AutoCAD Tab Inside Revit

[jmulliganNZ33D]

I would like to have an AutoCAD architecture tab in Revit with a few tools which allow you to delete, move and draw lines, etc. and overwrite imported and linked dwg's.

This scenario plays out frequently - there are 2 lines on a layer, only one line needs to be deleted, but Revit only permits you to hide/delete both lines or keep both of them.   Now imagine this occurrence on multiple sheeted views that utilize consultant CAD backgrounds.

I believe the only options users have inside Revit are the following, and none solve the issue:

1. The query and arrange tool.  The most time-efficient, but you have to delete or keep both lines.
2. Using the view template or visibility/ graphics.  It takes too long, if you don't know what layer the line is on, and you're still left with the same problem as mentioned above.   
3. Drawing a filled or masking region over the line.
4. Live with the situation without any change.

Of course, the only solution is making the modification in AutoCAD, and refreshing linked CAD or re-importing CAD.  That is not a time-consuming operation even for experienced CAD users and should be changed IMHO.

Thanks very much,

Jim Mulligan

 

 

[jmulliganNZ33D]

Edit:  "That is a time-consuming operation even for..."

[mhiserZFHXS]

I'm not saying I don't want this to happen, but I don't think its going to. They are completely different programs.

There are ways to address this now, some of which you've mentioned already.

The main solution is to standardize your CAD drawings so you can easily filter lines in Revit. I also don't think editing a linked CAD file is all that time consuming, especially not for an experienced CAD user. I consider myself a native Revit user, and AutoCAD feels far less comfortable to me, and I can make changes like this in no time depending on how complex they are. Or I can quickly reference what layer certain lines are on so I can easily hide them in Revit.

I'm also curious as to what your workflow is if this is such a frequent problem that you'd have this idea. I'm wondering if you are doing things in CAD that you should just be doing natively in Revit.

[jmulliganNZ33D]

Thanks for the reply.  I believe the problem still persists if the CAD drawings I'm modifying aren't generated by me.  We often have to link/import a consultant's CAD linework to illustrate important items which overlap in design scope.  Maybe I'm missing something.

[mhiserZFHXS]

I don't think you should be modifying consultant drawings. Hiding layers, sure. If their drawings are such a mess that managing their layers is unreasonable, then I would have a discussion with them about being more organized. If there are instances where consultant elements need to actually be modified, then you shouldn't be doing that. Those issues need to be communicated with them so that they can make those changes in their drawings.

[Lachlan-JWP]

You can use the Linework tool to change the linetype of an AutoCAD line to invisible. Yes, you'll still have to do that for each view, but I think that's better than allowing Revit to modify a linked file. I agree with @mhiserZFHXS above, if you have constant issues with consultants files, then have a conversation with them, about making the files more usable.

[Disappointed]

It seems to be general Revit policy that every cad file needs to be specially prepared for revit consumption. That means if you still have doubled entities, blocks with far off insertion points, broken hatch patterns, stuff that's not set to <bylayer> etc. inside your cad file, you are not done yet seen through the revit goggles. Before putting an effort into some embedded autocad functionality I would love to see one or two other issues being seen to.