Phase Filter names between linked models

[J.Wehmer]

Currently up to Revit 2021, Phase Filters must be named IDENTICALLY between all models linked in a project for the Phases & Phase Graphic Overrides to apply/override to elements. Can Autodesk make the Phase Filter Names a local item, and not a workshared item that pulls between models?

If the Phase Filter names do not match the linked models it negates all overrides done by that Phase Filter onto the conflicting Linked models. For example all of our In-House models wish to use more intuitive Phase Filter naming as opposed to the OOTB names. We like rename our Phase Filter Names to 'Demolition Plans', 'Existing Views', 'New Construction Plans'...etc. But when we work with outside consultants none of our Phase Filters apply to the consultant's model(s) because the names do not match.

Phase Filters are relative to the Phase of the applied view, not relying on the linked model(s) to share their Phase Filter Names, only their Phase Created/Phase Demolished.

In summary; the Phase Filter Names are over-constrained between linked models and it would be helpful for this excessive constraint to be removed.

[Alex_Nickson]

I agree. This is a much needed change.

In the RVT Links tab of the V/G overrides or View template, I think that "By host View" is probably not the best way of wording what is actually happening. In reality, it is trying to assign the link files, phase filter, as per the host views, phase filter name. This seems nonsensical. If you have multiple models, from multiple contractors, with multiple different phase filter names, there is no way to fix the issue without editing each link to correct it. Which you would need to redo, every time those contractors update their model.

The phase filter, is only used to apply visibility settings, using the "Phasing" parameters, which identify when the  creation or demolition of modelled objects occur.

The linked files should already have modelled objects, with the correct creation and demolition "Phasing" parameters assigned to them.

The phases have already been mapped between projects, so our model already knows the relationship between the host and links phases, to know when the points in time are .

So surely the answer, is to stop trying to change the linked files phase filter. Instead, use phase filter in the current model, to display linked phases too? This should be done by using the links already assigned "Phasing" parameters, and the phase mapping, in tandem, to work out what is new, existing, and demolished

[ErikFrandsen]

This is an absolute need!  I bet some people don't even know this is what is occurring and they are just dealing with it.

[Ric_Weber]

I agree completely.  I just ran into this issue perhaps for the first time, or I just never noticed it before, and as @ErikFrandsen said, I just dealt with it.  I'm not sure. 

What the heck is the Phase Mapping option for if not to address this issue, yet, that does nothing.  If the phases in both the host and the linked file need to have the exact same names, then what the heck is the mapping for in the first place.  I would say it is ludicrous, but that infers that it is so bad it is funny...  this is not funny at all!!!  

[colin_cobb_fcbstudios_com]

Just here to wake this one back up.  This is a completely flawed implementation, sort it out please Autodesk.  There appears to be no sensible reason why Revit cannot apply the phase filter in the local view by using the phase created/destroyed info of the elements in the linked model, rather than trying to turn on an identically named phase filter in  the linked model. 

[m.roefs]

One of the most irritating issues in Revit is that phase mapping does not work as expected unless the phase filters in both the host and linked models have identical names and order. This requirement creates unnecessary coordination work, leads to confusion, and is a frequent source of frustration for users—especially in multidisciplinary projects where teams may use different phase filter setups. 

Suggested Improvement:

• Revit should allow phase mapping to function correctly regardless of the phase filter settings or names in the linked models.
• The host model’s phase filters and graphic overrides should control the display of linked elements, without requiring identical phase filters in the linked files.
• This change would streamline collaboration, reduce manual setup, and eliminate a common source of confusion and display errors.

Benefits:

• Eliminates a major source of irritation and wasted time for Revit users.
• Simplifies project setup and coordination between different teams and disciplines.
• Reduces the risk of visibility errors due to mismatched or missing phase filters.
• Makes Revit more intuitive and robust for large, multi-model projects.

[Evalucia]

On almost every project, we have linked models from other companies.

We can't force another company to change its practices and compel it to use OOTB phase filters.

It's also not viable to adapt our phases to other companies for each project.

The software should simply use phase mapping (since that's what we can control on our end) and display the linked file accordingly.

The software was misconfigured, and even if it's not "a bug" in Autodesk's eyes, it's still poor logic.

[wezpb]

This is a very good Idea. if not this then the facility to also map the phase filter of linked files. We work on projects across the world, for example some use a french template, which have different names for the filter so do not work without manual intervention. 

[Ric_Weber]

@kimberly_fuhrman-jones, this should be merged with https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/phase-filter-names-between-linked-models/idi-p/10287488  Thank you!

[IAN~JAMES]

I'm currently trying to setup a project at the moment (in Revit 2026) where we have received base build models from the bae build design team where there is an existing building which has been partially demolished and extended, so have Existing and New Construction Phases which we need to reflect into our models which are for tenants fit out, so is effectively a third stage in the process, so our exsting phase is technically the end product of New Construction in the base build.

I thought I could use Phase Mapping to align these phases, but because I cannot align anything in our phases to the base build existing phase without creating an artificial phases there is no possible mapping, the bigger problem however if I create a new phase for what we see as New Construction and call it for arguments sake Tenant Fit Out, then there is nothing in the base build models to map this to and the dialog insists on mapping this phase to something so breaks the logic again. I could fix this by adding a phase to our copy of the 8 or so base build models, but (a) we are getting updates monthly as the base build progresses and (b) my initial testing shows that even doing this does not allow for demolished existing structure to be hidden when using Show Complete in the phase filter... the geometry just displays By Category...

What I want:

Base Build	Tenant Fit Out
Existing
New Construction	Existing
	New Construction

Even this would be acceptable

Base Build	Tenant Fit Out
Existing	Existing
New Construction	Base Build
	New Construction

Revit does not like the absence of a phase in the last row of the Base Build column 😞

I can resolve this by going into each view and selecting custom for the Revit links and using each consultants phase filters instead of <by host> to hide them, but this is very manual and time consuming and also gets overwritten each time we receive an update... ?

I'm not sure if this is something that has changed/been broken in Revit 2026, I am aware that there are some new Linked View Features...?

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any suggestions

I'm sure that this isn't the way this is intended to work...?

Any ideas or Similar Experiences/work arounds appreaciated

[Ric_Weber]

@IAN~JAMES, your scenario is obviously exactly why this idea is needed.  In the meantime, I have three suggestions. 

#1. Since the Base Build models are still being updated, ask those teams to please match your Phase and Phase Filter naming.  Phase names and Phase Filter names can be changed without causing any issues. Phases should be for an entire project, not just your piece of it.

So... #2.  Name your phase where you are putting in the tenant finish, Tenant Fit Out or Tenant Finish, or whatever.  Add that after the Existing and New Construction phases.  So you have three phases total (which the project really actually does).  Then just ask the other teams to add the same additional phase after their Existing and New Construction phases.  They won't use that third phase and you won't use the first two phases (other than for mapping). 

And #3.  Also you have to make sure all the phase filter names match as well, which if you are all using the defaults should not be an issue, but make sure. 

Oh and one more general suggestion...  use View Templates!  Set that override setting for each view template and then each time you reload the models it will already be there (as long as you don't "Reload From", that can mess things up).

Also, if you need to differentiate somehow between those items in Existing vs. New Construction vs. Tenant Fit Out, you will need to use View Filters and filter by object's Phase Created setting.  This will override the Phase Filter settings because "anything created earlier than the current view phase is considered Existing" and makes everything from every phase before look the same. 

Hope all or some of this helps.  Let me know, I'll be interested if any of this helps you!   

[IAN~JAMES]

Thanks @Ric_Weber ,

We have tried making requests for the Base Build Team to make certain adjustments in their model such as leaving linkable views which has been met with a hard no. Its not clear if this is them actually saying no, or the question not finding its way through the long chain of parties in between us and them, such as managing contractors and PMs, its quite disappointing and there is a reluctance for them to go above and beyond what they are already obliged to provide...

I did some more experimentation before the weekend, and found that despite matching phasing and naming in a test model, any demolished structure was still visible, unless as you suggest we change to By Linked Phase Filter in the Visibility settings of the linked view, which is either a view by view operation or again, as you suggested a view template solution.

I did find however that if I rename our Phase filters to match the base build phase filters, those settings do seem to cascade through the links, so the current plan is to investigate all of the base build models on Monday and if they do match, then we can follow their lead and document those phase filter names in our BEP document for the fit out design team to follow...

It has left me curious as to whether mapping phases actually does do anything for us at all in this scenario though...??? 🤔

Thanks for the reply... appreciate it 😉