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How to keep the size of Revit files manageable

Technical Support

Issue:

Revit file sizes (for local, network, or cloud-based models), including linked Revit files, can become very large, up to 2 GB or more. You want to know how to keep the file size manageable for better Revit performance.

Solution:

Check if any of the following issues apply

Identify where the file size is coming from

  • Compact the model. This can be done by doing a Save As.
  • BIM Interoperability Tools - Model Check: Go through the following steps to better understand how loaded families are affecting the model size:
  1. If not already installed, load the BIM Interoperability Tools into Revit.
  2. Load the “Revit <Version> Best Practices” Checkset from the         Public Library.
  3. Run the Checkset.
  4. Review the output for Model Performance -> Loaded Families to find the total size of loaded families and a list with the name/size of the loaded families.
  • More items to check/review:
  1. Save a detached/local copy of the model so that the changes below will not affect the production model.
  2. For each of the following steps, save a copy of the model with a new name and check the file size:
  • Purge unused families.
  • Remove all linked files.
  • Remove all sheets.
  • Remove all views (except for one).
  • Remove all in-place families.
  • Remove the loaded families (except where one instance must remain in the model) and purge unused families again.
  • Go to a default 3D view, draw a crossing selection box (from the bottom right to top left) over all the visible elements, and delete them.
  • Delete all but one level.

Resources

Once you’ve identified where the model size is being taken up, see the following resources for strategies for organizing large Revit projects:

Products:

Revit Product Family;

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