour to layer).
2. Auto Edge --- gets rid of the edge display on internal faces. I use this second.
3. Material to Layer --- will place all your geometry in layers dependent on materials (a good starting point). The thrid script I run.

Hope this helps.

You wouldn't happen to be able to put those scripts up again would you? The original link seems to be down.

Also, which preset is everyone using for the FBX import?

[bob-cat]

Hi Ben,

I never look at that notifications bit, sorry for the delayed repsonse.

Here it is:

http://www.causticpictures.com/temp/Revit_Tools.ms

Cheers

[beestee]

Got it!

Thank you very much.