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Revit Mixed Use Workflow with Multiple Model Sources
Revit Mixed Use Workflow with Multiple Model Sources

Upload multiple models to a single cove.tool project

Patrick Chopson avatar
Written by Patrick Chopson
Updated over a week ago

This article explains how to import your geometry from multiple Revit models into a single cove.tool project. This method is particularly useful for a mixed-use project that is large (complex-scale projects with multiple buildings), projects where team members are working according to the use type/functionality, and/or projects that use linked models for each use type.

Prior to starting the workflow below, be sure to create your cove.tool project as a mixed use project. Refer to our Mixed-Use article for the detailed steps.

For Large, Complex-Scale Projects within one Revit model

For large projects where there may be multiple buildings with different use types and one Revit model source, we recommend the following workflow:

  1. Create a duplicate of the Revit model per use type. This can be done by copying a model file and renaming them to differentiate the files.

    In the image example below, the left image shows the model with two use types: Retail at the street level, and Apartments at the upper level. We created two copies of the Revit file: one for the Retail use type and another for the Apartments use type.

  2. Start with one of the models. In the example image below, we are starting with the Apartments model. Log in to the cove.tool plug-in and select the project and use type that matches the designated model's use type

    Subsequently, make sure that in your cove.tool geometry page, you are selecting the appropriate use type to upload to. You can see the selected use type by noting the box that is highlighted in blue.

  3. Back in the Revit interface, create the automated cove.tool views by selecting "Create cove.tool views" through the plug-in. You will see the cove.tool views in the Project Browser windows, typically under the 3D Views tree.

  4. Next, clean up the cove.tool views to reflect the use type. You can do this by hiding components that are not pertinent to the use type.

    Remember, if you have geometry that spans multiple use-types, you will need to split/redraw that object and filter them into the correct cove.tool view. Additionally, to avoid overlapping geometry in the web app, you must place a 1 SF floor element at the ground plane for use types that are above other use-types. This will place the geometry with reference to the ground plane. You will also need to create a 1 SF roof element at the top of each use type to act as a reference point for the top height of the use type.

    Tip: when hiding the non-pertinent use type, it is helpful to have the overall 3D view side by side so you can reference what you are hiding/not hiding.

  5. Once all of your views are correct, you can export the model by selecting : "Export All" in the plug-in.

  6. Once the export is successful, refresh the cove.tool geometry page, then select the next use type as depicted in the example below. Repeat steps 2-5 to with the other model(s).

After all exports are complete, refresh the geometry page and proceed to the 3D analysis page.

For Mixed-Use Projects Using Linked Models or Multiple Models

The above workflow can be applied to projects where the use type are split into multiple models and are linked to create a central model. The exception to the workflow is that instead of creating copy(ies) of the central model, you can work using each of the native files.

It is important to note that for each use type selected, only one source of geometry can be imported. Therefore, if you have two models that fall under the same use type, we recommend that you combine those models and export them under one use type. Refer to our Linked Model workflow article for further details.

Happy Modeling!

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