Importing a Design to a Mass Family Outside a Project

Import a massing study from design software (such as SketchUp) into an external mass family when you plan to use it in multiple projects. (This is the recommended workflow.) Import the design into an in-place mass in a project when you intend to use the design in one project only. (See Importing a Design as an In-Place Mass.)

To import a design to a mass family

1. Use the design software to create the massing study.
2. In Vasari, open the project in which you want to use the massing study, and open a 3D view.
3. Click New (Family).
4. In the New dialog, select Mass.rft, and click Open.
5. Import the file containing the design, as follows:
   1. Click Import (Import CAD).
   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 http://beehive.autodesk.com/community/service/rest/cloudhelp/resource/cloudhelpchannel/guidcrossbook/jsonp?v=B3&p=VASARI&l=ENU&guid=GUID-D184A004-D0BF-44D1-9C02-99480B129CAD.

   6. Click Open.

   To see the massing study, you may need to do the following:

   • Switch to a 3D view.
   • Type ZF (Zoom to Fit) to adjust the drawing area to show the entire mass.
   • Click Analyze tabEnergy Model Display panelShow Mass Form and Floors.
   • To improve visibility, on the View Control Bar, for Visual Style, select Shaded.
6. Save the mass family.
7. Load the mass family into the project and place the component, as follows:
   1. Click Import (Load Family).
   2. In the Load Family dialog, navigate to the mass family file and then click Open.
   3. Click Model tabConceptual Mass panel (Place Mass).
   4. At the Show Mass Enabled message, click OK.
   5. Click in the drawing area to place the mass.

   If you cannot see the mass, you may need to do the following:

   • Switch to a 3D view.
   • Type ZF (Zoom to Fit) to adjust the drawing area to show the entire mass.

   For more information, see Placing a Mass Instance from a Mass Family.

8. To convert the faces of the mass component, 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.