by John Flanagan
When modelling in Revit Architecture, Delegates often ask if it’s possible to trace over a cad floor plan.
The answer is: Yes it is possible. The following steps will help.
Import or link the cad file - Insert Tab - (do not explode the cad file, but simply have it sit there as an underlay) and then use the pick line option when creating the walls of the building.
Leave in place to pick the locations of doors windows etc.
Once everything is copied delete the cad file entirely and carry on in Revit. Furthermore, when selecting a line (using Pick Lines), you can hit the tab key to potentially select a chain of lines.
Make the Walls category transparent in the view you are working in as well. This makes it easier to see the DWG you are tracing even after the walls are in. Especially helps with door and window placement.
Be advised though: the chain of walls can get messy if the dwg isn't set up correctly. The chain-command will give you a separate wall for each part of the chain. If the dwg is modelled using a lot of small linepieces, your Revit Walls will follow... This needs addressing later on. Also the ENTIRE chain will be composed of 1 wall TYPE.
On another note: you need to set the correct location line for this. A location line defines where the wall is placed in reference to the sketch line you are placing / picking when creating a wall. Let's say that you want to trace the autocad drawing and want to use the Pick Lines option. In this case you would have to decide to pick only Interior or Exterior lines and set the Location Line accordingly (LL is to be found in the Properties Palette and/or Option Bar after you select the Wall function.