Revit is not backwards compatible (a later file version, say, 2019, can’t be opened in 2018).
You can get around this is through the Industry Foundation Class (IFC) file format. This file format is to BIM what the Drawing Exchange Format (DXF) is to CAD. Like the DXF format, the IFC format is first and foremost meant to be a way of transferring files between applications. Read more about IFC here:
- https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/ENU/Revit-DocumentPresent/files/GUID-6EB68CEC-6C17-4B16-A509-30537F666C1F-htm.html
- https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/what-is-ifc
Industry experience shows us that it is much easier to specify on a BIM Execution Plan when all parties involved in the collaboration are on the same version of the Authoring system. If this is not possible there is a lot of groundwork to do get a Revit model into the correct state to export to IFC.
- There are multiple versions of IFC, so specifying which Version to use is important.
- There is typically data loss that occurs due to the different packages having modelling engines that operate on different principles.
To have access to a Revit IFC model in an earlier version of Revit, export the model to IFC in Revit 2019.
Modify the IFC export setup
Import the IFC model into Revit 2016, for instance.
The IFC import can be bound
Ungroup
Note the material assignment (information) is missing on elements.
Note the wall type properties are now completely different
Here is a link that explains the export setup in more detail:
If you wish to know more about collaborating with others on construction projects, contact Micrographics so we may assist you in the best BIM workflows for your situation.
