Forums >> Revit Building >> Technical Support >> Model Phases/changes

treeves1968

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Hello all. I am not a Novice Revit user. I have been running Revit for several years and as a whole am very pleased with

it. I am a designer and I own and operate a home design business and model homes and remodels/additions all the time. I think though, I

have been going against the grain so to speak with my models. As per my contracts, I have 3 main phases that my projects

usually go through (Conceptual Design, Design Development, and Permit Set.) I have always had folders for each phase

and when entering the next phase I do a "save as" and basically duplicate the model. My reasoning was always that I

could easily go back to a previous phase if necessaary. I have NEVER needed to go back and it does take up a bunch

of extra space. And I do not believe that Revit was ever intended to be run this way. What are peoples thought on this?

Does anyone else do it this way? Or does everyone just track changes via issues and revisions and/or design options.

I am thinking on my next project not doing it this way and just have the ONE model throughout the entire project.

BTW...when I say "Phases" I dont actually mean Revit Phases (sometimes I use those too). Just curious as to how

others are doing it. Again, I believe that I have been going at this the wrong way from the start!! ANy thoughts/advice would be appretiated, thatnks. I am also considering using some worksets to better control visibilty.

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WWHub

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We have one model for the entie project B U T we save a copy of the central (only) to a backup folder at the end of each phase.

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treeves1968

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Thanks WWhub for the reply. If you dont mind me asking, what is the back-up for then? In case of disaster or just in case you need or want torevert back? I am now utilizing worksharing worksets, but I am working straight out of the central model with no local copy. I am a solo team here so I didnt really see a reason to do a local file, unless there is something that I am not thinking of? Thanks again.

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WWHub

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You say you are working out of the central file - does that mean you have enabled worksets? 

Even though you are a single user, the advantage of working in a local is redundency.

Our phase archived, staged backups is just a security backup.  They do give us the possibility of pulling something back into the model if needed.  The real record of the project are PDF's issued at the various stages.  After completion, only the last central file has merit.

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treeves1968

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WWhub: Yes I have enabled worksets and have the file saved out as a central file, but have made no local file. AM I doing something wrong? I figured since I am the only user here this would give me the best of both worlds...or not. This is just something that I am playing around with at this point. I think I read a post either here or at augi where someone was suggesting the use of worksets with no local file (if it was just a single user). I am not sure I understand why if I am a single user why I would want to hassle with a local.

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treeves1968

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WWhub...Are you saying that I would be better off (even though I am a single user) to create the local copy as well and just save to central the way you would in a typical office network? I just didnt see an immediate advantage unless you are saying that the advantage would basically be having the two copies (central and local) vs just the central. The other post that I read they were advising to ONLY create and work out of the central vs having the local file as well. Just wondering what your opinion is. I respect your opinion as you have helped me in the past and there is not a doubt in my mind that you know Revit very well. Thanks. BTW...not sure if this matters but I am running version 2013.

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WWHub

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As I said, the advantage is redundancy.  Have I had central files become corrupt?  Yes, and the easiest "fix" was to make a new central from the best local available ... and I don't believe you can "rollback" a file without a file to roll back from. 

As a single user, you will not have as much potential for problems but.... Is there any advantage to only working in the central? - Yes, file space.  If that is no problem, then why do it?  If you only have one system and no network, I would look at a copy on a removable disk or second hard drive.

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treeves1968

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Well all that being said, I think I will go with a local copy for the redunancy. 2 is always better than one in my opinion. Storage space really isnt a problem for me as I have tons of that. Thanks for all your help. I guess I have been lucky so far and have NEVER had a Revit file get corrupted...but I suppose it is always possible (which is why I back-up very regularly). Thanks again for your help.

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