Revit Worksharing with CADtoWIN

CADtoWIN enables collaborative Revit workflows by hosting Central Models (CM) directly on Microsoft SharePoint. By leveraging SharePoint’s native file-locking and versioning, the plugin allows teams to synchronize local copies using standard Revit tools.

1. Working with a Central Model (CM) in SharePoint

The plugin utilizes SharePoint’s ability to map Internet URLs to UNC (Universal Naming Convention) addresses that Revit supports.

UNC Path Conventions

To access SharePoint files via Revit, use the following address formats:

  • For Standard HTTP: \\servername\DavWWWRoot\site\DocumentLibrary
  • For Secure HTTPS (Recommended): \\servername@SSL\DavWWWRoot\site\DocumentLibrary

Example: If your Central Model is located at:
https://mytenant.sharepoint.com/mySite/DocumentLibrary/myCM.rvt

The corresponding UNC address for Revit would be:
\\mytenant.sharepoint.com@SSL\DavWWWRoot\site\DocumentLibrary\myCM.rvt

Critical Considerations

  • Performance & Environment: While we have validated the stability of this worksharing solution, performance varies based on network latency and the number of concurrent users. We recommend testing this workflow within your specific environment.
  • Synchronization Logic: Sync requests are processed sequentially. To prevent file corruption, CADtoWIN automatically locks the CM file using SharePoint’s check-in/out controls during a sync.
  • Handling Collisions: If two users attempt to sync simultaneously, the second user may receive an error and will need to retry once the first transaction is complete.
  • Manual Locks: If a user manually checks out the CM in SharePoint, the file is exclusively locked. Other team members will be unable to sync their local copies until the lock is released.
  • Monitoring: You can use the standard Revit Worksharing Monitor to track progress and coordinate synchronization among team members.

2. Plugin Configuration & Features

  • Activation: To enable these features, navigate to Options > User Preferences and check “Enable Worksharing.”
  • Creating a Central Model: The CADtoWIN Save dialog includes the option “Create a central model after saving.” This is enabled by default when saving a Revit file to a SharePoint folder.
  • Creating Local Copies: When opening a CM from SharePoint, a dialog will appear with the “Create New Local” option.
    • This creates a local copy in your Revit-defined default path.
    • If a local copy already exists, you will be prompted with standard Revit overwrite/append options.
    • Note: To preserve worksharing integrity, the plugin prevents users from modifying the Central Model file directly.

3. Using Standard Revit Dialogs

While CADtoWIN provides specialized tools, you may continue to use the native Revit Open/Save dialogs by entering the SharePoint UNC address. CADtoWIN operates in the background to manage SharePoint authentication and file-locking protocols.

4. Linked and Imported Files

You can link SharePoint-hosted files into your Revit project using the UNC addresses mentioned above.

  • Shortcuts: The CADtoWIN Options dialog provides a utility to create UNC shortcuts under “This PC” in Windows Explorer for easier navigation.
  • Safety Recommendation: We recommend linking files as Read-Only. Modifying a linked file directly from a host document is not advised, as it bypasses SharePoint’s lock controls. To edit a link, open it as a standalone file using the CADtoWIN Open dialog.