Linking 2D AutoCAD

Any referenced datasets can be downloaded from "Module downloads" in the module overview.

Link AutoCAD into Revit - Exercise

Linking AutoCAD into Revit can be straightforward. Let's take a look!

  1. Open your Revit project, if not already open.
  2. Make the Level 1 CAD Background view current.
  3. In the Insert tab>Link panel, click Link CAD, as shown below.



  4. In the Link CAD Formats dialog box, navigate to the project files Original Data folder and select A101.dwg.
  5. Make sure the settings are set as follows (as shown below):
    1. Check Current view only
    2. Colors: Preserve
    3. Layers/Levels: All
    4. Import units: Auto-Detect
    5. Positioning: Auto - Origin to Internal Origin



  6. Click Open. Note that when the CAD link is established, the link is automatically pinned to prevent it from moving.
  7. Create two gridlines: gridline 1 and gridline A, as follows:
    1. In the Modify | Place Grid tab>Draw panel, select the Pick Lines option, as shown below.



    2. Select the red dashed CAD line representing gridline 1.
    3. Extend the Revit gridline so the bubble is beyond the CAD bubble.
    4. Select the CAD line representing gridline A.
    5. Extend the Revit gridline so the bubble is beyond the CAD bubble.
    6. Rename the gridline from 2 to A.
  8. Go to the South CAD Background view.
  9. Link the Elevation – South.dwg CAD file into this view, ensuring that all the settings are as they were for the previous CAD link.
  10. Pan upward to see the CAD file, which comes in above the current Revit levels.
  11. Change the color of the yellow CAD layers, as follows:
    1. Select the CAD link.
    2. In the contextual tab>Import Instance panel, select Query.
    3. Select a yellow object in the CAD link and note the layer in the Import Instance Query dialog box that opens, as shown below.



    4. Repeat for the other CAD layers you want to change the color or linetype of.
    5. Open the Visibility/Graphic Overrides.
    6. On the Imported Categories tab, expand Elevation-South.dwg and browse to the desired layer.
    7. Click on the Override button in the Lines column. In the Line Graphics dialog box, change the color and/or linetype, as shown below, and click OK.



    8. Repeat for the other layers that need to be changed, then click OK to close the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog box.
  12. Click on the pin icon to unpin the CAD link.
  13. Select the CAD link, then in the Options Bar, select the Constrain option. Move the elevation down to the approximate level.
  14. Use the Align command to align the CAD gridline 1 with the Revit gridline 1. Select the Revit gridline first, then select the CAD gridline.
  15. Click Modify.
  16. Extend the Revit grid bubble up in line with the CAD grid bubble.
  17. Select the Revit Level 1 line and extend it out to the left.
  18. Click on the small square to enable the level button on the level line, as shown below.



  19. Repeat for Level 2.
  20. Use the Align command to align the CAD GROUND FLOOR level line with the Revit Level 1 line. Select the Revit Level 1 line first, then select the CAD level line.
  21. Click on the Revit Level 2 line.
  22. Change the elevation value to 13'-4".
  23. Rename Level 2 to SECOND FLOOR and click Yes to rename the corresponding views.
  24. Rename Level 1 to GROUND FLOOR and click Yes to rename the corresponding views.
  25. Select the CAD link and pin it again.
  26. Save the file.