Midas Gen Technical Paper

Midas Link for Revit Structure

Table of Contents

Introduction

Getting Started

Send Model to midas Gen

Update Model from midas Gen

Applicable data for midas Link for Revit Structure

10

What is Updated from midas Gen to Revit Structure

11

Usage Note

12

Midas Gen Version

Gen 2015v1.1

Revit Version

Revit 2015

Revision Date

29. May, 2014

midas

Gen

Midas Link for Revit Structure

Introduction
Using Midas Link for Revit Structure, direct data transfer between midas Gen and Revit Structure is available
for Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflow. Midas Link for Revit Structure enables us to directly transfer a
Revit model data to midas Gen, and delivery back to the Revit model file. It is provided as an Add-In module in
Revit Structure and midas Gen text file (*.mgt) is used for the roundtrip.

Midas Link for Revit Structure supports the following workflows:

(1) Send the Revit Structure analytical model to midas Gen.
(2) Import the MGT file of the Revit model in midas Gen.
(3) Export the midas model file to the MGT file.
(4) Update the Revit Structure model from midas Gen

2 / 12

midas

Gen

Midas Link for Revit Structure

Getting Started
The following exercise leads you through a sample scenario providing detailed instructions for each step in the
process.

Step 1: Prepare a Model

1. Using the structural template, build a simple structure that

has 4 beams, 4 columns, 4 boundary conditions, 1 Hosted
Point Load, and 1 Hosted Line Load, as shown.
2. Create a load combination; create a load combination usage
called MIDAS_STEEL; set the load combination to this usage.
3. Check for inconsistency by clicking Tools menu > Analytical
Model > Analytical / Physical Model Consistency Checks.
Make any adjustments if necessary.

Step 2: Send Model to midas Gen

1. Click Tools menu > External Tools > Send Model to midas Gen
2. Click OK to send the project using the default.
The following table shows the Revit components that are sent to midas Gen.

Linear
Elements

Planar
Elements

Boundary

Load

Other
Parameters

Revit Structure
Structural Column
Beam
Brace
Curved Beam
Beam System
Truss
Foundation Slab
Structural Floor
Structural Wall
Wall Opening & Window
Door
Vertical or Shaft Opening
Offset
Rigid Link
Cross-Section Rotation
End Release
Isolated Foundation Support
Point Boundary Condition
Line Boundary Condition
Wall Foundation
Area Boundary Condition
Load Nature
Load Case
Load Combination
Hosted Point Load
Hosted Line Load
Hosted Area Load
Material
Level

Midas Gen

ELEMENT (BEAM)

ELEMENT (PLATE)

OFFSET
ELASTICLINK
ELEMENT (ANGLE)
FRAME-RLS
CONSTRAINT, SPRING
CONSTRAINT, SPRING
CONSTRAINT, SPRING
CONSTRAINT, SPRING
CONSTRAINT, SPRING
STLDCASE
STLDCASE
LOADCOMB
CONLOAD
LINELOAD, PRESSURE
PRESSURE
MATERIAL
STORY

3 / 12

midas

Gen

Midas Link for Revit Structure

Step 3: Analyze and Revise Model in midas Gen

1. Start a new project in midas Gen, and import the MGT file of the Revit model. Note any warnings and
errors in the message window.
2. Import the MGT file again, it should import without error and display the structure.
3. Perform a structural analysis in order to be sure that the model is complete.
4. Add a horizontal brace to the model in section 1.
5. Reduce the size of the columns from W10x49 (section 8) to W10x33 (section 9).
6. Export the model using the same name as the imported MGT file.

Step 4: Update Model from midas Gen

1. In Revit Structure, click Tools menu > External Tools > Update Model from midas Gen
2. Verify that the paths in the dialog point to the right files, and click Update. The summary should report 1
added element and 4 section changes, and the structure should now look like the following illustration.

4 / 12

midas

Gen

Midas Link for Revit Structure

Send Model to midas Gen

1. In order to send the Revit Structure analytical model to midas Gen, click Add Ins > External Tools >
Send Model to MIDAS/Gen.

2. Click the first Browse button to select a path for the Revit model file. The paths for the MIDAS model
and the log file will default to the same name. If necessary, modify these paths by clicking the
corresponding Browse buttons.

(2)

Mesh size for

slab and walls
can be adjusted.
Part of a model
can be imported to
(3) midas Gen.

(4)

(5)

(6)

3. Select the units for length and force to be used in midas Gen.

5 / 12

midas

Gen

Midas Link for Revit Structure

4. Section DB File
Section mapping is provided based on [Auto-Search] and [User-defined] mapping rule.

Auto-Search
The program automatically detects identical section name between Revit and midas Gen DB
sections. Auto-search rule can be specified in the dialog box as shown in the figure below.

User-defined
Section transfer list from Revit Structure to midas Gen is displayed in the table format. Click [Add]
or [Modify] button to specify section shapes and size exported to midas Gen.

(4-1)

Mapping Method: It is specified in Define Section Mapping dialog box between NAME and PARAMETER.
Name : Section mapping data is entered using DB section name.
Parameter : Section mapping data is entered using section parameters (ex. bf, d, tf, tw, etc.).
Revit Family Name: Family Name used in Revit Structure
Revit Type Name: Element type name used in Revit Structure

Shape

Gen Code Name: Section DB code which will be used in midas Gen
Section Shape: Section shape name which will be used in midas Gen

Gen Section Name: Section name in the specified section DB code

Code
Section
Name

6 / 12

midas

Gen

Midas Link for Revit Structure

4-1. Add/Modify Section Mapping

DB Type Section
Section mapping data is entered using DB section name.
User Type Section
Section mapping data is entered using section parameters between Revit and midas Gen.

5. Material DB File
Material transfer list from Revit Structure to midas Gen is displayed in the table format. Click [Add] or
[Modify] button to specify section shapes and size exported to midas Gen.

Category: Material type used in Revit Structure. Steel and concrete type are applicable.
Revit Material Name: Material name used in Revit Structure
Gen Standard: Material standard which will be used in midas Gen

Gen DB Name: Material DB name which will be used in midas Gen

7 / 12

midas

Gen

Midas Link for Revit Structure

6. Click Send to start writing the MIDAS model.

When the writing is complete, a summary will be presented in a dialog. If an unidentified section exists in
a Revit model, the following dialog box is displayed. Click select the row marked in the table and click

[Define Section Mapping] to specify the section shape and size imported in midas Gen. If Archive new
mapping rule option is checked on, the setting will be saved in SectionMap.smap(c:\Program
Files\MIDASIT\Midas Link for Revit Structure 2014\ GenSectionDB \SectionMap.smap) so that the user
do not need to specify them again.

8 / 12

midas

Gen

Midas Link for Revit Structure

Update Model from midas Gen

1. In order to update the Revit Structure model from midas Gen, click Add Ins > External Tools >
Update Model from MIDAS/Gen.

2. A dialog will pop up. If "Send Model to MIDAS/Gen" has been used during this session, the paths
for the files are automatically set to be the same. If necessary, click Browse to change them.

3. Click Update to start updating the model.

9 / 12

midas

Gen

Midas Link for Revit Structure

Applicable data for MIDAS Link for Revit Structure

Functions
Structural Column
Beam
Linear
Elements

Brace
Curved Beam
Beam System
Truss
Foundation Slab
Structural Floor

Planar
Elements

Structural Wall
Wall Opening & Window
Door
Vertical or Shaft Opening
Offset
Rigid Link
Cross-Section Rotation
End Release

Boundary

Isolated Foundation Support

Point Boundary Condition

Line Boundary Condition
Wall Foundation
Area Boundary Condition
Load Nature
Load Case

Load

Load Combination
Hosted Point Load
Hosted Line Load
Hosted Area Load

Other
Parameters

Material
Level

Revit <> Gen

<>
<>
<>
>
>
>
<>
<>
<>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
<>
>

Applicable section shape for round trip:

Angle, Section, I section, T section, Box, Pipe, Solid
Round, Inverted T-section

10 / 12

midas

Gen

Midas Link for Revit Structure

What is Updated from midas Gen to Revit Structure

Here are the revisions that are detected and updated in the Revit model:

Sections
If assigned section is changed to the other section pre-defined in the model, the corresponding element in
Revit will be updated accordingly.
If assigned section is changed to the other section newly added in midas Gen, the corresponding element
in Revit will be assigned to a default section (arbitrary section which has a same material type in a
model).

Delete Elements
If an element is deleted in midas Gen, the corresponding element in Revit will be deleted accordingly.

Move Elements
If an element is moved in midas Gen, the corresponding frame element or column in Revit will be moved
accordingly.

Add Elements
If a beam element is newly added, a corresponding element in Revit will be added accordingly.

Change Beta-Angle
If beta-angle in a beam element is changed, a corresponding element in Revit will be updated accordingly.

Materials
If material data assigned to an element is modified, a corresponding element in Revit will be assigned to a
default material.

Thicknesses
If thickness data assigned to a planer element is modified, a corresponding element in Revit will be updated
accordingly.

11 / 12

midas

Gen

Midas Link for Revit Structure

Usage Note
Send to midas Gen
Before sending a Revit Structure model to MIDAS, it is advisable to check and make adjustment to
the analytical model to ensure consistency. Revit Structure provides such tools under Tools menu
Analytical Model.
Always check the export summary to determine if any items were skipped due to problems.

Analyze and Revise in midas Gen

Always check the message window when importing the MGT file to midas Gen.
Though nodes and elements may be added or deleted in midas Gen, you should never renumber
them, because the update mechanism identifies them by their numeric IDs.

Update from midas Gen

When section assigned in an element is modified, the family and type name of the element will not be
recognized. This means that any sections that may become necessary should be preloaded into the
Revit project before sending the model to midas Gen so that their family and type can be specified
during updating the model. Otherwise, default family (ex. MIDAS Gen User L Frame) will be
assigned.
After the Revit model is updated, it may be worthwhile to use the Track Changes command to verify
the changes.

12 / 12