topic Re: Cannot make a central model out of existing project. in Revit MEP Forum

Cannot make a central model out of existing project.

mtwittJTQAR — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:19:31 GMT

Hi All,

I am trying to make a central model out of an existing project that was only used by one team member. Im in Revit 23 for reference.

When I go to the collaborate tab and enable "within your network" worksharing, it seems to be fine, it goes through the process. I then go to save as and the option "Make this a Central Model after save" is grayed out and unable to be checked. Then I look at the bottom and see I have no active workset, which to me means worksharing is not enabled. There is only two worksets, "Workset 1" and "Shared Levels and Grids". It is my understanding that these are default worksets. If I attempt to make any of the worksets "non editable" I get the error "The project has not been synchronized to Central since this workset was created. Please synchronize with central and then make this change". Which leads me to believe this is the issue.

I have no idea how my coworker set this project up initially and neither does he. To my knowledge this was never a central model, even if it was, why would there be an issue turning into to one? The option for "detatch from central model" is also grayed out. We are trying to hand this project off to our pre-fabrication team since coordination has been completed.

Has anyone experienced this or does anyone know the solution?

Re: Cannot make a central model out of existing project.

RSomppi — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:10:37 GMT

Whenever I make a new central model, I exit and reopen thus ensuring that I am creating a local copy of the model to work in. The reason "Make this a Central Model after save" is grayed out is because you are in the central model.

Re: Cannot make a central model out of existing project.

mtwittJTQAR — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:41:07 GMT

The create local model is also grayed out.

Re: Cannot make a central model out of existing project.

mtwittJTQAR — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:42:03 GMT

The create local model and detatch from central are both grayed out aswell.

Re: Cannot make a central model out of existing project.

iainsavage — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 17:21:59 GMT

You enable worksharing then Save As to a location and file name that you want - it will automatically be saved as a central model.

Then close the model.

Then re-open the model and make sure that Create New Local is ticked.

Re: Cannot make a central model out of existing project.

RSomppi — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:26:18 GMT

Sorry, but you are missing something. If you are seeing the default worksets, it is already a central model. Maybe, as @iainsavage mentioned, you aren't saving after making it a central model. Revit usually asks you to do these things if you miss something. You are right close if not already there and not realizing it.

Re: Cannot make a central model out of existing project.

mtwittJTQAR — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:34:43 GMT

This is exactly what I have done, I go to reopen the model, the create local model is grayed out still. Im at a loss. Ive made a central model plenty of times before, I dont know what is going wrong here.

Re: Cannot make a central model out of existing project.

mtwittJTQAR — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:36:20 GMT

I see the default worksets, I save it, then I go back to my file and both the create new local and detach from central are options are greyed out. I go back into the file and I cant even select an active workset. This is both before saving and after saving.

Re: Cannot make a central model out of existing project.

RSomppi — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:39:50 GMT

Can you share the original model?

Re: Cannot make a central model out of existing project.

mtwittJTQAR — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:43:43 GMT

I wish I could but this project has a NDA attached.

Re: Cannot make a central model out of existing project.

RSomppi — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:47:21 GMT

@mtwittJTQAR wrote:
I go back into the file and I cant even select an active workset. This is both before saving and after saving.

Do you get a message when opening. Like the one that says the central model has been moved...

Some screenshots might help if you cannot share the model.