Forums >> Revit Building >> Tips & Tricks >> Clean and efficient workflow between Sketchup6 and Revit2009

billyjencks

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Joined: Wed, Feb 11, 2009
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I came up with this through some trial and error and finally got everything to work, so I thought I'd share. The following process results in sketchup geometry that remains editable in sketchup and automatically updates as a link in the revit building model. I use this for generic models that represent architectural articulation and decorative elements that don't need that much parametric information attached to them (aside from material specs).

• While in 3D view, export revit model to dwg format.
• In sketchup, go to file>>import and click on options.
• Check the "preserve drawing origin" box
• Import the dwg you just exported from Revit
• You can turn off layers (ie: stairs, hrails, mullions, etc...) to make the model run faster in sketchup, while maintaining the basic structure to use as a substraight for your sketchup elements.
• The Revit model should be a group. Model your sketchup geometry outside of the revit group and make a component group out of your sketchup geometry by selecting all of your sketchup geometry, right clicking on it, and selecting "make component"
• Layers in sketchup correspond to materials in revit, so inside your component make sure to place elements of different material on different corresponding layers (and name the layers appropriately for ease of identification later!)
• While inside your component (active), right click in empty space and select "change axes." Locate the world axes for the entire model and click on the yellow snap point at the world axes. Then click on the red axis, then on the green axis. This sets the origin of the component equal to the origin of the revit model.
• Exit the component by hitting esc or right clicking and selecting "close component"
• Right click on the component and select "save as." Name it something descriptive and save it. I created a folder in my project directory called "revit model components" and saved it there.
• In revit open the Level 1 floorplan (or whatever level your revit origin is located on).
• Go to file>>import/link>>CAD formats
• Find your sketchup component.skp, check the "link" box, and change "auto - center to center" to "auto - origin to origin" (see attached dialogue box example) and click open.
• Your sketchup geometry should appear in the appropriate location automatically. If you need to edit the geometry go back to your saved component and edit it with Sketchup and save it. Then you can reload the linked geometry inside revit and it will automatically update to reflect your changes.
• Alternately you can edit the geometry in your original exported sketchup model (and use the revit as a base.) Doing this simply requires re-saving the edited component overwriting the old one. Either way, your saved model component.skp will automatically update inside Revit.

ASSIGNING MATERIALS:

• You cannot assign material properties to linked geometry using element properties.
• Go to Settings>>object styles>>imported objects
• Click on the + sign next to your imported component's name to expand it and see the different layers. From here you can assign different materials to each different layer and change the reder / appearance settings however you like.
• Click ok and you should be all set with geometry that is editable in sketchup and automatically updates, retaining rendering properties in Revit!

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coreed

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Joined: Fri, Feb 10, 2006
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Thank You

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best regards,

coreed,aia

bmpArchitects,Inc.

"Revit has to be implemented, Not installed." 

Long Live Revit

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