An MEP Engineer (Electrical) with limited resources finds it difficult to meet deadlines when, in addition to designing the Engineering system, they have to model up the architectural model from PDF / CAD Layouts as well. Instead they would like to use the PDF / CAD file in Revit views, especially in Elevations and Sections.
They are given a Vector PDF file:
Assuming they have access to AutoCAD LT 2017 or a later, they are able to convert a Vector PDF directly into CAD entities.
Insert > Data > PDF Import
The settings show how the vector information will be processed. Override if necessary.
The PDF now exists as AutoCAD entities.
The drawing is currently not scaled 1:1
Scale the drawing to be 1:1 (one does not model to scale in Revit)
The new 2018 .DWG file format does not import into Revit 2017.2, so make sure to save the Cad drawing into 2013 .DWG file format.
Open the Revit Elevation that the DWG must be placed in:
Note the setting to “Orient to View”. This will allow the CAD file to be shown normal to the level it is defined to.
The CAD file may now be moved and rotated so that it aligns to model geometry as required. In the image below, the red arrows point to a DWG Link, the blue arrows to a DWG import and the green arrows to a DWG insert that was imported with the setting “Current view only”.
Note: although the “Current view only” option does not expose it level and offset properties, one is able to move it around using the “Move” tool.
