Rotate true north on site file and linked building files all at once

[skyeg321]

Hey all, this is quite complex. I have a site model with roads, sidewalks, paths, etc. We also have 3 linked architectural models which are all linked via shared coordinates to this site model. True north has not been rotated on the site model or any of the building models. When I try to rotate true north in my site model, it rotates the site model elements and the individual building models don't rotate with it AND they migrate in the XY plane. So how do I make these buildings all rotate with the site file and adopt its true north setting? Is this the right way to be doing this? Or is there some work around?

Site File Rotate True North.PNGSite File Rotated.PNG

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

When you rotate True North you effectively modify the shared coordinates.  It is better to do it THEN linking in the building models + acquire coordinates. 

If you don't want to relink, then disable share coordinates for the links > rotate True North > publish coordinates back to the links.

[SteveKStafford]

Is the project hosted on BIM360? If so you'll have to rebuild a bit. If it is on your own server then you can use Publish Coordinates. Move each linked building back into position and then use Publish Coordinates and select the link.

If it is hosted on BIM 360 then Publish Coordinates isn't possible, not allowed/able to alter linked files in that environment. You need to build a strategy that supports Acquire Coordinates. I usually create an entirely separate model for "shared coordinates" with building markers to identify each buildings primary grid intersection and rotation. Then I link this to each building to use as a frame of reference for positioning and using Acquire Coordinates. That's assuming I don't really need to link the full site model every trade model.

Your site model can do this too if it gets linked into the building models anyway. You need to start by getting the linked buildings in the site model back into position (disable coordinates for them). Move/Rotate them back into position. Add something you can see in the site model (reference planes/grids, I use a site category family) when you link it into the building models.

Once you've marked each building and fixed the positions move to the building models and fix the position of the site model in each...use Acquire Coordinates (should either disable shared coordinates or use Reset Coordinates first).

Back in the site model you can select the link and edit the Shared Site settings using the "move" option to make sure the link is referencing the shared coordinates properly again.

[skyeg321]

@ToanDN Thanks again. We got it working

@SteveKStafford Luckily this project is on a network so I'm able to publish coordinates. Definitely worth remembering that this stuff needs to be setup before being put on BIM 360. I like your site file template technique.