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BoQ Export - Help & Documentation

Welcome to the help section for the TiMBIM Revit BoQ Exporter Plugin. This guide will walk you through installation, setup, and usage.

1. Installation

  1. Download the installer
    1. in case you get a warning (Microsoft Edge):
      1. Click the 3 dots in top right corner
      2. Choose Keep
      3. Click Show more
      4. Keep anyway
      5.   
  2. Run the installer
  3. The installer will install the software and add a link to the context menu in the Windows File Explorer

2. Opening the application

  • Launch Revit and go to the “TiMBIM” tab
  • Open BoQ Export
  • Main window:

 

3. Unit Settings

The unit settings are used for the export of the Bill of Quantities. These can easily be set here and are saved together with the rest of the BoQ setup. So it is possible to use different settings for every BoQ setup.

  • Open the tabpage “Units“ to configure the units for each measurement type:
  • Display Unit: Select the units you want to use for the specific measurement type.
  • Rounding Increment: Set the increment to which values should be rounded. For example, a value of 0.01 rounds results to the nearest hundredth, while 5 rounds to the nearest multiple of 5. 
  • Adjustments are immediately taken into account for creating BoQ settings and the export

4. Settings

  1. Chapter Numbering
    • The chapter numbering can be easily defined per level.  The maximum depth is 10 levels
    • Open the tabpage “Settings” to configure the numbering per chapter level and the delimeter used
    • The starting number is set to “1” as default
    • It is possible to use any sequence of numbers or letters.
    • When entering just 1 value it will be used as start, but it is also possible to define a list of values separated by “,”. (see screenshot for some examples)
    • The numbering can always be updated afterwards
    • It is saved within the specific BoQ setup
  2. Custom Parameters
    • As default all built-in parameters used in the model are available in the dropdowns for the measurement groups and filters
    • If an additional parameter is needed, for example specific parameters used within the company or for the project, it is possible to use them by adding them to the custom parameter list
    • Just add the name and the type and it will be added to the dropdowns of available parameters

5. Starting a new BoQ setup

  • The plugin is ready to start a new BoQ setup when you open it.
  • Add main chapters
    •  go to the menu Edit > Add Chapter
    • use shortcut “ctrl + N“
  • Rename chapters
    • Click the chapter in the tree
    • Change the name in the window on the right side
  • Add sub chapters
    • Click the chapter in the tree
    • Go to the menu Edit > Add subchapter
    • Use shortcut “ctrl + ‘+'”
    • Numbering is done automatically based on the numbering scheme (see chapter 4 Chapter Numbering)
    • Chapters can be moved holding the left mouse button and dragging the chapter to the desired location
    • Chapters can be copied holding the left mouse button + “ctrl” and dragging the chapter to the desired location
  • Retrieve data from the model
    • click the chapter in the tree (!!!Only chapters without subchapters  has the functionality to retrieve data from the model)
    • select the desired measurement output type
    • create measurement groups. These groups contain elements that
      • that use the same filters
      • from which the measurement can be retrieved using the same parameter
      • that can use the same parameter for grouping
      • f.e. in this case there are 2 groups. one for ducts and one for duct fittings because they can not be retrieved using the same filters and it was also requested to multiply the length of the duct fittings by 1.5x (see factor)
    • per measurement group define
      • measurement parameter: parameter from which the quantity is derived
      • grouping parameter: parameter used for grouping in  the BoQ export. When no grouping parameter is used the output is not grouped
      • Factor: factor by which the quantity is multiplied
      • Filters: filters to retrieve the needed elements
    • EXTRA:
      • The Length of fittings is calculated by the plugin when using “Length” as measurement parameter for Round Duct Fittings and Pipe Fittings, the biggest diameter is returned as size
      • The Area of rectangular duct fittings is calculated by the plugin when using “Area” as measurement parameter for Rectangular Duct Fittings
  • Advanced grouping functionality
    • As you see in the screenshot several functions can be used to define the grouping of the results.
    • It is possible to combine as many parameters as you want. Not found parameters result in “Unknown” as value
    • Various functions can be used to adjust text values
      • Upper(text)
      • Lower(text)
      • Trim(text)
      • Split(text, delimeter, index)
      • Before(text, delimeter)
      • After(text, delimeter)
      • ExtractNumber(text)
    • When grouping on a numeric value several functions can be used to create grouping to ur liking
      • Round(value, increment)
      • RoundUp(value, increment)
      • RoundDown(value, increment)
      • Range(value, step [, mode])
        • mode:
          • InclusiveLower
          • InclusiveUpper
  • Delete chapters:
    • Select the chapter you want to delete
    • press the “delete” key

6. Preview and Export a BoQ

To export the BoQ go to tabpage “Export”

  • Choose the scope for the Bill of Quantities

    • selection
    • active view
    • entire model

  • Results are shown for the selected chapter and based on the selected scope

  • a list of the elements is also included as last level

  • The result can be exported as Excel (.xlsx), Json (.json) or CSV file (.csv)
    • Only the results of the checked chapters are exported

7. Opening or saving the BoQ setup

  • open existing BoQ settings
    • go to “BoQ > Load Settings” and browse to the file that you want to open
  • Open recently used BoQ settings
    • go to “BoQ > Open Recent”
    • here a list of the 10 last used BoQ Settings is shown
  • Save BoQ settings
    • go to “File > Save As” and save the file where you want
    • or use “Save” if the file was already saved before

8. License Management

  • the BoQ export plugin is free to use and can be downloaded as many times as needed

9. Troubleshooting

  • If issues persist, contact us at support@timbim.eu with a brief description and any screenshots if applicable.

10. Known Issues

  • It is possible that not all setting saved in previous version are updated correctly. Make sure to especially check custom parameters and units used for filtering.
  • Pls let me know if you encounter any issues. We will make sure to resolve it within 48h.

11. COMING SOON!

  • Excel layout
  • …