Create Custom Clash Tests

Exported clash tests can be used as a basis to define custom clash tests. If you have a common set of clash tests that you reuse on multiple projects, you can turn them into a custom clash test. Once installed as a custom clash test, all the tests can be selected and run directly from the Select Tab. The results from all tests are combined and presented as the results of the custom clash test. The name of each individual test in the custom clash test is displayed in the Description field of the results.

Custom clash tests are an excellent way to roll out a standardized set of tests across an organization. They allow the expertise of “power” users to be reused by everyone. They can also be seen as a way of implementing object intelligence. For example, a custom clash test could be written that checked for compliance with a local building code based on object information and properties defined in a particular CAD system.

Define and Use a Custom Clash Test

1. Export Clash Tests to an XML file. The name of the file is used as the default name for the custom test.
2. If you want, change the name of the custom test by editing the XML file directly. The top level element in the XML file is called “batchtest”. The name of the custom test as displayed to the user is defined by the “name” attribute. The name of the custom test as saved in a file is defined by the “internal name” attribute.
3. To install the custom test, copy the exported XML file to the custom_clash_tests folder of one of the Navisworks search directories, for example: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\. See Search Directories for more information.
4. Restart Navisworks. On start up, Clash Detective checks these search directories for custom clash tests.
5. To use the custom test, open the Clash Detective window, and click the Select tab.
6. Select your custom test from the Type drop-down box.
7. Click the Start button. All other options and rules are specified by the custom test.