Origin-Origin vrs Shared Coordinate

When linking in an revit arch file (struct too, not talking about DWGs nor DNGs), I have always used Origin-Origin for the insertiion point. Once the project is setup, I adopt any Shared Coordinates within the arch file via the Coordinates function on the Manage tab. I have never used Shared Coordinate and to-date I have not seen any adverse affects. (I have exported to Navisworks via Shared Coordinate.) So the question is, is this the experience of everyone else out there? What occassions, if any, casused you to have to use Shared Coordinates for the insertion?

You're on the right track. Origin to Origin is the way to go to work between Revit models, for a single building and it's related trade project files.

Importing using shared coordinates is good for linking separate files together that may not have been available to do so before and don't have a common origin. In other words files that were started independently of one another and now the only thing they can have in common is shared coordinate settings.

It is also an option for importing a master site file, in a circular relationship, into a building file for context. I typically manage real world coordinates with a separate site file. I link building files into the master site file and then publish their location or at least use their location in the site file to establish what their position should be for shared coordinates.

If I have two building files and they are part of a campus plan they won't be created using the same file origin or at least their file origins are just related to themselves. I can position them in the master site file and then later link them to each other, if necessary, to show them near each other in some views.

Make sense?

First, I admit, Shared Coords is still a struggle for me. In your first scenario, do you link one into the other? Then move, rotate, position as needed, then adopt some way a Shared Coord?
Similiarly in your second scenario, I am assuming again that should you star with a site model (Revit site work, or Civil 3D imported into Revit?), do you do the same thing as the first scenario: move, rotate, position; and then publish the Shared Coord?
How does Revit "know" after all this, what the shared coord is to publish?
I could see possibly that there could be two, three or more shared coords (right?), so again, any light on how Revit knows which model goes with which Shared Coord?
Any good videos that you can recommend on the subject? Possibly a good example to work through? Thanks Steve, for your thoughts.

Hi,

If I have received an architectural file and I don't import the file origin to origin I'm creating a situation where it will be hard to put the file back into place if it gets removed or moved accidentally. If I Acquire Coordinates from their file then I can use Shared Coordinates to import the file later if it got removed. Both situations happen but shouldn't normally.

The reason I prefer to use a separate master Revit site file is that I can make the process of moving the building around on the site quite trivial during early design. We create the model so it is easy to put on paper. The real world location can be resolved in the site file by dragging the building around where we think it should go. The building itself doesn't go anywhere in its own file. If all the trades link the architectural model into their file using Origin to Origin...they are all set. If they need to export for Navisworks collaboration then they can acquire coordinates just in case the architect has taken the time to specify them. If they haven't then nothing happens. Eventually when the survey becomes available or reliable then the architect can specify a spot to define a common coordinate for the project according to the survey.

I've written about this subject quite a bit on my blog, these are the most relevant posts:

http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2011/0...arly-days.html
http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2008/0...s-confirm.html
http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2011/0...-location.html
http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2011/0...y-monitor.html
http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2008/0...t-project.html
http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2009/1...al-shared.html
http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2006/0...-position.html
http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2012/0...oject-and.html
http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2008/0...er-trades.html
http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2009/0...of-advice.html
http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2009/1...-disabled.html

Paul Aubin and Theresa Martin both gave great classes at Autodesk University last year or the year before. You can search at AU Online to see their sessions (have to join first though).

Thanks for the info Steve.