How to break down existent .rvt file into several?

[Anonymous]

My project is to model an 8-story building in Revit:

I already have the outside part, from a laser scanner point cloud here:

Revit Model of Texas School Book Depository Exterior 

Currently working on the building's content.

Since I prefer to break down the model into floors, this is one of the approaches that I am considering.

 (1) Make multiple copy of the original file "TSBD.rvt"

 (2) Remove all floors, except the basement, save as "Basement.rvt"

 (3) Remove all floors except No. 1, save as "Floor-1.rvt".

  ...

 (10) Remove all floors except No. 7, save as "Floor-7.rvt".

The only problem is that I am such a novice that I am not sure how to remove a floor entirely.

Does that approach seem reasonable?

TIA,

-Ramon F Herrera
JFK Numbers

[SteveKStafford]

Don't do it. That's not how Revit is meant to be used or work. Single building single model (discipline). Breaking it into models per floor will be a fragmented and difficult way to work when trying to pull it all back together for documentation (assuming it isn't just a school project that never gets to that).

If you want to do this because ...CAD... this is different software, try to work in the environment the way it was designed and intend to do it.

[martijn_pater · Accepted solution]

I suppose you could use selection sets and groups (save group as .rvt) to seperate the file.

[ToanDN]

I would not do that.  Keep all levels in one file make it much more easier to manage content, standards, and documentation.  If you have any MEP work then I guarantee the engineers would not like you handing them a file for every level.

Only separate the model if they are independent buildings.  For really huge projects, they may separate shell and core and that is where I would draw the line.

[Anonymous]

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@SteveKStafford wrote:

Don't do it. That's not how Revit is meant to be used or work. Single building single model (discipline). Breaking it into models per floor will be a fragmented and difficult way to work when trying to pull it all back together for documentation (assuming it isn't just a school project that never gets to that).

If you want to do this because ...CAD... this is different software, try to work in the environment the way it was designed and intend to do it.

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Hi Steve:

Perhaps I should explain the nature of my project. This is not a school assignment. I would like to make a video similar to this one:

The White House, Floor by Floor 

... and eventually, a VR immersion experience as this:

The Titanic VR Video 

These assets will be deposited in the respective floors:

TSBD Devices in the SolidWorks Forums 

This is not a construction project, either, the building was done decades ago. As soon as possible, the whole thing will be exported to 3ds Max.

Thanks!

-Ramon
JFK Numbers

[SteveKStafford · Accepted solution]

When you export a view it can be limited to just what is visible in the view. That means you can export 3D models floor by floor even though you have a single building model. When you export from a plan view you get a 2D drawing (DWG)...when you export from 3D view you get 3D solids or polymesh (options). In a 3D view you can crop the view using Orient to View (right click on view cube) and choose a floor plan (level). The view's scope box will be turned on an cropped to the View Range extents of that view. You can then orbit(spin) the 3D view to see the model axonometrically. Export each view and you end up with slices that can be used in other software.

[Anonymous]

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@ToanDN wrote:

I would not do that.  Keep all levels in one file make it much more easier to manage content, standards, and documentation.  If you have any MEP work then I guarantee the engineers would not like you handing them a file for every level.

Only separate the model if they are independent buildings.  For really huge projects, they may separate shell and core and that is where I would draw the line.

---

Hi:

The only engineer that will ever deal with that model is me. That building is the famous Texas School Book Depository, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas. The project took off when I was donated the laser files from this documentary.

PBS Cold Case: JFK Program 

There are separate buildings, actually. But this one is the star, since the/some shots originated there.

Cheers,

-Ramon
JFK Numbers