saving from 6.1 to 5.1

[DanielleAnderson]

Is it possible to save 6.1 files down to 5.1? I've got a situation here where the client is very hesitant to upgrade so all the computers on their system are on 5.1.

[studio3p]

No dice. I think this question has been asked a couple of times before, and each time the answer comes back the same. I suppose the thought is that Revit is subscription based so there shouldn't be a wide spread need for backwards compatibility.

Not the answer you were looking for, I know.

[Scott D Davis]

Has the client given any reasons for the hesitation to upgrade? There have been little to no issues that I can think about. Revit so far has been a shining star in regards to the stability of releases, especially in the rapid release cycle that the Rev-dev team is meeting.

Isn't it sad that bugs and other issues in releases of other software have caused everyone hesitation in upgrading? Revit upgrades get released, and I will usually install them immediately without a second thought. Kudos again to the developers for contining to deliver a top notch product!

[DanielleAnderson]

The only answer i've been given is that the license server has to be upgraded and this has to be done after hours or it will displace the autocad users, so they are not in a hurry to deal with this...that's really all I know.

[sbrown]

6.1 gives you a 60day trial so you don't have to switch your license server for 2 months, go for it.

[DanielleAnderson]

If only I was in charge...
I am really impressed with the 6.1 improvements.

[mmulvey]

Our organization is in a bit of a cash crunch so all software upgrades were frozen earlier this year so I'm stuck with 6.0 - would be ok if there were a way to have files save back from 6.1 but no dice (I'm more than a bit "miffed" that a "dot" upgrade is not binary compatable...)

Makes getting Revit mainstreamed here pretty near impossible.

[aaronrumple]

You have 6.0? So you are on subscription? 6.1 is then free. What's the problem?

[sbrown]

mm, I think you should check your license agreement, you should have free upgrades(not really free, you paid for at least 1 year I think mandatory when you purchased revit). Everyone switching to Revit should understand that unlike other software Revit operates more like a subscription service(thats what they were founded on) and therefore you should upgrade to the latest release as it is released. They also let you keep the old version on your system and use it. So if you have projects that were completed or close to complete in earlier versions it is not recommended to upgrade those(unless you need the new functionality or bug fix).

[mmulvey]

We were on subscription but because of said cash crunch, company would not renew...

[christopher.zoog51272]

We were on subscription but because of said cash crunch, company would not renew...
OUCH! did they realize how much it would cost to upgrade revit down the line? or if they could even upgrade down the line? .......I know, I know, I'm preeching to the choir.

as far as "saving as" goes, I think you our SOL for the forseeable future, revit has made no public plans to ever implement a save as prior version feature.

[DanielleAnderson]

Anybody have any idea why? It seems like most software allows that capability.

[Wes Macaulay]

While AutoCAD and some other 2D platforms can save back to earlier file formats, it's a tougher bird with 3D. Not to mention that there are objects and geometries currently represented in the latest format that cannot be represented in earlier formats.

Add to that the dictum of leanness and meanness back at the factory, and the upshot is that there is rarely any demand for saving back to earlier Revit file formats, unless of course you work at SMP :razz:

PS: I should mention that ADT also does not allow saving back to previous file formats in 3D. Neither does Building Systems. Anyone know if ArchiCAD allows it? I much doubt that it does...

[DanielleAnderson]

Well, it sounds like the file that I have started in 6.1 will have to stay on the lonely 6.1 computer then.

[Prodev75]

Maybe when they get the code more standardize. From what I understand it takes new or improved code to make this software function. Some of this language (code) may not be transferable between releases. Trying to get the program to rip or delete certain functions and keep others when it’s downgraded would probably be a developer’s nightmare.

AutoCad for example, we can’t save back to Version 12 or 13. Some of the code from those versions are probably obsolete or have been modified to the point that it would be crazy to go back.

My first project with Revit 4.5 was almost 2 years ago. I snatched it from the archives and open it up in Revit 6.1 and got all kinds of pop ups. Sweeps disappear more than anything. Maybe it was the way I placed them in the first place or maybe the developers did some work with sweeps in Version 5.0-5.1. <<<they did

Be conscious of the functionality. Upgrading to a new version every time it pops up on the web in some cases can be cost effective to some.

Costworks was deleted from the software. Why? Developers probably have a new plan or it was useless.

[DanielleAnderson]

PS: I should mention that ADT also does not allow saving back to previous file formats in 3D. Neither does Building Systems. Anyone know if ArchiCAD allows it? I much doubt that it does...

Don't know about those ones but just for the curious person who is interested, I just talked to my mom who works pretty closely with Dessault Systems' CATIA and apparently the developers there have come up with a way to get some functionality of 3d models being saved backwards. Earlier releases converted complex or "new" parts unique to newer versions to a sort of "dumb" solid, but newer versions are improving functionality.

Obviously CATIA is a different beast usually used for more engineering-based projects. And obviously not everyone who uses Revit would need the capability of saving back, but sometimes (as in my position) it would be helpful...

[PeterJ]

apparently the developers there have come up with a way to get some functionality of 3d models being saved backwards. Earlier releases converted complex or "new" parts unique to newer versions to a sort of "dumb" solid, but newer versions are improving functionality.
I have wondered out loud in the wish list whether this could be done with revit to make objects not explicitly supported in the earlier releases into fixed in-place families.

[Wes Macaulay]

...my mom who works pretty closely with Dessault Systems' CATIA...Wow, Danielle, that's very cool. Working in 3D is in the family's blood, huh? She must be impressed by the work that you do... I just can't imagine talking "shop" with my mum, tho :mrgreen:

[DanielleAnderson]

She's a good point of reference even though the quality control issues she deals with in CATIA are more related to those big airplanes they build around here.