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ClaudeWave
Skill254 repo starsupdated 5mo ago

rvt-to-excel

This Claude Code skill exports Revit RVT and RFA files to structured Excel databases, extracting BIM element data, properties, quantities, and optional metadata like bounding boxes and room associations. Use it for batch processing multiple building information models, integrating BIM data into analytics pipelines, generating quantity takeoffs, and sharing structured element information with non-CAD stakeholders in universally accessible formats.

Install in Claude Code
Copy
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/datadrivenconstruction/DDC_Skills_for_AI_Agents_in_Construction /tmp/rvt-to-excel && cp -r /tmp/rvt-to-excel/1_DDC_Toolkit/CAD-Converters/rvt-to-excel ~/.claude/skills/rvt-to-excel
Then start a new Claude Code session; the skill loads automatically.

SKILL.md

# RVT to Excel Conversion

## Business Case

### Problem Statement
BIM data inside RVT files needs to be extracted for:
- Processing multiple projects in batch
- Integrating BIM data with analytics pipelines
- Sharing structured data with stakeholders
- Generating reports and quantity takeoffs

### Solution
Convert RVT files to structured Excel databases for analysis and reporting.

### Business Value
- **Batch processing** - Convert multiple projects
- **Data accessibility** - Excel format for universal access
- **Pipeline integration** - Feed data to BI tools, ML models
- **Structured output** - Organized element data and properties

## Technical Implementation

### CLI Syntax
```bash
RvtExporter.exe <input_path> [export_mode] [options]
```

### Export Modes
| Mode | Categories | Description |
|------|-----------|-------------|
| `basic` | 309 | Essential structural elements |
| `standard` | 724 | Standard BIM categories |
| `complete` | 1209 | All Revit categories |
| `custom` | User-defined | Specific categories only |

### Options
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `bbox` | Include bounding box coordinates |
| `rooms` | Include room associations |
| `schedules` | Export all schedules to sheets |
| `sheets` | Export sheets to PDF |

### Examples

```bash
# Basic export
RvtExporter.exe "C:\Projects\Building.rvt" basic

# Complete with bounding boxes
RvtExporter.exe "C:\Projects\Building.rvt" complete bbox

# Full export with all options
RvtExporter.exe "C:\Projects\Building.rvt" complete bbox rooms schedules sheets

# Batch processing
for /R "C:\Projects" %f in (*.rvt) do RvtExporter.exe "%f" standard bbox
```

### Python Integration

```python
import subprocess
import pandas as pd
from pathlib import Path
from typing import List, Optional

class RevitExporter:
    def __init__(self, exporter_path: str = "RvtExporter.exe"):
        self.exporter = Path(exporter_path)
        if not self.exporter.exists():
            raise FileNotFoundError(f"RvtExporter not found: {exporter_path}")

    def convert(self, rvt_file: str, mode: str = "complete",
                options: List[str] = None) -> Path:
        """Convert Revit file to Excel."""
        rvt_path = Path(rvt_file)
        if not rvt_path.exists():
            raise FileNotFoundError(f"Revit file not found: {rvt_file}")

        cmd = [str(self.exporter), str(rvt_path), mode]
        if options:
            cmd.extend(options)

        result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)

        if result.returncode != 0:
            raise RuntimeError(f"Export failed: {result.stderr}")

        # Output file is same name with .xlsx extension
        output_file = rvt_path.with_suffix('.xlsx')
        return output_file

    def batch_convert(self, folder: str, mode: str = "standard",
                      pattern: str = "*.rvt") -> List[Path]:
        """Convert all Revit files in folder."""
        folder_path = Path(folder)
        converted = []

        for rvt_file in folder_path.glob(pattern):
            try:
                output = self.convert(str(rvt_file), mode)
                converted.append(output)
                print(f"Converted: {rvt_file.name}")
            except Exception as e:
                print(f"Failed: {rvt_file.name} - {e}")

        return converted

    def read_elements(self, xlsx_file: str) -> pd.DataFrame:
        """Read converted Excel as DataFrame."""
        return pd.read_excel(xlsx_file, sheet_name="Elements")

    def get_quantities(self, xlsx_file: str,
                       group_by: str = "Category") -> pd.DataFrame:
        """Get quantity summary grouped by category."""
        df = self.read_elements(xlsx_file)

        # Group and count
        summary = df.groupby(group_by).agg({
            'ElementId': 'count',
            'Area': 'sum',
            'Volume': 'sum'
        }).reset_index()

        summary.columns = [group_by, 'Count', 'Total_Area', 'Total_Volume']
        return summary
```

## Output Structure

### Excel Sheets
| Sheet | Content |
|-------|---------|
| Elements | All BIM elements with properties |
| Categories | Element categories summary |
| Levels | Building levels |
| Materials | Material definitions |
| Parameters | Shared parameters |

### Element Columns
| Column | Type | Description |
|--------|------|-------------|
| ElementId | int | Unique Revit ID |
| Category | string | Element category |
| Family | string | Family name |
| Type | string | Type name |
| Level | string | Associated level |
| Area | float | Surface area (m²) |
| Volume | float | Volume (m³) |
| BBox_MinX/Y/Z | float | Bounding box min |
| BBox_MaxX/Y/Z | float | Bounding box max |

## Usage Example

```python
# Initialize exporter
exporter = RevitExporter("C:/Tools/RvtExporter.exe")

# Convert single file
xlsx = exporter.convert("C:/Projects/Office.rvt", "complete", ["bbox", "rooms"])

# Read and analyze
df = exporter.read_elements(str(xlsx))
print(f"Total elements: {len(df)}")

# Quantity summary
quantities = exporter.get_quantities(str(xlsx))
print(quantities)

# Export to CSV for further processing
df.to_csv("elements.csv", index=False)
```

## Integration with DDC Pipeline

```python
# Full pipeline: Revit → Excel → Cost Estimate
from semantic_search import CWICRSemanticSearch

# 1. Convert Revit
exporter = RevitExporter()
xlsx = exporter.convert("project.rvt", "complete", ["bbox"])

# 2. Extract quantities
df = exporter.read_elements(str(xlsx))
quantities = df.groupby('Category')['Volume'].sum().to_dict()

# 3. Search CWICR for pricing
search = CWICRSemanticSearch()
costs = {}
for category, volume in quantities.items():
    results = search.search_work_items(category, limit=5)
    if not results.empty:
        avg_price = results['unit_price'].mean()
        costs[category] = volume * avg_price

print(f"Total estimate: ${sum(costs.values()):,.2f}")
```

## Best Practices

1. **Use appropriate mode** - `basic` for quick analysis, `complete` for full