Multiple versions of Revit installed. Enable only one?

[ROBinHI]

The Revit version we run in our office is 2009. I've installed 2010 on a few to play with and when 2011 comes out I will want to do the same. What I don't want is staff to accidentally open their drawings in the latest versions of Revit and unknowingly converting their project. I've already notified them about the installs but I know I need to take extra steps to prevent them from doing so. Without uninstalling Revit, what would be the best way to have different versions of Revit installed but only have one version as our primary or active?

They are all network licenses so I was thinking if removing the license server path in the server settings would work? or adding a false server so it could not pull a license. Would this work? Any other suggestions?

[cliff collins]

From the server's Group policy, you should be able to deny permissions to any user
for the versions of Revit you do not want them to use.

This is an IT question.

cheers

[j_starko]

I feel that you're teetering on the brink of catastrophy with having multiple versions, but only wanting the older ones to be used in production. getting rid of the licenses so they couldn't save would be a okay way.

but more of an early question in sticking with the KISS philosophy, why have the other versions if they're not going to be used?

[eric.piotrowicz]

I also wonder why install the later versions on their machines if you don't want them using those versions. I'd only install on my machine and any users who you can rely on for testing purposes. With AutoCAD it was fine if a file was accidently upgraded since it could be saved back but since there is no save back in Revit it seems quite dangerous to give Joe User the ability to accidently upgrade a project.

[wmullett]

When you open an older version, Revit tells you it is upgrading ... are these users that negligent?

We have 20+ users and some have three versions on their machines. We don't have any issues with this but.... you know your own users.

[j_starko]

When you open an older version, Revit tells you it is upgrading ... are these users that negligent?....


YES / ha

I've always wondered why revit won't let you save down . Is that a marketing agenda item ? or is it more software based ?

[ROBinHI]

When you open an older version, Revit tells you it is upgrading ... are these users that negligent?

We have 20+ users and some have three versions on their machines. We don't have any issues with this but.... you know your own users.

Its actually only installed on a few laptops that users will checkout frequently but they are fast laptops so when available for me to use I'll install and play on these. All of our workstations are fine and only using one version of Revit. Our consultants are using 2009 which is why we haven't totally moved to 2010 yet. With 2011 coming out I am hoping that everyone will move up to this version as we will be if all is goes well.

Yes, I know they will be prompted about the upgrade which I did inform them about but as an added step I wanted to temporarily disable the latest Revits without having to uninstall. At this point since its just two or three I might just uninstall.

[cliff collins]

If it's only 3 laptops, then just uninstall.

cheers

[Scott Womack]

I've always wondered why revit won't let you save down . Is that a marketing agenda item ? or is it more software based ?

Revit has NEVER been able to save down since before Autodesk ever bought them. What data would you choose to lose when it is saved down?

[Elmo]

The reason that you can't save back in Revit is because Revit is a database program. A lot of database programs have a problem going backwards.

[eric.piotrowicz]

One route you might go is to set 2009 as the default program to open all Revit files and then take the shortcut icons off the desktop and out of the start menu except for the the 2009 icons.

I wish I could say that all my users are paying attention to warnings but almost daily I'm reminded that many are actually just clicking OK without reading the warning at all.