topic Re: Best way to have multiple layout options per floor in Revit Architecture Forum

Best way to have multiple layout options per floor

jhermanDBS — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:02:55 GMT

Hey there. Just wondering if anyone has a good suggestion on dealing with multiple changes to floor plans while working on a project? Example- I have the central file and each time I talk with a client they make changes. Say they make 5 changes to the 1st floor layout over the course of the project. What is the best way to apply those changes but still have the previous layouts in case they want to go back the very first layout I may have initially submitted? Right now I'm basically copying the entire layout, moving it X amount of feet and then making changes to the newly pasted layout but obviously that can make the files VERY large. Appreciate any suggestions.

Re: Best way to have multiple layout options per floor

hmunsell — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:08:29 GMT

one word... Design Options

depending on how big the building is, Design options may be worth looking into.

Re: Best way to have multiple layout options per floor

barthbradley — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:24:49 GMT

So, what you are saying, is that the model is evolving and you want to keep each iteration?

Re: Best way to have multiple layout options per floor

jhermanDBS — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:36:34 GMT

Fairly big. Dealing with a lot of grocery stores and hardware stores. I will have to research design options.

Re: Best way to have multiple layout options per floor

jhermanDBS — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:41:16 GMT

Yes. The model keeps evolving throughout their design process and sometimes after making multiple changes to a certain floor plan, they want to go back to a previous option that I may have done a couple weeks prior.

Re: Best way to have multiple layout options per floor

barthbradley — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:47:15 GMT

@jhermanDBS wrote:
Yes. The model keeps evolving throughout their design process and sometimes after making multiple changes to a certain floor plan, they want to go back to a previous option that I may have done a couple weeks prior.

You've just described every project I've worked on in my career. 😉

Re: Best way to have multiple layout options per floor

jhermanDBS — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:47:33 GMT

And maybe there is no other way besides the copy and paste method I've been doing or saving the project with a new name each time? Just thought I'd check if anyone had a better way of handling it.

Re: Best way to have multiple layout options per floor

hmunsell — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:49:36 GMT

a grocery store might not be that bad.... we work on multistory office buildings and design options can get a bit cumbersome when working on large buildings like that if there not managed well.

The thing with design options is your still basically making copies, but your only saving what you needed to change. You can have multiple Option Sets and each option set can have multiple Options in it. Once you get a final design, you can Accept Primary and it will apply it and remove all the other options.

Re: Best way to have multiple layout options per floor

ToanDN — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:51:34 GMT

If your concern is regarding the file size then it makes no difference whether you copying the layout to other locations or you creating different design options. The file will get bigger either way.

While Design Options is a formal to do it, it does come with a strict workflow in order to do it efficiently, or even be able to do it at all. One of the most apparent differences between using design options versus what you are doing is that you will not see different layouts side by side unless you place different views on a sheet.

https://8020bim.com/design-options-in-revit/

Re: Best way to have multiple layout options per floor

jhermanDBS — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:55:08 GMT

Excellent. I appreciate all the information. I will look into design options and see how over my head I can get 😊

Re: Best way to have multiple layout options per floor

barthbradley — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:57:49 GMT

Personally, I wouldn't use Design Options to track iterations. That's a bunch of work. I would just keep a sandbox project and copy/paste to/from it.