About Scenarios and Linked Models

To take advantage of Forma tools and workflows, Revit models must be connected to a scenario. Learn what happens when these models are linked to other models.

Note: As a Forma Connected Client, Revit offers Forma capabilities that are part of a technology preview (tech preview), which means that it's new and continuously improving. Learn more.

A scenario is a shared design container in your Forma project that connects models from several software applications. Scenarios can include Forma models (such as contextual data or site design models) and Revit models.

When you open a Revit model that's connected to a scenario:

• Models from Forma are referenced as coordination models.
• Other Revit models connected to the scenario are referenced as Revit links.

When working with multiple Revit models that are part of the same project, you may encounter the following situations:

• All models linked as RVT links, none connected to a scenario
• Multiple models connected to a scenario, none linked as RVT links
• Some models in a scenario, other models are linked as RVT links

All models linked as RVT links, none connected to a scenario

When several Revit models are linked to a host model, and none of them are connected to a scenario, Forma tools are not accessible.

Connecting your model to a scenario is a prerequisite for using Forma tools, such as ordering contextual data and performing wind analysis.

All models connected to a scenario, none linked as RVT links

Suppose that, for a particular project, all Revit models are connected to a Forma scenario, and none of the models use links.

In this case, all Revit models are visible in the scenario. In addition, models created using other Forma applications are visible, such as terrain and surrounding buildings (ordered as contextual data), or buildings designed with Forma Site Design and Forma Building Design. All users with access to the scenario can see the models, ensuring they understand the broader context of the project.

Furthermore, when you use Forma tools, all models in the scenario are available. For example, when you perform a wind simulation analysis, you can select which models to include in the analysis.

In addition, you no longer need to load and unload linked models, or share coordinates among them. Instead, the scenario becomes the foundation of the models' interrelationships, including geolocation. You can use Revit tools like Visibliity/Graphics to control the models' visibility and display graphics in views.

Use of the scenario enables a deeper understanding of the full context of the project and its environmental impacts.

Some models in a scenario, other models linked as RVT links

Suppose that, for a particular project, a host Revit model is connected to a scenario, along with Forma models. Meanwhile, other Revit models are linked to the host model, but those models are not connected to the scenario.

In this case:

• The models included in the scenario, including the host model, are available for use with Forma tools, such as wind simulation.
• The models linked to the host model are not visible to the scenario. As a result, they are not available for use with Forma tools.
• If the linked models used shared coordinates, when you add the host model to a scenario, the shared coordinates relationship is removed. See About Geolocation and Shared Coordinates.