BIM Software Tip: Sharing Personal Workset Application Experience in REVIT
The concept of worksets is well-known among BIM professionals. For team collaboration, using worksets is essential—they are simple, practical, and easy to manage. But what about individual users? Do they use worksets? In my experience, designers rarely use a workspace for solo design work. Typically, they start from a local file and collaborate across disciplines via links. Here, I’d like to share some insights on the benefits and considerations of using a personal workset:
1. How do individuals use worksets? The process is similar to team collaboration. First, create a workset, then divide it accordingly. Store the files on a designated server path, and copy them locally during work. This is the typical workflow for worksets, and it’s quite straightforward. The main difference for individuals is that the “server” can simply be your own local computer—you don’t need a separate server machine.
By default, the local files are created on the server path. When opening the central file from the server, you should pay attention to this. Of course, you can also choose to save the file in a different location if preferred.
2. How do individuals divide their work into worksets? Unlike team projects, individual users don’t need as many strict rules for dividing worksets. The key is to keep it manageable and make model extraction and edits easier later on.
- For building structure formwork, it’s best to divide by zones and levels.
- For mechanical and electrical (M&E) systems, organize worksets by system.
- For design work, separate the building’s exterior and interior, and classify M&E systems by system as well.
- Structural design worksets aren’t usually necessary for designers who don’t handle structural modeling.
For example, in a recent project where I collaborated with a design institute unfamiliar with Revit, frequent design changes were necessary. My model also required regular updates. Without using worksets, managing these modifications would have been cumbersome. Here’s how I approached it:
The structure was separated from the rest, making later adjustments easier since the building skin and internal structure were designed by different people. Of course, the exact setup should be tailored to each project’s needs and individual preferences.
3. What are the benefits of using a personal workset? There are several advantages, and I highly recommend trying it if you haven’t already:
Firstly, it can improve your computer’s performance. When you turn off worksets that aren’t needed, your software runs faster because fewer elements are displayed, reducing the load on your graphics card.
Secondly, it enhances visibility control.
Worksets provide permanent control over what is shown or hidden. You simply open the worksets you need and turn off the rest. This not only speeds up your workflow but also avoids the hassle of temporary hiding, making model review more intuitive and efficient.
Thirdly, personal worksets can facilitate team collaboration by organizing the model more clearly.
Fourthly, you can quickly extract specific layers or components. Deleting a workset will also remove all elements within it.
4. How to extract parts of the model? There are two main methods:
Firstly, extract the overall model by detaching it from the central file when opening.
Secondly, extract a specific layer or region by deleting files from other areas without synchronizing, then saving this as a new file.
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