• Point Layout
  • Revit

Set up a shared coordinate system in Revit

Set up a shared coordinate system in Revit using the Create Coordinate tool within Autodesk Point Layout.


00:03

With Point Layout, the Create Coordinate tool enables you to create a new shared coordinate system within Revit

00:10

by entering the respective XYZ values of two known points.

00:14

These are commonly grid intersections or offset from grid intersections.

00:19

Using this tool allows you to place your Revit model in a State Plane Coordinate System

00:25

or whatever coordinate system the job site has set up.

00:28

To access this tool in Revit, on the ribbon, Autodesk Point Layout tab, Bonus Tools panel, click Create Coordinate.

00:38

In the Unit value popup, select the appropriate units of measure, such as Decimal Feet.

00:46

Then, set the Snap Style to Workplane.

00:50

In this example, the first point in the project that needs to be located in Revit is grid intersection A1.

00:57

It has a respective XYZ value, which is in a State Plane Coordinate System.

01:02

Open the spreadsheet or other document with the coordinates being used, and select the XYZ values for this first point.

01:10

Then, in the Revit drawing, select that point in the project—again, grid intersection A1.

01:17

The First Point Coordinate dialog opens.

01:21

In the field, paste the XYZ coordinates, remove the extra spaces, and separate the values by commas.

01:29

Then, click OK.

01:31

Next, locate and select the second point in your project—in this case, grid intersection D7.

01:39

Note that this point should be as far from the initial point as possible.

01:43

Switch over to the spreadsheet to copy the second set of XYZ coordinates, and then paste them into the Second Point Coordinate dialog.

01:52

Again, remove extra spaces and separate the points with commas, and then click OK.

01:59

If it is done correctly, and the model points are matching up with the coordinate points in distance,

02:04

you will be prompted to name the coordinate system.

02:07

However, if you are off by even an eighth of an inch, pick the wrong grids, or enter incorrect values,

02:14

you will receive an error indicating how far off your points were.

02:18

For this example, name the coordinate system “California State Plane Coordinate System”, and then click OK.

02:25

When prompted, click Yes to confirm that you want to set it as the current coordinate system for your project.

02:32

If you ever want to see the coordinate systems in your job, on the Manage tab, click Location.

02:40

Then, in the Location Weather and Site dialog, open the Site tab.

02:46

Now you know how to use the Create Coordinate tool within Autodesk Point Layout to set up a new shared coordinate system in Revit.

Video transcript

00:03

With Point Layout, the Create Coordinate tool enables you to create a new shared coordinate system within Revit

00:10

by entering the respective XYZ values of two known points.

00:14

These are commonly grid intersections or offset from grid intersections.

00:19

Using this tool allows you to place your Revit model in a State Plane Coordinate System

00:25

or whatever coordinate system the job site has set up.

00:28

To access this tool in Revit, on the ribbon, Autodesk Point Layout tab, Bonus Tools panel, click Create Coordinate.

00:38

In the Unit value popup, select the appropriate units of measure, such as Decimal Feet.

00:46

Then, set the Snap Style to Workplane.

00:50

In this example, the first point in the project that needs to be located in Revit is grid intersection A1.

00:57

It has a respective XYZ value, which is in a State Plane Coordinate System.

01:02

Open the spreadsheet or other document with the coordinates being used, and select the XYZ values for this first point.

01:10

Then, in the Revit drawing, select that point in the project—again, grid intersection A1.

01:17

The First Point Coordinate dialog opens.

01:21

In the field, paste the XYZ coordinates, remove the extra spaces, and separate the values by commas.

01:29

Then, click OK.

01:31

Next, locate and select the second point in your project—in this case, grid intersection D7.

01:39

Note that this point should be as far from the initial point as possible.

01:43

Switch over to the spreadsheet to copy the second set of XYZ coordinates, and then paste them into the Second Point Coordinate dialog.

01:52

Again, remove extra spaces and separate the points with commas, and then click OK.

01:59

If it is done correctly, and the model points are matching up with the coordinate points in distance,

02:04

you will be prompted to name the coordinate system.

02:07

However, if you are off by even an eighth of an inch, pick the wrong grids, or enter incorrect values,

02:14

you will receive an error indicating how far off your points were.

02:18

For this example, name the coordinate system “California State Plane Coordinate System”, and then click OK.

02:25

When prompted, click Yes to confirm that you want to set it as the current coordinate system for your project.

02:32

If you ever want to see the coordinate systems in your job, on the Manage tab, click Location.

02:40

Then, in the Location Weather and Site dialog, open the Site tab.

02:46

Now you know how to use the Create Coordinate tool within Autodesk Point Layout to set up a new shared coordinate system in Revit.

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