New Revit Installation or Upgrade
Usually after installing new software we start exploring new features right away. Then we open a project to see how it looks and start working after file upgrade leaving behind all the software setup. Most of the time such behaviour won’t cause a disaster. However it might affect your design experience and sometimes lead to problems. So to help you a bit we combined a list of things you should do right after new Revit version installation.
Installation Setup
First just a few tips on the installation process.
If downloading directly from a web browser specify the preferred language. If performing such task from the Autodesk Desktop App you can state your preferences in the Option menu. From now on all the software will be downloaded in chosen language.
During the installation process you are able to specify which content would like include in the software. Packages are segregated according to their origin and language.
Ifc Plugin Export Installation
To be able to export Ifc models an export plugin is required. You can download one from the Autodesk App Store. Search for Ifc exporter 2021.
Omniclass Classification File Update
New Revit installation usually comes with an outdated Omniclass Taxonomy file. To be able to use it for component classification it should be updated manually. Steps described below will guide you through the process.
- Download Revit Compatible Omniclass Taxonomy File. Right click this link and select save link as OmniClassTaxonomy.
- Navigate to: C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\REVIT\ Example: “C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\REVIT\Autodesk Revit 2021” and replace the OmniClassTaxonomy.txt file.
- After restarting revit you will be able to classify components according to the current products table.
Revit LT Design Option Functionality
Check the screenshot below where we showed how to enable Design Options feature. Go File – Options – User Interface to access this menu.
This tip is only for Revit LT users.
User Interface
If you are upgrading from earlier Revit version always import your Keyboard Shortcuts. First in your previous Revit installation, access the Keyboard shortcuts and export settings to an external file. In the new Revit installation navigate to Keyboard Shortcuts, select Import and open the xml file you just created. When asked chose overwrite to obtain exactly same preset.
Material Library
Upgrading to new Revit version is always a good time to organize your material libraries. First of all to be able to properly manage materials and transfer them to a new installation you need to create your own library as a adsklib file. While working on projects always save materials that are properly executed, have all necessary information, proper imagery and other features in place. Well organized library will save you a lot of time in course of everyday design process.
Going back to our main topic. Thanks to an adsklib file you can open the previously created library straight away gaining access to all of your materials from previous projects.
Project Template File
A proper project template is a must in Revit environment. If you are an experience user you probably have one. So all you need to do is assign it in the Options under File Locations tab.
If you are starting in Revit or still haven’t created a template I suggest doing so. Project templates should be updated regularly with approved content like major all-in one families, detail components, line styles, schedules, view templates (including filters etc) and all others necessary approved elements that are created during conducted project. Of course it doesn’t mean that you should load every family to your template file as it would make the file size huge. Just the most important ones that are always present in any type of design.
IFC template – last but not least we need to specify the default IFC linking template. For many it might not be obvious but when you link an ifc file and don’t specify which template should be used Revit will select the first one in the list. Which is a bad thing because besides the IFC model you will link all the elements or definitions that are located in the template file.
So as the first template just assign a totally empty one. You can download a generic empty template file from our Download Library.
Other…
Thanks for reading. You managed to get to the last chapter. Please let me know in the comments if you have any other ideas. I am sure there is plenty more.