Linked AutoCAD file not visible

[gdunse]

I am currently trying to work on a Revit model and am having issues with a linked AutoCAD file not appearing in my Revit model. I have the visibility on in the VG and have tried messing with the view template, but the CAD file is still not appearing. 

When I load the file through the "Manage links" menu, it shows "Import detect no valid elements in the file's paper space. Do you want to import from the model space?". I am relatively new to both Revit and AutoCAD.

Is there something I am missing?

[RDAOU · Accepted solution]

does the file contain anything or is it empty?

Important: where are you trying to link it to?

1. If you are on a sheet view in Revit then Revit will try to Link/import the paper space/layout in Autocad. And based on the prompt you are getting, the paper space is empty because they did not create any layout
2. If you wish to import/link a cad/dwg file to further work on it in Revit, then you need to be on a Live view (Live views are 3D views sectioned to look like a 2D)
   • On the project browser >> Under Views (Not Sheets) Go to a Floor Plan View
   • Link the DWG
   • Based on how the DWG was drfated, you could use Center to Center or Origin to Origin
   • You need to also know the units of the DWG model space. Revit can detect automatically and scale the deg accordingly but it is recomended to check the unit in autocad and set the right one

Open the DWG in autocad and type DWGUnits and validate if it is Meter, Millimeters, Inch, feet...etc then check any distance in the plan view to make sure that whoever drafted it knew what he was doing and was not drafting in mm in an Imperial feet model space

[gdunse]

Thank you for your help. I'm sure it was because of the paper space being empty. I wasn't sure what that really meant but that makes more sense now.