Getting imported symbol to show up on all Floor Plans or RCP plans

[Anonymous]

Hopefully you guys can point me in the right direction.  I'm a fire sprinkler designer working on a apartment complex.  The architect has sent me a copy of the Revit file.  I noticed that located inside the Revit file are plans of each individual apartment unit.  The plans I believe are used to created the overall floor plans with a concept like X-refs so the architect doesn't have to draw the same unit over and over.  he draws it once and xrefs it into the floor plan and its done...…...I figured if I take the same unit plan and insert my sprinkler heads hopefully I could use that same concept and not have to go and place the same heads over and over.

I imported the sprinkler symbol in a test unit and it showed up. Then I opened the over all floor plan and to my surprise it showed up in the correct unit on the floor plan...….BUT!!!!! its not showing up in all the same similar units.  For example Unit C it shows up correctly but exactly next to it is another Unit C just mirrored in layout. Nothing is showing up in that unit.

If I impoted the sprinkler symbol in the base Unit C file shouldnt it show up in all Unit C locations not just 1 random room?  I attached an image on Unit C so you guys can see what I'm talking about

Thank you guys for your help!!!!

[barthbradley]

Sounds like Model Groups. Unlikely that Architect mirrored Model Groups.  Are you sure about that?  Do the "Mirrored" Model Groups have the exact same name?  

[Anonymous]

That's a good idea let me check and see

[Anonymous]

I checked they seem to have the same name.  I cant seem to locate any other unit layouts in modified orientations

[barthbradley]

Can you just post the file? 

[Anonymous]

Please find link to file below

https://www.dropbox.com/s/y53grrjjystohpn/Station%201300%20-%20head.rvt?dl=0

[barthbradley]

Wow! I didn't need this much info! I'm going to need some direction here.  Where's your work at?  

[Anonymous]

My bad I'm not use to working with Revit.  I'm new to the program.  If you look under working set / subfolder A4 unit types you will find the types of Units used to create the entire floor.  If you click on Floor Plan: 1C Alt 2 or Floor Plan: 1C AREA it will bring up the unit and you will see my sprinklers heads designated by circles.

I was thinking if you can see my sprinkler heads there then if you click on drawing set / A6 Reflected Ceiling Plans you should be able to look in units C and see the heads there also.  But the heads don't show up??????

But if you click on a random floor plan page you might see the heads but they aren't in all the Unit C types just one.

If you like we could do a go to meeting and I could show you

[barthbradley]

I'm not readily see an issue.  Seems to be working fine here. I Edit Group, Add your CAD Block and click Finish. All the like Groups are instantaneously updated to include the CAD.  Not for you?  Are you sure your CAD is turned on? Look under the Imported Categories Tab in the View's Visibility & Graphics dialog box? 

FWIW, all the Project's Model Groups are listed under Model Groups in the Project Browser.  

[Anonymous]

Are you serious!!!! Its not working for me at all.  When you said you imported my CAD block where did you do that step at?  Was that under the groups / model folder?

Could you possibly reload that file back to the drop box link

[Anonymous]

Are you willing to do a go to meeting.  I would pay for your time so you could walk me through the process you are using

[barthbradley]

I added the "Station 1300_Residential - Uints-Floor Plan - 1C ALT2.dwg" (the whole enchilada)  to the "BATHROOM TYPE 1.2" Model Group using the workflow above (Edit Group=>Add=>Finish).  BAM!  24 "BATHROOM TYPE 1.2" Model Groups in the Project now have in them the "Station 1300_Residential - Uints-Floor Plan - 1C ALT2.dwg".  

What's happening when you do that? 

[Anonymous]

when I follow that step it doesn't allow me to import the CAD file.  That option is greyed out.

For example I navigated to the 1C Unit.  I clicked on the model group bathroom 1 = add= it wont let me add that CAD file

[barthbradley]

First, always ADD pre-existing elements to a Group. Do not introduce new elements to a Project while in Group Edit Mode. Place first, then Edit and Add to Group.   Second, the Views are by and large all controlled by View Templates.  In order to by-pass any lock-outs the Template has imposed, you need to deactivate the View Template (set it to "None").  But, all this being said, why are you modifying Views instead of the Model Groups themselves. And why are you adding all that other CAD linework to the Model Groups? What's the coordination/documentation workflow?  

[Anonymous]

We don't use Revit for our workflow / design process.  We use another CAD based program.  We normally get the Revit file from the architect so we export the CAD backgrounds I.E. RCP Plan, HVAC Plan, Floor Plan, Electrical..and so on.  Once I export those plans to CAD format I load them into our program and off I go with design.  I never go back to Revit after that point.

But I noticed with all the apartment jobs we are doing I am placing individual heads over and over for the same room layouts.  I figured if I could learn how to import the CAD sprinkler head drawing for each unit into Revit.  I could possibly use the program to place all the heads in the proper unit. (That's why the CAD file has the entire unit not just the circular heads. My first time trying this) From that point export the background file and BAM!!! all heads are placed in the proper location based on the parent unit file saving me tons of time doing the same unit over and over.  

My lack of knowledge with Revit is creating the problem obviously because you have achieved what im trying to do with very little effort. Its KILLING ME!!!! that I cant get it to work on my end.

From what you are saying I need to add the sprinkler heads as their own Group for Unit C for example.  Then use the Project Browser to navigate to Unit Type C form their open the model group and edit it by adding the sprinkler ground into it.  Once I do that I should be able to open for example a total floor plan and see that the heads have been added for all C type units.