Further Information

Best Practices

• Focus on the structure in question by removing surroundings and imported or linked projects not relevant to the analysis task at hand.

• To cut down computation time for complex projects, consider investigating different structure parts separately in individual views, e.g., residential floors, commercial floors and car parking in a multi-purpose building. Once satisfied with the optimization, bring everything together in a single view.

Supported Elements

SOFiSTiK Analytical Model Generator handles elements of the following categories:

Model Categories [1]	Annotation Categories	Analytical Model Categories
Slabs Structural Columns Structural Foundations [2] Structural Framing Walls	Levels	Analytical Members Analytical Panels Analytical Links Analytical Nodes

[1]

Only elements based on the related System Families are supported. All other elements created via third-party apps using the RevitAPI, i.e., DirectShape3D, assigned to the above categories, are ignored by SOFiSTiK Analytical Model Generator.

[2]

Only Structural Foundations of type Foundation Slabs are supported, Isolated or Wall Foundations are ignored.

Supported Geometries

The range of functionality for SOFiSTiK Analytical Model Generator is constantly expanding. For now, the following geometries are supported:

Elements	Geometries
Inclined elements	All
Walls	Elements created but may need manual adjustment
Curved elements	Arc-shaped	Elliptically-shaped	Spline-shaped
Floors (edges)	Created and optimised	Created only [3]	Created only [3]
Framings [6]	Created and optimised	Created only [3]	Created only [3]
Walls (path)	Created and optimised	Created only as planar increments [4]	Do not exist [5]

[3] (1,2,3,4)

Created accordingly to the physical element, not aligned to optimal location regarding connected elements.

[4]

Created as planar increments approximating the physical element, not aligned to optimal location regarding connected elements.

[5]

Analytical Panels by Extrusion can only be based on arc- and elliptically-shaped paths.

[6]

Framings refers to elements of the Revit Model Category framing and the most common subcategories, e.g., Beams, Diagonals, Secondary, Other.

Supporting Linked Models

Note

This feature is only available for SOFiSTiK Analytical Model Generator 2025 Service Pack 3 and above.

It is possible to derive an Analytical Model based on the Physical Model in a Linked Model. This workflow is similar to the standard workflow of having both models in the same project.

Steps

1. Go to Insert Tab ‣ Link Revit and browse to the project you want to insert. Use Insert Tab ‣ Manage Link as needed.

2. Control visibility of the Linked Model with standard Revit functionality, e.g., View Tab ‣ Visibility/Graphics ‣ Revit Links or View Tab ‣ View Templates ‣ Manage View Templates ‣ V/G Overrides for RVT Links in your active view template.

3. Use Prepare to easily identify the relevant physical elements and have their Enabled property handled in bulk.

4. Check the individual elements of the Linked Model by selecting them. The Property Panel will react to the selection.

   Note

   Make sure to select the individual element by using Tab to rotate through the selection, and do not click the Revit Link as a whole.

   Important

   The properties of the Linked Elements are read and stored in the Host Project. Any properties in the Linked Model will be ignored.

5. Create any Levels needed in the Host Model and determine them as Analytical Levels.

6. Adjust Vertical Alignment for Floors and Framings. Only Levels and Reference Planes in the Host Model will be available.

7. Adjust Importance and Keep Parallel as usual.

8. Proceed with Generate.

9. When changes to the Linked Model occur, re-run the above steps.

   Note

   SOFiSTiK Analytical Model Generator understands the connection to the Linked Element and updates its geometry. Hosted data, e.g., loads, boundary conditions, will be restored.

Important to Consider

Limitation	Implication
An Association between an analytical element from one project and a physical element from a Linked Model is not supported by Autodesk® Revit®.	Highlight Association from Modify Tab ‣ Coordination is unavailable. Coordination Checks fail due to missing Association.
Saving a linked element to a Selection Group is not supported by Autodesk® Revit®.	The Visualization, which relies on Selection Groups for physical elements, does not work.
Materials and Family Types, e.g., Sections, from the Linked Model are not automatically imported to the Host Project by Autodesk® Revit®.	For SOFiSTiK Analytical Model Generator to be able to set the relevant properties of the analytical elements, this information needs to be transferred into the Host Project.