at this point - I think you're just going to need to trust your consultants. They should have no reason to be messing with your model. My suggestion is to purge unused (everything) from your model before you send it to them, and ask them to do the same when they send you their models. I don't believe changing from not having worksets to having worksets should matter at all to the consultants. They're just linking in your model. It's not any different than sending them CAD plans before we had BIM. You can delete all of the sheets out if you want - I don't usually bother doing that. They're going to need your titleblock for their models. Keeping at least one sheet in there will make sure they have the titleblock.

I think one of the biggest things is making sure they know which views are your working views and which ones are your sheet views, if they're going to set up their views to reference a view from your model. If they link a working view, they'll never get consistent VG when they get an updated model from you.

I think you should save your model under a different name, clean out all views that you didn't place on any sheet or need for any particular reason. Then purge to lighten the model and just send it to your consultants.
When you do so, tell them you will expect them to link your model into theirs, add their data and send their model to you. After this you can link their model into yours and everyone should be fine.

That sounds good to me. It is initial information stuff at the moment, to get people moving and see how we are working.

Then we can start to worry about whether they can actual converse with our Revit model or not..

Cheers..

I think its entirely overkill, entirely.

There is no *worrying* that needs to be done about them "conversing" with your LIVE model on your network, it flat out cannot happen. Its not possible. Not with standalone files, not with workshared files, not even with Revit Server. Unless they have infrastructure domain access to your companies network, they can never touch the file you are working in, at your office. Regardless of what you send them.

They are going to be building their own model, with yours linked as a background. There is no need (nor much added benefit) from taking the time week after week to delete your sheets, delete your views, etc. There is very little point. We dont, and i never have, in all the years ive been doing this. Send them exactly what you have, and let them Link in and go to town.

Okay, I wasn't being clear on my point of view: I was talking about the first time you send over your file. Not the whole time. I know it can get a bit overwhelming (especially for first-timers) to get a fullblown Revit Model from which you only need a fraction of data. The first time you want to get in there and get a feeling for the design. So, you're clicking your butt of trying to get a feel of the model and you find yourself lost in all kinds of working views, redundant sections, etc. That's why I proposed emptying out the model.
After the first time, it's linked in to the consultant model and they probably will not even open the original document. Just do a reload from and they're off... Same goes for the consultants model that is returned: just link and go. So, then it's no problem and I totally agree with Aaron. There's no need to empty the model.

BTW Aaron: you more then once posted that your template is off limits to share. You're not concerned with sharing it with consultants then?

First, Im not attacking your method. Im just saying i wouldnt do it, is all. I tell everyone in our office they should NEVER be opening a consultants model. If they want to see it, they link it in, go to a 3D view and turn on ONLY the consultants model. I expect the same of my consultants. So who cares what working views i have? If they call and ask me about my browser organization, my first question is going to be why they are even in the architectural model.

Regarding the consultants getting the template... You would be surprised. We see a great benefit from consultants all working in Revit, and working to the level of complexity and detail we prefer. I train our consultants sometimes, for free. And other design architects that work with us, ive sent them the entire template to start their design model in. So no... we dont strip anything out when we send it to conusltants. But- except for the architectural consultants- i doubt everything we have set up for us will be much benefit to them. For the architects we work with? Yes, ive sent it, and taught them how it works. As for the rule about not uploading it here, that was in reponse to a thread on sharing. Our content library is available for download, but (for whatever reason) that one file isnt. Not my rules, lol....

I honestly dont believe a revit template or some content is what makes anyone more capable to do a better architectural job. If we thought that, im sure we would keep a tighter lid on it. But if people feel that way, there is a lot you CAN do to strip out a revit model. But if youre doing it just out of nervousness to share with your consultant, probably you shouldnt collaborate in a 3d environement with them.

Yes, you were Aaron. But that's not a problem, I appreciate you for being clear on your opinion. And I'm not easily offended :laugh:

But I do think you tend to forget that you're way further down the path of BIM then 99% of the people out there. For most of them, collaboration is still a dirty word. And marking and defending your territory has been a few decades of common practise. It's difficult to rub that off. Not stating that this goes for everyone in equal matter, but let's face it: this is the way things used to work.

Now some fancy BIM consultant (aka me) comes around to tell them they have to share their work with third parties. The first question I always get is how to protect the model. Is this possible? My best answer is the one I gave earlier: empty out the model and get rid of everything that's not needed for collaboration. After a few projects I see them becoming less worried about this until eventually the model is issued without changing anything.
It's just a way of getting used to a new idea of collaborating.

BTW: if you have a project overseas, don't hesitate to call. I'd probably do it for free for a chance to get my hands on your template and some hours of training by the best. Wouldn't make me a better engineer. Or architect (I **** at that anyway), but it would make me a hell of a lot better as a consultant.

Thats just it: I think that further propogates the problem. I see people asking how far can they take it. LITERALLY, ive seen people export the entire model to a 3D DWG, then import it back, and send THAT. Why? They dont want "the other people" getting their parametric content.

The point i always try to make is this: So now, in this collaborative world, were afraid to share. Okay, so what are you afraid to share? You want to send them the model, but not the sheets? The model, but not the views? Well, are you not going to send them PDF's at some point? As a record? Certainly were not living in an age where anyone actually thinks a PDF can be edited.... I mean, this is WHY we stamp and seal drawings. If they were ever callous enough to go in, edit their copy of your model, and say it was you... Well... Wheres the signed seal? Thats right, it aint there.

But jesus, if people feel that way about their consultants, i cant believe they send a model at all.

Its not even about how far down the path we are at my current office. We faced these questions on the first revit job i did years ago, and it was the same answer back then. I mean, it takes time and money to strip a model out. And we trade models at least twice a week, preferably daily. Even if its ten minutes... Why do it?

If the argument is because our template and our content is all "IP or work product," then you all better tell me your computers and networks are locked down like fort knox or attica, because if anyone can plug in a USB device, i assure you: Just like they were doing with the CAD libraries through the 90's, everytime someone leaves, theyre taking all your stuff. LOL.

BTW: We have tons of projects overseas. Been doing a lot in Korea. Even have a custom Keynote system for those jobs, so we can note them in english and then flip a switch and have them in Korean.

Since you guys are talking about sending stuff to consultants, let me ask this question that has been in my mind for some time: what do you do about families that you have paid for and you don't want just everybody else to have them so easily? would you just send them away with your model to go around the world or would you do something to keep them proprietary?

When I was in Las Vegas in December, there was a booth showing a software that was able to protect families from being used without permission. Maybe good idea, but the price of the software was almost the price of a Revit license. Kind of hard to sell that, but anyway, going back to my question, what have you guys seen about this?