Worksets and linked models

[KGC]

Is there a way to turn on/off worksets of a model that is linked.

For instance we are an architectural firm and have a structural model linked. In some views we would like to turn off particular worksets. The is epically helpful in 3D views, where we want to look at a particular floor with the structure there. But currently the only option we have is controlling the linked model through the model/annotation categories.

Thanks,

[twiceroadsfool]

You cannot do it view specifically, but you can go File > Manage Links > Reload From and use Specify instead of All Worksets.

But you do not get a VG Workset Tab for Linked Models, even if you go in to the custom RVT Link VG...

[KGC]

Well thats just ******.

Is there some sort of workaround for this. I could have sworn we had worksets somehow imported in from a linked model.

[twiceroadsfool]

I suppose the workaround is to go to manage links, and reload from and specify, lol.

By Linked View might be an alternative, if its you authored the linked file and you want to go in and alter the VG > Workset settings in the linked file... But ive never tried to use BLV to turn off linked worksets, so im not sure itll push the change through.

I dont advise using worksets for visibility controls though, unless its a blanket covering of stuff that doesnt need to be loaded, or is for entourage purposes.... Just my personal pref. though. A lot of people here use them for that, maybe they have a better workaround for you. :)

[KGC]

I just heard that there might be some sort of toggle for this, i'll take a look through all of options and settings.

[twiceroadsfool]

There isnt...

[KGC]

Correct you are, i have found nothing that will help me out with this.

So what do these companies do when they link 4 or 5 models in and want to see and view different worksets. Open up each model seperatly and set them all and then reload in the master model?

That sounds very time consuming and inefficient.

[twiceroadsfool]

Worksets are not meant to be used as a visibility control. Theyre meant to control groups of items to be opened or not opened, based on what you are working on... Hence "Work sets," or sets of work.

As such, im not sure what people do when they have links and are trying to use worksets in that fashion. Ive seen some people workaround with phases, but its not a road i would go down either.

What is it youre trying to view, specifically? In what view, and what workset?

[KGC]

That is correct about the worksets. But they make for a great visibility tool as well. the purposes for it are strictly for that of viewing. Like using a sketchup model to view the model in 3D and turn on/off parts of the model, to view particular architectural components as well as see how the structure interacts with the building. And this works fine within the Architectural model, but if we were to look at a single floor in 3D and want to zoom into a particular wall/ architectural detail and see how it interacts with a beam or column, we would not be able to isolate the structural model to the same floor. The whole model would be on, and that would make it tough to view what we want.

Please let me know if that doesn't make any sense, i could take some screen shots and try to illustrate this better probable,

[twiceroadsfool]

Well, they dont make a great visibility tool when they dont work... :)

You can turn off parts of the linked model with the standard VG dialogues, like walls/ceilings/structure, etc. To filter down to specific parts of the linked model, without using linked views, will be difficult. Even if we had Linked RVT Workset capability, i still wouldnt recommend it. What if someone in the other model needs items to be part of "workset: corner condition at balcony" and then for another specific view you need one of those elements to be a part of "worKset: balcony connection to building."

I understand what youre trying to do, its just not in the spirit of what the tool does.

Of the tools we have available, having the other party set up a view with the particular items already filtered down, and setting the RVT Link VG Override to By Linked View, is probably your best bet...

[tyler.kawahara356150]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but I go to the collaborate->Worksets and turn the worksets on or off, linked or not.

Yes, worksets were intended for use in worksharing but they almost never are, the more common usage of the workset feature (in my experience) is to control visibility of groups of items, particularly within linked files. I rarely, if ever, use worksets for worksharing purposes.

[patricks]

Well most of us DO use worksharing for... worksharing purposes, so that multiple people can work on the same file. While the idea of having all these different worksets is not as important as it once was, ever since Revit implemented automatic borrowing, it still is useful for breaking up portions of large models. Even on small projects I usually do Exterior, Interior, Structure, Site, Shared Levels, Revit Links, and CAD Links. Those last two are so I can quickly turn on or off all CAD or Revit links in a view.

I know there are people who have used worksets as way to set up a rudimentary "layer" system, but that was and is not its intent and IMHO not a very good way to do things, especially since we now have the ability to hide individual elements or multiple elements in a view if needed (EH shortcut for Element Hide).

As for the original question, the OP was asking about turning worksets in linked files on or off, when said linked file has worksharing activated. This feature was added at some point in the past, not sure which release. I know 2011 has the ability to control linked model worksets. Also I believe one of the new features of 2012 is the ability to control workset visibility as part of View Templates. Not sure if that was new for 2012 or not.

[cdatechguy]

Yeah, you have it right....control of worksets in linked files was 2011 and control of those same worksets in view templates is 2012..