Revit Material Definitions

[Anonymous]

We use .rvt files converted to .dwg files for our detailing work.  There are 10's of thousands of RevitMaterialDefinitions in these files that have to be continually purged otherwise the mouse response slows wwaayy ddoowwnn.  Is there a way to handle these .rvt files so that these RevitMaterialDefinitions aren't so bothersome?

[Chris.Aquino]

It's not clear what you are doing. Are you working with the .dwg files in Revit, like in a drafting view? Or do you mean and exported .dwg being worked on in ACAD?

Please give step-by-step instructions to better explain what you are doing.

[Anonymous]

Some of the support drawings that we use from others come in .rvt form.  We have to break these down and convert/export? them for use in AutoCAD. (I'm not part of this process so I'm not sure how these drawings are made useful for us in AutoCAD).  Whenever we bring these files in as xrefs there are many RevitMaterialDefinitions that have to be purged otherwise the response time of the AutCAD application slows way down.  Our tech support has tried to clean out these definitions before anyone else uses these files but they have never been successful in removing them just once.  Eventually we all have to purge so that we can do our work in AutoCAD.

[Anonymous]

We get .rvt files, architecturals and structurals, in .dwg format from the general contractor.  The embedded revitmaterialdefinitions can be purged.  What I'm hoping for here is a way to exterminate them.  Here is an excerpt from this morning's log file.  At the beginning of the week these files were in fairly good shape, very low garbage content. It seems like just the process of reloading these drawings from day to day propagates more and more garbage.  These particular architectural and structural files rarely get updated so I wonder why we have to clean our working drawing multiple times daily.  As we reload updated xrefs from the other trades we coordinate with, the volume of revitmaterialdefinitions grows.  Generally we only load the architecturals and structurals once a day.

"...
Deleting material "RevitMaterialDefinition9988408_18435".
Deleting material "RevitMaterialDefinition9988408_4465245".
Deleting material "RevitMaterialDefinition9988408_7322944".
Deleting material "RevitMaterialDefinition9996404_35341".
34006 materials deleted."

[Anonymous]

Anyone have any new ideas how to keep these removed from the DWG files?  I purge then save then reopen and the the RevitMaterialDefinitions**** return right away.  It slow AutoCAD WAY down when panning and zooming.

[Anonymous]

Same problem here, the RevitMaterialDefinition s are slowing the drawings very much. They can be purged, but once closed the file and re-open, right away, they seem to be back. If anyone finds out how to remove them permanently, Please share with us!

[HN_arucker · Accepted solution]

To anyone still fighting this issue, this post from Civil answered it.https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/civil-3d-forum/revit-material-definitions-keep-showing-up-even-after-...

In short, if you purge your drawing, the materials go away. however, once you even reload another drawing that also has the materials, then whatever materials that file has will now show in your drawing. All files will need to be purged to get rid of them.

In the case above where OP had drawings coming in from another company, everything in that file will need to have materials checked and then purged out before loading it into the model you're working on.