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ZTools Revit Add-ins

ZTools is a suite of Autodesk Revit add-ins designed to enhance productivity and streamline repetitive design workflows.
The suite supports multiple versions of Autodesk Revit (2023, 2024, and 2025) and leverages WPF/WinForms with MVVM for a modern, responsive user interface.

Automation

Why a Suite of Revit Plugins?​

Modern BIM workflows demand consistency, automation, and efficiency. ZTools provides designers with purpose-built tools that automate tedious tasks, enforce company standards, and reduce manual errors.
By consolidating these into a single suite, teams can maintain a consistent workflow across multiple projects and Revit versions.

📌 Plugins​

1. Style Manager​

The Style Manager is the first plugin in the ZTools suite. It is dedicated to managing Revit styles and ensuring compliance with company standards.
The plugin provides a clear, tabbed interface to handle multiple style types.

Automation

Features:​

  • Line Patterns Manager

    • Create, update, and modify line patterns in Revit.
    • Import/export line patterns via JSON for easy sharing and version control.

  • Line Styles Manager

    • Manage line styles by mapping patterns, weights, and colors.
    • Import/export JSON configurations to quickly apply standards.

  • Object Styles Manager

    • Control line styles for categories and subcategories.
    • Adjust visibility, projection, and cut styles consistently.

  • Style Comparison

    • Compare project styles with company standards using JSON imports.
    • Identify matching, different, or missing styles.
    • Helps enforce compliance with organizational CAD/BIM standards.

2. Section Export​

The Section Export plugin is dedicated to creating sectioned exports of a model.
The plugin exports a vertical section of a building model to a new Revit file. This allows users to isolate and export elements between two selected levels (floors) in a Revit project.

Automation

Features:​

  • Element Filtering & Selection

    • Analyzes elements between a user-selected top and bottom level Filters out problematic elements that can't be copied (sketch-based elements, boundaries, line-based families).
    • Optionally includes curtain wall host elements when panels/mullions are selected.

  • Export Process

    • Creates a new Revit project file
    • Copies elements in batches (50 at a time) to handle large datasets
    • Preserves the physical elevation of elements
    • Creates a matching level in the new file at the correct elevation
    • Reassigns all copied elements to reference the new level

  • Cleanup & Organization

    • Removes the default "Level 1" from the new project
    • Creates a floor plan view for the exported section
    • Names the output file with timestamp and level information

  • 3D Visualization

    • Includes a ShowSection() method that displays the selected vertical section in a 3D view Sets up a section box to show only elements between the selected levels

  • Use Case

    • This would be useful for extracting a single floor or multi-floor section from a large building model - for example, exporting floors 3-5 of a 20-story building as a standalone Revit file for detailed coordination or analysis.

3. Views Sheets Manager​

The Views Sheets Manager plugin is a comprehensive Revit automation tool for creating, modifying, organizing, and batch-managing drawing sheets and their associated views. It streamlines sheet creation workflows and introduces advanced view-placement automation powered by geometric curve configuration.

Automation

Features:​

  • Manage Existing Sheets

    • Load all existing sheets from the active Revit project.
    • Edit sheet properties such as number, name, and custom parameters.
    • Add or remove views directly from sheets.
    • Export sheet data to Excel for external editing.
    • Import Excel files to bulk-create or update sheets.
    • Sync all changes back to Revit with one click.

  • Create New Sheets

    • Pick 2 Points: Define alignment by selecting two points. Generates aligned floor plan and elevation views automatically.
    • Draw Line: Draw a line in the model to set the alignment direction. Views are generated and placed based on this line.
    • Select Curve: Use any model curve as the alignment reference for automatic view creation and placement.
    • Create Without Selection: Create a standard sheet with no alignment. Ideal for placing existing views or creating sheets from Excel.

  • Excel Integration

    • Export: Send sheet data to Excel for quick editing or team collaboration.
    • Import: Bulk-create or update sheets and sheet parameters from an Excel file.

  • Views Management

    • View all placed views on a sheet from the Views tab.
    • Add views from a dropdown of all Revit views (currently supports up to two).
    • Views are automatically sized and positioned on the sheet.
    • Remove a view using the ❌ icon — removed both in the UI and in Revit.