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Getting Started with VIM Cloud

The VIM Cloud platform enables you to generate and view detailed building information modeling (BIM) reports from VIM files using Microsoft Power BI.

To get started, you will need to create a VIM file or have access to Revit projects on Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC). You can create VIM files from local Autodesk Revit projects, from local IFC files, or you can create VIM files directly from ACC projects.

You can use the provided sample Power BI template to generate reports, or you can upload your own custom templates. The sample template contains over 35 different pre-configured Power BI report pages, including various level, mesh, material, and parameter audits.

VIM Cloud also enables you to view rendered VIM files and explore the related BIM data in the WebGL Viewer.

VIM Cloud

Step 1: Sign up and sign in to VIM Cloud​

You will first need to sign up and then sign in to VIM Cloud. From your VIM Cloud account, you can download and install the VIM for Windows software.

  1. In the VIM Sign In dialog, click on Create an account.
    Create account
  2. In the Create your account dialog, type your Email Address and then click Verify Email. A verification code will be sent to your email address.
  3. In the Create your account dialog, verify your Email Address is correct, type the Verification Code that was sent to your email account, and then click Verify Code.
  4. In the Create your account dialog, type a New Password, type your password again in the Confirm New Password field, and then click Create.

Step 2: Download and install VIM for Windows​

The VIM for Windows software is required to create VIM files from Revit or from IFC files, and includes the following applications:

  • VIM for Revit — A plugin for Autodesk Revit. A VIM menu item is added to Revit, enabling you to export VIM files. See Creating VIM Files from Revit.
  • IFC to VIM — A small standalone application that converts IFC files to VIM files. See Creating VIM Files from IFC Files.
  • VIM Desktop — Enables you to open and view VIM files. You can view the fully-rendered 3D project, and explore the building information modeling (BIM) data and 3D mesh data. See Getting Started with VIM Desktop.
  1. Sign in to your VIM Cloud account.
  2. On the VIM Cloud dashboard, click the Profile icon at the top-right and choose Install VIM for Windows from the drop-down menu.
    Install VIM Desktop
  3. In your Windows Downloads folder, double-click on the VIM-Setup-vx.x.xx.exe file to install VIM Desktop.

From the VIM Cloud Profile icon, you can also download VIM for 3ds Max, which enables you to import VIM files into 3ds Max for rendering workflows.

Step 3: Add the VIM Cloud App as an ACC Custom Integration​

This step is only required if you intend to use Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) as a project source for VIM Cloud.

To create ACC projects, you will need to add the VIM Cloud app as a custom integration.

NOTE: The VIM Cloud ACC app uses Autodesk's Design Automation services, so you will need Autodesk Flex Tokens to use VIM Cloud with ACC.

  1. Log on to Autodesk Construction Cloud.
  2. On the ACC welcome page, click on Account Admin in the top-left corner.
  3. In the left panel, click on Custom Integrations.
  4. On the Custom integrations page, click on Add custom integration.
  5. In the Add custom integration dialog, in the Autodesk Platform Services Client ID field, copy and paste the following string: 
    LTRZYsP3ft9pQGTtHbAcBnK2imsLN6L1nm1gAAlwNH7GGBmt
    Add Custom INtegration
  6. Type a name in the Custom integration name field, and add a Description if desired.
  7. At the bottom of the Add custom integration dialog and click Add. A message appears saying the app has been added.

Step 4: Create a VIM file​

A VIM file is required to create VIM Cloud projects and generate Power BI reports.

Manual projects require you to create a VIM file from a local Revit project or a local IFC file. See Creating VIM Files from Revit or Creating VIM Files from IFC Files.

With ACC projects, VIM files are created automatically from linked Revit projects on Autodesk Construction Cloud. Before you can create a project, you must configure VIM Cloud as a custom integration on ACC. When you create an ACC project, you will be prompted to sign in to your account.

Creating VIM Cloud Projects
Working with Templates
Working with VIM Files