Introduction to Trimble Connect APIs

Trimble Connect API is a set of different APIs

Trimble Connect is a cloud-based platform that connects the right people to the right constructible data, at the right time. Trimble Connect public APIs enable customers to integrate the platform into their own systems. 

Trimble Connect API is a set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that allow communication with Trimble Connect servers and web and desktop clients.

Trimble Connect API architecture

Trimble Connect APIs has been used developing Trimble in-house application as well as third-party applications. There are multiple APIs and you need to know which APIs to use.

The following image illustrates the Trimble Connect API architecture.

Authentication using Trimble Identity

At the bottom is the Trimble Identity authentication service, which has its own API for authenticating users. It is a separate service. The authentication of Tekla products and online services uses the centralized Trimble Identity system.

Server-side APIs available: Core APIs and Status API

Trimble Connect Core APIs

Trimble Connect Core has APIs for managing entities such as projects, project memberships, files, todos, views. The Core APIs and Workflow tools API (see below) are both standard RESTful APIs. They use GET to retrieve information, PUT to store or update a resource, POST to create a new entity, and DELETE to remove it.

The Trimble Connect Core API allows one to read, write and update data into and out of the Trimble Connect platform. One can create folders, upload and download files, modify views and do much more from any application.

Workflow tools (status sharing) API

Trimble Connect Workflow tools enable cloud-based BIM supply chain management. You can control and keep track of assembly and object-level status information for project management, scheduling and design review purposes.

External systems are able to integrate with the Trimble Connect using the server-side Core APIs and Workflow Tools (status sharing) API. For example, fabrication ERP systems can publish the status data in real-time using the status sharing API.

If you are a fabricator or equivalent, most probably you have an ERP system or other system with a status concept in place. With the status sharing API, you can visualize your production status on BIM with a “live feed” and update your system status from the Trimble Connect user interfaces.

Client-side APIs available: Browser API and Windows API

Trimble Connect has client-side applications, such as Trimble Connect for Browser, Trimble Connect for Mobile, and Trimble Connect for Windows. The browser and Windows application have their own APIs. 

Browser API

The Trimble Connect for Browser API is for managing the embedded web viewer. The 3D Viewer could be embedded into any web-based application.

Windows API

The Trimble Connect for Windows API is for the Windows desktop. Windows API can be used, for example, to extend and customize Trimble Connect. Trimble Connect for Windows API is meant to be easy and intuitive to use in order to minimize the required technical background.