This document provides information about establishing central and local files for collaborative work in Revit using worksets. The central file stores the master project model and ownership information, while local files are copies team members use to work on assigned worksets. Team members periodically save changes to the central file so others can see their work. Elements can be borrowed and edited across worksets. It is recommended to frequently synchronize local files with the central file and not directly open or rename the central file.

2. ESTABLISH A CENTRAL FILE

3. CENTRAL MODEL
The master project model for a workshared
project. The central model stores the current
ownership information for all elements in the
project, and acts as the distribution point for
all changes published to the file. All users
save their own local copies of the central
model, work locally, and then synchronize
with central so that other users can see their
work.

4. LOCAL MODEL
A copy of the project model that resides on the
computer system of the team member who is
working on the model. When worksharing is used to
distribute project work among team members, each
member uses a local model to work on his or her
workset (functional area). Team members
periodically save their changes to the central model
so that others can see the changes and update
their local model with the latest project information

5. WORKSHETS
A collection of elements in a project. For architecture,
worksets typically define discrete functional areas, such
as interior, exterior, site, or parking.
For building systems engineering, worksets can
delineate functional areas such as HVAC, electrical,
plumbing, or piping.
When you enable worksharing, you can divide a project
into worksets, with different team members responsible
for each workset.

6. WORKSHETS
ACTIVE WORKSHET
The workset to which new elements are added. The
active workset name displays on Collaborate
tabManage Collaboration panel or the status bar.
ELEMENT BORROWING
Allows you to edit an element that you do not own. If no
one owns the element, permission to borrow is
automatically granted. If another team member is
currently editing the element, that team member is the
owner, and you must place a request or wait for it to be
relinquished so that you can borrow it.

7. ESTABLISH A CENTRAL FILE
 Open the project file (RVT) to use as the central model.
 Click Collaborate tab Manage Collaboration
panel (Worksets).Note: If you have installed the A360
Collaboration for Revit add-on, then:Click Collaborate tab
Manage Collaboration panel Collaborate.
 In the Collaborate dialog, select Collaborate within your
network and click OK.
 The Worksharing dialog displays, showing the default user-
created worksets (Shared Levels and Grids, and Workset1).
 If desired, rename the worksets.
 In the Worksharing dialog, click OK.The Worksets dialog
displays.
 In the Worksets dialog, click OK.You do not need to create
worksets at this point.
 Click Save As (Project).
 In the Save As dialog, click Options.
 In the File Save Options dialog, select Make this a Central
Model after save.

8. ESTABLISH LOCAL FILES
 It is good practice for users to create a local copy of
the central model every day. Creating a new local
copy ensures a local copy is always on your hard
drive each time you begin modifying a project.
 In the Open dialog, navigate to the folder where the
central model resides and select it.
 Under Worksharing, verify that Create New Local is
selected.
 Click Open.

9. WORKING ON WORKSETS
 You can edit an element without having ownership
of the workset it belongs to. To do this, you borrow
the element from the workset.
 The borrowing process is automatic unless another
user is editing the element or the workset it belongs
to. If this occurs, you can submit a request to
borrow the element. When your request is granted,
you can edit the element. If changes were made to
the element, you are prompted to reload the latest
changes from the central model before you can edit
the element.
 Generally, it is recommended that you work in your
local copy of the central model and not make
worksets editable. When you edit an element that is
not being edited by another team member, you
automatically become the borrower of the element
and can make the changes you need.

10.  It is recommended that you synchronize with
central frequently as you work. Synchronizing
relinquishes borrowed elements by default,
allowing other team members to edit them.
 Once you’ve created a central file, there are a
couple of things you cannot do. Don’t open it
directly again and don’t change the filename.
Opening the file will change its attributes, and none
of your team members will be able to synchronize
with central. If they were actively working in the
local file, their work would be lost. The same
problem occurs if you change the filename—
anyone with a local copy will lose their association
to the central file and they will not be able to save
their work.

11. COORDINATION BY LINKING
After linking a model to a project, you can change a visibility setting
so the linked model does not display in a particular view.
Open the view where you want to hide the linked model.
Click View tabGraphics panel (Visibility/Graphics).
In the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog, click the Revit Links tab.
In the Visibility column, clear the check box for the linked model.
Click OK
After linking a model to a project, you can change a visibility setting
so the linked model displays in halftone in the current view.
Open the view where you want to change the display of the linked
model.
Click View tabGraphics panel (Visibility/Graphics).
In the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog, click the Revit Links tab.
In the Halftone column, select the check box for the linked model.
Click OK.

12. COPY MONITOR