Link a CAD File

Link a CAD file to a Revit model when you want to maintain a connection between the file and the model, so you can use the file as an underlay or include it in the construction documentation set.

1. Open the Revit model.
2. If you want the linked file to display only in a particular view, open that view.
3. Click Insert tabLink panel (Link CAD).
4. In the dialog, for Files of type, select the desired file type.
5. Navigate to the folder that contains the file to link, and select the file.
6. Specify the following options:
   1. If you want the linked file to display in the current view only, select Current view only.

      If you do not select this option, the linked file is displayed in all relevant 2D views, such as floor plans.

   2. For Layers, select one of the following values:
      • All: Displays all linked file layers in the project, including hidden layers.
      • Visible: Displays visible layers of the linked file in the project. Layers that are currently hidden in an AutoCAD DWG file do not display in Revit.
      • Specify: Allows you to select the layers to display in the project from a list. After you click Open, Revit displays the list of layers from which to choose.
7. Specify options.

   See Import and Link Options.

8. Click Open.
9. If, for Layers, you chose Specify, the Select Layers/Levels to Import/Link dialog lists the layers in the file. Select the desired layers, and click OK.

   Unselected layers are not available in the Revit project. (However, the layers still exist in the CAD file.)

Revit retrieves the current version of the linked file and displays it in the current Revit view.