Revit 2013 - Why use 3D DWFx

by Gareth Spencer

If you use 3D DWF or DWFx then you will know it’s a get way of sharing your drawings or models, as the person receiving the information can view, mark up, and even track and changes to your 2D or 3D drawings. The great thing about using DWF/DWFx you don’t have to spend £1000s to get the software as it’s totally FREE. You can simply go to the Autodesk website and download it for free (Download from here: http://usa.autodesk.com/design-review/) or you can even use some web browsers to view the DWFx files. Over the last few years Autodesk have even written free app’s for your iPhone, iPad and even Android market, so there is no need to carry around loads of drawings when you to design meetings. For more information on Autodesk 360 Mobile app see iTunes or Google Play.

When speaking with our clients I get asked the question I need to send my model to the client but they don’t have Revit installed or the model file size is too big. My instance response is do you know what DWF/DWFx is and what you can do with them? Some people know but I get a lot of people who don’t.

Ok so why use DWF/DWFx’s well if you’re working in Revit and you are creating a nice 3D model and the client requests to see what you have done. So you can create you 2D plans, sections, elevations, details etc. and send them over. Now wouldn’t it be nice to send over you 3D model and show the client what his or hers structure is going to look like in 3D.

So below is a Revit file of the client’s new building, it looks good but if I was just to send over to the client a set of 2D drawings they wouldn’t get to see what it could look like until it’s finished

Yes we could do some nice renders and send them through so the client can see what it could look like.

But why not try that export DWF/DWFx button and create 3D DWFx to send to your client as well.

So what’s the difference in the file size? The Revit file I am using here is 6.7MB and the DWFx file I have exported is only 291KB. It also holds the intelligent data from the Revit model so the client can select elements and it will inform them what it is and highlight its properties.

You can also take measure of parts, areas, surfaces, and dimensions for more accurate communication.

Take a section cut through the structure anywhere you wish.