Revit Worksharing and Collaboration Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A project is being initiated, and multiple users will need to work on it simultaneously. After creating the initial project file, what is the first step required to enable worksharing?
- Create local copies for each user.
- Go to the Collaborate tab, click the "Collaborate" or "Worksets" command, and save the file as a central model. (Correct answer)
- Use the "Link Revit" command to link the file to itself.
- Go to the Collaborate tab and select "Show History".
Correct answer: Go to the Collaborate tab, click the "Collaborate" or "Worksets" command, and save the file as a central model.
To enable worksharing, you must first designate a Revit file as the central model. This is done by using the Collaborate or Worksets command, which then guides you to save the file in a shared network or cloud location, establishing it as the central model from which all users will create their local copies.
Question 2: A new team member needs to start working on a project that is already set up for worksharing. What is the correct first step they should take to begin their work?
- Use "Save As" to make a copy of the central model to their desktop.
- Open the central model directly and start making changes.
- Open the central model with the "Create New Local" option checked. (Correct answer)
- Ask the BIM Manager to export a portion of the model for them.
Correct answer: Open the central model with the "Create New Local" option checked.
The standard and correct workflow is to create a local copy of the central model. This is done by navigating to the central model via the Open dialog and ensuring the "Create New Local" option is selected. This creates a personal, connected copy of the project, allowing the user to work and synchronize changes without directly editing the central model, which can lead to corruption.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of the "Synchronize with Central" command in a workshared Revit project?
- To save a backup copy of the local file to the user's hard drive.
- To reload the latest versions of all linked Revit and CAD models.
- To publish the user's changes to the central model and receive the latest updates made by others. (Correct answer)
- To relinquish ownership of all borrowed elements without saving any changes.
Correct answer: To publish the user's changes to the central model and receive the latest updates made by others.
Synchronizing is the key process in worksharing. It uploads the changes from the user's local model to the central model and simultaneously downloads the latest changes made by other team members into the user's local model. This ensures everyone is working with the most up-to-date information.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the primary function of worksets in a Revit workshared project?
- To create different design options for a project.
- To logically organize project elements into manageable collections that can be owned and edited by different users. (Correct answer)
- To control the detailed visibility of elements in specific views, similar to layers in CAD.
- To link external files like DWGs or other Revit models into the current project.
Correct answer: To logically organize project elements into manageable collections that can be owned and edited by different users.
Worksets are the fundamental organizational tool in a workshared environment. They allow a project to be broken down into manageable parts (e.g., Core & Shell, Interiors, Structure), which prevents conflicting edits and can improve performance by allowing users to selectively open or close them.
Question 5: A user has finished their work for the day and is preparing to close their local file. What is the best practice they should follow to ensure their colleagues can access the elements they were working on?
- Synchronize with Central and ensure the "Relinquish all mine" (or similar) option is checked. (Correct answer)
- Simply save the local file and close the application.
- Delete the local file from their computer to clear ownership.
- Use the "Save As" command to overwrite the central model with their local file.
Correct answer: Synchronize with Central and ensure the "Relinquish all mine" (or similar) option is checked.
The standard procedure is to synchronize with the central model. During this process, the user should ensure the option to relinquish borrowed elements and worksets is checked. This saves their changes to the central model and makes the elements they were editing available for other team members to edit.
Question 6: When collaborating with a structural engineering team that uses Revit, what is the recommended method for incorporating their structural model into the architectural model for ongoing coordination?
- Copy and paste all elements from the structural model into the architectural model.
- Use the "Bind Link" command to merge the structural model's geometry permanently.
- Link the structural Revit model into the architectural model. (Correct answer)
- Export the structural model to DWG and import it into the architectural model.
Correct answer: Link the structural Revit model into the architectural model.
Linking is the standard method for inter-disciplinary collaboration in Revit. It allows the structural model to be displayed within the architectural model for context and coordination without merging the data. When the structural team provides an updated model, the link can be reloaded to show the latest changes.
Revit Worksharing and Collaboration Questions and Answers
A project is being initiated, and multiple users will need to work on it simultaneously.
After creating the initial project file, what is the first step required to enable worksharing?