Bluebeam Connection

Bluebeam Connection is a PDF-based collaboration and markup solution. This add-on provides an easy connection between ARCHICAD (version 21 and later) and Bluebeam Revu (any version).

Recommended Workflow

Save or publish ARCHICAD views or layouts as PDFs, then send the PDFs to consultants for markup in the Bluebeam Revu application.

Import the PDF markups to ARCHICAD using Bluebeam Connection. The Bluebeam markups will appear in the right places, on the original source views in ARCHICAD. Manage the markups using Markup Tools palette.

Repeat the process as needed. Each time you reimport markups from a PDF, you can decide whether to skip or include duplicate or modified Markups from earlier rounds.

Install Bluebeam Connection

Download the Bluebeam Add-on from http://www.graphisoft.com/downloads/addons/

Note: For the USA version only, the Add-on is included in ARCHICAD (version 21 Update series 5000 and later). All other language versions must download the add-on separately, using the link shown above.

Bluebeam Connection Palette

The Bluebeam Connection Palette contains three commands used in the Bluebeam Connection workflow. Use these commands to save ARCHICAD view(s) in PDF format, and to import PDF markups to ARCHICAD.

Note: These commands are also available from the Publisher, the File menu and the Markup Tools Palette. However, if you are using the Bluebeam workflow, this palette conveniently groups these commands for you.

Open the palette using one of these commands:

File > Interoperability > Bluebeam Connection

Window > Palettes > Bluebeam Connection

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Bluebeam Connection Palette

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/archicad-23-reference-guide/900_extratopics/BBPaletteDocked.png 

Bluebeam Connection Palette - Docked

Publish ARCHICAD View(s) for Bluebeam

Use these commands to publish one or more ARCHICAD views in PDF format, optimized for markup in Bluebeam Revu. In particular, the published PDF will include Zone polygons from the ARCHICAD Floor Plan view, which can then be annotated in Bluebeam Revu.

Save Single ARCHICAD View in PDF Format

1.From the Bluebeam Connection palette, click Save as PDF to save the current view in PDF format.

2.Forward the PDF for markup in Bluebeam Revu.

Publish PDF Set

To publish an entire Publisher Set in PDF format, for use in Bluebeam Revu:

1.From the Bluebeam Connection palette, click Publish PDF Documentation.

2.The Publish PDF dialog appears.

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3.From the Sets to publish drop-down, choose a Publisher Set.

You must choose a Publisher Set in which all items are in PDF format. If the set you choose includes items in other formats, the Publish button is grey and you cannot continue.

In this case, click Edit Set to open the Organizer, where you can set up a new Publisher Set and/or redefine Publisher Set items in PDF format.

4.Click Publish.

5.Forward the resulting PDF for markup in Bluebeam Revu.

Import Markups to ARCHICAD

Once the PDF has been marked up in Bluebeam Revu, import the markups onto the original ARCHICAD views:

1.From the Bluebeam Connection Palette: click Import Markups.

2.In the appearing Import Markup dialog box, set the File Type as PDF.

3.Browse for and select the marked up PDF file.

4.Click Options to open Markup Import Options.

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Import Markups: Set Options

In this dialog, define how the Bluebeam markups should appear in ARCHICAD.

Markup Style

Click the popup to choose a Markup Style for the imported markups.

To create or redefine Markup Styles, click the button to access the Markup Styles dialog box.

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Markup entries in ARCHICAD are displayed in a chosen Markup Style. A Style consists of two colors: for Corrections and for Highlights.

Markup Thread

Choose an option for how the imported markups should appear in the Markup Tools palette.

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Start New Markup Thread: The imported markup entries will constitute their own thread. (In the Markup Tools palette, you can sort entries by thread.)

Create Response to Selected Markup: This option is available if a markup entry is currently selected in the Markup Tools palette. Choose this to list the imported markup entries underneath the currently active entry, as sub-entries.

Tip: To create a separate “category” for the imported Markups, first create a new Markup entry in the Markup Palette, and give it a name (e.g. “Imported Markups from PDF”.) With this new entry selected, import the PDF markups, and use the “Create Response to…” option. The imported Markups will be listed under this Markup (use Sort by: Thread).

Attribute Conversion Options

Choose how to convert the fills, line types, fonts and layers of the markup items you are importing.

Fills

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/archicad-23-reference-guide/900_extratopics/BBMarkupFill.png 

Use Project’s Fill Types: No new Fill Types will be imported from the PDF. Any imported fills that have no counterpart in the project will be transformed into solid fills.

Import as Symbol Fill from PDF: A new vectorial fill attribute will be created in the project and used for imported fills. (For example: “60% PDF Solid Fill”)

Import as Image Fill from PDF: A new image fill attribute will be created for any fills, among the drawing primitives, which have no counterpart among the project’s attributes.

Note: If an image fill is generated, then this file is added to the project’s Embedded Library. If you are working in a Teamwork project, you must have the needed access right: Library Parts – Create.

Line Types

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/archicad-23-reference-guide/900_extratopics/BBMarkupLine.png 

Use Project’s Line Types: No new Line Types will be imported. Markup items are displayed using similar, existing ARCHICAD line types (e.g. solid, dashed, dotted). If a corresponding Line Type does not exist in the ARCHICAD project, a solid line is used.

Override with uniform Line Type: Choose one of the project’s Line Types. Imported markups will be displayed using this Line Type.

Import from PDF: Line Types of markup items are imported and added to the ARCHICAD project.

Text Font

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/archicad-23-reference-guide/900_extratopics/BBMarkupFont.png 

Override with uniform Font: Choose one of the project’s font types to display the imported markup text items.

Use available Fonts: Imported markup texts are displayed using similar fonts available in the ARCHICAD project.

Layer of Markup Items

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Single Layer from Project: Choose one of the project’s Layers. Imported markups will be placed on this Layer.

Import embedded Layers from PDF: Markup items will be placed on layers corresponding to their embedded layer assignment (if any) in the PDF source. Those embedded layers will be added to your ARCHICAD project.

After setting Markup Import Options, click OK to return to the Import Markup dialog.

Import Markups: Open File

1.From the Import Markup dialog, select the Bluebeam file to import. Click Open.

2.The Select Markups to Import dialog appears:

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/archicad-23-reference-guide/900_extratopics/BBSelectFilterMarkups.png 

3.Select the source documents in the PDF from which to import the markup elements.

4.Filter the markups as needed:

Skip duplicate Markups: Duplicate markups have already been imported to ARCHICAD, and they have not changed in the PDF since then. Check this to skip importing these duplicate markups.

Skip modified Markups. Modified markups have already been imported to ARCHICAD, but they were later modified in the PDF. Check this to skip importing these markups.

Skip unidentified Markups: Some markup applications do not assign unique IDs to the markup items. Thus, these markups cannot be identified as either new, duplicate or modified. (Not an issue with the Bluebeam Revu workflow.) Check this to skip importing these markups.

5.Click Import. An Info dialog appears:

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6.Click Open Report to see a summary of markups that have been added to the original ARCHICAD views, or click OK to skip the report.

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7.Navigate to the ARCHICAD views to see the imported markups.

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