Using an example of a campus site, with 4 linked Revit projects for each individual building, the following 2 videos [with sound] walk through the process:
If coordinates have never been modified with the specific Revit link, follow these steps:
1. Insert Revit project files; Insert > Link Revit > Positioning > Auto – Center to Center.
2. Move each building link into necessary location on site.
3. Next record the link location by selecting link > Properties > Shared Site >
Publish the shared coordinate system...
4. Under Record selected instance as being at Position: click Change. Duplicate the Site Location > specify a name. Make current if desired.
5. Click Reconcile.
6. Save project file, then save the new position back to each linked file when prompted.
7. Test opening a linked project; it should contain updated location and correspond to location \ true north angle.
Additionally you can test removing \ linking the Revit projects back by Auto – By Shared Coordinates. You will be prompted for site location to use, and the project links should be aligned to the previous location automatically.
If coordinates have been previously modified with the linked file, and you will be updating locations, follow these steps:
1. Insert Revit project files; Insert > Link Revit > Positioning > Auto – Center to Center.
2. Move each building link into necessary location on site.
3. Next record the link location by selecting link > Properties > Shared Site > Record Current Position > Change > Duplicate the Site Location > Rename.
4. Publish coordinates back to each link [publishes location relative to this project location, along with angle from project to true north].
5. Manage > Publish Coordinates > Select desired site location.
6. Save project file, then save the new position back to each linked file when prompted.
7. Test opening a linked project; it should contain updated location and correspond to location \ true north angle.
Additionally you can test removing \ linking the Revit projects back by Auto – By Shared Coordinates. You will be prompted for site location to use, and the project links should be aligned to the previous location automatically.
My wish list item regarding this subject belongs to Navisworks not Revit :-)
When exporting the model out, you only have the option of "Internal" or "Shared". There is no easy way to export a model with multiple locations.
Posted by: Basam Yousif | August 19, 2010 at 09:19 AM
The problem with this is you still have to intially align the file. I am currently working on a large project that has to coordinate with a separate adjacent contract that is also using shared real world coordinates and even though both files have the correct shared coordinates (verified by navisworks exports) when you link the files together they don't recognize each other's shared coordinates and will default back to center to center. Also in this example every position used the exact same rotation from true north, what happens if each file has a different rotation?
Posted by: Rob Foster | August 20, 2010 at 01:28 AM
You are correct that you initially would have to publish or acquire coordinates in this example [this was an ideal Revit to Revit workflow for multiple links]. You can adjust each buildings relationship to True North as well should the orientation on the site vary. Once the coordinates have been published, subsequent changes [such as rotation will be recorded as well]. Very quick example:
Video Example: http://screencast.com/t/YTdkNTEzYWMt
Posted by: Ryan Duell | August 20, 2010 at 08:57 AM