4 August 2021
New Release Makes Life Easier for Revit Users
Meet Microsoft Office Importer 5.2, which includes support for BIM 360, SharePoint and OneDrive.
First, the pandemic silenced the world. Streets were empty, bustling businesses became eerily quiet, marketplaces were deserted, wildlife showed up in unexpected places and, hushed, we all watched and waited. Well, not exactly all of us.
At Axiom, the tech team donned protocol protection and mentally flew the bird at COVID. Why? Because Axiom’s motley crew of developers loves what they do and they weren’t going to let some pesky virus interfere with their plans. Masked, gloved and socially distanced when not working from home, they took the opportunity to revamp Microsoft Office Importer for Revit in support of the April release of Revit 2022. The result is a whole new version of Microsoft Office Importer and, since being released into the wilds of CADland, it has already caused yet more of that now-familiar silence — this time because Revit professionals are happily hard at work, quietly putting Microsoft Office Importer Version 5.2 through its paces. And they like what they see. A lot
Curious? Want to know what has them happy as clams? Perfectly understandable, so here’s the scoop. Pay attention to the details — there’s some devilishly good stuff in there.
Once upon a time … nay, only kidding, we won’t torture you like that. But, on the off chance that you’re not already familiar with Microsoft Office Importer (What? Sacrilege!), let’s take it from the top so that it makes sense. And if you are already familiar with Microsoft Office Importer, apologies, but please bear with us as we bring the other guys up to speed before sharing the new goodies with all of you.
When Imports Grind Your Gears
'I love spending hours importing data from Excel spreadsheets and Word docs!' . . . said no one ever.
“I love spending hours importing data from Excel spreadsheets and Word docs!” said no one ever. “I thrive on repetitive tasks!” Nope. “Formatting for hours on end really rocks my world!” Sigh. Who is this guy? He’s nuttier than a fruitcake, that’s who. He’s clearly slightly deranged and has obviously never been lucky enough to have a face-to-face encounter with Microsoft Office Importer, poor devil. But if you can relate to the drudgery and grind of trying to get data from Excel or Word imported to Revit, then you already know the meaning of the word, “arduous.”
As synonyms, Microsoft Word lists “difficult, hard, tough, laborious, grueling, demanding, strenuous, onerous” and “tiring.” Clearly, they understand. (Maybe they need Microsoft Office Importer too?)
In a nutshell, Microsoft Office Importer for Revit is a productivity tool that can paste large amounts of data and text from Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and Word documents into Revit sheets, while maintaining exceptional formatting (think flawless), with a link back to the source file so that the data in the project can be automatically kept up to date. And as if that wasn’t enough, it helps eradicate all the above synonyms in the process.
Axiom’s motley crew of developers loves what they do and they weren’t going to let some pesky virus interfere with their plans.
Up until now, Microsoft Office Importer had a reputation for:
- Eliminating the need for manual entry or manipulation of text in Revit that exists in Microsoft Excel and Word files.
- Maintaining links to source documents with the ability to update imported data automatically or on demand.
- Easily splitting pastes into multiple columns in your Revit project to ensure the paste fits within your border without having to make unnecessary additional pastes.
- Allowing you to see the extents of your paste, live, while making your paste.
- Maintaining formatting like italics, bolding, underlining and more.
- Producing clean, predictable, presentation-quality output in Revit.
- Importing large blocks of information with a single paste.
- Exact mapping of Microsoft Excel/Word point size to Revit text size.
- Giving users the ability to use the {Browse} button to locate a missing source file and change a link to point to the source file at a new location.
- Giving users the choice of storing links to source documents as relative paths or as absolute paths.
- Having many settings and pasting options, giving you the freedom to make a paste look exactly the way you want.
- Giving users the option to paste/import into a Revit sheet or into a drafting view.
- Giving users the ability to spread multi-page pastes across multiple sheets or drafting views — without breaking their link to the source document or spreadsheet.
Now, due to the insight and dedication of the Axiom tech team, there are several brand-new additional features for Version 5.2:
- NEW! Microsoft Office Importer now supports Revit 2022.
- NEW! Microsoft Office Importer now supports importing from, and linking to, Excel spreadsheets and Word documents stored in BIM 360, SharePoint or OneDrive.
- NEW! You can now change the height of a single page that has already been imported.
- NEW! You can now pre-define the width of individual pages.
- NEW! Faster-than-ever importing that has never looked better.
Microsoft Office Importer can be used with all kinds of data, such as equipment schedules, summaries, bills of material, quantity sheets, general notes and more.
Revit professionals are happily hard at work, quietly putting Microsoft Office Importer Version 5.2 through its paces. And they like what they see. A lot.
How-To for BIM 360
Microsoft Office Importer for Revit can import information into Revit from your Excel spreadsheets and Word documents stored in BIM 360. By simply pressing the {Edit Source} button in Microsoft Office Importer, your linked source document will open in the desktop version of Excel or Word.
This is usually the most convenient way to open the file for editing because you don’t have to leave Revit and you don’t have to browse to the location of the file because Microsoft Office Importer already knows where it is.
You can also access your file through the BIM 360 web site. Your source document will open in the web browser version of Excel or Word. It is totally fine to edit it there. (It is only during importing that you need to use the desktop version of Excel and Word.)
After Microsoft Office Importer imports information into Revit from an Excel spreadsheet or Word document stored in BIM 360, members of your team can edit that linked source document in its original location. Microsoft Office Importer effortlessly updates your Revit models with those changes.
Microsoft Office Importer can update your linked information in Revit:
- Whenever you open your Revit model, or
- Whenever you want to, by pressing {Update} in the Microsoft Office Importer “List of Links” box.
You can use either one of those update approaches, or both of them.
You may notice a little repetition in the SharePoint and OneDrive section below, but that’s because there are similarities and we’re making sure to dot all the i’s, cross all the t’s and permit no haziness in the details.
How-To for SharePoint and OneDrive
Microsoft Office Importer for Revit can import information into Revit from Excel spreadsheets and Word documents stored in SharePoint and OneDrive.
Simply press the {Edit Source} button in Microsoft Office Importer and your linked source document will open in the Windows desktop version of Excel or Word
This is usually the most convenient way to open the file for editing because you don’t have to leave Revit. There’s also no need to browse to the location of the file because Microsoft Office Importer already knows where it is.
The SharePoint or OneDrive websites can open your source document in the web version — or in the Windows (desktop) version — of Excel or Word. Either version of Excel or Word is workable for editing your Excel spreadsheet or Word document. (It is only during importing that you need to use the desktop version of Excel and Word.)
Double-clicking on the source document in your local OneDrive sync folder (if you locally sync your files with OneDrive, which is completely optional) will open the document in the Windows (desktop) version of Excel or Word.
After Microsoft Office Importer imports information into Revit from an Excel spreadsheet or Word document stored in SharePoint or OneDrive, your team members can edit that linked source document in its original location and Microsoft Office Importer updates your Revit models with those changes effortlessly.
Microsoft Office Importer can update your linked information in Revit:
- Whenever you open your Revit model, or
- Whenever you want to, by pressing {Update} in the Microsoft Office Importer “List of Links” box.
You can use either one of those update approaches, or both.
Open Door Policy
Microsoft Office Importer for Revit is a powerful program. Nonetheless, we realize that you, a skilled and creative BIM user, will think of ways in which it can be improved. We invite you to please share your ideas.
For over thirty years we’ve listened to you, the skilled BIM or CAD professional, and have implemented the features you’ve requested. We recognize that every widely acclaimed product we’ve ever developed evolved in this manner.
Every widely acclaimed product we’ve ever developed evolved in this manner.
If you can relate to the drudgery and grind of trying to get data from Excel or Word imported to Revit, then you already know the meaning of the word, ‘arduous.‘
We’d like to make Microsoft Office Importer perform every function you could ever imagine such a product being able to do. We’d like to make you such a satisfied Microsoft Office Importer customer that you can’t wait for the next user group meeting so you can tell your friends and associates how much you like Microsoft Office Importer and how strongly you recommend it.
Your suggestions on how to improve Microsoft Office Importer are not only welcome, they’re integral to our ability to provide you with the tools you need.
