Revit supports four main file formats, each serving a distinct purpose in the design and modeling process.
1. *.rte Format
The *.rte file format is used for project templates in Revit. These templates help standardize design settings and eliminate the need to repeatedly configure common parameters. Project template files include predefined content such as project units, annotation styles, text styles, line weights and styles, as well as import and export formats.
Before starting a project, you can establish standards tailored to your needs and save them as a project template file. This approach significantly reduces setup time when working on future projects with similar requirements.
Revit also includes sample template files, such as the Structural Analysis Default CHNCHS.rte, which complies with Chinese localization drafting standards. While this sample provides a basic foundation, customizing it to suit your specific needs can greatly enhance design efficiency and shorten project timelines.
2. *.rvt Format
The *.rvt format is Revit’s primary building information model (BIM) file format. It contains all design data for a project, including models, annotations, views, and drawings. This file is created and saved once the model is complete, serving as the central repository of the entire project’s information.
3. *.rfa Format
The *.rfa format is used for family files, which are components like beams, columns, foundations, rebar, and detailed parts. These files can be loaded into projects as needed. During design, you can create and save your own frequently used family files in this format.
In common usage, when referring to “families,” it usually means these loadable family files saved as .rfa files.
4. *.rft Format
The *.rft format represents family template files. These templates define how families are created and include some basic settings. Users can customize family templates according to specific guidelines to streamline family creation.
Examples of common family template files include metric structural columns, general annotations, and metric detail components.
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