How to link CAD in only a few Views in Revit?

[M_Perez]

I know that when I link a DWG I can select to make in visible just in the actual view or all of them. Is it possible to make it visible in a few of them? My only approach would be to rename it once pro view and import it several times. I know I can control VG for each view in order to make it invisible, but it is a 3D model and it would give me extra visibility problems.

Thanks!

Title renamed for clarity by @Viveka_CD

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

If you linked it in visible in one view only then just copy paste align to a few other views.

[M_Perez]

That is perfect!

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @M_Perez

Click Insert tab>Link CAD

Set the Option to current view only:

Option	Definition
Current View Only	Imports a CAD drawing into the active view only and elements behave like annotation. For example, you might want an AutoCAD object to appear only in a Revit floor plan view and not in a 3D view. This option is not available when importing to a 3D view.

Current view only

Hope that helps!

Please select the Accept as Solution button if posts resolve your issue or answer your question. Likes welcome!

Regards,

[M_Perez]

As I sais a had done it, but wanted it in a few views, not only one. The solutions from @ToanDN works perfectly.

Thanks!

[Viveka_CD]

No problem 

Glad you have it working!

I've added the image to help the community seeking similar solutions!

Related article:

Paste Aligned Elements

Regards,

[syman2000]

My advice is to create another Revit file and dump all the CAD into this container Revit file. Place the CAD link as current view. You don't need to create levels. Simply duplicate level 1 & name them CAD - Level 1, Level 2 and etc. When you link the Revit file into the current model, you simply choose linked view & select the number of CAD file you want. This works great if you have multiple discipline that still using AutoCAD & you can use it as to collaborate. Great thing about the external Revit file is you can call up the view in multiple views without copying the same CAD objects.

[M_Perez]

That is also a great workarround!

You could then make just one of the Plans visible, isn't it? Is there a way to pick some of them to be visible?

[syman2000]

You can super impose multiple CAD plan in one view. However the Link by view will only take that particular view. So you have to setup all the CAD link visibility in the Revit file inorder to function. Also if you set the CAD link to current view only, it will show up in that view. So when you link the Revit into the main model, you have to constantly call up the link view. Alternatively you can set it to Revit link and check off the current view. The issue you will get is the model object will hide the CAD portion.

[MiWolff]

This is a brilliant approach - if only Revit would honour the 'by linked view's crop region. We were provided a 4x4 grid of floor plans and the floor plan crop region was used to single them out. Unfortunately, this is not passed through to the import project's new host model.

[rmc9WR3X]

If only Revit would make DWGs underlay as expected with full control of visibility on a sheet instead of forcing us to pretend they're 3D.

[rmc9WR3X]

If you go with the linked Revit model as a container for DWGs you'll end up with duplicate Level lines on your elevations, so go back into the linked model and Duplicate the Level type with a new name for this type, save the model, and reload the link in your actual project. Then go through this process of building a filter and applying it to the elevation you need: Hiding Specific Level Markers in Revit | Applying Technology to Architecture (wordpress.com)

[megan_randerson]

Hi,

Regarding the container dwg, is this still the recommend approach to manage lots of dwgs and then link via view?  Or are there better ways now like dwgs in families?

Cheers,

Megan

[megan_randerson]

Hi,

Regarding the container dwg, is this still the recommend approach to manage lots of dwgs and then link via view?  Or are there better ways now like dwgs in families?

Cheers,

Megan

[JoshuamRivera]

You have full control of all layers via VG, you can also control per template, same CAD Link.

[JoshuamRivera]

You have full control of all layers via VG, you can also control per template, same CAD Link. And you can once linked, click on it and copy paste it to how ever many views you like. Good Luck.

[megan_randerson]

Hi thanks for you reply,

Sorry do you mean to not use container dwg files? 

Background, I work in infrastructure as a Landscape Architect in Revit and deal a lot with DWGs from engineers - I personally prefer to put their dwgs in a "container" dwg revit file for large projects and link via view from my "working revit file" but I wonder if this the still preferred approach?  I work on projects that span multiple years and precincts and have found this works really well, but reviewing my processes to ensure they are up to date.

thanks, Megan

[JoshuamRivera]

Lets say your project lasted 5 years, in a span of each single year you received an updated CAD file each quarter.

Year one, first quarter you save that file in its own folder in your project folder.

Folder has Date (year/day/month + Description)

Then you did the same for the next CAD transmittal, and so on.

Use one Master Revit file.

Link in the CAD file from Year one , First quarter, lets say they named it civil prelim.

Once you get your 2nd quarter updated CAD file, you go into your revit file and reload from new folder location. You can do this even if the new file is named something else by client, example civil 50%, your revit will still link it. which  is nice because once you setup your linked file VG settings or colors, it will remain the same, unless new layers were introduced.

Fast forward to year 5, now you have an archive collection of all current and previous CAD files, if you need to go back to year 2 or 3 to relink to investigate is just a simple reload from.

Use worksharing even though you are a single user to have more control, also if clients start requiring you to use Autodesk Construction Cloud this would be a great habit to start on using.

Without using worksharing, templates, and so on we tend to hack processes that are already in place but are helpful ones. 

I do not understand the concept of container file for CAD files to then have them linked from., you can skip that step.

If a civil file is too large where it does not let you link, I would take that original CAD and break it into quadrant separate CAD files to be linked.

Joshuam - Structural BIM VDC Design Director 
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[megan_randerson]

Hi @syman2000 do you still use this approach to "containerize" dwg and link via view?  I note it's an old post.

Cheers,

Megan

[megan_randerson]

@JoshuamRivera 

Thank you for your explanation - I'm guessing it comes down to file size, I often have multiple CAD files I need for background information (think railway lines, carpark lines, survey information, turning circles etc), if I have these CAD files in a separate Revit container file just for DWGs I can still do all the things you talk about with VG and maintain overrides but keep my file size down and just link via view to multiple views that I need it for.  I am using ACC, worksets and all those good things already, but file size is problematic and it often not my model that is the problem it is due to CAD files in the model, so I've been putting the heavy CAD files (which isn't my discipline information) in a revit dwg container file and link via view, and then other consultants I'm collaborating with and linking my information can decide if they want those CAD files as well and can also link direct back to the "revit dwg container".  

This is an old workflow established circa 2014 and rehashed again in 2022 and I'm questioning if it is still a sensible way to do things.  I don't want to add a heap of extra work breaking down received CAD files every week with the BIM file sharing protocols and I should add the CAD files in the Revit container are live linked and automated to update weekly.

What are the alternatives?  

Thanks, Megan