Autodesk 256B1-05A761-1301 - AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite 2010, User Manual

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Importing CAD Files Using i-drop
Revit Architecture supports the Autodesk i-drop
®
drag-and-drop feature. When i-drop objects are pulled
from an i-drop–enabled web page, Revit Architecture downloads the file and imports it as if it were pulled
from a local file.
When you drag-and-drop a file, the file is imported with the default settings. If you want to use different
settings (for example, Manual - Origin rather than Auto - Center to Center), import the file using the Import
CAD tool. (See
Importing or Linking CAD Files Using the Import CAD and Link CAD Tools on page 1388.)
TIP Make sure you import the geometric data needed for the Revit capability that you plan to use. For more
information, see Suitability of Imported Geometry on page 1387.
To import CAD files using i-drop
1 From an i-drop–enabled web page, click the thumbnail image of the object.
2 Drag the file from the web page into Revit Architecture.
3 Release the object directly into the active view.
Importing Files from SketchUp
Google
™
SketchUp
®
is a general purpose modeling and visualization tool. Revit Architecture uses building
information modeling (BIM), in which building elements understand their relationship to each other. When
working on a design project, you can use both products to leverage the unique strengths of each. For example:
■ If you want to model an initial design pass or quickly model a single element, start with SketchUp. Later,
use Revit Architecture to refine the design.
■ If you want to design entire building masses and then associate real building elements to them, use
SketchUp for the design phase. Later use Revit Architecture for the detailed planning phase.
To use a SketchUp design in Revit Architecture, import a SKP file from SketchUp directly into Revit
Architecture. As an alternative, you can use SketchUp to export a DWG file, and then import that DWG file
into Revit Architecture.
To incorporate a SketchUp design into a Revit project, use the following general process:
1 Use Revit Architecture to create a family outside the project or an in-place family within the project.
2 Import the SketchUp file into the family.
3 If you created the family outside the project, load the family into the project.
NOTE Revit Architecture does not support linking of SketchUp files. As a result, if you import a SketchUp file into
a Revit project and later make changes to the SketchUp file, you cannot easily update the Revit project to reflect
the changes. Therefore, complete as much of the design in SketchUp as possible before importing it into Revit
Architecture.
Related topic
■
Importing Massing Studies from Other Applications on page 626
Importing or Linking CAD Formats | 1389