Forums >> General Discussion >> Revit Project Management >> Linking Huge Revit Architecutre to Revit MEP

Lefty7166

active

Joined: Mon, Jan 3, 2011
5 Posts
No Rating

Hi All -

 I'm trying to set up the Revit MEP for my project.  The architects have sent me two files.  A 300mB file for the interior of the building, and a 300mB for the exteior of the building.  The problem is these files are way to big to run on my machine. (Think of the project as a giant high school) 

 I'm very new to Revit, and somewhat familiar with ACAD MEP and Navis.  I'm looking to make the files smaller by possibly breaking up the architectural file by floor, and making worksets for each floor.  Does this make sense?  Everytime the architect sends me an update would I need to repeat this process? 

 Also, it looks like the Arch just sends me their central file.  But they have worksets per floor.  Is there a quick way to cut out one floor?

 I know I've asked a lot of questions, just not positive the best place to start.

 Thanks.

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

If you are just now addressing the issue of how you link these files, you are way too late.  Prior to starting any project, we meet with our engineers to determine how we will share files and how they will be organized.

File size and model size are two different issues so the architectural file size should not be an issue for you.  This does not work like xref's.   You are interested in the model components and there should be no need to link anything by view. You really can not / should not - try to modify the architectural file in any way.  You should link their models in seperate worksets that you can then control in your project.  In addition, you will want to control and use appropriate architectural worksetsin your views and control those through VG. 

Much of the time, you should be working in your project used a reduced workset load where non of the architectural model is loaded.  You will have many of the architectural elements copy / monitored and those will be on and you can do a lot of your work with the architectural model off.

This user is offline

Lefty7166

active

Joined: Mon, Jan 3, 2011
5 Posts
No Rating

This is more of a learning project.  The project is currently being done in ACAD for the engineers (Architects work in Revit) - but we are testing out the implementation of Revit MEP.

 I understand that I need to link the file into the MEP file so as not to alter the architecture.  What I was confused about was how to set up worksets where I only load in parts of the linked file.

 For instance if I attach the entire model, I have a huge file containing floors 1-4.  If I'm only interested in looking at the 1st floor, is there a way that I can only load the 1st floor from the linked architectural model to make the file load more quickly.

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

This user is offline

Lefty7166

active

Joined: Mon, Jan 3, 2011
5 Posts
No Rating

Sorry - I guess I was looking for than what is the best place to learn more about 'VG'.

I'm very new to Revit. (Of if you could recommend another forum/site to go to to ask questions)

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

You were not asking questions about VG but rather how to break up a linked architectural project.   As IO stated, you don't want to or need to do that!  The linked file size has some beariung but BUT not as much as how you link it!  Link it in a workset and control it in your views through,,, yes ,,,, VG !

Now, if you need to ask more questions about controlling the linked architectural file in VG, then ask those questions but that is not what you asked.

This user is offline

Lefty7166

active

Joined: Mon, Jan 3, 2011
5 Posts
No Rating

Okay.  Well I have linked the Arch file to a basic Revit MEP file.  I have a workset for HVAC, a workset for plumbing. 

I have copy/monitored the 4 floors of the building into floor plans in an Arch Folder.  Then I copy those floor plans for both Mech and Plumbing.  Therefore when I open the project I need to open everything at once.

 Any advice on how best to procede further.

 Sorry for the confusion)

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

Whoa,  having trouble with terminology here.  When you link in the architectural model, you can see everything the architect has modeled. No need to load anything else once the two models are linked.  Open your plan and the architects model will be in there.

Copy monitor is something else.  When - what do you need to copy/monitor?  You only need to C/M elements that you need to control.  That is not everything.  You can see the floor from the architects model.  Do you need to C/M it? <<< Probably NOT. 

You do need to c/m levels and grids. 

Do you need to C/M walls?  I doub't it.  Do you need to C/M ceilings, yes - probably.  If you have face based families, you don't need to own the host.  If your family has to cut the host, then you need to own it.

Do you want to copy architects floors plans?  <<< NO!  You don't need to do this.  Your floor plans will show the architects walls / doors / windows, all depending on your View Proiperties and VG settings.  You don't want or need his dimensions / tags or other annotation elements - just his model elements.

This user is offline

Lefty7166

active

Joined: Mon, Jan 3, 2011
5 Posts
No Rating

Sorry, my bad on terminology. (Let me start again)

 I opened up Revit MEP.  Linked in Arch file.  Looked at a view of elevation, and copy/monitored each of the levels (or is this considered the floors) and I used this to create the floorplans to work off of.

 For floorplans, should I have simply added a floorplan view, and aligned it at the same elevation as the Arch model?

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

If you have C/M'd the arch levels, then those should be the only levels you have.  From your view menu, simply pick create plan views (or reflected ceiling plan views) / and from the pull down, select the levels you want plans of.  That should give you your plans to work in.  You can then adjust your view properties and VG settings for your needs. 

I suggest you immediately assign a template to these plans and correctly adjust the VG and VP settings in that template.  Once a template is set, you can use it for all similar plans created now or in the future.  You should not need to worry about architectural annotative elements but some of the architectural components you may not want on.  Change that in your template VG settings for the linked file.... for instance, do you want the architectects furniture on?

This user is offline

Linking Revit MEP, Structural Models into Revit Architecture

6

Linking Architectural Model to Revit MEP

0

Linking 3D Dwg files from AutoCAD Architecture to Revit MEP

4

MEP-Slow Piping-Huge Lag time

3

REVIT MEP - Separate models for MEP disciplines

5