Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Mapping Font types
Another important aspect for inserted CAD data is the ability of Revit to map shape-based fonts
to TrueType fonts. Usually a remnant of older CAD standards based on graphic performance,
CAD files may contain fonts such as Simplex, RomanS, or Monotxt that do not have matches in
standard Windows fonts. The shxfontmap.txt file defines the mapping of TrueType fonts as
substitutes for each specified SHX font. You can find this text file at C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\
RVT 2015 UserDataCache.
If your firm frequently uses CAD data as an integrated part of your final documentation, the
shxfontmap.txt file should be configured to map your standard CAD fonts to your standard
Revit fonts. This file should then be copied to the workstations of all team members using Revit.
Failure to do so may result in undesirable results when utilizing CAD files in a worksharing
environment.
Importing vs. Linking
You can insert CAD data into the Revit environment in two ways: importing and linking. Each
method has advantages and disadvantages.
Importing
Similar to the using the Insert command in Autodesk
®
AutoCAD
®
software,
importing data integrates the CAD data into the Revit project but does not allow the imported
data to be updated if the original CAD file is modified. In such a case, the imported data would
have to be deleted and reimported. It also does not give you an easy way to purge the layers,
linetypes, and hatch patterns of an imported file if it has been exploded and then deleted.
Linking
A linked CAD file in a Revit project is analogous to an external reference (Xref) in
an AutoCAD project. When the original CAD file is modified, its reference is automatically
updated in the Revit environment. Linking also allows you to easily unload or remove a file
when it is no longer needed, which will leave no trace of the file's contents after removal.
Linked data cannot be modified directly in a Revit project unless it is converted to an import in
the Manage Links dialog box (Insert
➢
Manage Links) and then exploded. As an alternative, it
can be modified in its original, authoring application and then updated within Revit.
Linking is the preferred method for external data integration; however, too many linked
files will make it slower to open a Revit project. For example, ceiling plan fixture layouts may
change with every design iteration (where linking is preferred); however, standard details that
all share a minimal amount of standardized layers, linetypes, hatch patterns, text, and dimen-
sion styles might be better suited as imports.
Collect CaD Links in a Linked revit File
another option to manage many CaD references in larger projects is to create a separate revit
project that contains only the inserted CaD data. If the CaD data is placed with the Current
View only option, you must use linked views between revit models. If the linked data does not
use this option, it will be visible like any other modeled element in a linked revit model. refer
to Chapter 6, “Working with Consultants,” for more information about linked revit models.
