What sort files are you referring to? CAD to Revit, Revit to Revit?

The very nature of using "Auto - Origin to Origin" is that Revit will place the origin (0,0,0 coordinate) of the link on top of the origin of your host file automatically. You shouldn't have to move the file at all if both have the same understand of what "origin" means.

If both files are started without any awareness of each other you have no guarantee anything will line up regardless how you import it.

Not quite enough info to go further without major guessing...

I'm afraid this is the only option for you here if you really want to use the O-to-O method. Manually select and move everything. Otherwise you'll have to go for Shared Coordinates.

It was Revit to Revit. I ended up just moving the few elements in the model manually to where they needed to be relative to the origin.

The issue we often come across structurally is that we need to start our models prior to ever getting an architectural model. Unless both companies have a the same standard of how they want to utilize 0,0,0 it is nearly impossible to start 2 models in 2 different companies and hope they will come in correctly O2O. We would typically resort to using Shared Coordinates to fix the linking so everything comes together, but was not the route I wanted to go with this project quite yet.

How could one know that it was Revit to Revit by reading the original post? I agree with Steve in that some questions do not provide enough and clear information.

About starting models in 2 different companies and hope they come correctly at Origin to Origin, you could agree on starting the first grids at the origin point. In general, it's something that should be talked about between all the parties involved before everything starts.

I was not trying to say that it was clear. I agree I was not clear in my OP.

If it was me put in the position of starting a structural model without even a hint of what the building design is...I'd balk. That said, I have seen projects where the conversation between architect and engineer goes something like, "Hey we're doing another project like 100 East Ave, could you put together a preliminary structural package? Use the same layout."

Like Alfredo suggests, if I ended up "out in front" then I'd send my file to the architect as soon as I had grids drawn and tell them to link it Origin to Origin and work around my grid layout. Somebody has to lead...and talk. This isn't a new problem.

First, you must be sure to understand that "Origin to Origin" means the elusive Relative origin, which- contrary to popular belief- does NOT always show up in the UI. It *should* be underneath Project Base Point and/or Survey Point, but thats assuming long ago when someone made the template, they didnt move PB and/or SP. If theyve been moved, the Relative Origin (the one used for OTO) is where the "original origin" was natively in Revit. You cant mess with Relative, at all. The fact that you can move and adjust PB and SP is just a UI state, but the Relative Origin is forever "where it was."

Honestly, Shared Coordinates is really (just my very humble opinion) the right way to do this anyway. In a Project Kickoff meeting, i actually ask all the consultants to bring a perfectly blank model to the meeting with them, and we establish and publish the Shared Coords while we all sit together, in to all of the models. Regardless, though, since the coordinates have to be aligned and/or published once to begin with, its not the end of the world if things are misaligned- unless you want all the files alligned according to all of the origins: Shared, Project Base, and Relative. Thats paramount for exporting CAD files, since they will always use Relative.

Long ago begore SP and PBP were visible in the UI, we used to mark Relative Origin with reference planes. Ive kept those in the template, as a safety net for cases like this.

The reason i give you that long drawn out spiel, is even if you call up the architects and say *okay, im putting grid intersection A/1 at my Origin, you do the same..." that begets the question of: WHICH origin. Most people thing the PBP is the origin... Its not. (Granted, it is unless its been moved unclipped). But my point is, without having the full conversation with them, they might THINK theyre dropping A/1 on the Origin, when they arent.

Just as FYI.

I'll have to disagree with you here... I think you can move the "hard" origin in a project using the "Rotate Project North" twice. It won't affect any of the dimensions and I don't think it will cause any errors.

I'll try to check that and post a video if it works.

Thought I was the only one who keeps those around from the olden days ;-) -sure you're not older than you think or just an old soul???