BIM modeling — How to effectively control the size of family files in Revit

Thread Content

The size of family files can affect the size of project files and the speed at which software runs. So how can we minimize the size of family files while still meeting the requirements of the project? Method 1: Delete the imported CAD drawings. If CAD drawings or raster images have been imported into the family file, it is best to delete these raster images and CAD drawings (or avoid importing CAD files and instead choose to link to them). Under the Management tab, find the Manage Images command and delete the unnecessary raster images ； Click on \"Visibility/Graphics\" under the View tab (shortcut key VV), locate \"Imported Categories\", and delete the CAD drawings that are not needed ； Method 2: Tips for creating geometric shapes – Try to minimize the use of hollow geometric shapes, and avoid using arrays and formulas as much as possible. Use symbolic lines and masked areas in plan views, rather than model lines or other geometric shapes. Choose an appropriate family template for drawing; the template itself occupies a certain amount of memory, and selecting different templates will result in varying file sizes. (Change the family file name, for example, from Stairs.rfa to Stairs.rft, and it can be saved as your own family template file.) ； Method 3: Remove unused items. After the family is created, the unused external references or other redundant data in the family file can be deleted by clicking the “Remove unused items” command in the dropdown menu under the “Manage” tab ； In the pop-up “Clear Unused Items” dialog box, delete all items that are not needed. Method 4: Save the project under a different name. When saving family files, it is important to save the project under a different name. (If a save path has already been set, do not click ‘Save’ when saving again; instead, use ‘Save As’ to change the file name or the save path.) This way, the file database can be recompiled. Method 5: Break down a project into layers or categories for storage. If a project is too large, it can be divided into layers or categories for creation or storage. By doing this, the number of elements within each layer or category decreases, which results in smaller file sizes.