Linked Arch. file problems

[Tom Weir]

Hi,
I have linked an arch model for a 2 story steel braced frame building to my own model. My problem is that the arch. walls below show through on the plan above.
On the second floor I have the primary range and view depth at -6" which works. But the roof slopes all over the place such that if I keep the view range at the bottom of the lowest member I also get the arch. walls below showing up.

Can anybody think of a way around this. This seems to me to be one of those systemic problems when using composite linked models. The other big problem is doing section work and not being able to get the arch. model out of the way.

The factory needs to get into this and start thinking about how to resolve this sort of thing.

Have a great day...

Tom Weir
Los angeles

[Jos Arpink]

Hi Tom,

I couldn't agree more...but before I go on about that, have you tried tinkering with the RVT Link Display Settings?

Visibility/Graphics
->Revit Links tab
->Click the 'Custom' button for your linked file

You should then see the RVT Link Display dialog on screen.
->Basics tab
->Choose 'Custom'
->Set view range to either 'By host view' or 'By linked view'

So, you could go into the linked model, and set the view range to whatever you need for that particular view, and use the method above to control the view range of your linked model independently from your own.

This solution works for projects with only a few levels and a few views. For larger jobs with many levels you'd have to repeat the process for every view at every level for each linked file. Unless I'm missing something, it's far too tedious and time-consuming.

My suggestion to the factory would be to offer control of the view range for each linked file relative to the associated level of the current view in the host model. Something like this:

Host model view range: +4'/-4' from associated level
Linked arch model: +4'/-0 from associated level
Linked MEP model: +0'/-4' from associated level
etc for as many links as you've got.

Save it to a view template and you're done for as many views to which you want to apply the template. I hope this all makes sense.

As you've said, the order-of-precedence for the display of linked model objects versus host model objects is another issue that needs to be addressed in a big way. I'm finding it very difficult, if not impossible, to get a workable plot-ready result.

My 2c (okay, 3c)

[Tom Weir]

Jos,
Thanks....it worked just as you said. Once I changed the linked file's view range to "custom" and "linked view" the walls below disappeared.

And when I checked the arch. model, they already had set the view range to: +4'/-0 from associated level.

On the other subject:
"I'm finding it very difficult, if not impossible, to get a workable plot-ready result."
Me too! This really has to be addressed. I am not sure the developers understand the gravity of this problem.

Have a great day...

Tom