Bring an existing Revit model into Snaptrude to keep designing, analyse its rooms, or ask the Snaptrude Agent questions about it. You can upload an .rvt file directly in Snaptrude, or send the model from Revit with the Snaptrude Manager plugin.
Before you start
Plan. Revit import is available on the Pro, Organization and Enterprise plans. It isn't included in the Free or Starter plans.
Pick a method. Upload from Snaptrude when your .rvt file is 150 MB or smaller and has rooms. Use the Snaptrude Manager when the file is larger than 150 MB, has no rooms, or you want to choose exactly what gets exported (for example, with a section box).
Materials. Assign materials to your Revit elements so they carry over. Paint and textures are not mapped when you upload the .rvt directly.
Upload a Revit file from Snaptrude
Start a direct Revit import and drag your .rvt file into the upload area. Files up to 150 MB are accepted; for a larger file, Snaptrude offers a link to the Snaptrude Manager instead.
Wait while the file is processed. This usually takes 3 to 5 minutes. The project tile shows Processing..., and you get an in-app notice and an email when the project is ready.
Open the project. An import summary appears with a downloadable import report, layers grouped by object type, quick switching between plan views, and suggested questions you can ask about the model.
Note: Inside a project, the Revit Files (via Snaptrude Plugin) tile in the Import dialog (click the project name, then Import) works through the Snaptrude Manager plugin.
Note: Files without Revit rooms are rejected. You can try a sample file or upload a different one, or use the Snaptrude Manager to import a model that has no rooms.
Send a model from Revit with the Snaptrude Manager
Install the Snaptrude Manager for Revit (see Install the Snaptrude Manager for Revit). If the Manager prompts you to update when it opens, click Update, then Install Update, and close all Revit instances.
In Revit, open the model in a 3D view. Turn on the section box and adjust it, because only elements inside the section box are exported.
Open the Snaptrude Manager from the Snaptrude ribbon and click Export to Snaptrude.
Choose your personal workspace or a team you have permission to export to, and optionally a folder. Teams you can't export to, or that have reached their project limit, are greyed out.
Click Begin Export.
When the export finishes, click Launch Snaptrude. The project opens in a new browser tab.
Select the Revit levels to import. Leave all levels checked to import the whole model.
If you're importing into a team, you can choose doors, windows, furniture and wall types from the model to add to the team library, so they're available in the team's other projects. This step is optional. Click Save to start the import.
When the import finishes, download the import report if you need it, then click Done.
Work with imported rooms and room data
Rooms become Spaces. Revit rooms import as editable Spaces, including curved boundaries and holes, and are placed in a default department.
Room parameters come along. All built-in and custom Revit room parameters import as read-only custom calculation columns in Program Mode. This works with both import methods.
Ask about your rooms. Imported room data and parameters can be used as context by the Snaptrude Agent and by Research in the Program Mode agent dropdown, so you can ask questions such as area checks or compliance queries about the model.
Edit the imported model
Imported elements can be edited with Snaptrude's design tools and the Properties panel, and you can keep adding to the model, for example by drawing walls or placing doors from your libraries.
Simple circular arc walls (single or multi-layer) import as parametric walls. You can edit their start and end points, radius, height, thickness and layers.
Arc walls that contain doors or windows, non-circular arcs, curtain walls and stacked walls import as non-parametric geometry.
Revit-imported walls don't update their neighbours the way walls created with Sketch to BIM do.
Read the Revit Import Report
The Revit Import Report is an Excel file that shows which Revit elements came into Snaptrude. Download it from the import summary (direct upload) or from the completion dialog (Snaptrude Manager).
Summary sheet: Revit Category, Revit Object Count, Visible count, Snaptrude Object Count and Fidelity %.
Detailed sheet: Element ID, Category, Visible, Linked, Import Completed, Snaptrude category, and whether the element is parametric or non-parametric.
Note: In the Snaptrude Manager flow, the Revit Import Report button works only once from the completion dialog, so save the file when you download it.
How Revit categories map to Snaptrude
Revit category | Snaptrude object |
Walls | Wall |
Doors | Door (Family) |
Windows | Window (Family) |
Stairs | Staircase (Family) |
Roofs | Roof |
Columns (architectural and structural) | Column |
Ceilings | Ceiling |
Floors (architectural and structural), thinner than 25 mm | Flooring |
Floors (architectural and structural), thicker than 25 mm | Floor Slab |
Rooms | Space |
Casework, furniture, furniture systems, lighting and electrical fixtures and devices, mechanical equipment, plumbing fixtures, specialty equipment, sprinklers, security, fire alarm, communication and data devices | Furniture |
Other categories, such as beams, structural framing and trusses, curtain panels and mullions, ducts, pipes, cable trays and conduits, railings, ramps, generic models, parking, signage and topography | Mass |
Troubleshooting
Elements are missing. Elements hidden in the Revit 3D view are not imported, and with the Snaptrude Manager only elements inside the section box are exported. Entourage, Planting, Roads and Structural Beam Systems are not supported. Check the Detailed sheet of the import report to see what didn't come in. For Revit parts, set Parts Visibility to Show Original.
Your file is rejected on upload. Check that it is 150 MB or smaller and contains rooms. Otherwise, use the Snaptrude Manager.
The import fails or stalls. Direct Revit import relies on Autodesk Platform Services (APS). If APS has an outage, direct .rvt import and export are unavailable until it recovers. Try again later.
Re-importing the same model. Importing a model again creates a new project; it doesn't update the earlier one.
Related articles
Install the Snaptrude Manager for Revit
Export a Snaptrude project to Revit
Import Revit families as Parametric Components
Snaptrude Agent overview