CREATING NEXT STAGE PROJECT FILE

When a main stage in a project has been reach - Schematic Design, Town Planning Design Development, etc. the project must be archived and a new project file created.

The reason to do this is so the drawings from the previous stage can still be issued if required.

The process is:

1. Archive the completed stage.

2. Create a new copy of the completed stage project file - rename it with the next stage. This will become the current model.

3. Open the completed stage project file and delete all model elements (leave all views and sheets).

4. Link in the newly created current stage model file.

This process means that drawings from the completed stage, complete with annotation, can be reissued as required with the updated model information.

For example you may need to issue planning drawings to comply with permit conditions. You will want to issue the same drawings used in the planning permit with an updated revision number.

Or you may want to continue to use the schematic design series for issuing to the owner.

If a stage is particularly short (e.g. SD is used for Town Planning, or DD is used for Tender) the recommendation is to still follow this protocol. So you might go from SD, to TP to DD in the same day. The reason is so there is a clear way to identify project files used for each stage.

1. ARCHIVE

Refer to GUIDELINES > ARCHIVING PROJECT FILES

2. COPY COMPLETED STAGE

Revit internally records its path so you can not move or copy a workshared (central) file. You have to do it via Save As.

1. Open the completed stage project file (e.g. 1506_SD_SHT15_main.rvt)

2. Sync to Central. (to re-freshen your local file).

3. Save As

4. In the Save As dialog:

5. 1. Browse to project's Revit folder.

6. 2. Edit the name (remove your name).

7. 3. Hit Options button.

1. Under Options... tick Make this a Central Model after save.

1. Hit OK

2. Close (you will be in the central file so it is important to close the file).

Repeat if there are linked files containing parts of the building that will be changing (e.g. Facade, interiors, etc).

But not for linked files that won't be changed like site, context, survey etc.

If you have linked the main model file into any Revit link files (e.g. into the Site file for context) you will need to open those and re-load the new project file.

3. MODIFY COMPLETED STAGE

Once the new project file has been created, and the completed stage has been archived, the model contents can be deleted from the completed stage project file.

1. Open the completed stage model file (e.g. 1506_SD_SHT15_main.rvt).

2. Make primary any currently used Option. Delete all unused options.

3. Create a new 3D view.

4. Use Visibility Graphics to make sure all hidden worksets are turned on in the new 3D view.

5. Select everything in the 3D view and hit Delete key.

6. From Insert tab > Revit Link browse to the new Revit project file and place it origin to origin.

7. Repeat if there are other newly created Revit linked files.

8. Make sure they are on the appropriate workset.

9. Sync and Close.

Note that dimensions and tags are likely to be deleted as the objects they refer to have disappeared.

You can copy and paste them from your archived copy of the project, (open both files and copy & paste between them), although you will need to do it view by view.

The alternative is to add missing dimensions and tags as required when you reissue drawings, on the assumption not all drawings are likely to be reissued.