Can I Save Revit 2021 To 2020
Hanne Rylaarsdam
Can I Save Revit 2021 to 2020?
If you are working with Revit, you may have encountered a situation where you need to save your Revit project to an older version of the software. For example, you may have started a project in Revit 2021, but your client or collaborator is using Revit 2020 and cannot open your file. Is there a way to save your Revit 2021 project to Revit 2020 format?
The short answer is no. Revit does not have a feature to save to older version data formats or work with the newer RVT file format in an older version. This is because each version of Revit introduces new features and enhancements that are not compatible with previous versions. Therefore, saving a newer Revit file to an older version would result in data loss or corruption.
However, there are some alternative workflows that you can try to share your Revit project with users of older versions. Here are some of them:
- Install and use the newer version: If you have a subscription to Revit, you can access the current version plus five prior versions with the subscription. You can install multiple versions of Revit on your system and use whichever version is needed for your project. For more details on how to work with multiple versions of Revit, see this article.
- Export to IFC/DWG/SAT: You can open your RVT or RFA file in the newer version of Revit and export it to one of these formats: IFC for RVT files, DWG or SAT for RVT or RFA files. These formats can be imported into the older version of Revit, but they will only contain the geometry of the file, not the parametric data or features. To export your file, go to File > Export > (choose format). To import your file, go to File > Import/Link > (choose format).
- Use online viewers: You can upload your Revit file to an online viewer such as Autodesk Viewer or BIM 360 Document Management. These services allow you to view and share your Revit model without installing any software. However, you will not be able to edit or modify your model online. Note that these services may require a separate subscription or account.
In conclusion, there is no direct way to save your Revit 2021 project to Revit 2020 format, but you can try some alternative workflows to share your model with users of older versions. However, these workflows may have some limitations and drawbacks, so it is always recommended to use the same version of Revit for your project if possible.
How to Upgrade a Revit Project to a Newer Version
On the other hand, you may also need to upgrade your Revit project to a newer version of the software. For example, you may have received a project file from a colleague or client who is using an older version of Revit, but you want to use the latest features and enhancements of the current version. How can you upgrade your Revit project to a newer version?
The good news is that Revit can automatically upgrade older version data to the current version when you open a project file. For example, if you open a Revit 2020 project in Revit 2021, Revit will recognize the product version the project was last saved with and start the upgrade process of the project data for Revit 2021. You will see a progress bar and a message indicating that the file is being upgraded.
However, there are some recommendations and considerations that you should follow when upgrading your Revit project to a newer version. Here are some of them:
- Make sure each version of Revit being used in the upgrade process has all updates installed. This will ensure that your project data is compatible with the latest fixes and improvements of each version.
- Check the "Audit" option when opening the project for upgrade. This will help you identify and fix any possible corrupt elements or errors in your project. To do this, go to File > Open > Project, select your file, and check the "Audit" box before clicking Open.
- If you encounter issues in upgrading directly from an older version to the current version (for example, from 2020 to 2022), try upgrading your project files one version at a time. For example, first upgrade your project from 2020 to 2021, then from 2021 to 2022.
- Be aware of the feature changes and enhancements that are introduced in each version of Revit. Some of these changes may affect the appearance or behavior of your project data after upgrading. For example, some parameters or settings may have been renamed or removed, some elements or views may have been modified or added, some workflows or tools may have been improved or replaced. You can find more information on these changes in the upgrade information for each version.
In summary, Revit can automatically upgrade your project data to the current version when you open an older project file, but you should follow some best practices and be aware of some feature changes when doing so. This will help you ensure that your project data is upgraded smoothly and correctly.