Forums >> General Discussion >> Revit Project Management >> Large project with multiple buildings - file management

rranyc

active

Joined: Fri, Feb 8, 2013
5 Posts
No Rating

Hi, All, 

First time poster, so sorry if this has been covered/ is in the wrong spot. We are working on a huge housing project that incorporates 5 developments with as many as 10 buildings per development. We are documenting existing conditions as well as offering redesign options. The team is about 5-7 deep and the Revit knowledge is limited except for about 3 of us, and even we are nowhere near expert . This is also, of course, a very, very fast paced project. Right now each building in each development is set up in its own file. Per governmental requirements, the set will have all the developments submitted together. Within the set, each development will be scheduled together. Right now we are accomplishing this by linking building files together to create schedules that incorporate all info from every building in a development.

We were thinking it might be a good idea to have multiple buildings in a single file...? This would aid in scheduling, and getting the information drafted in a timelier manner, as there would be less file switching. Also, it would help with printing, as right now we cannot batch plot from multiple files. (Is that even possible?)

We are super concerned about having 60 or so individual files that information has to be input into, drawing standards have to be coordinated, sheets have to be set up and printing needs to occur.

We would be very grateful for any and all advice about batch printing, file management...anything.

Thanks in advance! 

This user is offline

dgcad

active

Joined: Thu, Mar 17, 2005
1231 Posts

Wow, you have your hands full. The answer is the have a BIM Execution Plan from the Get Go with a developed project template and family library.

There's nothing wrong with seperate files and linking in my opinion as long as you put each linked file on it's own workset in the composite file.

This is a tough one to field from a discussion group approach. I'd need to get directly involved and see more.

I hate to use this as an example but for everyone else do yourself and your employer a big favor and create a BIM Execution Plan before the modelling starts.

I think Autodesk has a Batch Plotting Extension for subscription customers ? Have a look.

-----------------------------------

FULL 'DOWNLOAD ACCESS' to all 850+ CADclips videos for only $150

This user is offline

View Website

rranyc

active

Joined: Fri, Feb 8, 2013
5 Posts
No Rating

Hi!

Thanks for the quick response. Yes, I totally agree that an execution plan should be in place. I am coming onto the project after it was started, so am scrambling trying to get things organized prior to this next phase starting. This has the potential to be a disaster if these files don't get organized! 

I have been doing some other research and it does seem like keeping all the files sep and linking them into a composite file is the way to go. Can we dimension, tag and annotate in the composite file? I think that would solve a lot of our problems if those things can occur in the composite. Then we would just be modeling in each file and everything else (annotation, schedules and sheet set up/ plotting can be done in the composite)

What do you think?

Thank you!!

This user is offline

dgcad

active

Joined: Thu, Mar 17, 2005
1231 Posts

Yes you can tag, schedule, dimension and annotate in the composite file. Remember to put each linkled file onto it's own dedictaed workset.

-----------------------------------

FULL 'DOWNLOAD ACCESS' to all 850+ CADclips videos for only $150

This user is offline

View Website

rranyc

active

Joined: Fri, Feb 8, 2013
5 Posts
No Rating

Thank you very, very much!

This user is offline

dgcad

active

Joined: Thu, Mar 17, 2005
1231 Posts

It's never too late to put together a little bubble diagram outlining the model matrix. Everyone loves a bubble diagram.

-----------------------------------

FULL 'DOWNLOAD ACCESS' to all 850+ CADclips videos for only $150

This user is offline

View Website

rranyc

active

Joined: Fri, Feb 8, 2013
5 Posts
No Rating

Oh yes, the diagrams have begun! 

Another quick question - If each linked model is on its own workset, then only one person can modify that workset at a time, correct? Or am I missing something? Will one person be able to tag doors while another cuts and modifys sections?

Thanks! 

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

The linked model can not be edited through the workset - It has to be opened in its own

Revit session - and not while it is loaded in an already open model.

This user is offline

rranyc

active

Joined: Fri, Feb 8, 2013
5 Posts
No Rating

Yes, I understand it can not be edited thru the linked file, is cutting a section considered editing the model?

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

Cutting a section is not workset dependent AND IT CUTS ALL MODELS.

This user is offline

dgcad

active

Joined: Thu, Mar 17, 2005
1231 Posts

The main reason behind putting the links on individual worksets is for display control.

-----------------------------------

FULL 'DOWNLOAD ACCESS' to all 850+ CADclips videos for only $150

This user is offline

View Website

Managing large projects in Revit? Site with multiple units/buildings.

1

File/Project Management

0

File Management - Large Projects

2

Documenting Multiple buildings

0

LINKING MULTIPLE BUILDINGS INTO ONE PROJECT

0