Sync Layer Data to Revit Parameters

How to backfill Revit schedules, color schemes, and other model-related views with Layer data

Zach Soflin avatar
Written by Zach Soflin
Updated over a week ago

In this tutorial, learn how to easily push information gathered in Layer back to a Revit model.
For example, perhaps Layer was used to perform a field survey of a building where information like the condition of walls, ceilings, and floor materials were collected for the room. Now, back in the office, the information captured in Layer can be pushed back into the Revit model with these simple instructions:

1. Log in to Layer or create a new account


2. If you haven't already, attach the Revit model
In order to sync Layer data back to a Revit model, first attach the model to Layer. Follow these instructions to attach a Revit model to Layer.

For the purposes of this guide, we've synced the Rooms Revit Category.

3. Create fields in Layer
Select one of the Room Elements synced from the Revit model and add the Form Fields needed to collect the information. Need help creating Form Fields? No problem, here's a quick tutorial for creating Form Fields within an Element. For the purposes of this guide, we've created a few drop down Fields to collect Wall Material, Ceiling Material, Base Material, Floor Material, and Room Use.

Note: To connect Layer data to Revit, the fields must be created within an existing Revit Category, indicated by the Revit "R" logo.

4. Create rules to map Layer fields to Revit parameters
Now that the Element fields in Layer are set up, the link between the Layer fields and the Revit parameters we want to modify need to be created. Do this by setting up rules in the Category's options by clicking on the three-dot button. 

Scroll down to find the options for Revit Parameter Sync. Then create rules for each of the Fields that need to be mapped to Revit parameters. In this guide, we are using Wall Material, Ceiling Material, Base Material, Floor Material, and Room Use.

NOTE: The Revit parameter has to exist currently within the category. Layer is not able to create parameters for you. If the parameter you'd like to map to does not exist, first create it in Revit, then come back to Layer and set up the rules.

Once the rules are created, they will appear in the Existing Rules list below. From this point on, any change to these Element fields in Layer can be pushed back to the corresponding Revit parameter.

5. Open Revit and accept pending changes
In order sync the Layer Fields with the model, they need to be reviewed and accepted in Revit. At Layer, we take an intentional approach to how Layer modifies your model, providing users a list of all the pending changes to review before they are pushed into the Revit model. To begin this process, open the Revit model, find the Layer tab, and click on Sync Parameters

You will see a dialog box that shows which elements are about to be modified.

If you want to see details about specifically what parameters will be changed, click on 5 of 5 under the Changes column. This will display each parameter that is changing, its Current Value and what the New Value will be. 

If there are specific changes that need to be skipped, just uncheck the box in either of the previous dialogs. 

Once the desired changes have been selected (by default, all changes are selected), click Accept Changes. If any of the changes were unchecked, the message below will appear asking what action should be taken with the changes left unchecked. 

  • Save for later: Clicking this will keep all of the unchecked changes in the Sync Parameters dialog for the next time it is opened. 

  • Discard: Clicking this will remove all of the un-checked items from the list and will not be recoverable.

After the dialog closes, the Layer data has been saved to their associated Revit Parameters! Open up a schedule view or click on an element and view the properties panel to view the Parameters that changed.


Need more help? Contact us at help@layer.team

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