Layer Mapping

Customize Rhino layers from Revit exports

When exporting from Revit with RAY, Rhino layers are created automatically based on Revit element properties. To customize how elements are organized, you can define your own mapping file.

Creating a mapping file

By default, RAY looks for the mapping file at:

C:\ProgramData\Beam\Mapping.txt

The mapping file is a plain text (.txt) file.

The file has two parts:

  1. First line: the pattern used to build layer names.

  2. Following lines: category conversion pairs that replace {Category} with custom text.

The pattern line

The first line of the file defines the layer naming pattern.

A pattern can include:

  • Free text → literal text that will appear as written

  • Keywords → placeholders in {braces} replaced with Revit values

  • :: → creates a new Rhino sublayer

Supported keywords

  • {Project} – the Revit project name

  • {Category} – the Revit category of the element (e.g. Walls, Floors)

  • {Subcategory} – the subcategory of the element (e.g. <Hidden Lines>, Glass)

  • {Family} – the family name of the element

  • {FamilyAndType} – the family name combined with the type name

  • {Type} – the type name of the element

  • {Workset} – the workset assigned to the element

  • {Material} – the material assigned to the element

for example

3D_Revit::{Category}::Type_{Type}

After the pattern line, you can override how {Category} prints by adding category conversion lines.

RevitCategory=ReplacementText

fo example

Walls=MKS_WALL_

Lines in the mapping file that start with # are treated as comments and ignored during export.

Example Mapping File

# Pattern line – defines the overall structure
3D_Revit::{Category}::Type_{Type}

# Category conversions – override {Category} keyword
Casework=MKS_CASEWORK_
Ceilings=MKS_CEILING_
Columns=MKS_COLUMN_
Doors=MKS_DOOR_
Floors=MKS_FLOOR_
Furniture=MKS_FURNITURE_
#Furniture Systems
Ramps=MKS_RAMPS_
Railings=MKS_RAILING_
Roofs=MKS_ROOF_
Mullions=MKS_MULLION_
Windows=MKS_WINDOW_
Walls=MKS_WALL_
Stairs=MKS_STAIR_
Curtain Panels=MKS_CURPANEL_
Generic Model=MKS_GENMODEL_
#Electrical Equipment
#Electrical Fixtures
Entourage=MKS_ENTOURAGE_
Lighting Features=MKS_LIGHTINGFIX_
Mass=MKS_MASS_
Structural Framing=MKS_STRFRAMING_
#Structural Stiffeners
Mechanical Equipment=MKS_MECHANICALEQU_
Parking=MKS_PARKING_
Planting=MKS_PLANTING_
Plumbing Fixtures=MKS_PLUMBINGFIX_
Topography=MKS_TOPOGRAPHY_
Specialty Equipment=MKS_SPECIALITYEQU_
#Structural Connections

# End of mapping file
PreviousRAYNextDynamo®

Last updated