File Export

File Export streamlines the process of exporting multiple Revit files to coordination and deliverable formats. Select files from local drives or ACC/BIM 360 cloud projects, configure export settings for one or more formats, and run everything in a single batch. The add-in handles file opening, workset configuration, version compatibility, and format-specific options, all from one window.

Getting Started

Find File Export on the Amorphous ribbon tab in the Batch Process panel.

Note

File Export does not require an open document. Launch it from the ribbon at any time.

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Features

• Multi-source browsing - Browse local drives and ACC/BIM 360 cloud projects in one unified tree
• Multiple export formats - NWC, PDF, DWG, IFC, each with a full options panel
• Workset filtering - Close any worksets (such as links) by wildcard pattern before opening files
• Cloud workset detection - Three strategies for reading workset names from cloud models
• Version compatibility - Blocks newer-version files, warns but allows older-version files upgrade
• Presets - Save and load format configurations per-format or all-at-once
• File lists - Save and load file selections for repeatable batch runs
• Current open file(s) support - Export documents already open in the current session
• Progress tracking - Real-time log with per-format timing and cancel support
• Dialog suppression - Automatically dismisses Revit dialogs and warnings during batch export to prevent blocking
• Output path placeholders - Use {Date} and {Time} in output folder paths for date-stamped exports
• No document required - Launch from the ribbon without an open project

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How to Use

Basic Workflow

1. Browse and select files - Expand local drives or cloud (ACC/BIM360) projects in the tree. Click files to select (Ctrl+click for multi-select, Shift+click for range). Click Add Selected to move them to the export list.
2. Add open files (optional) - Click Open Files to include documents already open in Revit. These export directly without reopening.
3. Add export formats - Use the + Add Format dropdown to add format profiles. Configure each format’s options in the collapsible card. See the individual format pages for details: NWC, PDF, DWG, IFC.
4. Set output folder - Choose a destination. Supports {Date} and {Time} placeholders (e.g., C:\Exports\{Date} becomes C:\Exports\2026-03-06). Subfolders are created per format by default.
5. Configure worksets (optional) - Enter patterns like *Link*;*Furniture* to close matching worksets when opening workshared files.
6. Export - Click Export. The progress window shows real-time status.

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File Sources

Local Files

Expand drives and folders in the tree browser to find .rvt files. Select one or more files and click Add Selected.

Cloud Files (ACC / BIM 360)

Expand the Autodesk Cloud node to browse ACC and BIM 360 projects. Navigate through hubs, projects, and folders to find cloud-hosted Revit files.

Note

Cloud files require an active internet connection.

Open Files

Click Open Files to add documents already open in the current Revit session. These are exported directly without reopening, which is faster and avoids workset reconfiguration.

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Workset Options

Close worksets matching wildcard patterns to speed up file opening, especially useful for skipping linked models in workshared files.

Pattern Matching

Enter semicolon-separated patterns in the Pattern field. Patterns are case-insensitive.

Wildcard	Meaning
*	Matches any number of characters
?	Matches a single character

Pattern examples:

Pattern	Closes
*Link*	Worksets containing “Link” keyword
*Furniture	Any workset ending in “Furniture”
Z-*	Anything starting with “Z-”
*Link*;*Xref*	Multiple patterns combined

Cloud Workset Detection

For cloud models, workset names need to be detected before the file can be opened with the right worksets closed. Choose how this detection works:

Strategy	Description	Speed
Accurate	Reads workset names directly from the cloud model. Always up to date.	Slower
Auto	Uses your local cache when available, otherwise falls back to Accurate.	Varies
Fast	Uses your local cache only. May not reflect recent changes if you haven’t opened the file recently.	Instant

Tip

Accurate is recommended. Although it adds a slight overhead per file to read workset names, correctly closing worksets means less data is loaded during export, often making the total export time faster.

From the developer

If you need an option to force models to open without links regardless of whether links are on worksets, that’s something I can add. Let me know on GitHub if that would help your workflow.

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Presets

Save and load format configurations to reuse settings across sessions.

Per-Format Presets

Save or load settings for a single format (e.g., your standard NWC coordination settings). Click the Save or Load button on each format card.

All-Formats Presets

Save or load all active format profiles at once. Use the Save All and Load All buttons above the format cards. This captures which formats are active and all their settings.

All-formats presets also save the output folder path, so your full configuration is restored when loading.

Presets are stored in %AppData%\Amorphous\ExportPresets\.

Tip

Create presets for your common deliverable packages. For example, a “Weekly Coordination” preset with NWC + PDF, or a “BIM Handover” preset with IFC + DWG.

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File Lists

Save and load file selections for repeatable batch operations.

• Save the current selection to a .rvtlist.json file
• Load a saved list (missing files are reported with a warning)
• Stored in %AppData%\Amorphous\ExportLists\ by default

Tip

Combine saved file lists with presets for fully automated weekly exports. Load the file list, load the preset, and click Export.

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Version Compatibility

File Export checks each file’s Revit version before adding it to the export list.

Scenario	Behavior
Same version	Added normally
Older version (e.g., 2022 file in Revit 2024)	One-time confirmation prompt per session. Files are upgraded in memory during export (originals are not modified). Shown with amber [2022 ^] indicator.
Newer version (e.g., 2026 file in Revit 2024)	Blocked with an error dialog. Cannot be exported.

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File Name Placeholders

All export formats support placeholders in the Subfolder and File Name fields. These let you create dynamic, organized output paths.

Placeholder	Description	Example
{FileName}	Source file name without extension	MyBuilding
{Date}	Current date	2026-03-06
{Time}	Current time	143022
{ViewName}	View name (NWC, DWG view mode, IFC)	Level 1 - Floor Plan
{SheetNumber}	Sheet number (PDF, DWG sheet mode)	A-101
{SheetName}	Sheet name (PDF, DWG sheet mode)	Floor Plan - Level 1

The output folder path also supports {Date} and {Time} placeholders for date-stamped export directories (e.g., C:\Exports\{Date} becomes C:\Exports\2026-03-06).

Tip

When exporting multiple views or sheets, include {ViewName} or {SheetNumber} in the file name pattern to avoid overwrites. The exporter auto-appends these if missing when multiple items match, but being explicit is clearer.

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Warning and Dialog Suppression

Batch export runs unattended, so Revit dialogs and warnings are automatically suppressed to prevent blocking. This includes unresolved references, font substitution notices, workset and worksharing prompts, version upgrade prompts, export warnings, coordination review notices, and save prompts (dismissed without saving).

Each suppressed dialog is recorded, and the completion summary shows the total count of suppressed items.

From the developer

The whole point of batch export is to set it and forget it. If you run into a Revit dialog that isn’t suppressed and stops your export mid-run, create an issue on GitHub and I’ll get right on it.

The completion summary includes:

• Per-format totals with file count and average duration
• File I/O overhead (open/close time separate from export time)
• Per-job results with success/failure status and duration
• Total elapsed time

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User Interface

Main Window

The window is split into two panels:

Panel	Contents
Left	File browser tree, selected files list, workset options
Right	Export format profile cards, output folder, presets, Export button

Left Panel Elements

Element	Description
File browser tree	Browse local drives and cloud projects
Add Selected	Add highlighted files to the export list
Open Files	Add documents already open in Revit
Selected files list	Files queued for export, with version indicators
Remove / Clear	Remove selected files or clear the entire list
Save List / Load List	Save or load file selections
Pattern field	Workset close patterns (semicolon-separated wildcards)
Cloud detection	Dropdown: Accurate, Auto, or Fast

Right Panel Elements

Element	Description
+ Add Format	Dropdown to add format profile cards
Format cards	Collapsible cards with format-specific options
Output folder	Destination path with Browse button
Create subfolders	Auto-create per-format subfolders (e.g., NWC/, PDF/)
Save All / Load All	Save or load all format profiles as a preset
Export	Start the batch export

Progress Window

During export, the progress window shows:

Element	Description
Log	Real-time status messages with timestamps
File status	Current file being processed
Format timing	Per-format export duration
Cancel	Stop the export after the current file completes
Summary	Total files, succeeded, failed, and elapsed time

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Options & Settings

Option	Description	Default
Output folder	Destination for exported files. Supports {Date} and {Time} placeholders.	(none)
Create subfolders	Auto-create per-format subfolders	On
Workset close pattern	Wildcards for worksets to close (e.g., *Link*)	Empty (open all)
Cloud detection	How workset names are read for cloud files	Accurate

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Use Cases

Scenario	Recommended Approach
Weekly NWC coordination	Save file list + NWC preset. Load both, click Export.
Sheet PDF deliverable	Add PDF format, select “By Sheet Set” or pattern, combine into one PDF
CAD export for consultants	Add DWG format, select Floor Plans, set AutoCAD 2018
Open BIM handover	Add IFC format, set IFC 4 Reference View, enable base quantities
Multi-format deliverable	Add NWC + PDF + DWG. Save as All-Formats preset for reuse.
Skip linked model worksets	Set pattern *Link*;*Xref* to speed up file opening (Note: This requires the links to be assigned to correct worksets)
Export open files quickly	Click Open Files, add formats, Export (no browsing needed)
Older version files	Confirm upgrade prompt once per session, files export normally

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Tips & Best Practices

• Use presets - Save your common format configurations to avoid reconfiguring every time
• Save file lists - For recurring exports, save the file selection and reload it next time
• Close link worksets - Adding *Link* to the workset pattern significantly speeds up file opening for workshared models
• Use Accurate detection - Although it adds a slight overhead per cloud file, ensuring correct workset closure often reduces total export time
• Combine presets with file lists - For fully repeatable batch exports, save both and reload them together
• Date-stamped output - Use {Date} in the output folder path (e.g., C:\Exports\{Date}) to automatically organize exports by date
• Check version indicators - Amber [2022 ^] badges warn that files will be upgraded in memory during export
• Export open files - If you already have files open in Revit, use Open Files to avoid reopening them
• Subfolder organization - Keep “Create subfolders” enabled to separate outputs by format

Tip

For large project sets, run File Export overnight. Cloud files may take time to prepare, and workset configuration adds overhead, but unattended batch processing handles it all.

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Limitations

Limitation	Details
Newer version files blocked	Cannot export files created in a newer Revit version
Cloud workset detection adds time	Accurate mode adds a slight overhead to each cloud model
Old cloud files may lack version info	Files uploaded before November 2021 may not have version metadata
Internet required for cloud files	Cloud file browsing and export require an active connection
One Revit instance	Export uses the current Revit session, avoid working in Revit during batch export

See also format-specific limitations on each format page.

From the developer

Currently supports NWC, PDF, DWG, and IFC. If your team needs other formats (e.g., DXF, FBX, glTF), let me know on GitHub and I’ll look into adding them.

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Troubleshooting

Cloud files fail to prepare

Possible causes:

• No internet connection
• Not logged into an Autodesk account
• File has been moved or deleted from the cloud project

Solution: Check your internet connection and ensure you are signed in to your Autodesk account in Revit.

Export is very slow

Possible causes:

• Many worksets being opened (no close pattern set)
• Large files with complex geometry
• Cloud files with Accurate workset detection

Solution: Add workset close patterns (e.g., *Link*) to reduce data loaded per file. For cloud files, Accurate detection adds a slight overhead per file but often reduces total export time by correctly closing worksets.

File blocked as “newer version”

Files created in a newer Revit version cannot be opened in an older version. This is a Revit limitation.

Solution: Export from a Revit version equal to or newer than the file version. The version indicator shows the file’s Revit version.

Older version file warning

When opening files from an older Revit version, a one-time confirmation prompt appears per session.

Solution: Click Yes to confirm. The file is upgraded in memory only (the original file on disk is not modified). The amber [2022 ^] indicator shows which files will be upgraded.

Workset patterns not working on cloud files

Workset detection for cloud files depends on the chosen strategy.

Possible causes:

• Fast mode using stale cached data that doesn’t include recent changes
• No cached data available for the file (Fast mode returns no matches)

Solution: Switch to Accurate detection to read current workset names directly from the cloud model.

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Export Formats

Each format has its own page with full option tables and format-specific tips:

• NWC (Navisworks Cache) - 3D coordination and clash detection
• PDF - Sheet exports for deliverables
• DWG - AutoCAD-compatible files for CAD coordination
• IFC - Open BIM interoperability

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Related Tools

• Export Families - Batch export family (.rfa) files from a project