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Revit Family Export to DWG

15 REPLIES 15
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Message 1 of 16
munsellh
6775 Views, 15 Replies

Revit Family Export to DWG

Been having issues with my Revit export to DWG, Particularly pertaining to the Blocks that get exported from the Revit families….

 

I drew 4 walls of different types in my working file. I then placed the same door in each wall and exported it. when I opened the DWG all the door “blocks” that were made from the family had different names.

-          Door 1 Block Name: "WRA_Single-Flush w HM Frame - 36_ x 84_-1231691-Export A-FP-01 _AR900_"

-          Door 2 Block Name: "WRA_Single-Flush w HM Frame - 36_ x 84_-1231690-Export A-FP-01 _AR900_"

-          Door 3 Block Name: "WRA_Single-Flush w HM Frame - 36_ x 84_-1231693-Export A-FP-01 _AR900_"

From what it looks like, when exported, Revit is naming the block by Family Name - Element ID - View Name. I have exported other files from other project files that follow the same format, but the “Element ID” numbers are the same. Either way, this is undesirable.

 

Is there any way to just have the family export as a block with just the family name. all these doors are the same and should be that same block when exported, not all the extra info.

 

 

HJM

15 REPLIES 15
Message 2 of 16
hmunsell
in reply to: munsellh

Another example….

 

In walls 1, 2 & 3 all the doors were placed individually and when exported all have different names. at least the 7 digit number in the middle of the block name is different on each. see pervious post...

 

In walls 4, 5 & 6 the top door was placed individually, the lower 2 in each wall were copied down from the original. The top doors are all named different, the lower two on each wall are the same name (different from the original) per wall.

 

HJM

Howard Munsell
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Message 3 of 16
GURUFUN
in reply to: munsellh

Hello,


When I export our Revit models to AutoCAD, every single structural column comes with a different block name. This happens for doors and other Revit objects as well. So I have 20 instances of the same column in Revit, but in AutoCAD they are all different blocks with different names.

 

I am also desperately wondering if anyone came accross a workaround for this? Is there a way to have all the Revit objects exported as copies of the same block, with the same block name? I would really appreciate if any one can provide some further insight on this. The subject is very crucial to our work.


We're using Revit for certain tasks in the office and we deliver the construction documents in AutoCAD. Therefore, we frequently export our models to .DWG format. We have our own export settings to match with the CAD standards of the office, so the exported files match with our AutoCAD drawings without any problems.

 

As a matter of fact, when I export "M_Double C-Channel-Column - 2C380X74" steel columns they all come with the same block name in the exported .DWG (which is M_Double C-Channel-Column - 2C380X74-3223-Level 1). However, when I export "M_Concrete-Rectangular-Column - 300 x 450mm" concrete columns they all come with different block names such as:


M_Concrete-Rectangular-Column - 300 x 450mm-2600-Level 1

M_Concrete-Rectangular-Column - 300 x 450mm-V1-Level 1

M_Concrete-Rectangular-Column - 300 x 450mm-V2-Level 1

 

This was tested on a clean plan view, in a new project which I created without a template, where no other object was created but only 3 structural concrete columns.

 

Thanks in advance,

Gurhan     

Message 4 of 16
duncan.lithgow
in reply to: GURUFUN

I'm thinking that if the Family Types have some instance parameters then the DWG exporter can'ty really know if they're all identical. That might explain why each instance is sometimes a different block. Haven't tested this theory.

Message 5 of 16
vector2
in reply to: munsellh

I never used AutoCAD but I heard about 150 times from

CAD drafters that they can draw just as fast as Revit.

 

So why wouldn't a CAD drafter simply draw their OWN

doors and walls? Using a Revit printout for reference.

 

Seems like you would get everything exactly the way

you wanted it then.

 

Is there something I'm missing?

Message 6 of 16
GURUFUN
in reply to: munsellh

I figured out, when you export a view with structural concrete columns in Revit, the hatch of the column type causes this problem. It's because if you use a concrete hatch, all the column instances crop the hatch pattern in a non-identical manner. So here is a "parameter" cad export does not understand.

Message 7 of 16
hmunsell
in reply to: munsellh

Ahhh the age old “Drafting” argument..... I date back the board drafting (pencil and Pen on paper)….. back then the argument was that they could draw It on the board faster that I could draw it in AutoCAD (v2.7). I would often agree until the changes came, at which point I would ask them, as I was leaving for lunch, what was taking them so long…..

 

I just got done teaching a class to some of our PM’s. I asked at the beginning of the class why some of them didn’t want to learn it. The consensus at the beginning of the class was that Revit takes longer, because you have to put in so much more information. At the end of the class I had a class of converts.

 

The real issue is that Revit is a Design tool, not a Drafting tool. If your designers are using Revit, the only reason to export it to CAD is because someone designer or engineer does not want to learn Revit. My office often has to export to DWG to meet a Client deliverable requirement. Or to send it to someone to a sub-consultant to use as a background.  

Howard Munsell
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Message 8 of 16
vector2
in reply to: hmunsell


@hmunsell wrote:

Revit is a Design tool, not a Drafting tool.


That's fair enough.

 

we can REALLY learn something together. 

 

 

Edited by
Discussion_Admin

Message 9 of 16
hmunsell
in reply to: vector2

I know some Architects that would argue that with you on the “Not a Conceptual design tool” comment….

 

I’m not an Architect or an Engineer, just a lowly BIM support specialist and trainer, but there is a lot of Conceptual design that can be done utilizing Revit. Using the Massing, Design Option and other tools you can do quite a bit and  once you have settled on a design, you can use that Mass as an intelligent basis of your model.

 

We have “Kid” we recently hired our of collage that only knows SketchUp. All he does is Conceptual design drawings for one of our architects. I can duplicate ANY of his designs in Revit using masses, have them just as malleable and have them actually be able to give information back. Then when the Concept is done, instead of having the architect have to redraw everything, they could use his Masses to continue their design.

Howard Munsell
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Message 10 of 16
duncan.lithgow
in reply to: vector2

Why do you prefer this forum over the ones augi has maintainted for many years?

 

The only difference I can see is that here are some Autodesk employees, which is great. Also that it's much quieter here, try looking at the number of new posts here and there, also the number of unanswered or unsolved posts here. But I'll give it time and see what happens.

Message 11 of 16
twilks1
in reply to: hmunsell

Well, many of the designers in our office use Sketchup for conceptual design because they can knock out many iterations of a concept model much faster than Revit can. They don't have the constraints that exist in Revit and it provides for a much freer environment to work in at the conceptual stage. I wish Autodesk understood this and would create or enhance the conceptual modelling of Revit. If they were smart about it, they could capture another large market and enhance everyones productivity in the process.

Message 12 of 16
ccollins
in reply to: twilks1

http://projectvasari.com/

 

Check it out. Perhaps not quite as nimble as SU, esp. at first--but Adesk IS listening, and the Conceptual Massing

tools have improved drastically. You can even edit in Perspective in Vasari--which is a HUGE advance, esp. when trying to convert hardcore SU users. Raster images also are displayed in 3D views in Vasari--another big advantage.

 

You also have Energy Analysis tools built in. Vasari saves out .rfa and .rvt files, so it works well with Revit.

 

Soon Vasari will knock SU out of the office. New users who don't use SU, and begin learning Vasari love it

and do not have the "SU - vs - Revit - vs - Rhino, etc" attitude.

Cliff B. Collins
Registered Architect/BIM Manager
Thalden Boyd Emery Architects
St. Louis, MO
Message 13 of 16
vector2
in reply to: duncan.lithgow


@duncan.lithgow wrote:

Why do you prefer this forum over the ones augi has maintainted for many years? 



Well for one thing I really don't like that vBulletin software. But yes they have, (or had), all the high-level Revit

experts. Here we only have a handful, (except for the employees),

of Revit experts, and I'm not one of them. Smiley Sad

 

Edited by
Discussion_Admin

 

Message 14 of 16
GURUFUN
in reply to: munsellh

Thank god SketchUp has a completely different mentality. It doesn't matter how people use it in the offices, SketchUp has the ability to function like a very basic design tool such a pencil and paper. Vasari might catch a success in the future because of certain compatibility advantages but it cannot replace SketchUp, because SketchUp serves very different purposes: You can just play, think or mess around with it. This is something Autocad will never be able to do so.

 

Here is an example:

http://youtu.be/cJdd9MZx1aQ

Message 15 of 16
vector2
in reply to: GURUFUN


@GURUFUN wrote:

SketchUp 


Absolutely, nothing can beat SketchUp for sketching on the computer

in 3D. More than half of architects use it. A SketchUp model can also

be rendered with V-Ray.

 

Does it beat a pencil and paper? That just depends on which way the

architect likes to do it.

 

Edited by
Discussion_Admin

Message 16 of 16
mmermel
in reply to: hmunsell

Regarding exporting to cad for clients:



We're and M/E/P firm making a big push to all Revit all the time, with management figuring we can just export the sheets and views, etc. to cad for our clients. I've been deep into researching what I'll be up against. I can get most of the cad output to look good, and I understand how to get my symbolic lines onto more or less the correct layers when I export.

What I'd like to know is, how do you deal with the following in terms of meeting client standards?


Generic annotation elements used to create floor plan symbol (receptacles, valves, etc) export to AutoCAD as line work, not as blocks. (Clients want blocks)
Unlike exported model elements, exported annotation elements if created correctly can be tricked onto a particular layer, but such elements do not have “Phase Status” (-D, -E, -N) modifiers which can be added to the layer name through the Revit export table to separate them in the cad drawing. (clients want items on correct layer for demo/existing/new)
If it is visible in the view it will be exported. One recommendation is the creation of an EXPORT view which displays only the elements you need exported. For example: Hide all unreferenced section lines. The alternative is going through all drawings to remove unwanted elements. (time consuming clean up)
Text must be manipulated/tweaked in the cad drawing due to differences in how the programs format text (time consuming clean up)
Revit currently exports leaders as unconnected components (client expects leaders)
Hatches and filled regions DO NOT export correctly and must be fixed manually. This includes things like the filled region in some receptacles and panels. (time consuming clean up)

Thanks



Mitch Mermel

CADD Manager

Matern Professional Engineering

Maitland, Fl

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