topic Re: Question Posed by my Students in Revit Architecture Forum

Question Posed by my Students

ayoung6SDW83 — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 16:52:25 GMT

We've been practicing how to import CAD files into Revit projects and a student asked why Revit automatically Pins the file when it's imported. I have not been able to find an answer. Anybody have one?

Also, why does Revit cap 10,000 elements to explode an imported CAD file?

Thanks!

Re: Question Posed by my Students

ToanDN — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 17:13:40 GMT

@ayoung6SDW83 wrote:

We've been practicing how to import CAD files into Revit projects and a student asked why Revit automatically Pins the file when it's imported. I have not been able to find an answer. Anybody have one?

So users don't move the imports by accident.

Also, why does Revit cap 10,000 elements to explode an imported CAD file?

Because 10,001 of imported elements are too much and might cause the Revit model to be slow, unworkable, or even corrupted. In fact, imported CAD files should not be exploded directly in the working project. At all.

Thanks!

Re: Question Posed by my Students

HVAC-Novice — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 18:42:33 GMT

You also can teach them to LINK CAD files and not import them. Importing brings in all the line types etc.

Obviously depends on what you do with the CAD files. but in most cases they are just background to trace and build the Revit model. So after that is done, they can be un-linked without taking resources.

Lot's of things CAN be done, but always keep computing resources in mind. RAM, GPU, CPU.

Re: Question Posed by my Students

a_meteni — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 19:09:47 GMT

Just a tip for a "healthy" Revit model : Do Not Import or Explode CAD Files

Re: Question Posed by my Students

mhiserZFHXS — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 20:56:11 GMT

And since no one has said it yet, never explode a CAD file in Revit.

Re: Question Posed by my Students

barthbradley — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 22:53:00 GMT

I always get a kick out of the "never exploders". They're almost as prolific as the "never Trumpers". I have no qualms about exploding CAD in Revit, although I agree with @ToanDN that exploding a CAD Import in a working project isn't a smart idea -- especially if you don't know what your are going to get on the other side. The action will potentially introduce a lot of crap to the Project that will need to be dealt with. But exploding a CAD Import in a Family or "Sandbox" Project is fine and IME has never caused a catastrophic Extinction Level Event - although it did make me cry on occasion. 😉

Re: Question Posed by my Students

RPTHOMAS108 — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 22:56:59 GMT

If you've even spent half an hour putting in elements based on a dragged CAD import you'll know the answer to this.

This is what happened with the tower of Pisa, someone dragged the CAD import halfway up. It was more of a rotation really (not sure how they managed that).

Re: Question Posed by my Students

RobDraw — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 10:47:25 GMT

@mhiserZFHXS wrote:
And since no one has said it yet, never explode a CAD file in Revit.

It was said in the post right before yours and one other...

Re: Question Posed by my Students

mhiserZFHXS — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 14:28:00 GMT

Sarcasm...

I knew Barth would come along saying its okay, so I figured the more people express that its not okay, the better.

Re: Question Posed by my Students

barthbradley — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 15:40:31 GMT

@mhiserZFHXS wrote:
Sarcasm...

I knew Barth would come along saying its okay, so I figured the more people express that its not okay, the better.

HA! Sounds like you might be slinging some sarcasm too. My input was anecdotal, meant to tap down any irrational fears that "never-exploders" might instill. If you should never ever explode CAD in Revit, then why does Revit give us "Partial Explode" and "Full Explode"? 😉

Re: Question Posed by my Students

mhiserZFHXS — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 16:59:09 GMT

@barthbradley

I'm not sure. Why do BMWs have turn signals? 😊

Re: Question Posed by my Students

ToanDN — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 17:10:03 GMT

@mhiserZFHXS wrote:

@barthbradley

I'm not sure. Why do BMWs have turn signals? 😊

Re: Question Posed by my Students

RPTHOMAS108 — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 17:18:03 GMT

From what I've seen it seems there is no real difference i.e. if you are able to keep the debris from the explosion in the family then that seems like an ok approach to me.

However if you explode or not will not make any difference to the graphical styles, which will remain in the project regardless of what you then do with the family (until you compact project file perhaps). Meaning you can import a family containing an unexploded CAD link and the graphics styles for those are created directly in the project. Then when you delete the family from the project (even if not exploded) such styles will remain. I expect there is a similar reality for geometry information.

Therefore the actual best practice to keep your model small without the need to compact is filter out in AutoCAD what you need to bring in. As soon as you bring in any dwg you are bringing in lots of items you don't need but I understand there is a balance to be struck i.e. you need different parts of it at different times.

If you are exploding, then I expect it is best to explode one that is either in a family or view dependant since that will compartmentalise it to those worksets. The only real benefit is you know where it all is to remove it but you may not notice file size benefit until file is compacted.