Forums >> Revit Building >> Technical Support >> Insert/Link CAD Advice

cboersen

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Joined: Thu, Sep 9, 2010
105 Posts
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I will try to make this an apples for apples comarison.  If you have 20 views (or sheets, as the case may be) in Revit and you have one CAD file to link to 10 (half) of the views is it better to link the CAD file to the whole project and hide it in 10 of the views or check the "current view only" box and "link" it 10 times - once for each view?

Another one:

If you have 20 views in Revit and you have one CAD file to link to only 2 of the views is it better to link the CAD file to the whole project and hide it in 18 of the views or check the "current view only" box and "link" it 2 times - once for each view?

What I guess I am trying to figure out is if a single link that is allowed to show up in the whole project (but hidden where necessary) slows things down or makes the file larger than if you only link a file to one view but have to then link it several times.  Which is the best way to go?

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WWHub

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Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

CAD files are basically BAD for Revit.  You should limit their use as much as possible.  If they can be Revitized instead, then you should do that.

1. For 3D - plan views only, link it in a workset - all views and turn off the workset where you don't want it.
2. Need more information.  Plan views are answered.  Could this be placed into a family instead.

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rod23

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Joined: Wed, Dec 2, 2009
89 Posts

I second the opinion that CAD links/imports are bad in Revit.  I usually insert DWG's into a family template, explode, and convert the linework to Revit linetypes, then copyclip the lines to a new template file to lose the CAD info.  This is a method for converting CAD to Revit.  Give it a try!!

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http://www.turbosquid.com/Search/Artists/Revitaoist

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cboersen

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Joined: Thu, Sep 9, 2010
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In most cases I would convert them to Revit and have done it with other jobs in the past (thanks for the hints on how to get a nice clean Revit file by filtering it through a family first - I had not thought of that and I will have to give that one a try). In this case however, it has to stay as a CAD file because another non-Revit group is doing these large floor plans and they have a tendency to change them with frequency. I have not really had any issues with the files doing anything bad other than really making the Revit views they show up in sluggish to manipulate.

I was just trying to find out which way was the lesser of two evils.

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WWHub

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Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

Link instead of insert!  And above all - place them in a workset, then turn that off wherever possible.

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Ptrdckrsn

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Joined: Thu, May 21, 2009
78 Posts

I always link, so when changes are made in the 2d plan, they area reflected in the linked plan in Revit. if you import it you lose that connection.

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Link CAD, Import CAD in the middle of space

1

Text formating in CAD link

1

insert a cad file in section or elevation..

12

CAD inserts appear in as many copies in my manage link view

6

Sketch-Up into Revit 2010

0