Gotcha - so it really is just a different interface for the same functions (also brings another library of materials to import).
Then I think your plugin or the Lumion one to get the materials in a single folder from the architect and then TimAlsop just needs to use the additional render appearance paths to link to where ever he saves that folder. That should solve the problem fairly easily.
Pieter - thanks for the explanation about the placing of materials and the downloading for Enscape. I don't program, so I figured there would be a better way for Enscape to track which materials were placed in a model and key other users machines to download as needed.
The "additional render appearance paths" method is what I have used, but I'm thinking that only works for Revit material browser textures? That is where the Lumion export plugin helps gather those into a single folder for sharing with others. I haven't really dug into the Enscape duplication of the material library yet and how those textures work/interface with Revit. I guess I'm getting old enough to be a bit more stubborn in my ways 
Beyond the idea of making the same workflow across programs, I haven't figured out what the Enscape library advantages over the native Revit one are. I see that their library of materials is a little less dated than the standard Revit ones, but the functionality of the Revit material editor seems to have the same features so far (albeit with a few "quirky" workarounds and limitations for things like: displacement mapping, video textures, tinting, and procedural bump maps).
Sounds like Pieter has a lot more experience with the Encape library of materials than I do. Doing commercial work, it has seemed to be a better workflow to have our materials stored centrally on server so multiple users can access that central library with the same path. It also seems to be more future proof to keep the textures within the Revit material editor vs the Enscape one (just not sure how much compatibility there is with the Enscape library in the long run).
There is also a Lumion plugin that I have used for some coordination of Revit files with other programs. It exports to a Collada (.dae) file which you don't need, but it also has a "collect textures" checkbox that will export all the used textures/materials from a model to a single folder. This may be an easy way to get the materials for transfer - again I think that is for Revit materials and I don't know how it would interface with the Enscape material library.
For the developers, that might be a stronger use case for the Enscape material library if it help transfer project materials across users. I'm a bit surprised that it wouldn't just work if a file was transfered in a situation like TimAlsop has here.
My guess is they sent just the Revit model and not the library of material assets. Revit links the materials in the material library to a folder or folders of images. Once they send that folder you may need to direct Revit to that folder as a file location.
No - once exported to a standalone .exe there are no options for changing the elements you see in the model. Only controls are for global changes like view modes, quality, outlines, and similar settings.
I have had success with rendering glass a few different ways. One way is to have a small mullion between the panels that you can filter out in the Enscape starting view. This will work well for things like glass railings that truly have gaps. I have found making a custom panel with the gap built in is better, but requires making that panel. Adding a radius to the ends really aids in showing the gaps better due to the light distortion.
For your case, it looks like that is exterior butt glazed glass that would have a sealant joint between the panels so I would leave the small mullion and make it a black color for effect.
That makes sense, if you go into the manage phases panel and look at Show All - it still applies the overrides to each phase (New, Existing, Demo, Temp). It just turns them all on at the same time - whereas you would typically only show a few of those together on a plan. Show Complete basically shows only what the project will look like after the phase is complete without any overridden material settings. Glad that fixed it!
Check the view you start from doesn't have phase filters active. Typically "Show Complete" is the default that would confirm this. I'm guessing this is the issue due to the building on the right being a different phase from the building on the left.
Also to check is that nothing has been manually painted or applied with a different material. (Don't think that is the case as someone would have to paint every face)
Agree with all of Pieter's comments.
I'm interested to know more about the Site Models feature and what that will provide/entail.
Also, it seem there are users hoping there will also be some other work on previous features that don't seem to function in a user friendly way. (I've seen a lot of comments about Space Mouse stuff and the Video Editor for example)
May be able to recreate something similar to that sketchup tutorial with a dense array of studio lights? Or maybe have self-illuminated planes like mullions to cast light from within the glass without blocking the translucent view to objects beyond.
I've tried modelling translucent panel systems and found that a very small touch of self-illumination tends to help the panels look more evenly lit like they would in real life. Not sure how to solve the specific shadow issue besides adjusting the Enscape settings for clouds, shadow sharpness, etc.
Make sure the detail level (coarse, medium, fine) of the 3D view for starting Enscape is set to "Fine" as often those small details are turned of at Medium or Coarse.
Have you tried creating a visible hatch for the pattern and then selecting one of the hatch lines (by using tab to select just a hatch line) and rotating that?
If that is a simple option like Phil said, then that is a great solution - similar to the pause live updates button.
For large projects this new 3.0 workflow requires either:
- good walkthrough control ability which defeats the purpose of having view locations (a lot of users find the keyboard controls difficult, esp. in front of a client)
- exporting to a standalone for every presentation, which defeats the purpose of realtime rendering
- patience of a sloth as you wait for it to reload for 5 minutes or so between each view (unrealistic)
Agree with DsimpMPS with that workflow on large projects - we are utilizing that method and this new system makes that process too time consuming. Every switch of the view location includes 5 minutes or more of reloading, which negates the purpose of real-time rendering.
In Revit lighting families, there is a light source which is an generally invisible object that has the lighting profile. To make the light appear on in Enscape, create a material in Revit with Illumination in the material browser as the lens for the light/lightbulb.
