Dimensions of CAD linked file are lost

[avalencia60]

Hi every one,

I have a model in Revit with an AutoCAD file linked for showing the interior equipment. We are dimensioning the equipment in Revit, but every time that we reload the CAD file, a message advice us about some dimensions will be lost because of objects not perpendicular, especially those from de CAD file. We review the CAD file and all the lines seems to be right.

Thanks in advance.

[Scott Womack]

Revit will not hold dimensions to a linked CAD file through a reload. It has to do with the way Revit treats the reloading of the file. It essentially deletes it, then relinks it back in. Thus the dimensions go away.

[avalencia60]

Hi Scott, after reviewing the dimensions we realized that those dimensions lost were done with linear dimension command. Where is the difference?

[mmaxwell]

Hi Scott, after reviewing the dimensions we realized that those dimensions lost were done with linear dimension command. Where is the difference?

I have had the same problem, all linear dimensions are deleted while all angular ones remain. What is the difference...What is the best practice when you do have a linked file and are dimensioning to it? It makes sense that if the reloaded CAD file was changed in a way where there was no where to dimension to, but when the unrelated areas get lost too, thats work down the drain.

[DoTheBIM]

May not be an option for everyone, but do your dimensioning in the original file format and you won't lose your dimensions through link file reload.

[drewj]

So I thought I would just test the process myself and report on what I get (Using 2010):

Linked DWG into view
Created Linear, Aligned, Angular, Radial and Arc Length dimensions in Revit

I closed and reopened the project, all dimensions remained
I "reloaded" the DWG, all dimensions remained
I "reloaded from" the DWG, all dimensions remained

The only way I could lose dimensions was to unload the DWG then reload it, and I only lost the Arc Length and Radial dimensions, the Aligned, Linear and Angular were not lost.

If I delete the link then make another link, I do indeed lose all the dimensions (as I would expect), so it doesnt appear to me that this is what the software is doing when you reload a DWG.

[DoTheBIM]

do your tests again but this time make a change to the dwg. move something that you have dimensioned to in revit. delete something that you have not dimensioned to in revit. Do a save as in CAD but with the same name overwriting the file. Do a save as a different file and delete the original file and rename the new one to the original name.

You will not lose dims on just reloading a cad link as nothing has changed in the cad file. or at least you should not.

[drewj]

ok, will do!