topic Re: Revit Conversion to dwg plot/xref errors in AutoCAD Forum

Revit Conversion to dwg plot/xref errors

tmorrison8KTHE — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 21:50:22 GMT

Hello,

Received nearly 50 dwg files converted from Revit. I don’t have Revit, nor do I know how to use it. I made a sheet set to navigate and publish but all the sheets are set to “plot area” : “display” & sheet size is 8.5x11. Furthermore, there are no xrefs except a few images and the markups do indicate shared geometry (there should be xrefs, right?).

Should I suck it up and do all the changes one drawing at a time? Including set each page “plot area” to “layout” ( I could really use a script here of any of you have one to change plot area. I have used script pro in the past with success).

should the party’s who sent me these files easily be able to convert the rvt files as needed?

I appreciate any input. Feel free to ask for clarity. I may be (keyword maybe ;)) able to attach a couple drawings for clarity, but don’t count on it.

-Thaddeus

Re: Revit Conversion to dwg plot/xref errors

pendean — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 22:43:56 GMT

REVIT does not auto-create XREFs when creating DWG files. That's not how it works. "they" would not be able to do anything about this AutoCAD feature.

You can control your plot output by using predefined pagesetups from your templates https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-AD4657F5-6F0D-4BE4-B986-1F3ACB64C593-htm.html
or if you use PUBLISH you can use a pagesetup from your template as a go-by to publish these drawings https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Selecting-one-page-setup-for-all-sheets-to-be-published.html

>>>...Should I suck it up and do all the changes one drawing at a time? ...<<<
From your description, sadly yes.

Re: Revit Conversion to dwg plot/xref errors

RobDraw — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 12:10:04 GMT

@pendean wrote:
REVIT does not auto-create XREFs when creating DWG files. That's not how it works. "they" would not be able to do anything about this AutoCAD feature.

Yes, it does. In fact, it is the default OOTB. Let me introduce you to Revit export settings.

Re: Revit Conversion to dwg plot/xref errors

pendean — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 14:03:17 GMT

I learnt something new today: thanks!

Re: Revit Conversion to dwg plot/xref errors

tmorrison8KTHE — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 15:12:10 GMT

@RobDraw

Thanks Rob! What about the sheet size and having the "Plot Area" set to "Layout". Is that possible from the Revit menu?

Re: Revit Conversion to dwg plot/xref errors

brettgatti — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 15:17:36 GMT

Revit does create Xrefs but they are not shared across files. It exports unique Xrefs for each view (adjusted to the visibility of that view) that is exported on the sheets.

Re: Revit Conversion to dwg plot/xref errors

RobDraw — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 15:26:52 GMT

@tmorrison8KTHE wrote:
@RobDraw
Thanks Rob! What about the sheet size and having the "Plot Area" set to "Layout". Is that possible from the Revit menu?

I think that is a moot point unless you are planning on asking the party doing the export to do it for you but the answer is no. That needs to be done in AutoCAD. I used to have a batch routine that would apply page set-ups to multiple files but it's not handy ATM.

You might try asking over in the LISP and Customization forum for something like that.

Re: Revit Conversion to dwg plot/xref errors

josip_zdrilicE5DGA — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:08:58 GMT

So i have right now the problem again, the xref files are generated, saved in the same folder, relative path - and when i open the autocad file - they are not visible.
I mean autodesk, one software developer, cant solve this issue that we dont have to spend hours browsing some self helping groups on these forums - is really poor.

I have 4 xref files, and a pointcloud file - nothing - nada - niente is visible.

Re: Revit Conversion to dwg plot/xref errors

imadHabash — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:13:21 GMT

@josip_zdrilicE5DGA

would you please make a new post with your issue to get wide help? Press Start a topic button in the main page to get start.