Your First Automation

This page walks through the guided form path — the fastest way to create your first automation. You can also describe a task in plain language, but the guided form is the easiest starting point.

Local execution only. The automation you create here will run inside your CAD host, on your machine. CRAFT does not execute automations in the cloud.

Step 1: Pick Your Host

The guided form starts by identifying your CAD host environment. CRAFT detects the host you are running in (Revit or Civil 3D) and configures itself accordingly. This is called host-aware setup — the form adjusts available task types, templates, and requirements based on the host and its version.

Step 2: Pick a Task

Choose the type of task you want to automate. Tasks are organized by category — for example, query and report, standards enforcement, batch updates, or controlled export. Each task type maps to a set of templates that CRAFT uses to generate the automation draft.

Step 3: Answer Questions

The form asks a small number of questions (typically 5 or fewer) to capture your requirements. These answers form the requirement specification — a structured record of what the automation should do.

The requirement specification is deterministic: the same answers always produce the same automation draft. It is saved as part of the artifact.

Step 4: Review Your Draft

CRAFT shows you a summary of your answers and the resulting automation draft. Review and confirm that everything is correct. You can adjust inputs or discard the draft at any point.

Step 5: Preview and Validate (Gate)

CRAFT finalizes the automation plan and presents the Preview/Validate Gate. The Gate shows you everything the automation will do before you commit to running it:

  • Resolved dependencies and their versions
  • Expected inputs and outputs
  • What host context the automation will read
  • What will change compared to any prior version
  • Whether any network egress, host context egress, or telemetry is involved
  • Whether anything blocks execution
  • Suggested fixes if something needs attention

You must acknowledge the Gate before proceeding. If the Gate reports execution is blocked, it is hard-blocked until the issue is resolved. See the Gate reference for details.

Step 6: Run Locally

Once you acknowledge the Gate, CRAFT executes the automation inside your CAD host. Execution happens locally — your model data stays on your machine, and the automation produces deterministic, repeatable results.

After the run completes, the artifact (including the requirement spec, execution plan, and lockfile) is saved locally. You can re-run it, export it, or publish it to the shared registry if you have the appropriate seat and tier.

What Happens Next

  • Re-run: Run the same automation again with the same locked dependencies
  • Export: Package the automation as a portable zip for sharing (requires Creator seat)
  • Publish: Promote the automation to the shared registry (requires Pro plan or higher with team registry access)
  • Validate: Re-inspect the automation at any time — read-only, no seat required
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