Forums >> General Discussion >> Revit Project Management >> Central File Too Big

MJMC22

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Typhoon

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What is your computer system? caracteristics????

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WWHub

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Are you using worksets fully?

Have you audited your file?

Have you "reviewed" your warnings under tools? 

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MJMC22

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We are working with windows xp in RA 2008 capacity Intel(R) Core (TM)2 Duo CPU 2.97 GHz and and 3.23 GB of RAM. We are relatively new to revit, we are using worksets, but can you explain how you audit your file and how reviewing my warnings will help?

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mhans

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Joined: Tue, Nov 7, 2006
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Hi,

 If you are just starting and you're having such troubles, chances are you are not going to finish at all. That's the dark side. Here's the light. Use link, if you are, then use several versions of the same link file that you can reload with path. Say, at some point your done with the survey with all the regular topo items.  Chances are you won't be  using them for some time. So, save that  survey plan (the link file)  and make it a lighter version keeping just the things you need to see, i.e. prop line, utilities..but probably not the contour at this point. Care should be exercised, though when plotting/publishing your model, as it may not contain complete info the way you want it. Use workset. Limit the number of guys accessing the model, unless you really need that many. Designate interval times of saving to the central. Is your central file in the server or in one of the workstations? Can you be more specific on your scenario?

Thanks,

Mhans 

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lunchtrayrider

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1. Use the purge unused tool every once in a while

2. do a save as on the central to make a new central and then make everyone get a new local copy.  

3. make new local copies everyday. 

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brettgoodchild

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Joined: Sat, Feb 4, 2006
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Taken from a previous post of mine.

"... what we found time and time again with firms having issues just like these that it was almost always bad practice on the firms, drafter, and CAD managers. By this I mean there was almost always excessive modeling, too many links, too many in place families that were copied all over the place, families, groups, views and what not being copied from other projects which has a horrible tendency to create many many copies of families, groups, and views. I have worked on a few files that have the families copied in it well over 100 times each. Things like this can really balloon your file size in a hurry and make your life a living hell. My advice...I would take a look at everything that is being modeled and see what doesn't need it. All too often files are way over modeled which takes time, effort, money from the firm, and client. It is too easy to get caught up in the modeling because it looks cool and makes a great model. The general rule is model for quantity detail for acurcy. This also applies to families as well. If you are inserting 10-20mb families...well, do the math, that starts to add up and fast.

If you have to model a lot, then look at better practices. Limit arrays and curved surfaces, also limit the amount of detail. If I create a door, i will never model the hardware, if I need to see it, I will use line work for it. Things like this will help drastically. As for file maintenance, I would make a multi category schedule. This can schedule everything that is not a system family (ie...walls, floors, roof, ceilings) and will allow you to see duplicate families. What you should look for is families that are named in a numerical order (single flush1  single flush 2 and so one.) Annotation families are known for this. Print out your schedule and then check all suspicious families...most of the duplicates will be able to select through the project browser and switched out for the correct family and deleted. I would also spend some time looking at my project browser to see what is unnecessary in it. What views are being created that could be created as reference levels, things like that.

I would then spend some time if you are using groups to see if they are being duplicated as well. A really easy way to find what is being duplicated is to review your warnings. I have found that most drafters don't pay attention to what Revit is telling them. It will let you know when it is duplicating familes and groups. The next item I would pay attention to is my links...thought they are a great idea, you should use them and unload them. They can cause a huge hit to your computers performance. Link in all the files necessary to do what you need and then unload them. You can always reload them when they are updated. Also when working with structural files, if you are copy/monitoring, take as little as possible, remember their file is a background. The next item would be worksets. Turn off what you don't need to see. If I am working in a furniture plan...do I really need the site and other worksets open like that. It is also a good idea to close hidden windows often. I have my comp. mapped to XX and do that about every ten minutes. Even though we don't see the windows they are still open and Revit does have to regen them. This will also help open and save times. Now for the biggie...please please please recreate your locals and centrals.

My standard is locals get created every morning and after lunch and central files get recreated once to twice a week depending on how big the project is. When at the reseller we found that our clients who listened to us and did this experienced about ( and I'm not exaggerating this,) 90 percent less problems that the ones who worked in the same locals and centrals for the duration of or project or even those who would recreate on a monthly basis.

For a last resort, I will occasionally us an Optimization file from Autodesk in conjunction with recreating my files and I have personally seen over 50mb come off a file."

HTH

Brett 

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MJMC22

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KiplingCMW

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Here is a list of strategies I have used in dealing with large Revit Files:

1. consider breaking the project up into multiple central files all linked into 1 parent central file. We did this successfully in a firm I worked for, where we linked 9 different building files into a central parent file, which only had our details and drafting information.  Also, it is sometimes an easy fix is to make all the site information its own revit file and simply link it into your building file. beware of 3d polylines, they tend to make site plan information jump around.

2. Get rid of any families you dont need, add as you go, keep a seperate folder in your project directory just for the extra families you create or load for your project.

3. when opening Revit, start up the program, then click open, when the open file window comes up, and you select your project file, look to the right of the window and choose "Specify" This will subseqently bring up a window which will allow you to not open all the worksets at once, choose NO for the worksets you do not want to open, rather open only the worksets you plan on working on.  A fun trick is to open the project file with all the worksets closed, then after the file is loaded you can go to the workset window and open what you would like.

4. You have heard this from others, save out a new central file every week, archive the old one, this also goes for local copies on your desktop, make a new local copy every couple of weeks, this will bring the file size down.  

5. When importing autocad details or similar drawings for a drafting view, etc. open up a generic Revit file, import the autocad file there, then proceed to clean up/fitler out the linework, esp the misc hatches and font types.

6. this has been said by others but cannot be stressed enough, do not overmodel the project, model only what you have to. model only what you need to see for the documents.  Remember, good old 2-D is still your friend, if you really will not gain anything from modeling a object, simply draft it in 2D right in that view, yes you can still draft in revit!

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