Linking Revit and DWG files

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Being able to link rev models and DWG files into a project

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allows us to split more complex projects into

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smaller separate models that are easier to manage.

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It also makes it easier to collaborate with

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other consultants such as structural or civil engineers.

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By allowing us to reference their data directly into our models.

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In this file. We have the topography for our project.

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We also have a linkedin model already.

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So this is the studio block which has been created as

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a separate REV model and linked to the current site project.

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Here

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we have another block, the residence block that we need to link in

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and we can see that on the site, it's at a slightly lower level than the studio block

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and therefore having these two blocks as separate models,

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makes it easier to manage those.

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When we're developing the project.

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Before we link the model in, we'll go to the site plan view.

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And here we can see the coordinate markers for our

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project.

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At the bottom of the view,

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we can see the internal origin point which

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is represented by the red and green triangles.

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We also have the project base point

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which is in the same location currently

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and is represented by the blue circle.

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Further up the screen,

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we have the survey point which is represented by the blue triangle.

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And this is the origin for our shared coordinates that makes

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it easier when we need to collaborate with external consultants,

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selecting our linked studio block project.

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We can also see the internal origin and coordinate points for that project

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and how they relate to the ones that are in our current project

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to link in the residence block or go to the insert ribbon tab

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from the link panel. We'll choose link revver

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we choose the residence model.

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And then at the bottom of the screen here, we can see we have options for positioning.

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It's currently set auto internal origin to internal origin.

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And this means that the two internal origin points within the linked model

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and the current model would be aligned and that would set the position.

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We have options to align the center of the models which we just find the

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center of the residence model and place it in the center of our site.

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We can choose shared coordinates which would line

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up the survey points or we can choose to

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align it via the project base points which would

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align the project base points in both files.

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We also have options to place it manually

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and we can choose our origin point within the linked

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file such as its internal origin or its base point

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and then place that down manually. Once it's inserted into the file,

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we'll leave it set to auto internal origin to internal origin.

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And we'll choose open

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and the link project will be placed into our file. We can zoom in here

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and we can see the internal origin of the linked model in

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gray here aligning with the internal origin of our current project,

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which is in the red and green arrows,

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we can select the linked model and then move it away from its current position.

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And as it's a linked model,

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it moves on mass and we can see the coordinates moving with it,

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we need to align it into the correct location.

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So once it's still selected, first, we'll choose, rotate from the modified ribbon

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and we'll rotate it through 90 degrees.

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Next, we'll use the aligned tool to get it into the correct location.

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However, in our site plan, we're actually looking at the roof at the moment

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and we need to use the flaws within the project itself to align to.

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So first we'll go to the site level data view.

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So this view is cut at a lower level.

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And therefore, we're seeing the inside of our linked project

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and this will make it easier for us to align

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from the modify ribbon tab.

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We'll choose the align tool.

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We'll start by choosing the top of the slab here

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and then the slap that's in our linked model.

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Next, we'll choose the face of the retaining wall

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and then zooming in,

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we have the face of the retaining wall in the link project and these two should line up

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and then we can see that that's got that in the correct location

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and it aligns with the studio project above.

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We'll go back to the 3d view

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an orbiting round. We can see that it's actually floating in the air a little bit

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and this means that we have to now align it vertically.

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So we get it at the correct height for our site.

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So we'll go to the east elevation

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and zooming in.

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We can see the project

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and we can see that it's above the ground. Here,

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we have the levels within our residence project.

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So we have the first floor, second floor and roof.

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And in our current project, we have a residence first floor level

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and this is the one we'll use to align the linked model

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with to set it at the correct height within the site.

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So from the modify menu, we'll choose the aligned tool

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and we'll start by choosing the residents first floor level in the site project.

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And then we'll come to our linked project

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and we'll choose the first floor level inside the linked project.

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So we'll put that at the correct height,

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we'll close the padlock to create a constraint between the two levels,

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meaning that if we do adjust the resident first floor level in our site project,

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the link model will also move,

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which is modified to finish the align tool. And we'll go back to the 3D view.