The goBIM API is now the backbone of the Revit exporter. I’ve completely rewritten the exporter to use the API, and posted new versions in the downloads area. I’ve also cleaned up the build settings so that new 32bit and 64bit builds should appear at the same time. The goBIM API and the goBIM API Example have also been updated.

In the goBIM API, I’ve changed materials to an enumerated type:

• MaterialType.ALUMINUM
• MaterialType.BRICK
• MaterialType.CONCRETE
• MaterialType.GLASS
• MaterialType.STONE
• MaterialType.STEEL
• MaterialType.SITE
• MaterialType.WOOD
• MaterialType.OTHER

I’ve created a test file called materials.gbm. Here’s an image of what the types look like:

I hope to provide more customization of materials in the future, or at least more enumerated types, but this will have to happen at the goBIM iPhone level. goBIM iPhone 2.0 will have more materials and possibly textures depending on how much I can find time for before the next release.

Using the new goBIM API, I wrote a simple Rhino exporter which translates mesh objects from Rhino into goBIM objects, and uploads them to the server. The cool thing about Rhino is that you can control the density of the mesh that is created when you convert your surfaces. One difficulty is attempting to map materials from the Rhino model to goBIM. In a Revit model, for instance, there is a material list and each object is “made” from one material in that list. In Rhino, materials are just a bunch of properties like color, transparency, and texture. goBIM was designed to use building type materials by name. So if your material is called something like “wood,”"steel,” or “glass,” there is a goBIM material that is hard coded to look loosely like those materials. In the next update to the goBIM app, this is going to be something that I have to consider quite closely because every application handles their materials differently. I think for the purpose of the goBIM API, materials will be an enumerated list like goBIM_Material_Wood, goBIM_Material_Steel, etc. You’ll have a fixed number of options.

For this example I created a simple height field in Rhino, and meshed it to a resolution that didn’t look too scary, and ran the new exporter.

Then I just opened goBIM and pointed it to the file.

I’m going to put the exporter through its paces a little more before releasing it here. But, rest assured, Rhino is coming to goBIM soon!

Alright, this is too good to wait until morning. I’ve just finished reorganizing a lot of the base code for creating objects in goBIM, and I’ve decided to release it as a public API. That way, you can create your own goBIM files!

The API will come as a single .DLL which includes classes for goBIM object creation and goBIM file operations. The example file that will be included will show how to create some geometry, how to write a .gbm file and how to post those files to your FTP through code. I’ve also got a bit in there for sending email, but haven’t been able to get it to work quite right yet. Maybe I’ll tighten that up before I release this as well.

A user asked whether he could use his .mac account to share his goBIM files. You can use the “Public” folder in your .mac account to do this, but you need to do a couple of things:

• Set your .mac public folder to not have a password. Try this article. The article explains how to password protect your public folder, but you can just do it in reverse.
• You need to use the following syntax for the “MODEL URL:” field in goBIM — “http://idisk.mac.com/your.macUsserName-Public/”. Be sure to add the “-Public” after your user name.

Update:

If you select a file in .mac and select “Share File,” you’ll be able to share a download link with people by email. This link is a url with a custom share key at the end. If you choose to use sharing, just enter the entire Apple-provided sharing URL in the “MODEL URL:” field in goBIM, and leave the model name blank.

You can also cut and paste the url from the file share email that you receive into the “MODEL URL:” field in goBIM. Just double tap the link in the email, select “Copy,” then in goBIM, double click in the “MODEL URL:” field and select “Paste.”

The email link set from .mac

After installing goBIM, users have attempted to use the default model (shell.gbm), and it has loaded only to leave them staring into space. goBIM centers you in the model to start, it just happened that when centered in the old model you were looking at nothing, which left users thinking that the model was broken. I’ve set the default model to a new model that is smaller in size and visible upon load so as to orient new users.

A user in the Netherlands submitted some very important feedback regarding the goBIM Revit exporter. It seems that in countries where globalization of the computer settings prescribes commas instead of decimal points, that goBIM is writing out mesh information with lines like

v#-38,1054428590467#-95,5830475060691#-0,271123310552416

Most applications can’t handle numbers that are 10,0000000000000 units in size. So goBIM will fail gracefully allowing the model to load, but only to a blank screen. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix for this while we get the goBIM Revit exporter updated. Simply do a “replace all” in the .gbm file, swapping out commas for decimal points. I apologize to any of my international users whom this affects. I’ll update the goBIM Revit exporter and post when it’s finished.

Update:

Globalization issues have been fixed. 32bit Revit exporter has been updated to output decimals regardless of globalization settings. Check out the new downloads.

It hit me yesterday, when I saw that someone in Sweden had puchased goBIM. This is real. I’m excited to find out how people are using goBIM, and how their experience is with the software. There are two ways to give feedback. First, you can write a review in the App Store. Second, you can leave a comment on my feedback page. Even better, if you take a screen shot of your model, and email me, I’ll put it in the gallery.

You can also visit the downloads page where I’ve implemented a map showing where people are downloading the app and exporters.

I’m proud to announce that goBIM is available in the App Store. Please download the goBIM Revit exporter, have a play, and rate the app.

I look forward to everyone’s feedback, and I’m already getting busy with the next release.

goBIM was rejected from the app store submission process today. But, this is a good thing. They unveiled a number of memory leaks in their testing regime that I’ve subsequently fixed. The app has been resubmitted. The benefit of this leak cleanup for users of goBIM is that after multiple reloads, goBIM will free up all of its memory and you won’t have to restart your iPhone. Also, I’ve tightened up the User Settings screen to make it a bit more responsive, and fixed the glass shader so you get proper transparency.

goBIM!

The user interface has been the focus of my work over the last couple of days.

Startup time has been reduced by adding a secondary splash page that rolls some credits.

The main user interface has been reworked to be more stylistically consistent. Also, the element data panel is now a fly-out that can be put away when you don’t want the data cluttering your view.