topic Re: Standard AIA template dwt as output by Revit in AutoCAD Forum

Standard AIA template dwt as output by Revit

massimo.cafarella — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 07:57:13 GMT

Hi all,

I'm a little bit confusing.

Why is not obvious to find a file dwt with AIA like ones used by Revit.

As BIM process require bidirectionality between softwares, I thought easy to find same standards (not only AIA really) available for download or better already included with install of AutoCAD.

What did I miss?

Thank you all.

Re: Standard AIA template dwt as output by Revit

RSomppi — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 12:46:30 GMT

@massimo.cafarella wrote:
As BIM process require bidirectionality between softwares,

This is not true.

@massimo.cafarella wrote:
I thought easy to find same standards (not only AIA really) available for download or better already included with install of AutoCAD.

The right keywords?

Paste this into your search engine of choice: autocad template with aia layers

Re: Standard AIA template dwt as output by Revit

pendean — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 12:42:16 GMT

@massimo.cafarella make one: why wait for someone else do do it all for you.

Re: Standard AIA template dwt as output by Revit

dbroad — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 13:51:21 GMT

Use AutoCAD Architecture.

Re: Standard AIA template dwt as output by Revit

RobDraw — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 09:43:47 GMT

Have you found what you missed? It seems like it was a lot, doesn't it?

Re: Standard AIA template dwt as output by Revit

massimo.cafarella — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 10:34:03 GMT

Well done! All clever at being witty. But no one was able to answer the question or post a link.

Re: Standard AIA template dwt as output by Revit

RobDraw — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 10:57:37 GMT

You have more than enough information to find what you need but you still want it handed to you? That wasn't your question. You said it wasn't obvious and asked what you messed. Your question has been answered with multiple things that you missed.

Good day.

Re: Standard AIA template dwt as output by Revit

dbroad — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 12:08:57 GMT

If you need a link, then see: Standard AIA Templates included with AutoCAD Architecture

Such links are easy to search for. Finding the actual dwt files requires purchasing the software products they are designed to work with, ie AutoCAD Architecture or AutoCAD MEP. AutoCAD isn't BIM and doesn't purport to be.

BTW, Revit doesn't use DWT files. Nor does it use layers. The standards are built into the program and are purpose built for architecture. AutoCAD is general purpose program. Your answers don't indicate that you are reading the responses and responding to yourself isn't helping.

Re: Standard AIA template dwt as output by Revit

massimo.cafarella — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 06:59:44 GMT

Hi @dbroad ,

thank you for the answer to this question.

In my country most professional firms are painstakingly migrating from AutoCAD (almost no one AutoCAD Architecture) to Revit and, worst thing, they ever made reckless use of the layers (and methods).

As a trainer since 1990 I was able to ascertain we always have been a need for them.

The point was that most processes pass through AutoCAD contexts.

I suggest often that the opposite of this Revit export process (especially when we want to respond to BEP requests),

is to build a correct workflow starting from a standards conformed AutoCAD templates aligned with Revit.

I own AutoCAD Architecture but discovered just few days ago this feature is not included in AutoCAD.

I've understood your point of view and I thank you again for support.

Best regards.

Re: Standard AIA template dwt as output by Revit

dbroad — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 13:15:01 GMT

Glad we were able to be of some help. IFC import/export may be of some use if you are using ACA and if you want Revit to export AEC objects to work on vs plain AutoCAD objects. It seems to work pretty well but, since Revit doesn't have a library of styles, like ACA does, there needs to be some editing of the imported data.

When going from AutoCAD or ACA to Revit, I usually reference data from AutoCAD by inserting CAD. Up until recently, that was the only way to reference a pdf for example. To build revit objects from the cad, I would use the pick lines command. For ACA, IFCexport should theoretically work on an ACA Project file (APJ) to create a Revit project. I've never used it though.

ACA used to have templates that had hundreds of layers based on AIA built-in. Most users found that unweildy. So they reduced the dependency on layers and added a layer key and auto-laying system that placed various AEC object on layers recommended by AIA. Revit does similar things when exporting a view to CAD so that it makes possible for consultants who don't need full 3d to work off Revit data using layers instead of visibility and lineweight data in Revit. In fact, for those using ACA, the layers styles that Revit can export are identical to those in ACA so it is possible to work more smoothly than when using AutoCAD.

I use AutoCAD and Revit together because I find it that AutoCAD still has much better 2d geometry generation than Revit. For example, building trusses is better when creating the dimensioned elevations in AutoCAD and then creating the framing member in Revit from AutocAD data.