Upgrade a Central Model

Each release of Revit Server uses a different file format. You must upgrade a server-based central model if you want to use it as a central model in a newer release of Revit Server.

To view a video that demonstrates the procedure below, see Model Upgrade Workflow for Revit Server.

Upgrade through Revit

In the legacy release of Revit, open and detach the central model from Revit Server. Save the model to the local file system. Open the model in the newer release of Revit to upgrade it. Finally, save the model to the newer release of Revit Server.

  1. Launch the legacy release of Revit.
  2. Click FileOpen.
  3. In the Navigation pane, click Revit Server.
  4. Open the Revit Server Models folder and browse to the model you want to upgrade.
  5. Select the model and enable Detach from Central. Click Open.
  6. In the Detach Model from Central dialog, click Detach and Preserve Worksets.
  7. Save the open model to the local drive.
  8. Close the model.
  9. Launch the newer release of Revit.
  10. Browse to the model that you saved on the local drive and open it.

    This will upgrade the legacy release of the model to the newer release.

  11. Review the warning and click Close.
  12. From the open model, click FileSave As.
  13. In the Navigation pane, click Revit Server.
  14. Enter a new file name and click Save.

    15. The legacy Revit Server model has been re-saved to the newer release of Revit Server. The file format has been upgraded to the newer release.

Upgrade through Revit Server

Copy the model to upgrade from the project root of the legacy release of Revit Server to the project root of the new release of Revit Server. Open the model in the new release of Revit. Use the Synchronize with Central command to upgrade the file format to the newer release and re-save it to the newer release of Revit Server.

Note: This is the only workflow where model management through Windows Explorer rather than Revit Server Administrator is supported.
  1. In Windows Explorer, open the project root folder for the legacy release of Revit Server: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Revit Server <release>\Projects.
  2. Open a second window and open the project root folder for the newer release of Revit Server: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Revit Server <release>\Projects.
  3. In the legacy folder, right-click on the model you want to upgrade and click Copy.
  4. In the newer folder, right-click and click Paste.

    At this point, the model has not been upgraded to the newer release. It is still a legacy release of the model.

  5. Right-click on the model in the newer folder and click Properties.
  6. Check to make sure that NETWORK SERVER and CREATOR OWNER have full access. Select each role and click Edit to view the permissions. Click Cancel when done.
  7. Launch the newer release of Revit.
  8. In the Navigation pane, click Revit Server.
  9. Browse to the model that you copied and open it.

    Notice Create New Local is disabled. Since the model has not been upgraded, you cannot create a new local.

  10. Review the warning and click Close.
  11. From the open model, click CollaborateSynchronize with CentralSynchronize and Modfiy Settings.

    This will upgrade the release of the model to the newer release.

  12. In the Synchronize with Central dialog, enter a comment (if desired) and click OK.

    13. If you close the model and re-open it, notice that Create New Local is now enabled in the Open dialog.

Parent topic: Managing the Central Model

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