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Assemble

Getting Started Guide

Assemble 1.5

Copyright © 2013 Assemble Systems. All rights reserved.

THIS DOCUMENT AND THE SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE FURNISHED UNDER AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF A LICENSE AGREEMENT OR A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN SUCH LICENSE AGREEMENT OR NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT, ASSEMBLE SYSTEMS PROVIDES THIS DOCUMENT AND THE SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN THIS DOCUMENT “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW DISCLAIMERS OF EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS; THEREFORE, THIS STATEMENT MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

This document and the software described in this document may not be lent, sold, or given away without the prior written permission of Assemble Systems, except as otherwise permitted by law. Except as expressly set forth in such license agreement or non-disclosure agreement, no part of this document or the software described in this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Assemble Systems. Some companies, names, and data in this document are used for illustration purposes and may not represent real companies, individuals, or data.

This document could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information herein. These changes may be incorporated in new editions of this document. Changes or improvements may be made to the software described in this document at any time.

U.S. Government Restricted Rights: If the software and documentation are being acquired by or on behalf of the U.S. Government or by a U.S. Government prime contractor or subcontractor (at any tier), in accordance with 48 C.F.R. 227.7202-4 (for Department of Defense (DOD) acquisitions) and 48 C.F.R. 2.101 and 12.212 (for non-DOD acquisitions), the government's rights in the software and documentation, including its rights to use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display or disclose the software or documentation, will be subject in all respects to the commercial license rights and restrictions provided in the license agreement.

Assemble is a trademark of Assemble Systems or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other company and product names mentioned are used only for identification purposes and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Contents

Assemble Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viiContacting Assemble Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viiConventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii

Chapter 1: Introduction to Assemble 1What is Assemble? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1How Assemble Helps You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Publish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Takeoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Compare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

How Assemble Helps Your Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Assemble Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Assemble and Autodesk Navisworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chapter 2: Exploring Assemble 5Publishing Your Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Opening Your Published Project in Assemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Working with Your Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Reviewing Model Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Organizing Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Editing Model Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Filtering Model Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Comparing Versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Exporting Data to Microsoft Excel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Creating a Search Set for Navisworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Chapter 3: Planning and Installing Assemble 17Licensing Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Checklist: Installing Assemble Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Getting Started Guide Contents iii

Technical Components and Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18General Requirements for All Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Assemble Server Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Database Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Assemble Publisher Add-in Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Web Client Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Port Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Encryption Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Installing Assemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Installing Assemble Publisher Add-in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Configuring Windows Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Uninstalling Assemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Upgrading Assemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Chapter 4: Planning and Installing Assemble (Hosted) 27Licensing Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Checklist: Installing Assemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Technical Components and Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Assemble Publisher Add-in Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Web Client Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Port Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Installing Assemble Publisher Add-in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Uninstalling Assemble Publisher Add-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Chapter 5: Configuring and Administering Assemble 33Creating an Assemble Administrator Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Using the Administration Dashboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Managing User Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Creating a User Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Updating a User Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Changing a User Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Deactivating a User Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Reactivating a User Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Managing the Assemble License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Chapter 6: Using Assemble 37Getting Familiar with Assemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Using the Assemble Workspace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

iv Contents Getting Started Guide

Working with Assemble Publisher Add-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Publishing a New Model to Assemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Publishing a Version of a Model to Assemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Adding a Server Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Editing a Server Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Working with Assemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Starting Assemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Using the Project Dashboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Creating a New Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Editing Project Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Opening an Assemble Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Working with Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Working with Model Versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Working with Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Configuring Views. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Conditioning Model Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Selecting and Editing Multiple Items. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Exporting a View to Microsoft Excel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Creating a Search Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Comparing Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Working with Project Archives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Archiving a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Viewing Archived Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Managing Project and User Security in Assemble. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Managing a Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Updating Your User Profile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Changing Your Password. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Understanding the Assemble Log Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Troubleshooting Assemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Trouble Viewing Pages in Assemble when Using Internet Explorer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Trouble Establishing a Connection to the Assemble Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Getting Started Guide Contents v

vi Chapter 2: Getting Started Guide

Assemble DocumentationAssemble documentation provides many resources to help you use the product:

Evaluation GuideProvides general information about the product and guides you through the trial and evaluation process.

Getting Started GuideProvides best practice and usage information for Assemble and Assemble Publisher Add-in. This guide defines terminology and provides the concepts and procedures you need to achieve the results you want.

HelpProvides context-sensitive information and step-by-step guidance for common tasks, as well as descriptions of each field on each window. The Help provides a comprehensive, integrated system that includes all the information from the guides, as well as additional information to help you get the most from this product. To display the Help, click Contents on the Help menu in the console.

Web SupportProvides additional solutions and information, such as tutorials, demos, and Knowledge Base articles. You can access these resources at www.assemblesystems.com/support.

Contacting Assemble SystemsPlease contact us with your questions and comments. We look forward to hearing from you. If you need assistance with an issue, please contact Technical Support. The Support Web site allows you to review the support policy and create a case to track an issue.

Telephone: 855-646-4868 (only in the United States and Canada)Email: [email protected] www.assemblesystems.com/supportWeb Site: www.assemblesystems.com

Getting Started Guide Assemble Documentation vii

http://www.assemblesystems.com/supportmailto:[email protected]://www.assemblesystems.com/supporthttp://www.assemblesystems.com

ConventionsAssemble documentation uses consistent conventions to help you identify items. The following table summarizes these conventions.

Convention Use

Bold • Window and menu items• Technical terms, when introduced

Italics • Book titles• Variable names• Emphasized words

Fixed Font • File and folder names• Commands and code examples• Text you must type• Text (output) displayed in the command-line interface

Blue • Links

> • Submenu selections, such as Generate Reports > All

Brackets, such as [value] • Optional parameters of a commandBraces, such as {value} • Required parameters of a commandLogical OR, such asvalue1 | value2

• Exclusive parameters. Choose one parameter.

viii Conventions Getting Started Guide

Getting Started Guide Chapter 1: Intr

1
Introduction to Assemble
Design and construction projects vary in size, scope, and complexity, and can last weeks, months, and even years. As projects grow in complexity and over time, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage the risk associated with schedules, materials, and information loss. Design and construction teams need the ability to coordinate project information among project team members, easily share and retrieve data with other applications, and feel confident in their projects’ progress.

What is Assemble?Assemble is a Building Information Modeling (BIM) software integration platform that brings together best-of-class BIM products to enable interoperability, visualization, and change management.

How Assemble Helps YouAssemble gives you the data that you need, in the form you need it. With Assemble, you can easily review project information and share information with other applications and individuals, thus reducing waste and rework.

PublishPublish embedded data from models of any size into a user-friendly format on your company’s secure web server in minutes, providing:

• Interoperability between AEC applications

• User-friendly access to building information

• Enhanced design control

• Better project management

oduction to Assemble 1

How Assemble Helps Your Project

TakeoffProduce construction-caliber takeoffs in a matter of minutes, not days or weeks.

• Eliminate manual takeoffs

• Eliminate digitizing from drawings

• Allow design teams to create estimates directly from the model

• Allow contractors to produce more estimates

CompareReal-time variance reporting allows you to quantify, analyze, and visualize differences between model iterations.

• Track changes between model iterations

• Reduce errors and re-work

• Track work-in-place

• Enhance design team collaboration

• Facilitate construction team subcontractor oversight

ReviewQuick-filtering functions let you view selections in the model and in tabular inventories, and data export capabilities enable visualization through Navisworks Search Sets.

• Enhanced visualization in all phases

• Quick visual review of model variance

How Assemble Helps Your ProjectAssemble integrates your design and construction project by connecting essential data and streamlining workflow processes.

The following is an example of how Assemble supports business processes by working with Autodesk Revit or AutoCAD, Autodesk Navisworks, and Microsoft Excel.

2 Chapter 1: Introduction to Assemble Getting Started Guide


Assemble WorkflowWorking with Assemble begins with creating a project, which is the highest level of organization in Assemble. A project can contain one or more models, and each model can have multiple versions. This ability to publish multiple models and versions gives you greater visibility into your project as it evolves and progresses through the design and construction phases.

Getting Started Guide Chapter 1: Introduction to Assemble 3


As the workflow diagram demonstrates, you begin by creating a project in Assemble. Then, in Autodesk Revit or AutoCAD, use the Assemble Publisher Add-in to send the extracted model data to Assemble, where you can use various tools to analyze, manage, and condition the data:

• Views

Views provide a way to configure, save, and reuse a specific arrangement of Groupings, Columns, Sorts and Filters on a model set.

• Group, Sort, and Filter

Group, sort, and filter functions let you arrange model data according to your own needs for analysis and review.

• Edit

Condition model data by adding and modifying type and instance properties. These abilities let you provide accurate information and perform estimating tasks.

• Compare

Assemble provides the ability to compare two versions of a model and highlight the differences so you can quickly identify the changes over time.

• Export

With the export function, you can save model data to Microsoft Excel for use with its analysis and reporting tools and for sharing with those who do not have access to Assemble.

Assemble and Autodesk NavisworksYou can view selected model components in Navisworks by creating search sets in Assemble and importing them into Navisworks. Search sets help you review types and instances, UniFormat structure, variances, scheduled tasks, system types, and the work breakdown.

4 Chapter 1: Introduction to Assemble Getting Started Guide

Getting Started Guide Chapter 2

2
Exploring Assemble
This section helps you understand the Assemble workflow by walking through an overview of the publishing and reviewing processes in the Assemble user interface. Exploring the workflow and Assemble features will help you understand how quickly and easily Assemble gives you control over the data you need, in the form that you need it.

Publishing Your Model Publishing model information is easy with the Assemble Publisher Add-in. The plug-in extracts data such as geometry, built-in parameters, and custom parameters in Autodesk Revit or AutoCAD and publishes that information to Assemble for analysis and management.

When you are ready to publish your model data, Assemble Publisher Add-In sends all of your model information directly to Assemble. A project can contain multiple models, and models can have multiple versions. The publishing process gives you the choice of creating a new model or publishing a new version to an existing model.

: Exploring Assemble 5

Publishing Your Model

As you add versions to a model, use the compare function in Assemble to look at version data side-by-side and perform variance reporting.

6 Chapter 2: Exploring Assemble Getting Started Guide

Opening Your Published Project in Assemble

Opening Your Published Project in AssembleAssemble is a web-based application, which means you can use your browser to access it anywhere you have an Internet connection. Open Assemble to view your project dashboard.

Locate your project, and click on the project card to open the project window. The project window view displays a list of models that have been published to the project, as well as a list of activities that you can perform.

Getting Started Guide Chapter 2: Exploring Assemble 7

Working with Your Model

Working with Your ModelSelect a model from the list. Assemble displays the available views (default and custom), as well as the versions that have been published for that model.



Reviewing Model DataWhen you select a version to review, Assemble displays the latest version of the model using the default Model Inventory view. Assemble uses an intelligent algorithm to determine which unit will be useful as an instance type, but all model data will be available to you.



When working in the view, click to expand the row and view the detailed information.

Organizing DataAssemble gives you the ability to group and sort information. In addition to default groups you have the option of creating your own. For example, you may want to group data by project phase, activity codes, or materials.

The following example creates a group named Material in which the grouping order is by material.



When the new group is applied, Assemble displays the information organized by materials:

Adding columns gives you more visibility into the model’s information. The following example adds columns for Unit Cost and Total Cost.



When the columns are applied, Assemble displays the additional columns in the view:

Editing Model DataAssemble lets you edit any parametric property, such as unit, cost, description, comments, and material. You can also use the edit window to change items and perform estimating tasks. Click on the instance name to open the editing panel.

When the unit cost is changed and saved in the editing pane, the Unit Cost and Total Cost columns automatically update to reflect the new values:



Filtering Model DataFilters are a useful way of searching for and displaying information according to specific criteria. For example, you might want to filter for walls that are greater than a particular height and width or exclude floors that are less than a specified area. Assemble applies filters at the instance level.

Applying the filter of Material is Glass displays the selection immediately, thus eliminating the need to expand every item and search for it manually.



Comparing VersionsA powerful feature of Assemble is its ability to compare two versions of model data and provide for variance reporting. Variance filtering in Assemble lets you view only the data that has changed (additions and deductions).

You can use filter, group, and sort data in model comparisons, and you can also export compared data to Microsoft Excel.



Exporting Data to Microsoft ExcelUse the export feature when you want to use Microsoft Excel to analyze the model data. You can also use this feature to share the model data with a colleague who does not have Assemble installed.

Assemble exports the model data to Microsoft Excel in a format similar to the data view.



Creating a Search Set for NavisworksIf you want to view selected model components in Autodesk Navisworks, create a search set based on a view and import it into Navisworks.

Save the search set, and then open it in Navisworks to review types and instances, UniFormat structure, variances, scheduled tasks, system types, and the work breakdown.


Getting Started Guide Chapter 3: Planning and

3
Planning and Installing Assemble
This section provides information about Assemble components, as well as supported configurations and Assemble requirements.

Licensing ConsiderationsAssemble Systems solutions are proprietary software applications, and your use of Assemble software is subject to the terms and conditions as outlined in the End User License Agreement.

The Assemble Server requires a license. By default, when Assemble is first installed, a Trial license is generated for 14 days and Unlimited users. During the Trial or after it expires, an Assemble administrator must apply a Subscription serial number to unlock the production license. Assemble Support will provide the Subscription serial number for a term subscription (typically annual) and an agreed upon number of users.

Note: Only Assemble administrators can access and apply a new license. An Assemble administrator can apply a new subscription license at any time, but all other functionality will be disabled if the trial or subscription expires. A message will appear within 14 days of expiration to indicate that a new license must be acquired. The Assemble administrator should contact Assemble Systems to obtain a subscription.

Installing Assemble 17

Checklist: Installing Assemble Components

Checklist: Installing Assemble ComponentsUse the following checklist to help you install Assemble components.

Task

1. Verify your environment meets the system requirements. For more information, see “Technical Components and Requirements” on page 18 .

2. If you are upgrading Assemble, back up the database.

3. Install or upgrade Assemble. For more information, see “Installing Assemble” on page 21 or “Upgrading Assemble” on page 26 .

4. Install Assemble Publisher Add-in on the client workstations where the supported Autodesk applications have been installed. For more information, see “Installing Assemble Publisher Add-in” on page 22 .

Technical Components and RequirementsThe Assemble solution installation includes the following components:

• Assemble Server

• Assemble Database

• Assemble Publisher Add-in

You can easily install Assemble in an environment that meets or exceeds these requirements.

General Requirements for All Components All Assemble components require Microsoft.NET Framework version 4.0 or later.

18 Chapter 3: Planning and Installing Assemble Getting Started Guide

Technical Components and Requirements

Assemble Server Requirements The Assemble Server requires the following configuration:

Requirement Minimum Value

CPU 32 or 64 bit (64 bit is recommended)2.0 GHz

Memory 4 GB

Operating Systems Windows Server 2008 R2Windows Server 2008Windows 7Windows Vista

Service Pack Latest Operating System Service Pack is recommended

Microsoft IIS 7.0 or higher

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0

Database Requirements The Assemble database requires the following configuration:


Database Version SQL Server 2008 R2SQL Server 2008SQL Server 2012

Service Pack Latest SQL Server Service Pack is recommended

Processor 32 or 64 bit (64 bit is recommended)2.0 GHz

Memory 4 GB

• Microsoft SQL Server may be installed on the same machine as the Assemble Server. In this case, a minimum of 8 GB of RAM is required.

• SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition is an option, but it is not recommended if you anticipate publishing and storing large models (i.e. models that are 50MB or larger). Managing large models on SQL Server Express can have an adverse affect on database performance.

• Disk space required will depend on your use of the product. We recommend at least 10 GB of free disk space.

Getting Started Guide Chapter 3: Planning and Installing Assemble 19


Assemble Publisher Add-in RequirementsAssemble Publisher Add-in requires the following client configuration:


Operating System Windows XP (32 or 64 bit) SP3Windows Vista (32 or 64 bit) SP2Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit) SP1 or higher

Autodesk AutoCAD applications AutoCAD Architecture and MEP 2012AutoCAD Architecture and MEP 2013

Autodesk Revit applications Autodesk Revit Architecture, MEP, and Structure 2012Autodesk Revit Architecture, MEP, and Structure 2013Autodesk Revit Viewer (optional)

Web Client RequirementsAssemble works with the following browsers:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 or higher (To use IE 8, you must install the Google Chrome Frame add-on.)

• Mozilla Firefox

• Google Chrome

• Safari Mobile (iPad only)

Viewing Pages in Assemble when Using Internet ExplorerIf you are using Internet Explorer to access Assemble within your local network, such as through an intranet, you may discover pages that do not display properly or links that do not work. Turning off Compatibility View may resolve this issue.

To disable Compatibility View

1. Make sure the Menu bar is visible in Internet Explorer. If the Menu bar is not visible, right-click on the Toolbar, and select Menu bar.

2. On the Tools menu, select Compatibility View Settings.

3. Uncheck the Display intranet sites in Compatibility View box. If this box is already unchecked, continue to step 4, and then contact your system administrator about the issues you are having with the browser.

4. Click Close.

If you continue to have issues with pages or links in Internet Explorer after adjusting this setting and you cannot use Firefox or Chrome, contact your system administrator. These issues might be related to network connectivity or network usage.


Installing Assemble

Port Requirements By default, the Assemble components use the following ports:

Port Component Purpose

80 Web client Assemble user interface

8089 (default) Assemble service Publishing data to the Assemble server

1433 and 1434 (default)

Assemble services The Assemble services communicate with SQL Server over the ports you specify for your SQL Server connection.

Encryption OptionsThe Assemble Publisher Add-in supports SSL encryption on hosted environments.

• If your organization hosts its own Assemble Publisher Service, contact Assemble support for more information about configuring SSL for the Assemble Server.

• Non-SSL can be disabled, forcing all users to use SSL. In this case the user will receive an error when attempting to connect with non-SSL.

• SSL can also be disabled on the Assemble Web Application, and non-SSL traffic can be redirected to SSL.

To connect to an Assemble Publisher Service that is hosted on SSL, use https as the prefix to your connection URL.

Installing AssembleThis section explains how to install the Assemble database and web services. Read this section before you install Assemble.

Note: To install Assemble, you must be a user who has Administrative permissions on the machine.

To install Assemble

1. Run the AssembleServer_.msi file in the Assemble installation package.

2. Review the welcome message, and then click Next.

3. Review the license agreement. If you agree to the terms of the agreement, click I Accept the terms in the license agreement, and click Next.

4. Specify the location of the installation directory, and then click Next. The default installation directory is \\Assemble Systems\Assemble.


Installing Assemble Publisher Add-in

5. Specify the SQL Server name and the name of the Assemble database that the installer will create. The default authentication method is Trusted (Windows Authentication).

If you are using Windows Authentication, see “Configuring Windows Authentication” on page 23 before continuing with the installation.

Note: The specified user will need CREATE DATABASE, TABLE, and SCHEMA permissions.

Click Next to continue.

6. Specify the database account that the Assemble web client will use to access the Assemble database. The default authentication method is Trusted (Windows Authentication). If you are using SQL Authentication, you will need to specify the username and password for the account. Click Next to continue.

7. Specify a web application port configuration, if necessary. The default port is 80. The web service port configuration is used to communicate with the Assemble Publisher Add-in and should not be modified. Click Next.

8. Click Install.

9. When the installation process has completed, click Finish.

Note: If the system encounters a problem during the installation process, Assemble displays an error message, performs a rollback, and provides the option of viewing a log file so you can diagnose the problem.

When you have completed the installation process, you will need to create an Assemble administrator account so you can create user profiles in the application. See “Creating an Assemble Administrator Account” on page 33 for more information.

Installing Assemble Publisher Add-inInstall Assemble Publisher Add-in on the client workstation where the supported Autodesk applications have been installed. Assemble Publisher Add-in is compatible with the following Autodesk components:

• Autodesk Revit Architecture, MEP, and Structure 2012


• Autodesk Revit Viewer

• AutoCAD MEP and Architecture 2012


To install Assemble Add-in

1. Log on as an administrator on the client workstation.

2. Double-click AssemblePublisherAddIns_v.msi to start the setup wizard.


Configuring Windows Authentication

3. In the Setup Wizard window, click Next.

4. Review the license agreement, and if you agree, select the option to accept the terms in the license agreement, and then click Next.

5. Specify the location of the installation directory, and then click Next. The default installation directory is C:\Program Files (x86)\Assemble Systems\Assemble\Add-Ins for 64-bit systems (C:\Program Files\Assemble Systems\Assemble\Add-Ins for 32-bit systems).

6. Click Install.


Configuring Windows AuthenticationIf you are using Windows Authentication to access the Assemble database, you must configure the run-time use of Windows Authentication so the Assemble services can access the database.

To configure the run-time use of Windows Authentication

1. Open Internet Information Services and locate the Application Pools.

2. In the list of Application Pools, right-click on Assemble, and select Advanced Settings.

3. In the Advanced Settings dialog, locate the Identity field. The default username will be ApplicationPoolIdentity (this name could be different per machine).

4. Click the ... button located to the right of the ApplicationPoolIdentity user. This allows you to set up the domain account that will have access to the database.


Configuring Windows Authentication

5. In the Application Pool Identity dialog, click Set, and then in the Set Credentials dialog, complete the User name, Password, and Confirm Password fields. Click OK.


Uninstalling Assemble

6. Return to the list of Application Pools, select Application.ICE, and repeat steps 2 - 5.

Uninstalling AssembleUninstalling an Assemble component removes the installation folder and registry entries for the component from the computer. To uninstall the database, please use SQL Enterprise Manager.

To uninstall an Assemble component

1. Close all Assemble user interfaces and other applications.

2. Open Control Panel, and then open Add or Remove Programs.

3. Select the Assemble component you want to uninstall.

4. Click Remove.

5. Click Yes to confirm you want to remove the Assemble component from your computer. Assemble removes the selected Assemble component.


Upgrading Assemble

Upgrading AssembleThis section explains how to upgrade your Assemble database and web services. Read this section before you upgrade Assemble.

Note: To upgrade Assemble, you must be a user who has Administrative permissions on the machine.

To upgrade Assemble

1. Run the AssembleServer_.msi file in the Assemble installation package.

2. Review the welcome message, and then click Next.

3. Review the license agreement. If you agree to the terms of the agreement, click I Accept the terms in the license agreement, and click Next.

4. Specify the location of the installation directory, and then click Next. The default installation directory is \\Assemble Systems\Assemble.

5. Specify the SQL Server name and the name of the Assemble database that the installer will use. Verify that the SQL server and database name are the same as the previous installation of Assemble. The default authentication method is Trusted (Windows Authentication).

If you are using Windows Authentication, see “Configuring Windows Authentication” on page 23 before continuing with the installation.

Note: The specified user will need CREATE DATABASE, TABLE, and SCHEMA permissions.

Click Next to continue.

6. Specify the database account that the Assemble web client will use to access the Assemble database. The default authentication method is Trusted (Windows Authentication). If you are using SQL Authentication, you will need to specify the username and password for the account. Click Next to continue.

7. Specify a web application port configuration, if necessary. The default port is 80. The web service port configuration is used to communicate with the Assemble Publisher Add-in and should not be modified. Click Next.

8. Click Install.


If the system encounters a problem during the installation process, Assemble displays an error message, performs a rollback, and provides the option of viewing a log file so you can diagnose the problem.


Getting Started Guide Chapter 4: Planning and Installing

4
Planning and Installing Assemble (Hosted)
This section provides information about planning and installing Assemble components for use in a hosted environment, such as when the Assemble Server is installed and supported by an external provider, such as Assemble Systems.

Licensing ConsiderationsAssemble Systems solutions are proprietary software applications, and your use of Assemble software is subject to the terms and conditions as outlined in the End User License Agreement.

The Assemble Server requires a license. By default, when Assemble is first installed, a Trial license is generated for 14 days and Unlimited users. During the Trial or after it expires, an Assemble administrator must apply a Subscription serial number to unlock the production license. Assemble Support will provide the Subscription serial number for a term subscription (typically annual) and an agreed upon number of users.

Note: Only Assemble administrators can access and apply a new license. An Assemble administrator can apply a new subscription license at any time, but all other functionality will be disabled if the trial or subscription expires. A message will appear within 14 days of expiration to indicate that a new license must be acquired. The Assemble administrator should contact Assemble Systems to obtain a subscription.

Assemble (Hosted) 27

Checklist: Installing Assemble

Checklist: Installing AssembleUse the following checklist to help you install Assemble components.

Task

1. Verify your environment meets system requirements. For more information, see “Technical Components and Requirements” on page 28 .

2. If you have installed a previous version of Assemble Publisher Add-in on your computer, uninstall it at this time. For more information, see “Uninstalling Assemble Publisher Add-in” on page 31 .

3. Install Assemble Publisher Add-in on the client workstations where the supported Autodesk applications have been installed. For more information, see “Installing Assemble Publisher Add-in” on page 30 .

Technical Components and RequirementsIf you have subscribed to a hosted Assemble solution, the installation requires the installation of the Assemble Publisher Add-in.

You can easily use Assemble in an environment that meets or exceeds these requirements.

Assemble Publisher Add-in RequirementsAssemble Publisher Add-in requires the following client configuration:


Operating System Windows XP (32 or 64 bit) SP3Windows Vista (32 or 64 bit) SP2Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit) SP1 or higher

Autodesk AutoCAD applications AutoCAD Architecture and MEP 2012AutoCAD Architecture and MEP 2013

Autodesk Revit applications Autodesk Revit Architecture, MEP, and Structure 2012Autodesk Revit Architecture, MEP, and Structure 2013Audodesk Revit Viewer

28 Chapter 4: Planning and Installing Assemble (Hosted) Getting Started Guide


Web Client RequirementsAssemble works with the following browsers:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 or higher (To use IE 8, you must install the Google Chrome Frame add-on.)

• Mozilla Firefox

• Google Chrome

• Safari Mobile (iPad only)

Viewing Pages in Assemble when Using Internet ExplorerFirefox and Chrome are the recommended browsers for using Assemble. If you are using Internet Explorer to access Assemble within your local network, such as through an intranet, you may discover pages that do not display properly or links that do not work. Turning off Compatibility View may resolve this issue.





4. Click Close.


Port Requirements By default, the Assemble components use the following ports:

Port Component Purpose

80 Web client Assemble user interface

443 (default) Web client and Assemble service Publishing data to the Assemble server

Getting Started Guide Chapter 4: Planning and Installing Assemble (Hosted) 29

Installing Assemble Publisher Add-in

Installing Assemble Publisher Add-inInstall Assemble Publisher Add-in on the client workstation where the supported Autodesk applications have been installed. Assemble Publisher Add-in is compatible with the following Autodesk Revit components:



• Autodesk Revit Viewer



To install Assemble Add-in

1. Log on as an administrator on the client workstation.

2. Double-click AssemblePublisherAddIns_v.msi to start the setup wizard.

3. In the Setup Wizard window, click Next.

4. Review the license agreement, and if you agree, select the option to accept the terms in the license agreement, and then click Next.

5. Specify the location of the installation directory, and then click Next. The default installation directory is C:\Program Files (x86)\Assemble Systems\Assemble\Add-Ins for 64-bit systems (C:\Program Files\Assemble Systems\Assemble\Add-Ins for 32-bit systems).

6. Click Install.



Uninstalling Assemble Publisher Add-in

Uninstalling Assemble Publisher Add-inBefore installing a new version of an Assemble Publisher Add-in component, you must uninstall previous versions of the component. Uninstalling Assemble Publisher Add-in removes the installation folder and registry entries for the component from the computer.

To uninstall Assemble Publisher Add-in

1. Close all Assemble user interfaces.

2. Open Control Panel, and then open Add or Remove Programs.

3. Select Assemble Publisher Add-in.

4. Click Remove.

5. Click Yes to confirm you want to remove the Assemble component from your computer. Assemble removes the selected Assemble component.

Getting Started Guide Chapter 4: Planning and Installing Assemble (Hosted) 31

Uninstalling Assemble Publisher Add-in


Getting Started Guide Chapter 5: Configuring and Adm

5
Configuring and Administering Assemble
This section helps you configure and administer Assemble after installation. For example, you will need to create an Assemble administrator account, and create and manage user accounts.

Creating an Assemble Administrator AccountThe Assemble administrator can create user accounts, determine which user accounts will be administrator accounts, and create projects. When you open Assemble in your browser for the first time after installation, Assemble will prompt you to create an administrator account.

Note: This section does not apply to hosted solutions.

To create the initial Assemble administrator account

1. Open Assemble in your web browser.

2. Complete the following fields:

• Name: Enter the administrator’s first and last name.

• Email: Enter the administrator’s email address.

• Password: Enter a password for the administrator (do not leave blank).

• Confirm Password: Re-enter the password.

3. Click Get Started.

After Assemble opens, navigate to the Administration dashboard and create user accounts.

inistering Assemble 33

Using the Administration Dashboard

Using the Administration DashboardThe Administration dashboard lets Assemble administrators create and manage user accounts. The Administration dashboard also provides access to the licensing area where an Assemble administrator can apply a subscription serial number and unlock a trial or expired license. Only users with administrative privileges have access to this dashboard.

Managing User AccountsThe Users page lists all of the user profiles that have been created in Assemble. Each user record displays the user’s name, email address, whether the user is an Administrator, and when the user last logged in to Assemble. On the Users page, you can perform the following tasks:

• Create a user profile

• Update a user profile

• Change a user password

• Deactivate a user profile

• Reactivate a user profile

Creating a User ProfileCreate a user profile for each individual who will use Assemble Publisher Add-in and Assemble.

To create a new user profile

1. Click Create a user.

2. In the Create a user window, complete the following fields:

• Name: Enter the user’s first and last name.

• Email: Enter the user’s email address.

• Password: Enter a password for the user (do not leave blank).

• Confirm Password: Re-enter the password.

• Administrator: Check this box to indicate whether the user is to have administrative privileges.

3. Click Save.

34 Chapter 5: Configuring and Administering Assemble Getting Started Guide


Updating a User ProfileFollow these steps if you need to update a user’s name or email address, or if you need to change a user’s administrator status.

To update a user profile

1. On the Users page, click on the user name.

2. In the user’s Profile window, update the Name, Email, and Administrator fields as needed.

3. Click Save.

Changing a User PasswordFollow these steps if you need to change a user’s password.

To change a user password

1. On the Users page, next to the user’s name, click Change Password.

2. In the Change password for username window, complete the Password and Confirm Password fields.

3. Click Save.

Deactivating a User ProfileWhen you deactivate a user account, the user is unable to access the system, but the user’s information remains in the system.

To deactivate a user

On the Users page, next to the user’s name, click Deactivate. Assemble displays a message that the account has been deactivated and dims the color of the record. The record will remain accessible should you need to change the user’s profile information or reactivate it.

Reactivating a User ProfileWhen you reactivate a user account, the user regains access to the system. For security purposes, it is highly recommended that you change the user’s password when you reactivate his or her account.

To reactivate a user

On the Users page, next to the user’s name, click Activate. Assemble displays a message that the account has been reactivated and reinstates the record.

Getting Started Guide Chapter 5: Configuring and Administering Assemble 35


Managing the Assemble LicenseBy default, when Assemble is first installed, a Trial license is generated for 14 days and Unlimited users. During the Trial or after it expires, an Assemble administrator must apply a Subscription serial number to unlock the production license. Assemble Support will provide the Subscription serial number for a term subscription (typically annual) and an agreed upon number of users.

Note: A message will appear within 14 days of expiration to indicate that a new license must be acquired.

To apply a serial number

1. On the Administration page, click Licensing.

2. Click Enter New License.

3. Complete the Serial Number field.

4. Click Submit License.

36 Chapter 5: Configuring and Administering Assemble Getting Started Guide

Getting Started Guide Chapte

6
Using Assemble
This section helps you become familiar with the Assemble workspace, workflow, model data, and tasks.

Getting Familiar with Assemble The Assemble dashboard provides the ability to create, view, and manage projects. In addition, you can view archived projects and manage your Assemble profile. A project is the highest level of organization in Assemble. A project can contain one or more models, and each model can have multiple versions. A view presents information about a version.

In Assemble, a model is a drawing or design of a structure. A model version is a copy of that same drawing or design that has been modified in some way. For example, a project may have an MEP model with a version of the electrical plans and versions of the mechanical plans. A different model in the project may be of the architectural plans, and this model could have multiple versions of the architectural model showing different proposed interior designs.

r 6: Using Assemble 37

Getting Familiar with Assemble

Using the Assemble WorkspaceEach project has a workspace, where you work with models and views. The following is an example of the Assemble dashboard for projects:

Project, model, and view windows use a similar layout. The following is an example of the project window:

38 Chapter 6: Using Assemble Getting Started Guide

Getting Familiar with Assemble

After you select a model, Assemble displays a list of available versions and views for the model. Select a version to begin working with the model data.

The following is an example of a model view. After you select a version, you can select a view (default or custom) and display detailed model information.

Getting Started Guide Chapter 6: Using Assemble 39

Working with Assemble Publisher Add-in

Working with Assemble Publisher Add-inAssemble Publisher Add-in is a plug-in that takes geometry, parameters, and custom parameters in the supported Autodesk applications and publishes that information to Assemble for analysis and management.

Publishing a New Model to AssembleAfter building a model in a supported Autodesk application, you can publish data about that model (e.g., material items, quantities, usage) to a project in Assemble.

Note: You can publish models only to existing projects in Assemble. See “Creating a New Project” on page 43 for more information.

To publish data for a new model

1. Open the model in the Autodesk application.

2. On the menu bar, click Assemble.

3. On the Assemble toolbar, click Publish Model to Assemble.

Note: If the Publish Model to Assemble button is not active, select the default, 3D view of the project to activate the button.

4. Complete the information in the Assemble - Publish Model window:

• Assemble Server: Select the server where the inventory model projects are stored. If this is the first time you are using Assemble Add-in, see “Adding a Server Configuration” on page 41 .

• Projects: Expand the list of models, and click Create a New Model. Enter a Name and Description, and click Save.

Note: If you do not see your model after publishing it, click Refresh Projects.

5. To close the Publish Model window when you are done, click Done.

Publishing a Version of a Model to AssembleAfter modifying or updating a model in a supported Autodesk application, you can publish the updated version to its project in Assemble where you can view the data and also create variance reports that compare the new data to previous versions.

Note: In situations where the model has more than one specified design option, the Primary selection is the only option that is published.

Note: You can publish models only to existing projects in Assemble. See “Creating a New Project” on page 43 for more information.



To publish a version of a model

1. Open the model in the Autodesk application.

2. On the menu bar, click Assemble.

3. On the Assemble toolbar, click Publish Model to Assemble.

Note: If the Publish Model to Assemble button is not active, select the default, 3D view of the project to activate the button.

4. Complete the information in the Assemble - Publish Model window:

• Assemble Server: Select the server where the inventory model projects are stored. If this is the first time you are using Assemble Add-in, see “Adding a Server Configuration” on page 41 .

• Projects: Expand the list of models. Select the model, and click Publish. In the Publish Model Version window, add comments about the version, and click Publish.

Note: If you do not see your model after publishing it, click Refresh Projects.

5. To close the Publish Model window when you are done, click Done.

Adding a Server ConfigurationThe Assemble Server must be configured in Assemble Add-in so Assemble and Revit can share information.

To add a server configuration

1. In the Publish Model window, click Add Configuration.

2. Complete the fields in the Configure Connections window.

• Assemble Server: Enter servername:portnumber to indicate the server name where the Assemble database is installed. The default port number is 8089.

Note: For hosted solutions using SSL, enter https://api-servername.tryassemble.com.

• Email: Enter the email address you use to log in to Assemble.

• Password: Enter your Assemble password.

3. Click Test to verify the settings work. If the settings do not pass the test, check for the following reasons:

• A deactivated user account (verify the user account is active)

• Invalid username or password (enter the username and password again)

• Incorrect server name, port number, or web address (verify the server name port number, or web address)



4. Click Test again. If the test works, click Save.

Note: If the settings do not pass, contact your system administrator. If this is a hosted solution, contact Assemble support.

5. Follow the steps in “Publishing a New Model to Assemble” on page 40 or click Done.

Editing a Server ConfigurationA server configuration may need to be updated if its information changes, such as the server name, or your user information, such as your email address or password.

To edit a server configuration

1. In the Publish Model window, click Edit Configuration.

2. Update the fields in the Configure Connections window as needed.

• Assemble Server: Enter servername:portnumber to indicate the server name where the Assemble database is installed. The default port number is 8089.

Note: For hosted solutions using SSL, enter https://api-servername.tryassemble.com.

• Email: Enter the email address you use to log in to Assemble.

• Password: Enter your Assemble password.

3. Click Test to verify the settings work. If the settings do not pass the test, check for the following reasons:

• A deactivated user account (verify the user account is active)

• Invalid username or password (enter the username and password again)

• Incorrect server name and port number (verify the server name and port number)

4. Click Test again. If the test works, click Save.

Note: If the settings do not pass, contact your system administrator. If this is a hosted solution, contact Assemble support.

5. Follow the steps in “Publishing a New Model to Assemble” on page 40 or click Cancel.


Working with Assemble

Working with AssembleIn Assemble, projects store model information, including versions and activity (project history). The project dashboard displays active projects and provides access to archived projects.

Starting AssembleStart Assemble by navigating to the web address provided by your Assemble administrator.

Using the Project DashboardThe project dashboard arranges projects on cards, which display project information such as the project name, job code, and so on. On the dashboard, you can create a new project, edit project information, or select a project to work with its models. Before using Assemble Add-in to publish a model to Assemble, confirm your project is active or create a new project.

Creating a New ProjectCreate a new project and set up initial project information before using Assemble Publisher Add-in to publish a model from a supported Autodesk application.

To create a new project

1. Click Create a project or the Create a project card.

2. In the Create a project window, complete the following fields:

• Name: Enter a name for the project.

• Job Code: Enter the job code for the project.

• Description: Enter information about the project.

• Image: Browse to the location of the image used to represent the project, and upload the image.

Note: The maximum size of the image file that you can attach to the project card is 4 MB.

• Card Color: Select a color to represent the project.

3. Click Create.


Working with Models

Editing Project SettingsThroughout the course of a project, you may need to update project information displayed on the project card.

To edit project settings

1. On the project information page, click Edit.

2. In the Edit window, update the fields as needed.

3. Click Save.

Opening an Assemble ProjectAssemble projects appear on the dashboard in the order in which they were created, from oldest to most recent.

To open a project

In the Projects dashboard, click a project card. After you open a project, Assemble displays a list of models in the project workspace.

Working with Models A project can store multiple models, and each model can have multiple versions. When you open a project, the project window displays the list of available models. In this window, you can open a model and delete models.

To open a model

In the Models list, click a model name. Assemble displays a list of versions available for the model.

To delete a model

1. In the Models area, click Manage. Assemble displays Delete next to the names of models that can be deleted.

2. Click Delete.

3. When Assemble asks you to confirm whether you want to delete the model, click Yes, Delete.


Working with Models

Working with Model VersionsThe Model Versions window displays the available views (default and custom), as well as the versions that have been published for that model. Here, you can edit model information, select a version to review, edit version information, or delete a version.

To edit model information

1. On the model information page, click Edit (in the header row with the model name).

2. In the Edit Model window, modify the Name and Description fields as needed.

3. Click Save.

To select a version to review

Click on the version name.

To edit version information

1. For the version you want to modify, click the pencil icon on the version card.

2. In the Edit Model Version window, modify the Name and Comments fields as needed.

3. Click Save.

To delete a version

1. For the version you want to delete, click Delete.

2. When Assemble asks you to confirm whether you want to delete the model version, click Yes, Delete.

Note: If views have been created that are linked to that model version, those views will be deleted as well.

Working with ViewsViews are used to review and analyze model information and give you the ability to sort, filter, and add or remove data. Once you have customized a view to display the information you need, you can save that view for future use. You can also import views that have been created in other models. In addition, Assemble provides the ability to export views, as well as create search sets for Navisworks.

The views list contains default and custom views. Each custom view has a slide-out menu (as illustrated by the following) that provides the ability to rename, delete, or refresh the view.


Working with Models

To import a view

1. In the Views area, click Import. Assemble displays the Import Views window.

2. Navigate the list of existing models to locate the project and model that contains the view or views you want to import (click the expand button, if necessary).

3. Check the box of each view you want to select.

4. Click Import.

To rename a custom view

1. In the Views area, move the cursor over the slide-out menu (wrench icon), and select Rename.

2. Enter a new name for the view, and click Save.

To delete a custom view

1. In the Views area, move the cursor over the slide-out menu (wrench icon), and select Delete.

2. When Assemble asks you to confirm whether you want to delete the view, click Yes, Delete.

To update a view

In the Views area, move the cursor over the slide-out menu (wrench icon), and select Update.

Note: Use Update to save changes made to a view, such as applied filters or added columns.

Excluded Categories and Compound SystemsThe model data extracted from a supported Autodesk application includes model objects and quantities that are used for estimating, forecasting, reporting, and so on. The data also includes container categories, such as duct systems. Because the values held by container categories are not used in the calculation processes, these values are filtered out of the Model Inventory view and other views and will not affect the quantities in the views. The data may be needed for other types of reporting, thus they are not excluded from the publishing process entirely.

Summed ValuesSome model components yield useful information when added together (e.g., total square footage for walls on a specific floor), while other components do not need to be summed. As a rule, Assemble sums the details that are useful and identifies those values with bold text. By providing only useful data from a model, Assemble attempts to address some special cases automatically.


Working with Models

Some instance level items in a model may be a combination of several independent components (e.g., compound systems). Because these items may result in misleading summations, Assemble attempts to convert relevant instance item subcomponents into type-like items so the calculations render correctly. The following is an example of how the count of doors on a specific level sum up to a single value (the bolded 2), while the height for each door does not. The height remains at 7 feet.

Additionally, you may see text strings that are bolded. This is possible when the subcomponents have the same string for the chosen property.

Empty CellsWhen you open a model, not every cell may display a value. Assemble typically displays values at the Instance level and occasionally when the subvalues for a row cannot be summed into a single representation. As a general rule, a quantity column should provide summed data, but this is not always possible. The Unit Cost, Total Cost, and Count values can always be summed and may therefore appear at row levels not typically populated with summed values.

Expanding a row that displays empty cells by default will result in the appearance of the contained values.

When a column contains values of differing Units of measure, the summary cells will be empty. However, for columns added by the user, multiple subvalues are indicated with a user symbol instead, as shown below.


Working with Models

Configuring ViewsViews display model data in a grid, summarized by groups. Assemble provides several options for configuring how the views present data for analysis and review:

• Expand and collapse groups

• Select which columns display

• Group the data

• Sort data

• Filter data

Expanding and Collapsing Groups Expanding and collapsing groups displays various levels of detail in the Assemble grid.

Button Description

Expands the selected row to display the next nested row.

Expand Expands the levels in the view to display the next set of nested levels.

Collapses the selected row.

Collapse Collapses (hides) the nested levels.

Note: Assemble automatically sizes columns to match the width of the content. To resize the columns, click and drag the column-separator in the header row until the column is the desired width.


Working with Models

Selecting Columns to DisplayUse the Add/Remove Columns function to select columns for use in the Assemble view grid.

To select columns

1. Click Add/Remove Columns.

2. To add a column, click a column name in the Available columns list.

3. To remove a column, click x next to the column name in the Selected columns list.

4. Click Apply.

Grouping DataGroups organize and display data in a view, and multiple properties within a group are nested. You can use any of the available properties to group the data in the grid. The following is an example of the Model Inventory view with information grouped by Material.

Note: When you select a predefined view, the default group is None. When you select a custom view, the default group is the group used to create that view.

To display data in groups

1. Click Group By.

2. Select a group name.


Working with Models

Creating a GroupWhen you create a group, that group becomes available for use with other views and other projects as long as the other views and projects have the same properties.

If you apply a group to a project that does not use those properties, Assemble displays 'groupname' grouping is not compatible with this model version, where groupname is the name of the group.

To create a group

1. Click Group By.

2. Select Create.

3. Complete the Name field.

4. Select the properties to use for grouping. To remove an item from the Group by order list, click x next to the item’s name.

Note: Groups present information in a hierarchy, therefore the order in which you select the properties is important.

5. Click Create.

To edit a group

Note: The Edit feature is available only when you have applied a grouping to a view.

1. Click Group By and select the group name you want to edit.

2. Click Group By again, and then select Edit Group.

3. In the Edit Group window:

• Modify the Group Name field, if necessary.

• Select the properties to use for grouping. To remove an item from the Group by order list, click x next to the item’s name.

Note: Groups present information in a hierarchy, therefore the order in which you select the properties is important.

4. Click Save.

Sorting Data by ColumnAssemble allows you to sort the data by any of the columns displayed in the grid.

To sort the data by column

Click a column heading to sort the data by that column. The arrow next to the column heading indicates whether the data is sorted in ascending or descending order.


Working with Models

Filtering Data Use filters to display information according to specific criteria. The Smart Filters incorporate two sets of contextual functionality: the available filter fields and values are contextual to the current data set and the filtering behavior (e.g., AND, OR) depends on the filters working together as a whole. For example, you might want to filter for walls that are greater than a particular height and width or exclude floors that are less than a specified area. Assemble applies filters at the instance level to the data set currently displayed.

If you create multiple filters in a view, Assemble processes the filter statements as though they are joined by and. The following is an example of how Assemble filters the data to display only those records with a category of floors and an area greater than 500 square feet.

To create a filter

1. In the Filter instances by area, select a field.

2. Select an operator. If the category requires a numeric value, the operator list includes !=, =. If the category requires a string (text) value, the operator list includes is, is not, like, and not like..

Operator Description

!= does not equal

< is less than

is greater than

>= is greater than or equal to

is matches exactly

is not does not match

like is similar to (or contains)

not like is not similar to (or does not contain)


Working with Models

3. Complete the criteria. If you selected a field that requires a numeric value, enter that value, and press Enter.

If you selected a field that requires a string value, Assemble provides a list of options. Select a value, and click Search.

4. To add another filter statement, click Add a filter.

5. Press Enter.

Note: Assemble rounds numeric values displayed in the grid but stores true values in the system. For example, Assemble stores 8.125 in the system but displays 8.13 on the grid. When you build a filter to search for a numeric value, use the value that is stored in Assemble.

Deleting a FilterFilters are useful when you want to narrow the scope of information displayed in the grid, but you may find it necessary to remove a filter.

To delete a filter

Click X in the filter statement.

Saving a ViewIf you customize a view by changing the group or filtering data, you can save that view for future use.

To save the customized view

1. Click Save current view.

2. Complete the View Name field.

3. Click Add.

Note: After you save a view, it is available for use only with the model and version for which it has been created.

Deleting a ViewUser-configured views can be deleted, but default views, such as the Model Inventory view, cannot be deleted from Assemble.

To delete a view

1. In the Views area, move the cursor over the wrench icon, and select Delete.

2. When Assemble asks you to confirm whether you want to delete the view, click Yes, Delete.


Working with Models

Conditioning Model DataThe ability to condition model data lets you add information that is missing or correct inaccurate information. This feature also lets you edit items and perform estimating tasks.

Note: Properties can be edited only at the Type and Instance levels.

Note: If you edit items for the purpose of estimating, it is recommended that you add the Unit Cost and Total Cost columns. See “Selecting Columns to Display” on page 49 .

To condition model data

1. Click the category or type that you want to edit.

2. In the editing pane, add information or modify fields as necessary.

3. Click Save.

Selecting and Editing Multiple ItemsThe checkbox next to each element in the view lets you select multiple items and view a total in the summation bar or select multiple items to edit at once.

The following is an example of selecting multiple items and a total displayed in the summation bar.

Note: The quantity sum (total) displays only if the items have the same unit of measure.


Working with Models

To edit multiple items at once

1. Check the boxes of the items you want to edit.

2. Click Show/Hide Details to open the editing pane.

Note: The editing pane displays properties that are common to the items you have selected. For example, if you select floors and walls, Assemble may allow only the Quantity property to be edited.

3. Modify the fields as necessary.

4. Click Save.

Exporting a View to Microsoft ExcelAssemble gives you the ability to export the view to a Microsoft Excel file so you can share the model data with a colleague who does not have Assemble installed. You can also use this feature when you want to use Microsoft Excel to analyze the model data.

To export to Microsoft Excel

1. In the Export to area, click Microsoft Excel.

2. Assemble generates a default file name named using the Project Name - Model Name - Version - View - DateTime. Change the file name if desired.

3. Leave the Instances box checked to export the instances.

4. Click Export.

Creating a Search SetSearch sets are based on the current view and are used to export Assemble data for use in Autodesk Navisworks, a powerful tool for graphical analysis and model visualization.

To create a search set

1. In the Export to area, click Navisworks Search Set. Assemble creates the .xml export file and, depending on the browser you are using, saves the file or prompts you to open or save the file.

2. Assemble generates a default file name named using the Project Name - Model Name - Version - View - DateTime. Change the file name if desired.

3. Leave the Instances box checked to export the instances.

4. Click Export.

5. When you are ready, use the Navisworks Import option to import the search set into Navisworks Manage or Navisworks Freedom.


Working with Models

Comparing ModelsAssemble provides the ability to compare two versions of a model and review the differences between the two. You can use filter, group, and sort data in model comparisons, and you can also export compared data to Microsoft Excel.

Note: The compare function is available only when two or more versions have been published to a model. When Assemble performs a comparison, the first model version opened is considered the master or primary model. If there are differences in quantity measures, Assemble adapts the secondary model to the settings of the primary model. This can cause some types or instances to appear to have changed default takeoff value. That change is only valid when looking at the comparison. Understanding which model is the primary version gives you more control over which way the conversions happen.

When displaying model comparisons, Assemble uses color to indicate variances in the data:

• Red text indicates deductions.

• Green text indicates additions.

• Black text indicates data that has remained consistent or unchanged.

To compare two versions of a model

1. Click compare to. By default, Assemble selects the previous version to use as the comparison model. To select a different version, select a version from the compared to list.

Note: After you select a version for comparison, Assemble displays Only show changes in the Filter area. Check this box to display only the additions and deductions.

2. To change the model versions being compared, select a version from each version list. For example, as shown below, you would select a new version from the Added four walls list (the primary model) and from the Updated list (the secondary model).


Working with Project Archives

Working with Project ArchivesThe Project Archives store projects that have been completed. Only archived projects can be deleted.

Archiving a ProjectAfter you archive a project, project and model information will not be available (visible) to Assemble Publisher Add-in.

To archive a project

On the project card, click the gear link, and select Archive.

Viewing Archived ProjectsIf you are assigned as a team member on an archived project, you can view project information at any time, but you cannot modify project settings or publish models to the projects.

To view archived projects

In the Projects dashboard, click Archived Projects.

To unarchive a project

1. Open the Archived Projects dashboard.

2. On the project card, click the gear link, and select Unarchive.

To delete a project

1. Open the Archived Projects dashboard.

2. On the project card, click the gear link, and select Delete.

3. When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the project, click Yes, Delete.


Managing Project and User Security in Assemble

Managing Project and User Security in AssembleYour Assemble user account is categorized as a Project Administrator or Team Member.

• Only Assemble Administrators can create and delete projects.

• Project Administrators can modify project information, as well as add and remove Team Members from a project.

• Team Members have access to current and archived project to which they are specifically assigned.

• A user can have Team Member privileges on one project and Project Administrator privileges on another.

The following matrix demonstrates the functions that are available to each role:

Assemble Admin Project Admin Team Member

Create Project X

Edit Project Properties X X

Edit Mode/Version Details X X X

Archive Project X X

Delete Project X

Delete Project Models X X X

Delete Project Model Versions X X X

Add/Remove Project Members X X

Change Project Member Status X X

Managing a TeamProject Administrators can manage teams by adding and removing users.

To assign a project member to a team

1. On the project window, in Team Members area, click Manage.

2. Click Add a user, and select a user’s name from the list.

3. Select a role for the user.

To remove a project member from a team

1. On the project window, in Team Members area, click Manage.

2. Click Remove next to the user’s role.


Understanding the Assemble Log Files

Updating Your User ProfileYour Assemble user profile is your full name and email address. The Assemble administrator creates your profile before you can use the system, but you can update this information if necessary.

To update your user profile

1. Click your user name on the dashboard menu, and select Account.

2. Update the Name and Email fields, as needed.

3. Click Save.

Changing Your PasswordIt is recommended that you change your password on a regular basis.

To change your password

1. Click your user name on the dashboard menu, and select Account.

2. Select Change Password.

3. Complete the Password and Confirm Password fields.

4. Click Change Password.

5. Click Projects on the dashboard menu when you are finished.

Understanding the Assemble Log FilesAssemble creates log files that contain additional information about errors encountered while using Assemble Add-in or Assemble. This information is helpful if you need to contact Assemble Systems Technical Support for assistance.

You can find the Assemble Add-in log files in these locations:

• Windows 7, Vista and Server 2008

C:\Users\[logged in user]\AppData\Local\Assemble\Revit Plugin\logs• Windows XP and Server 2003

c:\documents and settings\[logged in user]\AppData\Local\Assemble\Revit Plugin\logs

You can find the Assemble Web Server log file in this location:

http://[server name]/elmah.axdfor example: http://asm-ci.sp2000/elmah.axd


Troubleshooting Assemble

You can find the Assemble Service log file in this location:

(web application directory) \Public\Logs\NLogThe default server listening logs on ports 80 and 8089 are in this location:

C:\inetpub\Assemble\Development\Public\Logs\NLogIn this directory, you'll find daily log files in the format yyyy-mm-dd.txt. Note: The other folders inside c:\Assemble.ICE are for each of the other Assemble

installations, listening on different ports.

Troubleshooting AssembleThis section helps you troubleshoot issues related to the following Assemble issues:

• Trouble viewing pages in Assemble when using Internet Explorer 9

• Trouble when establishing a connection to the Assemble server in a hosted environment

Trouble Viewing Pages in Assemble when Using Internet ExplorerFirefox and Chrome are the recommended browsers for using Assemble. If you are using Internet Explorer to access Assemble within your local network, such as through an intranet, you may discover pages that do not display properly or links that do not work. Turning off Compatibility View may resolve this issue.

Note: Internet Explorer 8 recommends the use of the Google Chrome Frame plug-in.





4. Click Close.


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