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Revit

Revit Icon This guide covers using Revit with Desktop Connector, including integration workflows, best practices, and troubleshooting solutions.

Topics in this Section

What's New in Revit 2026

For additional information about the new features in Revit visit What's New in Revit 2026.

Working with Revit

Revit 2018.3 - 2025 supports both Desktop Connector v15.8 and 16.x

Note: Desktop Connector versions 16.x support Revit 2021 through Revit 2025.

Will you need to re-path the links in all the Revit models or are there any issues she should be aware of?

  • In most situations, there is no need to re-path links. However, there have been a few isolated cases where a team member may need to use the "Reload From" feature and point to the same files.
  • Desktop Connector is responsible for link handling. As long as there is a proper GUID for each link, which is stored in the Revit model, Desktop Connector will pass that information to Revit. The version of Desktop Connector running does not affect Revit's functionality.
  • We recommend conducting a test upgrade on one workstation and opening the same Revit model. This will allow you to check if the links reconcile successfully. If the test is successful, you can proceed with the rollout to other team members.

Support of Revit Worksharing and the Revit Accelerator

Only for versions after Revit 2020 are supported. Desktop Connector will be unresponsive on the initial install of Revit (after reboot issue, should not occur). We don't have additional information regarding this topic, except that it is a known issue for older versions of Revit (2019 and earlier).

Troubleshooting

Linked CAD files not loaded

When attempting to link CAD files that are hosted on BIM 360 into a Revit model, the CAD links show as Not Loaded or Not Found in the Manage Links dialog.

Revit shared parameter txt files are not officially supported through Desktop Connector. Revit only supports cloud referencing for keynote txt files, and assembly code txt files. No special handling will be taken for shared parameter files by Revit. For a current list of supported file types you can refer to this list.

Files not syncing/downloading (from cloud)

An error message appeared when you attempted to download, open, or store a .RVT file on your device. This is recognized as a Tag Error and you will receive the following warning:

Revit Error

You may try these steps to resolve the error:

  1. Run chkdsk C: /f /r to fix the file properties.
  2. Perform a "Free up Space" and then "Always keep on this device"
  3. Remove the project and re-add the project.
Important: Keep in mind that step 3 will permanently delete project files from your local disk (will not delete cloud files).

The Revit (_backup) folder

When you open linked files in Revit, it automatically creates a _backup folder. If you also have View + Download permissions in Docs there can be issues. Desktop Connector will try to create and upload this backup folder but Autodesk Docs may prevent it, causing upload errors.

To resolve you will need to delete the backup folder on the local machine to clear the upload error. The following steps will guide you on how to delete the _backup folder.

  1. Click on the the failed _backup folder job in the Home Screen.
  2. Select "Go To Folder" which takes you to the location in File Explorer.
  3. Delete or Move the folder and its contents out of the local desktop connector workspace.
  4. When Desktop Connector attempts to run the jobs again, the _backup folder job will be removed.
Note:

All file types (.dat, .dmp, .txt) that are created by Revit and are placed in that folder will be ignored by Desktop Connector. Resulting in Desktop Connector not attempting to upload these specific file types

Related Concepts:

Parent page: Working with CAD Software
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Next page: Navisworks

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