Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Navisworks Exporters Not Installing

Have you ever installed Navisworks and when you go to Revit, AutoCAD, etc. and the NWC (or  NWD for AutoCAD programs) exporting option isn’t there?  Examples…In Revit 2009 it would be in the Tools->External Tools pull-down menu.  In Revit 2010 it would be in the Add-Ins Ribbon Panel.  In AutoCAD products it would be available by typing NWCOUT or NWDOUT.  But what do you do when those options are not available after you’ve installed a Navisworks program (except Navisworks Freedom)?

Some think they have to uninstall and reinstall the Navisworks program, or try and do an Add/Remove Programs to change the install.  Well, the second option is the way to go, but it’s not a change of the Navisworks program.  It’s actually a change to the Autodesk Navisworks Exporter Plug-ins option.

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Autodesk call this “prime the exporters” in Navisworks.  Just in case you aren’t familiar with making changes to a program, here’s how you can access the Exporter Plug-ins and Prime them (using Navisworks 2010  and Revit as the example)…

1.)  In Windows XP: Access the Start > Settings > Control Panel > Add Remove Programs option.

-or-

       In Windows Vista: Access the > Settings > Control Panel > Programs and Features option.

2.)  Click the Autodesk Navisworks 2010 32 bit/64 bit Exporter Plug-ins option.

3.)  Click the "Uninstall/Change" button and the Exporter Plug-ins dialog will open.

4.)  Click "Add or Remove Features".

5.)  Click "Restore Defaults", or manually check the Revit entry.

6.)  Click "Next" and follow the prompts to install the applicable exporters.

Depending on how the program was installed, deployment/disk/download, or how it was installed, the exporters may not install with the program initially. When you prime the exporters they should work just fine.

12 comments:

  1. Is there any free plug-in for Revit or AutoCAD exports, without the need of buying a Naviswork licence?

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  2. Unfortunately, there isn't an exporter that you can install without having Navisworks at this point. You can however install Navisworks as a trial and it will give you the ability to export. I planned on having a post about this exact topic shortly.

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  3. Dwane - this was a HUGE help. Thanks much for sharing your expertise.

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  4. No problem South, glad it helped out!

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  5. I am having problems with Navis 2010 seeing more than one revit 2010 product. ie you only get the exporter in Revit MEP and not in Arch & Struct.
    I can use your tip above to check the Revit 2010 button but brouse only lets you pick 1 *ini file

    chris

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  6. Priming the exporters should actually detect any Revit product you have installed. If for some reason it doesn't, you can just copy the portion of the ini file that points to the exporters from one ini to another.

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  7. I tried to put a 3D man in my model using RPC tab but it did not show when I rendered the model.I checked everywhere but it seems it did not work.Do i missed something to install like plug-ins or similar to that?
    Please help me on this.Thanks

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  8. Is there a way to have this done automatically... we ship out AutoCAD, REVIT, and Navisworks via script. End users do not have admin rights and all items from the control panel are removed (except Add/Remove Hardware so that students can remove thumbdrives). We are an academic institution that would like an automatic way of deploying this. AutoDesk does not allow us to put AutCAD etc into the baseline image and deploy the computer lab. Going seat to seat with the media is not an option. Please advise. Thanks!

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  9. Suny, I'm not sure if there is a way to "prime the exporters" automatically without going into Add/Remove...I just don't know enough about scripting to know if it's possible. I would say though to make sure you install Navisworks LAST in your set of programs. Doing this, the exporters typically "attach" themselves properly.

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  10. Gave me the right direction to sort my exporter issue! Thanks for the post!

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