v2011 cannot open local copy of linked file in same session

[twaldock]

In Revit, it has always been the case that in the current Revit session, you cannot open a standard Revit file that is linked (and loaded) into your active revit file - it gives you a message to that effect, and asks if you want to unload the file you are about to open, then it gives you a spurious message about unloading not being undo-able but lets you open the file. Alternatively you could open another session of Revit to open the linked file - but you could not copy and paste between Revit sessions, nor transfer project standards.

In v2010 (and previous?) if you had a central file linked into your active file, and you had created a local file version of that linked central file, you could open the local file without unloading the linked central file - very convenient, saving lots of time and allowing copy and pasting between the files (or transferring project standards). We often enabled worksets on linked files just for this capability.

BUT in v2011 this has changed. Not only do you get a message saying that you cannot open the central file, but it does not even give you the option to unload and proceed with opening the file - even though you are not trying to open the central file. What a pain!

To add insult to injury, the project browser has a right-click option for Revit links to "Unload and open" a link - but of course it is the central file that it opens when actually you want to open your local copy (or create a new local as the "file open" dialog allows you to do).

[Alex Page]

What a pain! We do this all the time when working on residectial houses since we always have the site and house linked together....

[Scott Womack]

I agree this is a pain. Twaldock, what are you trying to copy/paste from a linked Revit File? Part of my assumed purpose in linking in a file is to NOT have to copy/paste a buch of items from one file to another. That said, you can select the link, then tab down to the item in the file, copy it to the clipboard, and past it into your file.

You may have a different need, hence my asking. Although I've visited your great country, I've never practiced, or worked on a project there.

[patricks]

What if you're in a local copy of a central file, which has a central file linked in, and you try to open a local copy of that central file while your other local copy is open? :p

I think you would have to have the local file created first (NOT using the automatic local file creation when opening a central file). So you would navigate to your local copy of the linked file instead of navigating to the central file expecting it to make a local copy.

[twaldock]

What if you're in a local copy of a central file, which has a central file linked in, and you try to open a local copy of that central file while your other local copy is open?

That is exactly the workflow that v2011 has stopped from working (used to work in v2010).

As regards Scotts comments about copying and pasting, you are right that the linking process generally means you don't need to do it. But sometimes you want to copy a chunk of stuff, so tabbing to select each one would be tedious. transfer Project standards would be the real issue. But what really annoys me is that a neat, quick workflow has been disrupted for no apparent benefit or reason.

Tim Waldock

[Ning Zhou]

again, open another Revit session seems the solution, but you cannot transfer project standards, maybe safety is the reason behind it? but having multiple Revit sessions seems more risky, isn't it?

[twiceroadsfool]

I cant express enough what an irritation this is. Not every File Linking situation is interdisciplinary. A great deal of the time we will break the Architectural trade up by Geography, on very large projects. And in those cases, we would often have Locals opened of multiple centrals (which were all linked to one another), for convenience. Editing a piece of content? Open all the locals and reload it. Editing System families? Save to Group and reload it (which i guess works multi session), or copy and paste (which definetely doesnt). And- as much as id prefer a more robust Transfer method compared to TPS (such as being able to navigate to an RVT and pick out individual items from it... ala design center), sometimes (as much as i shudder) copy and paste is the best otpion, even when youre going to delete the item immediately, since you just want the definition.

Now, thats all out the window. Ill be filing a Support Request on this tomorrow. I want to know why this was altered, when it didnt act broken at all. There are things that were broken that remain untouched, but this is something that was fine that is now broken, LOL.

[patricks]

I feel the same way about not even being able to open a detached copy of a central file while you're in your local copy of the file. Major pain.

[twiceroadsfool]

Feedback submitted.

[twaldock]

The guys at the factory are aware of the issue and are dealing with it.

[rdaniel]

Anybody gotten an update on this in the last 3 months?

[patricks]

Still not possible.