Access PO_AlignInPlan via Grasshopper instead?


Is there any plan to expose these rhino pollination commands to the grassopper plug in or via honeybee components? This command is one of the most powerful model clean up tools in Rhino that I find myself using on almost all rhino based projects. Having this method accessible via a honeybee GH component aswell would be great. eg brep input to snap, grid lines input as curves to snap to, tolerance, angle etc…

Hi @milog,

We have discussed this in the past but we currently don’t have a plan to do so. It is a bit out of the scope of our main focus right now.

That said, and if it is only this particular command, we might be able to get you a prototype component that does what you’re looking for. What do you think, @mingbo?

If you could start your model as a Dragonfly model, it will be even easier to help you with a sample code in Grasshopper. Would that be an option? I imagine most of your models are only have extruded walls.

Finally, the title of the topic includes PO_AlignInPlan but the screenshot highlights PO_AlignToGrids. Which one are you hoping to be exposed? :slight_smile:

I believe the Align to grids button in that screenshot actually triggers the PO_AlignInPlan command, as PO_AlignToGrids is not a callable funtion from Rhino…

I have actually been running this align to grids command on raw rhino geometry (no need for honeybee geometry at all) as it is just a useful tool for snapping geometry to shared grid lines.

This works a treat! Wish I would have known about this a few years ago!

Glad that you found the DF Align component, @milog.

I was going to say that a lot of these functionalities for geometry cleanup are available as Dragonfly components. And those functionalities that are not yet exposed as components can usually be accomplished by using the Dragonfly Python SDK if you need them in Grasshopper.

FYI, I can also really recommend the workflow of saving your HBJSON from the Rhino plugin and then opening it in the Model Editor that comes with the Pollination Revit plugin. Then you can export the HBJSON from the Model Editor to bring it back into Rhino. That’s my preferred way of doing most Rhino model cleanup these days.

Thanks Chris, that’s a good point - now that the Model editor is a standalone desktop application that does not require opening Revit I can see the benefit of doing this.

One thing to note, unfortunately we have not been using the Revit plug in as much as we would like almost entirely due to the fact that almost 99% of the Revit models we receive from architects do not contain architectural rooms, and so I haven’t been able to find an effective way to make use of these Revit models in these scenarios.

Hi @milog,

See this. :backhand_index_pointing_down: It is blurred intentionally but you will see the content once you click on it. :upside_down_face:

There is actually and easier way to use the Model Editor from inside Rhino.

I have heard this from a few other customers but have you tried to ask the architects to put the rooms in or provide you with a model that has rooms? In most cases, they already have a model with the rooms that they use to keep track of areas, etc.

Also, have you tried to use the Revit functionality to place rooms automatically? This video might help.

I’m realizing that I might need to record some videos to cover the basic stuff that might be a blocker for people to use the Revit plugin before they even get to using the Revit plugin. Do you have any other items on your list? I have already recorded a video for setting up linked models which I believe is an issue for many users.

Thanks for this Mostapha, I appreciate you recording and sending that video. Apologies for the delayed response, project work here at Beyond Carbon has been at full pace these past few months!

We are just about to start a new bit of work doing Part O and SAP modelling for a large multi resi scheme and hoping to use the revit model from the architect using the new model editor. We recieved this response from the architect, do you think this structure will be relatively easy to work with, with the new plug in? They reference IFC but we wont be needing that.

"With regards to Revit models we should be able to get these over to you come freeze, also in IFC format, but note that this is complicated export process as we have;

- individual Revit links for dwellings

Loaded into

- Block dwelling model

Loaded into

- Block shell model

Loaded into

- Masterplan model"

Hi @milog,

I don’t see this to be a problem. We don’t recommend this many layers of nesting but it should work fine if we re-link the models. You most likely want to open the Block dwelling model as the host, assuming it has the rooms/spaces place in them. Then link the Block shell model to it so you can access the facade elements including windows. The rest should be business as usual.

Let me know if you need any help when you start working on the model.