I Now Pronounce You Revit and Vault

Adding Vault to your existing Revit environment can add a tremendous amount of value, power, and security to the current workflow.  Adding value by enhancing functionality such as, searching for specific families that are store and controlled in Vault.  Power to push and pull Vaulted files to and from BIM 360 for collaboration outside of your companies firewall.  Added security by controlling who can and cannot read, modify, and delete files once Vaulted. As well as, seeing the state the current project is in whether its currently being worked on, being reviewed by the customer or it is officially released at 100%.  Lets break down the Vault add-in below.

1. Select Go to Vault from the Vault ribbon to launch the Autodesk Vault client.
    
2. Log in and out of Vault from the Vault add-in.
    
3. Opening a file from the vault opens an existing Revit previously added to vault. When selecting the latest version of a file, Revit Server files and Central work shared files are opened from their respective locations just as they would be if opened from Revit.
   1. Opening a historical version of a file or a Read Only version of the file downloads a copy of the file from Vault and opens it for viewing.
   2. Opening a non-work shared file for editing automatically checks out the file unless the Read-Only option is selected.
      
      
4. Non-work shared files are added to a vault using the Save to Vault command. When a file is Saved to Vault, it is automatically checked into the vault.
   1. Save to Vault can only be used on Non-work shared files and Revit Family files.
   2. After Saving a file to Vault, if you continue to edit the file, the file is automatically checked back out.
       
5. Within Revit you can search or browse Vault for Revit family types and load, or load and place them into the current project.
   1. The Load Family feature supports files of type .rfa with or without type catalogs.
      
      
6. Link from Vault lets you link a file stored in the Vault to the current Revit Project.
   1. Link from Vault supports these file types:
      1. DGN, DWF, DWFX, DWG, DXF, IFC, RVT, SAT, SKP
         
         
7. Import from Vault lets you import CAD files or images stored in a vault into the current Revit project. If an imported file is updated it must be reimported back into Revit to see the changes.
   1. Link from Vault supports these file types:
      1. DGN, DWG, DXF, SAT, SKP, BMP, JPG, JPEG, TIF
         
         
          
8. Load groups from one project in the Vault into the active project with the Load Groups from Vault feature. (Make sure you are within a viewport)
   
   
    
   1.  Select a .rvt file and click Select to see which groups are available. Unlike in Revit, you can select which groups are loaded from Vault.
      
      
       
9. Use the Add Files command to add a selection of files to the vault or the Add Folder command to add multiple files contained in a Windows folder to Vault. Relationships between Revit files and associated files are created as new versions of the files are added to vault.
   
   
    
10. Add Sheets allows the user to print all sheets in the active Revit file and place them directly into Vault.
    
    
    
    
     
11. The Change Category command allows users to modify the lifecycle category for a file or group of files in Revit.
    
    
     
12. Changes the Lifecycle State in Vault of a currently opened model. It adds/saves model to Vault if needed.
    
    
     
13. Change the revision value for a file or an item in the Vault client.
    
    
     
14. Shared parameters are definitions of parameters that you can add to families or projects. Shared parameter definitions are stored in a .txt file independent of any family file or Revit project; this allows you to access the file from different families or projects. This file is referred to as the Shared Parameters file.
    1. Vault does not confirm the legitimacy of the shared parameters file, so if you select an invalid .txt file in the vault, it will still be activated as the Shared Parameters file.
    2. Autodesk recommends creating a shared parameters folder in the vault. Since there may be multiple types of .txt files a user can browse to inside a vault, a shared parameters folder makes it easy for users to differentiate which .txt files are parameter files.
       
       
        
15. There are two essential concepts to understand when working with the Revit Vault add-in.
    1. Using Revit Server or work shared central files – The Revit add-in does NOT require a check out. This behavior is unique and is unlike all other Vault add-ins where you must check a file out of the vault before you can modify it. Copies of the project file are added to Vault at specified milestones or automatically after a Revit Synchronization with Central.
    2. Note: Revit Server files and work shared central files can only be added to Vault using the Synchronize with Central command.
    3. Using Vault with non-shared project files – The project file can be downloaded using the Open from Vault command. This will automatically check out the file for editing. Once you are done editing the file, check the file back into the vault by using the Save to Vault command.
        
16.  Options:
    
    
    
17. For additional help, visit the Autodesk Vault Help webpage.

About the Author

Sr. Applications Expert, Manufacturing<br><br>Anthony brings solid hands-on experience in manufacturing and design, as well as a mastery of cutting edge digital prototyping concepts to IMAGINiT’s technical team. With a clear understanding of the design process from concept through production, Anthony is aware of the issues that our clients face and can assist them with becoming more efficient and productive. <br> His proven expertise in modeling and analysis technology and ability to communicate his knowledge to others makes him a valued instructor and trusted partner to our clients during the specification, implementation, training and support phases of technology adoption.

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