The MLabs Revit Export Import Excel add-in delivers an enterprise-grade BIM data management suite for Autodesk Revit. Whether you need high-fidelity spreadsheet reporting, bi-directional parameter synchronisation, family formula calculation, or automated sheet production, this solution provides complete control over your Revit export import Excel workflow across Revit 2020 through Revit 2027.

1. Excel ⇄ Schedules

The Excel ⇄ Schedules suite delivers high-precision export of Revit schedules to Excel and seamless import of Excel spreadsheets directly into Revit schedule headers, preserving visual formatting without corrupting BIM model parameters.

1.1. To Excel

Quickly export one or multiple Revit schedules to styled Excel workbooks with custom borders, cell alignment, tab and header colors, number formats, and associated element images. The modern interface offers a dual-panel layout designed for maximum efficiency.

a. Schedule Browser & TreeView

• Hierarchical Category Tree: Organizes project schedules into structured folders, distinguishing between standard schedule views, multi-category schedules, and material takeoff tables.
• Natural Alphanumeric Sorting: Employs smart natural sorting so that items like “Schedule 1, Schedule 2, Schedule 10” are ordered sequentially rather than alphabetically.
• Dynamic Selection Badges: Folder nodes display real-time selection counters (e.g., 3/8 selected) to provide instant feedback on batch selections.
• Instant Search Filter: Type in the search box to filter schedules instantly by name across all folders.
• Expand & Collapse All: Quick toolbar buttons to expand or collapse the entire schedule tree with a single click.
• Multi-Select Checkboxes: Select individual schedules, multi-select ranges, or toggle entire categories simultaneously.

b. Export Options & Packaging

• Separate Files: Saves each selected Revit schedule into an independent .xlsx file in your designated export folder.
• Combine to Single File:
  • Separate Sheets: Consolidates all chosen schedules into a single workbook, creating an individual worksheet tab for each schedule.
  • Merge to One Sheet (Summary): Stacks and concatenates all schedule tables consecutively into one continuous master sheet with a customizable worksheet name.

c. Advanced Settings Modal Window

Click the Settings button to open the dedicated configuration dialog:

• General Options:
  • Open file after export: Automatically launches Microsoft Excel as soon as the export process finishes.
  • Set number format: Applies regional number formatting with culture selection (handling comma vs decimal point conventions seamlessly).
• Appearance:
  • Border Styles: Choose cell border weights with interactive stroke previews (None, Thin, Medium, Dashed, Dotted, Thick, Double, Hair, MediumDashed, DashDot).
  • Text Alignment: Select default horizontal cell alignment (Left, Center, or Right).
• Colors:
  • Tab Color Palette: Choose pastel and brand tab colors from a dropdown preview palette with HEX definitions.
• User Info:
  • User Stamp: Option to stamp the exporter’s username or custom project code into the first row of each worksheet for auditing purposes.

1.2. TableGen (Import Excel to Schedule)

TableGen imports Excel spreadsheets, calculation notes, legends, and specifications directly into Revit schedule headers with original fonts, colors, cell borders, and images intact.

• Multi-File Batch Loading: Browse and select multiple Excel files (.xlsx) simultaneously. The live file counter keeps track of all active files.
• Worksheet DataGrid: Search, inspect, and select specific worksheets across all loaded files in an organized table with sequence order (#), sheet name, source filename, and status badges.
• “Data Only” Storage Mode: When checked, TableGen embeds raw spreadsheet tables directly into Revit’s Extensible Storage without creating schedule views. This allows engineering calculations, cost data, and reference tables to be securely packaged inside the .rvt file.
• Smart Range Detection:
  • Automatic Range: Detects all populated cells and visual borders automatically.
  • Print Area Only: Strictly adheres to the print area boundaries configured in Excel.
• Revit Line Style Border Mapping: Advanced mapping converts Excel cell borders (Thin, Medium, Thick, Double, Hair, Dotted, Dashed) to native Revit Line Styles, ensuring crisp line weights on plotted sheets.
• Duplicate Schedule Conflict Resolution: When an imported sheet name already exists in Revit, a smart dialog prompts you to overwrite, rename, or generate a unique copy.

1.3. Restore Excel

• Automatic Project Audit: Scans both Schedule+Data and “Data Only” records, automatically identifying orphaned records where the schedule view was deleted.
• Search & Filter: Real-time filter to search by schedule name, sheet name, original Excel file, or status.
• Reconstruction Options:
  • Single Excel file: Restores all selected records into a single multi-worksheet workbook.
  • Separate Excel files: Restores each record into its own standalone .xlsx file.
• Extensible Storage Purge: Safely delete obsolete or unused data records from the project database to reduce Revit file size.

2. Schedule Link (Two-Way Sync)

2.1. Schedule Link (Box)

The Schedule Link (Box) manager provides comprehensive control over batch exporting Revit schedules to Excel, editing parameter values in bulk, and importing updates back to BIM elements. Its redesigned interface features a unified two-panel workspace:

• Left Panel (Export Card):
  • Hierarchical TreeView of all project schedules with instant search, expand/collapse tools, and category count badges.
  • Full support for multi-category schedules and material takeoff tables.
  • Preserves and handles hidden schedule columns properly during the export-import round trip.
  • Hoverable Color Legend pill providing an interactive explanation of Excel cell colors:
    • Default / Green text: Instance Parameters — fully modifiable.
    • Blue text: Type Parameters — modifiable (updates all instances of the type).
    • Red text: Read-only parameters (locked by Revit built-in rules).
    • Purple text: Family Type selection dropdown — select existing type or create new types.
    • Gray text / Gray rows: Element IDs, system notes, or unmodifiable header rows.
  • One-click green primary button: Export Data.
• Right Panel (Unified Import & Recent Files):
  • Manual Browse & Import: Easily select any edited spreadsheet using the ... browser and click the blue Import Data button.
  • Recent Files Quick List: Displays recently exported Excel spreadsheets with human-readable timestamps (e.g., “5 mins ago”, “Today at 10:15”). Click the 1-click Import badge directly on any file row to import immediately without browsing.
  • Worksharing Protection: Automatically identifies workshared models, displaying safety notices and utilizing background checkout conflict handling to warn if elements are currently locked by other team members.
• Schedule Comparison Window: Visually compare current Revit model values against incoming spreadsheet modifications in a side-by-side DataGrid with color diff highlights before committing changes to the model.

2.2. Schedule Link (Sync)

Experience real-time, live parameter synchronization for the active schedule view:

• Live File Watcher: Exports the current schedule to Excel, opens it, and attaches a background file monitor.
• Instant Hot-Reload: Every time you save the spreadsheet in Excel (Ctrl + S), the modified parameters are automatically synced into Revit in real time.
• Concurrency Safety: The Revit interface is temporarily locked during synchronization to prevent concurrent editing collisions.

2.3. Logs (Audit & Rollback Viewer)

• Hierarchical Session Tree: Browse chronological import events categorized by timestamp, user identity, document, and schedule view.
• Side-by-Side Parameter Diffs: Detailed DataGrid displays Element ID, Category, Parameter Name, Old Value, and New Value with color highlights for modifications.
• Advanced Grid Filtering: Excel-like column header filters and search bar allow rapid filtering of large change sets.
• “Show/Hide Old Values” Toggle: Streamline the view to focus solely on updated values or compare before-and-after values.
• Schedule Comparison: Launch the full schedule comparison window directly from any logged session.
• One-Click Parameter Rollback: Select any historical snapshot and click Restore to roll back model parameters to their prior state automatically.
• Retention Management: Configure history retention limits and purge aged logs to maintain project file health.

3. Excel ⇄ Parameters

Auditing and modifying family parameters directly inside the Revit Family Editor is time-consuming. The Excel ⇄ Parameters toolset allows you to export, batch-edit, calculate formulas in Excel, and write them back into family files effortlessly.

3.1. Export Params

Export the complete list of parameters, types, formulas, and property settings of a Revit Family to an Excel spreadsheet for easy viewing, batch editing, and auditing.

• Dual-Mode Execution:
  • In Family Documents (.rfa): Operates directly within the Family Editor to extract all parameters, formulas, and types.
  • In Project Documents (.rvt): Pre-select or graphically pick any Family Instance in a floor plan, 3D view, or section; the tool automatically edits the underlying family in memory and exports its parameters without manual navigation.
• Rich Export Schema: Captures Parameter Name, Parameter Group, Formula, Type/Instance flag, and values across all family types in structured Excel columns.

3.2. Import Params

Read modified formulas, parameter names, and type configurations from your edited Excel file and apply them back to Revit families in bulk.

• Data Source & Validation: Select parameter spreadsheets with automated file structure validation and status indicators.
• Shared Parameters Integration: Configure and map shared parameter text files (.txt) directly into target families during import.
• Multi-Family Batch Processing: Apply a single standardized parameter spreadsheet across multiple target family files simultaneously.
• Advanced Import Options:
  • Only overwrite parameters that have same name: Updates matching parameters in target families and safely skips any new parameters in Excel.
  • Delete all parameters that do not exist in Excel: Cleans up obsolete parameters by deleting any family parameters not present in the spreadsheet (safely protecting Built-In and Read-Only parameters).

4. Utilities

A comprehensive collection of productivity boosters designed to streamline daily BIM documentation, sheet setup, and Excel file manipulation.

4.1. SheetGen (Sheet Manager)

Manage, renumber, organize, and batch-create project sheets within a consolidated workspace.

a. Grid Features & Bulk Editing

• Multi-Row Selection: Select multiple sheets to batch-modify properties simultaneously.
• Direct In-Grid Editing: Edit Sheet Number and Sheet Name directly within the table.
• Titleblock Assignment: Apply Titleblock family types across selected sheets via dropdown.
• Placed Views, Schedules & Legends: Inspect placed item counts and open the ... multi-selector dialog to add or remove views, schedules, and legends.
• Scale & Sheet List Visibility: Bulk edit sheet scales and toggle “Appears In Sheet List” visibility.
• Import Excel: Bulk-generate new sheets based on an external Excel sheet matrix template.
• Up/Down Reordering: Adjust sheet sequence manually or configure custom Sorting Rules.

b. Batch Automation Actions

• Delete Selected Sheets: Bulk-delete selected sheets from the Revit model.
• Re-Number Sheets: Sequentially renumber sheets based on their current table order.
• Auto Rename Sheets: Automatically rename sheets to match primary placed views or apply custom prefix/suffix rules.
• Rename Section Views: Batch rename section views placed across selected sheets.
• Auto Align Views: Align viewports across multiple sheets based on the coordinates of a reference sheet, featuring an interactive alignment preview.
• Sync Crop Region: Synchronize view crop boundaries across multiple sheets with live preview.

4.2. Merge Excel

Merge multiple independent Excel spreadsheets into a single consolidated file directly within Revit without requiring Microsoft Office installed.

• Merge to One Sheet: Stacks multiple tables into a single continuous worksheet, ideal for combining multi-level quantity takeoffs.
• Merge to Multiple Sheets: Gathers selected files into a single master workbook where each file or worksheet becomes a separate tab.
• Selective Worksheet Filter: Choose exactly which sheets to extract from each source file.
• Preserves Formatting: Maintains cell fonts, border styling, number formats, and embedded images.

4.3. Split Excel

Split large workbooks or massive schedule exports into smaller, modular files for sharing or archiving.

• Split by Worksheets: Automatically converts each worksheet tab into an independent .xlsx file.
• Split by Row Chunks: Break down a massive schedule (e.g. 50,000 rows) into multiple smaller workbooks by specifying a maximum row count per file (e.g. 1,000 rows).
• Keep Header Row: Automatically preserves and replicates table header rows across all split child files.

4.4. Crop View

4.5. Shared Params

Batch add shared parameters from standard Shared Parameter definition text files (.txt) into Revit Family files (.rfa).

• Parameter Group Assignment: Specify the target parameter group (e.g., Identity Data, Dimensions, IFC) during insertion.
• Formula Preservation: When overwriting existing parameters, existing formulas and associations are safely preserved.
• Batch Consistency: Ensure standard office parameters are applied across all family libraries quickly.

5. About & Settings

Manage application preferences, licensing, and interface localization directly from the Ribbon.

5.1. Multi-Language Localization

The plugin natively supports multi-language operation. On launch, it automatically matches Revit’s active language:

• Supported Languages: English (en-US), French (fr-FR), Spanish (es-ES), Simplified Chinese (zh-CN), Traditional Chinese (zh-TW), Brazilian Portuguese (pt-BR), and more.
• Language Selector: Click Language on the Ribbon to switch to any supported language at any time.

5.2. MLabs Pass & License Management

Click MLabs Pass (or MLabs) to open the License Manager window. Here you can check your active access pass, manage machine activations, activate new license keys, and access official support channels.