Importing a Design as an In-Place Mass

Import a massing study from design software (such as Trimble® SketchUp®) to an in-place mass in a Revit project when you intend to use the design in one project only. Import the design into an external mass family when you plan to use it in multiple projects. (See Importing a Design to a Mass Family Outside a Project....)

To import a design to an in-place mass

1. Use the design software to create the massing study.
2. In Revit, open the project in which you want to use the massing study, and open a 3D view.
3. Click Massing & Site tabConceptual Mass panel (In-Place Mass).
4. At the Show Mass Enabled message, click OK.
5. In the Name dialog, enter a name for the mass, and click OK.
6. Import the file containing the design.

   How to

   1. Click Insert tabImport panel (Import CAD).

      For more information, see Importing or Linking CAD Files Using the Import CAD and Link CAD Tools.

   2. In the Import CAD Formats dialog, navigate to the folder that contains the file to import.
   3. For Files of type, select the appropriate file type (such as DWG, SAT, or SKP).
   4. Select the file to import.
   5. Specify the desired import settings.

      The following settings are recommended:

      • Colors: Preserve
      • Layers: All
      • Import Units: Auto-Detect
      • Positioning: Auto - Origin to Origin
      • Place at: Level 1 or Ref. Level
      • Orient to View

      See Import and Link Options for CAD Formats and Revit Models.

   6. Click Open.

   To see the mass, you may need to type ZF (Zoom to Fit) to adjust the drawing area to show the entire mass.

7. In the project, click (Finish Mass).
8. To convert the faces of the mass, use the Wall by Face, Floor by Face, Curtain System by Face, and Roof by Face tools.

   For more information about these tools, see Creating Building Elements from Mass Instances.