Q: How do I install Konstru?
A: Please follow out installation instructions here.
A: Konstru supports a large amount of elements, have a look at our element table. You'll find details to every platform and element type including best practices there.
Q: How does Konstru deal with offsets (column offsets) in Revit to SAP?
A: Konstru takes all offsets from Revit into account to create a Column that exactly represents the structural column as it is visually in Revit. Any offset from levels will affect Konstru geometry. We restore columns with level offsets if the geometry is not aligned to specific levels. Konstru takes all offsets from Revit into account to create a Column that exactly represents the structural column as it is visually in Revit. The Konstru app has built-in translation logics for attributes like offsets and justifications well-elaborated by engineering experience and user feedback.
Q: It looks like Konstru does everything in the cloud with internet access. Is there a downloadable version of Konstru for your desktop?
A: There is not a downloadable version of Konstru. Konstru is a secure, cloud-based application, designed to enable users to collaborate from here to Hong Kong and anywhere in between.
Q: Can data between different organizations be shared?
A: No, you cannot share data between organizations. But you are able to invite collaborators from other organizations into your organization to grant access to one or more models within that organization.
Q: There are a lot of differences between a BIM model and an analysis model, which is geometrically often simplified. How can you manage those differences?
A: Konstru makes use of filters (here’s a video that demonstrates filters) to upload and download models from the various authoring programs. Filters allow the user exactly what kind of information should be transferred. By default Konstru filters are set up in a way that analysis platforms do not override geometric information, and BIM platforms do not override material information. But they can easily be configured as needed for every specific project.
Q: What’s the responsiveness of the workflow when working on large projects (>10k)
A: We have tested the workflow with large models (100k elements), and have not found any problems. Revit tends to become slow when uploading large models, but, since uploading occurs on a separate thread, the user can continue to work. The Konstru database and the 3D viewer are optimized for large models.
Q: How does Konstru handle simultaneous users?
A: Before every upload from a desktop application, Konstru downloads the current version of the model, and compares the desktop version to it. In the unlikely event of two or more users uploading a model in the exact same second, it is the latest version that ‘wins’. So, if user A and user B both upload at the exact same time, and the upload of user B comes in a second after that of user A, two new versions are being created. The version of user B appears as the most recent version, and does not include the changes that were made by user A. However, thanks to the version control features of Konstru, the work of user A is also saved in the model history.
Q: In Konstru, can you choose which items you want to filter out or manually choose elements and assign them to a custom filter?
A: Yes and yes. Konstru filters give you the option to exclude elements by type (e.g. “don’t translate walls from Revit to Konstru”). Also, when uploading to Konstru, you can choose to upload a selection of your model into Konstru, instead of an entire model.
Q: Are there any size limitations in Konstru for models? Either restrictions on cloud storage or practical limitations for upload time?
A: There are no limits set from our side. In fact, the database and the 3D viewer were built with large models in mind.
Q: Metric vs. Imperial units – does Konstru work in Metric? For some reason it was asking me for Metric Family templates.
A: Konstru stores all information in metric, but users can download data into any unit settings. Konstru prompts you for default family templates to create new families. Konstru can be metric or imperial.
Q: How does Konstru handle a custom shape in Revit? For example, if we have a W-Beam family with flange plates (box beam) added to it, how Konstru will interpreted it when transferring to ETABS?
A: Konstru can create new family types on the fly. If it doesn’t find any standard section it will prompt you to map the section to any other family or create a new one.
Q: Can you import Tekla geometry into Revit? Is this turned into Revit-elements?
A: Yes, Tekla elements are translated into Revit elements like beams, braces or columns.
Q: Is there a future plan for accessibility to an API?
A: Yes there is. Under the hood of Konstru, all data exchange takes place through a well-structured REST API. We will likely expose this API to users in the near future in order to let users build customs apps for Konstru. Please let us know if you have anything in mind that could help us drive the direction of this future feature.
Q: How does Konstru deal with phases and design options? Is it a case of what you see gets uploaded?
A: Konstru Imports currently into the active phase or design option. In the future we’ll export phases and design options with the elements.
Q: When bringing the model back into Revit, are the units converted back to Imperial or are they then left in the metric units when brought back to Revit?
A: Units are converted in the unit system you have setup in Konstru. You can upload a Konstru model from Revit in feet and download it into ETABS setup in Meters.
Q: How does it work in terms of coordinate systems?
A: Konstru works by origin, so all elements are positioned by every documents global 0,0,0
Q: Are you planning to release API? .NET and .JS?
A: Yes, it is a RESTful API, so when we release the API, users will be able to access it from any language.
Q: Can you export / import a portion of a model?
A: Yes you can, simply mark the checkbox before clicking “Upload Selection”.
Q: When importing into Revit, what options do I have to select families for frames and columns? We have our own families to match our parameters and it looks to be defaulting to a Konstru family.
A: Konstru Revit has the following priority order to find new types and families:
1.) matching typename & category in the Revit project.
eg. Downloading Column with Profile Type 20X40, if a type 20X40 of structural columns category is present Konstru will map to this.
2.) looking for default families.
a.) If the profile section we are looking for is square, rectangular or circular of material concrete or timber:
Use default families, shipped with Konstru, to create new types (eg. 20X40) and load this type. Default families can be changed in the Konstru Settings menu or by replacing the files in %AppData%/Autodesk/Revit/Addins/2017/Konstru/Families.
b.) For all other sections (eg. W18X40) search for the type name in the Revit library folder, first looking into folders like AISC. If the typename has been found Konstru will load it and map to it.
3.) If none of those approaches was successful, create a new family by using the default templates, also shipped with Konstru, from Konstru Settings. In this case Konstru will draw the section profile into the family, extrude it, load it into the project and map to it.
So you can change default families in Konstru settings for square, rectangular and circular families. All the others will depend on your contents in your Revit Library.
Q: What is Konstru's cost structure?
A: You can find our pricing structure here.
Q: Would there be enough capability to customize import, transfer partial models, partial information. What if I wanted to just transfer shear stud counts to my beams in Revit. Would those kinds of operations work?
A: Konstru solves this issues with Filters. Filters are allowing you to specify what kind of information and type of elements will be updated when using Konstru. If you want to make sure ETABS updates section sizes only but no other attributes and certainly no geometry, you can activate profiles only in filter settings. This way only profile sections will be updated on upload. read more about how to setup filters here.
Q: What are the capabilities for connecting a prebuilt Revit model to a prebuilt Analysis model? This has only been possible with custom solutions that use geometry matching.
A: The best way to achieve this is by merging two models using Konstru. You can upload two separate Konstru models and merge them online into one model. You can filter what properties are being merged and how elements are matched. There is an option to merge by Geometry if necessary. Watch this video to learn more about merging.
Q: Is it using geometry location of elements to match them?
A: When comparing or merging Models in Konstru you can chose between ID or Geometry matches. ID means Konstru would try to match elements by any ID its holding in the database, meaning Konstru ID, Revit ID, Etabs ID, SAP, etc... if there is a positive match Konstru will identify them as same elements.
On Geometry matches Konstru allows you to set a tolerance in X,Y and Z direction. Once an element appears with all its points (start and endpoint for lines, 3 points for arcs and multiple points for splines) withing this tolerance, Konstru assumes they are the same. Learn more about Geometry matches here.
Q: What are the capabilities of having differing models. What if the analysis model was simplified at an area?
A: Konstru doesn't have a method at the moment to match multiple elements into one like a segmented SAP beam or similar.
Q: What if the geometry of an element changes?
A: Konstru Up and downloads from desktop clients are always matched by ID, geometry matches are only applying for comparing or merging across models with different IDs. So if geometry changes Konstru will recognize this as an update to the existing element. If geometry changes are not filtered out of course.
Q: What if an element is copied?
A: Konstru will recognize copied elements as new elements because Konstru knows about the ID of each element in each authoring tool. Once an element has been copied it gets a new ID in each authoring tool and will therefore be identified as new.
Q: Is Konstru using element ID or GUID, or another system?
A: Konstru uses element IDs of each authoring tool and a Konstru GUID at the same time. This way Konstru can map elements across all tools and historic versions of all elements. But for uploads and downloads, element IDs are essential.
Q: What if the two models are worked on concurrently. How would the software handle the differing deltas and provide a solution?
A: Konstru's Webapp has a comparison and merge feature allowing you to identify differences between two models and merge them across. Different models can be matched by IDs or Geometry in case there are not matching IDs. Learn more about geometry matching here.
Q: We are using a broad set of tools right now for transferring: some transfer tools between analysis (CSI/RAM/RISA) and Revit and others between Rhino and Revit. It would be great to have one tool to teach users that would connect Rhino, Excel, Etabs, RAM, RISA, etc.
A: Konstru currently supports: Rhino (via Grasshopper), Revit, Excel, ETABS, SAP2000, RAM Structural System, Dynamo and Tekla Structures. Sadly there is currently no API for RISA so we're not able to build a client.
Q: Do you offer a self-hosting solution of Konstru for projects that cannot be uploaded to a public cloud product?
A: Yes, under the Enterprise Pricing Model, we offer the ability to deploy Konstru on your company's own server.
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