Forums >> Revit Structure >> Technical Support >> Linking cad details.

Tony123

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Joined: Thu, Jul 16, 2009
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I have a lot of pre-drawn autocad typical/standard details and linked them to my revit project.  I think I have the lineweight issue figured out, but now my problem are with my text, arrow heads, polylines and hatches. With text they don't have the correct line weight, they plot very light almost faded. My arrow heads and polylines have no thickness, my hatches, some plot some don't.

I am only one of two in my office trying to implement revit, if I can get this to work it would be greatly appreciated.

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WWHub

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Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
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I think most of the users are trying very hard to limit the linking of CAD files to only what is necessary.  AND detailing is so much easier in REVIT than in CAD that we are moving our details to REVIT details as fast as we can. 

For CAD files you want to import into a drafting detail to clean up, you should do some prep work in CAD.  But even before that, start a new project to use for your CAD cleaup that has your text and dimension styles as well as linetypes.  The following assumes you have only three line styles in your CAD file... Light - Medium - Heavy so adjust this process as appropriate.

In CAD

1. Flaten 3D
2. Explode all blocks and xref's
3. Delete all hatches, polylines dimensions and leaders.
4. WBlock to a new file only what you want.

In Revit

1. Create a drafting detail of correct scale
2. Import your CAD detail from the new file
3. Explode the CAD file (THIS IS A VERY BAD THING TO DO IN YOUR PROJECT FILE - THAT IS WHY WE DO IT IN A TEMPORARY FILE)
4. Now - CAD lines are now new Revit linestyles named according to their layers.
5. GOTO VG and turn off everything then turn back on the main line category and thin lines.
6. Nothing should be visible.
7. Goto Settings/Line styles - expand the lines category and repeat the following:
8. Start with your heavist line style in CAD.  Find that linestyle (assuming A-DTL-Heavy) and delete that sub-category.
9. All those lines will now be Thin Lines and will be visible
10. Select them all from your detail window and change them to your Revit Heavy Lines and they will disappear.
11. Repeat 8 - 10 above until you have converted all and your finished with thin lines.
12. Convert all your text and clean that up.
13. Add leaders to text notes
14. Add dimensions
15. Add filled regions.
16. Click on File/Save to Library/Save Views and Pick your Details that you have cleaned up to save into your library.
17. You can also transfer these views directly into your project.

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Tony123

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Joined: Thu, Jul 16, 2009
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THANKS!!! I WILL GIVE IT A SHOT.

I WAS HOPING TO KEEP THE CAD FILES LINKED, THAT WAY SOME OF THE CAD USERS IN OUR OFFICE CAN HELP WITH MY PROJECT. EDITING THE CAD FILES AND RELOADING IN REVIT WOULD HAVE BEEN SWEET FOR THIS.

THANKS AGAIN.

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emgeeo

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Joined: Wed, Mar 12, 2008
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That does not seem like an efficient system at all.  I've read through this twice, and have to ask- why explode the drawings in Revit?  Why not just import the CAD files and use the pick-line command?  That's what we've been doing and it seems quick enough.

We import the CAD file from origin to origin, overide the graphics to be a solid dark blue at half-tone, and use pick lines for lines and hatch patters.  Copy text on-screen, and delete the CAD file from the project when done.  This is of course in a standard detail revit file we've created...If we're lucky, and the CAD drawing is clean, we can tab through and select multiple lines at once.

How is this system efficient?  Are you importing 20-30 details at a time, and using the select all instances command?

We're always looking for more efficient ways to convert our std details, so if I'm missing something, please let me know.  We're four years in and still aren't finished.

Regards.

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