Model FAQs

Find out which Revit versions are supported by Layer, how to troubleshoot add-in issues, reduce model size, and map Layer fields to Revit parameters for seamless integration

Zach Soflin

Sep 24, 2024

Which Revit versions do you support?

We only support the current released version of Revit along with the 2 previous versions.

i.e if the current released version of Revit is 2024, the Revit add-in is supported for 2022 and 2023. Previous versions of Revit can be compatible with the add-in, however there might be stability issues so use with caution.

What if my Revit add-in dashboard disappears or is blank?

There are a couple of things to try when the dashboard disappears or it is blank:

  • You can try logging out and back in using the Settings button.

  • If the dashboard is blank, close it using the X and re-open it using the Dashboard button.

  • If none of the above works navigate to %AppData%\\Roaming\\ and delete the Layer folder. You will need to re-install the Revit add-in that you can download from here. Follow the steps listed in the Revit add-in intro article.

<aside> ⚠️ Remember:

  1. You can always reach out for help with our support team via chat in the App or via email at help@layer.team </aside>

What can I do to reduce the size of my model?

Layer supports models up to 5GB. To reduce your file size to be below 5GB or to simply reduce the size to improve processing time, you can try some of these tips.

Purge your model before uploading to Layer

Purging your model is the best and most effective way to reduce it's file-size. Purging removes any un-used families, views, and other content from your model. You can find instructions for how to purge your model here →

Convert imported CAD or Image files to Links

Instead of importing your CAD or images directly into your model (making them a part of your model, and adding to it's size) consider linking them instead. This way the files are stored externally, instead of being stored within the Revit file.

Deleted un-used or redundant Views & Sheets

Views and sheets both take up room in your model. Remove any un-used or redundant views from your model to reduce the size of your model file.

Do you have overly complex families? Simplify them

Complex or highly-detailed model families can quickly weigh down your model. Consider replacing highly-detailed model families with simpler ones if their complexity is not necessary.

Tried everything above? Contact us, and we can help.

What Revit parameters are supported in Layer?

Reading: Layer can read all types of properties from Revit. Those include Type Properties, Instance Properties, Shared/Project/Global parameters. Use a Display Revit Parameter Field to display information from Revit within the Layer environment.

Writing: Layer allows you to write Layer data only to Instance Properties as well as Shared & Project Parameters. Type Properties are not supported at this time.

<aside> 💡 To enable a Shared Parameter workflow with Layer, you first need to create the Shared Parameter, assign a value to the parameter for at least one Revit Object and then publish your model to Layer.

</aside>


What Layer Fields map best to Revit Parameters?

Text

Text parameters are the most flexible when it comes to mapping Layer data to Revit parameters.

Compatible Layer Fields:

  • Text Input - example: Concrete

  • Number Input - example: 100

  • Toggle Input - example: Yes

  • Date Input - example: 01/01/2020

  • Person Input - example: Jim Smith

  • Select One Input - example: Closed

  • Select Multiple Input - example: Concrete, Tile, Wood

  • Related Element Input - example: Issue 1, Issue 20, Issue 31

  • Single Range Input - example: 40

  • Dual Range Input - example: 30,65

  • Phone Input - example: 4021234567

  • Email Input - example: example@email.com

Integer

If numbers mapped to Integer parameters contain decimal values, the number will be automatically rounded to the nearest whole number.

Compatible Layer Fields:

  • Number (recommended)

  • Text - text needs to be able to convert to a number

Length

Length parameters are flexible in the values that they can take on.

Compatible Layer Fields:

  • Text (recommended) Entering length values in a Layer text field gives you the ability to add units to length values. For example, typing 56'-6" will result in a parameter value equivalent to 56 feet 6 inches. Typing 5600mm will result in a parameter value equivalent to 5,600 millimeters. NOTE: this value will always convert to the model's unit system. For example, typing 56.5' will result in the parameter value of 56'-6" . You can read more about the possible dimension values you can enter here

  • Number - The number typed in this field will be directly applied to the parameter value using the model's current units. For example, a value of 56 applied to a feet-inches based model, will be 56'-0"

Area

Numbers mapped to volume parameters will be directly applied using the current models unit system. For example, the value 25000  would map to 25000 m^2  in a metric-based model and to 25000 ft^2  in an imperial-based model.

Compatible Layer Fields:

  • Number (recommended)

  • Text - The text needs to be able to convert to a number. Don't include any units in the text

Volume

Numbers mapped to volume parameters will be directly applied using the current models unit system. For example, the value 25000  would map to 25000 m^3  in a metric-based model and to 25000 ft^3   in an imperial-based model.

Compatible Layer Fields:

  • Number (recommended)

  • Text - The text needs to be able to convert to a number. Don't include any units in the text

Angle

Numbers mapped to slope parameters will be directly applied using the current models unit system. For example, the value 23  would map to 23°  in an imperial-based model and to 23 rad  in a metric-based model.

Compatible Layer Fields:

  • Number (recommended)

  • Text - The text needs to be able to convert to a number

Slope

Numbers mapped to slope parameters will be directly applied using the current models unit system. For example, the value 23  would map to 23°  in an imperial-based model and to 23 rad   in a metric-based model.

Compatible Layer Fields:

  • Number (recommended)

  • Text - The text needs to be able to convert to a number

Currency

Numbers mapped to currency parameters will be directly applied using the current models currency unit . For example, the value $1566.23  would map to 1566.23¥  in a model with currency set to Yen and to $1566.23 in a model with currency set to US dollars.

Compatible Layer Fields:

  • Number (recommended)

  • Text - Cannot contain comma separators or any incompatible text values. The text needs to be able to convert to a number

Mass Density

Numbers mapped to mass density parameters will be directly applied using the current models unit system. For example, the value 1500  would map to 1500 kg/m^3 in a metric-based model and to 1500 lbs/ft^3  in an imperial-based model.

Compatible Layer Fields:

  • Number (recommended)

  • Text - The text needs to be able to convert to a number

URL

Compatible Layer Fields:

  • Text (recommended)

Yes/No

Compatible Layer Fields:

  • Toggle (recommended)

  • Number - only the values 0 or 1 are supported. 0 = false 1 = true

  • Text - needs to equal true or false or yes or no

Multi-line Text

Compatible Layer Fields:

  • Text Input - example: Concrete

  • Number Input - example: 100

  • Toggle Input - example: Yes

  • Date Input - example: 01/01/2020

  • Person Input - example: Jim Smith

  • Select One Input - example: Closed

  • Select Multiple Input - example: Concrete, Tile, Wood

  • Related Element Input - example: Issue 1, Issue 20, Issue 31

  • Single Range Input - example: 40

  • Dual Range Input - example: 30,65

  • Phone Input - example: 4021234567

  • Email Input - example: example@email.com

Partially Supported Revit Parameter Types

Material or any Revit parameter referencing an ElementCurrently, you can modify Revit parameters that reference a Revit element. For example, Phase Created ** or Level **. The current limitation is that you need to know the Revit Element ID. Users can set the values of these fields from Layer by:

  • Creating a text field in Layer

  • Creating a rule in the Category mapping the newly created text Field to the desired Revit parameter. For example, Level

  • Enter the Revit Element ID of the element you want referenced in the parameter. For example, Level 2 in Revit might have the Revit Element ID of 694 . Typing this value into the text field will update the Level in the parameter

Not Supported Revit Parameter Types

Image

Currently, Layer does not support parameters with an image value.