topic DWF Files Rotated when viewed in Forma Data Management Files Viewer in Forma for Construction Forum

DWF Files Rotated when viewed in Forma Data Management Files Viewer

matthewbuschur — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:44:26 GMT

Hello all,

I'm seeing an odd behavior with exported DWF files when viewed in the viewer through Data Management/Build's files. If I view the file in the forma viewer, it is rotated 90 degrees on its side. Appearing to be a mismatched up axis similar to what happens when you go from inventor or solidworks to BIM software like REVIT. However, previous dwfs that were exported the same way don't show this behavior. Additionally, when I download the source file and open it in Navisworks, it opens with the correct orientation.

The DWF files are being exported from Revit 2025.

Anyone have any idea of why this is happening and how to fix it?

Re: DWF Files Rotated when viewed in Forma Data Management Files Viewer

josebaqueror — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:07:22 GMT

That 90-degree flip is the viewer reading a different world up-axis than the DWF was written with, so it is an orientation mismatch rather than anything wrong with your geometry.

A few things to check and try:

1. It matters whether this is a 3D DWF or a 2D sheet DWF. For 3D DWF the viewer applies a world up-axis (Y-up vs Z-up), and if the exporting app wrote the other convention you get exactly this on-its-side result. For a 2D sheet it is usually a model-space vs paper-space orientation carried into the export.

2. The most reliable fix is to skip the DWF translation guesswork and publish a format the viewer handles orientation for natively. If these are coming from Revit or similar, uploading the RVT, NWD or IFC instead of a DWF usually views upright, because the viewer knows those coordinate systems. DWF tends to be the weak link for orientation.

3. If you must stay on DWF, re-export with the model oriented to the world up you want before publishing (set the view so the intended up is world Z), rather than relying on the viewer to correct it after the fact.

Is this a 3D DWF or 2D sheets, and what app is exporting them? That tells us whether it is the 3D up-axis convention or a sheet-orientation thing, and which of the above is the quicker fix.

Re: DWF Files Rotated when viewed in Forma Data Management Files Viewer

matthewbuschur — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:41:27 GMT

The file is a 3D DWF.

I found a bandaid workaround that I've been using the last few days. I'm not sure if I just overlooked it or if these options were added recently. Eccentially, I've been setting the viewcube to front, and then overriding the current view as top. This works, but means I have to do it each and every time I open the file.

I have considered using a different format or accessing the RVT file directly, but due both to inner office permissions and licensing, my preference is to try to stay with DWF. Many of our employees access the file's through Navisworks freedom, which can only open dwf and nwd files. Historically, we've not used nwd files because I believe there is a two step process to generating that from Revit, though I may be wrong.

I suppose I could also push our team to just use the Forma viewer and not use Navis Freedom.

When you say to re-export with the model oriented to the intended world up, are you essentially saying orient the revit model to the "front" view before exporting?

Appreciate the help!

Re: DWF Files Rotated when viewed in Forma Data Management Files Viewer

matthewbuschur — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:21:52 GMT

We just tried re-exporting the dwf with the REVIT view oriented to front view. Sure enough, the resulting file was oriented correctly in Forma's viewer.

I'll report back if that suddenly stops working.

Thank you again for your time and help!