Revit import symbol

When you import a drawing into Revit LT, you are importing all the elements, such as blocks and external references (xrefs) from the drawing. They are all contained inside an element called an import symbol.

You can explode (disassemble) the import symbol into its next highest level elements: nested import symbols. This is a partial explode. A partial explode of an import symbol yields more import symbols, which, in turn, can be exploded into either elements or other import symbols. This is analogous to exploding in AutoCAD with nested xrefs and blocks. For example, you explode an xref into other xrefs and blocks. Those xrefs and blocks can, in turn, be exploded into more blocks and xrefs.

You can also explode the import symbol immediately into Revit text, curves, lines, and filled regions. This is a full explode.

Note: You cannot explode linked files or an import symbol that would yield more than 10,000 elements.

To explode imported geometry

1. Select the import symbol.
2. Click Modify | <File Name> tabImport Instance panelExplode drop-down (Partial Explode) or (Full Explode).

To explode 3D form geometry in the Family Editor

You can explode imported solid (not polymesh) geometry in the Family Editor environment.

1. Select the import symbol.
2. Click Modify | Imports in Families tabImport Instance panelExplode drop-down (Partial Explode) or (Full Explode).

   The 3D solids are now preserved as free form elements.

   

   You can adjust their position with the shape handles on planar faces. Use the free form elements to cut and join geometry.

Tips for purging imports in Revit models with Ideate Explorer:

In addition to deleting CAD Imports that you find using Ideate Explorer, you may also need to purge the symbol imports using Revit's Purged Unused tool.

1. Start Ideate Explorer
2. Find the CAD Imports you wish to delete.
3. Make sure the selection checkbox is selected next to the CAD Import you wish to remove. Once the checkbox is selected, you can use the Delete Tool in the Modify Panel of Revit.
   
    
4. Select the Visibility Graphics Dialog in Revit by Typing VV or VG or the Visibility/Graphics tool under the View Panel in Revit.
5. Choose the Imported Categories Tab.
6. Review the information. You may see that the CAD Import you just deleted still appears within the Imported Categories Visibility Tab. Choose the plus icon to expand the list of imported categories to review.
   
    
7. Choose the Purged Unused tool from the Manage Panel in Revit.
8. Review Imported Symbols in Families and check items that are NOT used that you would like to purge or delete.
   
    
9. The Purge Unused tool in Revit works as a multi-step process. You may need to purge several times to drill down to the items you would like to remove.

Keep in mind, that Ideate Explorer can't look into individual families from the project environment to search for nested CAD Imports & Symbols. CAD Imports will still show in the Visibility Graphics Dialog under the Imported Categories then Imports in Families list if CAD Imports are being used in families within the project. You can use Ideate Explorer to look into each loadable family when you open and edit the family to review if that specific family contains CAD imports. Good possibilities to start an investigation are Title Block and Generic Model families. These can typically contain CAD Imports. Revit In-Place Families can also contain imported CAD information, however the current limitation of the Revit API does not allow Ideate Explorer to review or delete the information contained within a Revit In-Place Family.

For detailed analysis, merging or deletion of Revit Object Styles, including import styles, we recommend Ideate StyleManager.

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1. 2011-01-31, 10:26 PM#1
   

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2. 2011-02-01, 01:02 AM#2
   

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3. 2011-02-01, 01:15 AM#3
   

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4. 2011-02-01, 04:05 AM#4
   

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5. 2011-02-03, 04:24 PM#5

   Re: How to find an import symbol

   Drew,
   
   Am I understanding this correctly:
   Someone imported a cad dwg into your model and you'd like to go delete it, but can't find where they put it?

   CAD user since '95, CAD Mgr since '07, BIM Lead, Mech Eng
   R10, R14, 2000i, 2002, 2004, ABS 2007, AMEP 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
   RMEP 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
   REVIT 2015, 2016
   Author of: http://ab-nerd-disc.blogspot.com/

   

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6. 2011-02-03, 04:30 PM#6
   

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7. 2011-02-03, 04:56 PM#7

   Re: How to find an import symbol

   Off the top of my head I'm not sure how you'd find which view it is "housed" in.
   I don't think there's anything under the Families or Groups which you could see it listed there and right click and choose show.
   
   Unfortunately, I can't find anything that states how to hunt it down.
   Other than the obvious going through every view to see if it's there.
   
   It didn't happen to be placed on it's own workset so you can isolate it, did it?

   CAD user since '95, CAD Mgr since '07, BIM Lead, Mech Eng
   R10, R14, 2000i, 2002, 2004, ABS 2007, AMEP 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
   RMEP 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
   REVIT 2015, 2016
   Author of: http://ab-nerd-disc.blogspot.com/

   

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8. 2011-02-03, 04:58 PM#8
   

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9. 2017-05-11, 02:46 AM#9
   

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