15 Tips for better Revit performance

1. PURGE – Just like AutoCAD files, purge your Revit file of unused content. These can really add up to increase your file size, so if you don’t need them, delete them! You can always bring them back if you need to later on.  BIMbrite tip: Early on in the document production, In the purge dialog, select “check none” and strategically purge. You may want to archive before purging. You can also use the addin: family size reporter, which will empower your decisions on families to replace or flat-out remove.
2. IMPORTED DWG FILES – When working with Cad files in Revit, you should always LINK them into your project instead of importing them. When you import them, the file size gets added on to your project size. Linking is similar to an Xref in Autocad, you’re just creating a link to an external file.
3. COMPRESS YOUR FILE – Ensure your Revit file is being compressed when saving. To do this, do a Save As and in the options, tick the box to Compress the file.
4. DELETE UNNECESSARY VIEWS – Try to keep your project as lean as possible. Having too many views can slow down your project, so make sure you delete all temporary or unnecessary views. BIMbrite tip: create a schedule of views not on sheets, enforce a view naming protocol and have a weekly announcement before deleting improperly named views
5. RESOLVE WARNINGS – Revit can spend a lot of resources trying to compute errors and give Warnings. Resolving these warnings can help speed up your session. Tip: It’s always better to resolve Warnings as they arise, rather than trying to tidy them up at the end. BIMbrite tip: Use addin: Archisoft Isolate Warnings
6. Close Worksets vs V&G – Closing worksets actually unloads geometry from the file, which can greatly increase performance over just shutting it off in a view or view template.
7. Groups are “heavier” than Families – Also, they tend to behave poorly when mirrored, so avoid them if possible.
8. Close Unnecessary Views – The more views you have open, the more your computer has to process, close unused views. BIMbrite tip: Use the addin Palladio X BIM Windows Layout
9. Limit use of Rooms in Design Options
10. Elevation / Plan / Section: Minimize View Depth if possible
11. SECTION BOX 3D VIEWS – When navigating within a 3d View, use a section box to zero in on the area you’re working. This reduces the number of visible elements that. BIMbrite tip: Use addin: COINS Auto-Section Box
12. DELETE UNUSED DESIGN OPTIONS – Inactive design options can slow down your model as they all have to update with any changes. If they aren’t needed anymore, delete them!
13. RASTER IMAGES – Avoid bringing in large raster images. Try to optimize the image before importing as the file size will remain the same, even if you scale it down within Revit. Delete any unwanted raster images or renderings.
14. TURN SHADOWS OFF – This is pretty obvious, but don’t turn shadows on in views that don’t need them as it will slow down your project.
15. DWG INFO IN FAMILIES – Minimize this, and you can use a “throw-away” family to import into, explode and then bring the resulting Revit linework into the final version of the family you’re creating

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