eVolve Mechanical v5.0.1

Resources

• Downloads: http://evolvemep.com/downloads
• Feedback and Ideas: https://www.evolvemep.com/evolve-mechanical-ideas/
• Support: https://www.evolvemep.com/contact-support/

Compatibility

• Autodesk® Revit® 2020.2.4
• Autodesk® Revit® 2021.1.3
• Autodesk® Revit® 2022.1.0

Summary

The latest 5.0.1 release is once again the largest eVolve release in history! It introduces a bundle of new features including Point Loads, a collection of sleeve improvements including Boxouts, and all new Multi-Tier Trapeze placement. Also even existing features got a brand new update including a Renumber Redesign, additional commands for Packaging, and expanded quick tools. Oh, and did we mention eVolve's fabrication database Origin is now included FREE!

This release would not be possible with our truly outstanding customers. Thank you to everyone for providing feedback and the ideas that continue to build this product!

🎉New:

• eVolve Origin - the eVolve Origin library is now included FREE with eVolve Mechanical.
• Trapeze Families - With the all-new trapeze families you can now place multi-tier hangers, adjust center rods, and avoid collisions. The best part? It's automatic!
• Point Loads - Our no-frills Point Load feature is exactly what your project needs, and it even allows for families in calculations.
• Assign Level - Solve a problem old as time, parts on the wrong level. Or better yet, easily copy that standard layout up through the building.
• Sleeves Updates
  • Box Outs - Make sleeving your rack systems easy with the ability to now place Box Out sleeves around the entire system. 
  • Quick Placement - Handle your one-off scenarios faster than ever with the ability to place sleeves without the need for a rule. 
  • Expanded Rules - For your automatic placement, you can now use Element Filters to create rules for your exact scenarios. Whether it's all walls in a project or only slabs with a certain thickness, you are in control.
• Packaging - Now officially out of beta, making a package has never been easier. Define, modify, and remove packages directly in the model. You can now also include non-spooled parts!
• Manage eVolve Properties - Take control of the parameters in your project by now simply choosing which fabrication properties you would like eM to create.

👍Improvements:

• Renumber Redesign - Renumbering has a new look and new features! Use Element Filters to create custom rules for anything in your model (including families!). Also now includes dynamic prefixes/suffixes and even able to control what parameter to use!
• Additional Fabrication Properties - We noticed that there were some fabrication properties (like Insulation Thickness) that as a user, you didn't have access to, so we now expose these for use in the model.
• Insert Based On Floor Type - Whether it's metal decking or post-tension you can now control which deck types receive inserts and what kind are placed. 
• Annotations Placement for Families - Whether it's custom tags in User Annotations or our Annotation Settings, you can now create annotation rules for all model categories. Making shop drawings just go easier. 
• Quick Tools v2 - We have expanded the supported parts for our quick tools command which now allows connections of different sizes, different services, and even fab parts to families.
• Setting Control - Company roll-outs, or pushing changes to all users has never been easier with our enhancements for settings management. See the section below for details!
• UI Updates - There have been mass changes to our UI including icon changes and an Element Filter overhaul.
• Improved Family Browser Control - A collection of updates to Family Browser for improved searching such as Multi-Selection Filters.
• Customize Spool Manager - Now it is even easier to find and group spools! With the new Parameter Settings, you can now add and see any parameter you want within Spool Manager.
• Content Updates - Mass updates to family browser content as well as the project template have been included. (See expanded section for details)

💪Stability

There are nearly 20 specifically targeted bug fixes in this release and even more addressed indirectly through other enhancements. These improvements not only give our customers the best experience but also allow our development team to move faster in the future. A few are below but be sure to check out the expanded section for a full list! 

• Update Warning Suppressed - Previously if there were both unlicensed and licensed eVolve Users working in the same project, customers would receive a "Third Party Updater" message. More info here.
• Enhanced Rod Embed UI/UX - Fixed Embed Depth to correctly read from the embed families.
• eM Prop panel Refresh Fails Groups - Previously if running a "Properties Refresh" on a model with groups within it, you would get an error message.
• Sleeve elevation reports correctly - When sleeves are placed, their elevation is now pulled from the correct level.

Digging Deeper

Below is some additional information on a few of the larger changes in 5.0.

eVolve Origin

Origin is now included with your download of eVolve Mechanical. As always you are still more than welcome to use your company database as well. However, if you are just getting started, or even missing a few parts, make sure to check it out.

More info here.

Trapeze Families

Multi-Service Bearer just got a fresh new look! Now you can use it to place either fabrication strut or one of our new families. With our new families, you also receive additional functionality including

1. Ability to set and control center rod preferences
2. Attachments when Placed
3. Multi-Tiered Strut
4. Both fabrication and evolve trapeze families now support collision avoidance/detection!
5. Finally, you can easily save these preferences in your profiles making placement even simpler.

Point Loads

Simple but powerful our new Point Loads put you in the driver's seat. Choose which parts and hangers you would like to evaluate and eVolve will read any weight data as well amount of points, to give you your average calculations.

This info is then written to a standard parameter for use in scheduling or tagging as needed.

To take this one step further, it also supports families as well with the ability to assign weight info by using a simple shared parameter.

Assign Level 

With Assign Level cleaning up your models has never been easier. Whether you didn't change your level after coming off your riser or even want to copy a standard layout to the next floor, assign level makes it easier with 3 specific options

1. Move - Move any parts to the floor you choose and change the elevation to match.
2. Copy - Copies any parts to the floor you choose and changes the elevation to match.
3. Reassign - Simply changes the level of the parts reference while keeping them in place.

Sleeves Updates

Our comprehensive Sleeve update boasts a plethora of updates. Whether you have a multi-rack system, a complex model, or just needing to place a quick sleeve, the options below make it easy.

1. Box Outs - Make sleeving your rack systems easy with the ability to now place Box Out sleeves around the entire system. 
2. Quick Placement - Handle your one-off scenarios faster than ever with the ability to place sleeves without the need for a rule. 
3. Expanded Rules - For your automatic placement, you can now use Element Filters to create rules for your exact scenarios. Whether it's all walls in a project or only slabs with a certain thickness, you are in control.
4. Honor Insulation - Choose to oversize from the insulation of the part vs from the part itself
5. Sloped Parts - Supports sloped runs for sleeves
6. Curved Walls - Support curved or slanted walls for sleeves
7. Push more info to sleeves - Pushes Run Size, Insulation, and Element Name as well as the wall/floors Thickness to the sleeve information parameters.

Packaging

Packing has officially been removed from Beta and brings with it many new features.

1. Create/Modify/Delete - Create, Modify, or Delete packages directly in your model based on your selections.
2. Versatile Parts - Now include any part in the model into your package. Whether it's spooled or not, fabrication or family, define your packages, your way.
3. info in prop browser - Inside of eVolve Properties Browser, you now can see what is contained within your package.

Renumber Redesign

We have redesigned our Renumber tool to not only streamline its workflow but also expand its functionality. Most notably, you are now able to create Element Filter based rules to completely tailor your selections (including Families!). Also, you now have further control of each rule with options like Dynamic prefix/suffix and even choosing which parameter to renumber to.

Many previous options have also now been added at the individual rule level for further control as well such as identical numbering and tagging.

Additional Fabrication Properties 

For you power users out there, we wanted to make sure you had access to the most information possible for scheduling, tagging, and creating rules for Element Filters. So we have exposed a dozen new fabrication properties by syncing them to the parameters below.

• eM_CenterlineLength
• eM_DoubleWallMaterialThickness
• eM_HasDoubleWall
• eM_HasInsulation
• eM_HasLining
• eM_InsulationThickness
• eM_InsulationType
• eM_LiningThickness
• eM_MaterialThickness
• eM_OriginX
• eM_OriginY
• eM_OriginZ
• eM_Fitting

Insert Based On Floor Type 

Inside the Embed Configuration tab, you now have an additional column ("Deck Type") where you can specify which deck type the rule applies to. You can even choose which link as well.

This allows you to take further control over your embed placement if desired though it not, simply use the ANY deck type, and the rule will apply globally.

Setting Control 

To get customers up and running quicker, as well as enforce standards, we have introduced three new options for eVolve settings.

1. Network Default User Settings - Now you can set defaults for User-based settings (ie Renumber). 
2. Worksharing Ownership - Users can now take ownership of settings in a work shared enabled project meaning you can now edit settings in confidence. 
3. Mass Export - No need to go into each dialogue to export settings, now simply export all settings at once!

Improved Family Browser Control

• Multi-Selection Filters - The Family Browser now supports multi-selection for the Library, Category, Sub-Category, and Manufacturer drop-down menus
• Type Catalog Support - The Family Browser now supports loading families that use type catalogs.
• Disable eVolve Library - Users now can disable the default eVolve library in the Library Settings.

Content Updates

Full list of content and template changes below.

Shared Param File Changes

(Click each to expand)

Family Browser

• Added Annotation Families
• Added Family Hangers
• Added Attachments
• Removed all old sleeves except for firestop
• Added new auto round and auto rectangular sleeves
• Updated all previous content with new metadata and misc improvements
• Provided default excel file

Default Settings

• Updated Renumber Config
  • Converted old Rules to the new format
• Updated Element Filter Config
  • Added Point Load Filter
  • Added Points Filter
  • Updated Sleeve Filter
  • Updated all filters to include new hanger family categories
• Updated Shortcuts to include the forum.

Resources

• Removed annotation families and inserts (now in family browser)
• Added 8.5x11, 11x17, and 30x42 sheet templates

Template

• Updated Prefab View Filters
• Add Template Legend
• Changed Opening View to a Legend
• Added trapeze legends
• Added trapeze schedules
• Removed old sleeve schedules
• Created new sleeve unified schedule
• Added sheet list and view list schedules
• Added family library export schedule
• Removed levels 3 and 4 and their views (reduce template size)
• Removed families that are in the family browser from the project template
• Updated Prefab schedule
• Applied new schedule organization
• Added point load schedule.

Prefab Titleblock

• Added new views
• Changed prefab window node

Sleeve Content Changes

• Removed unused lookup tables
• Removed metal lookup table and traded for formula
• Errors are now generated if no lookup table found
• Added reference line
• Added and Renamed parameters for feature

Full list of Bugs Addressed

• Fix crash which can occur within sleeves
• Sleeve placement honors linked models with different origin points
• Fix error when items with insulation are selected as a starting point
• Renumber may not increment correctly when 'use same for identical' is enabled
• Fix Copy Connected Elements connector service matching
• Multiple undo entries created on some Quick Tools
• Fix Rod Embeds not placed when an invalid rod size is encountered
• Rod adjustments not working if extended to a reference plane
• Fix spool creation issue with both eVolve Electrical and eVolve Mechanical installed
• Fix Spool copy errors
• Display error when Multi-Trim elbow cannot be placed
• Do not allow bulk update of Hosted X,Y,Z points
• Fix traversal on an element with no connectors or no connections
• Parameter Sync PowerShell script can return unintended value
• Fix error handling when a macro throws an exception
• Permission error may occur in save dialog

Technical Notes

• Supported alongside an installation of _eVolve Electrical v5.0_ only, any other versions of electrical may encounter issues.
• Project must be set to 1/16 precision of better.
• Category-based rules were removed from Parameter Sync, Workset Manager, and Macro Automation. Any existing rules within these tools utilizing this methodology will fail until they are updated.
• Settings stored within projects are not compatible with pre-5.0 format. To avoid issues and overwrites, all users should be running the same product version for a given Revit release.
• If a user is actively using both 5.0 and a version prior on the same machine (across different versions of Revit), the following user machine configuration values will be erased/reset back to default after closing Revit where a previous version was loaded.
  • Assign Level settings
  • Family Browser option to turn off default library
  • Selection Filter rule option for case sensitive search
• When multiple custom properties with the same name are present, only the first one will be editable in the eVolve Properties grid. Additionally, the respective eM_ property with the same name will have the data type of this first entry.
• When a license is disabled, automatic processes will not run which can cause the elements they update to become "stale" and/or lead to data issues:
• Parameter Sync, Workset Manager, and Macro Automation 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.
• If both eVolve Electrical and eVolve Mechanical are installed on the same machine, Workstation Settings must have Enable PowerShell in Parameter Sync enabled within all products.

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