Summary
When your team uses Revit worksharing with central and local models, the Acelab add-in preserves your project links and product mappings across both model types. This means everyone on your team can access the same Acelab project and contribute mapping updates without manually reconnecting.
Before You Begin
You are working in a Revit project configured for worksharing (with a central model and local copies)
The Acelab Revit add-in is installed on all team members' machines
At least one team member has already linked the central model to an Acelab project
How It Works
Think of the Acelab connection like a sticky note attached to your Revit file—when someone makes a copy, the note stays attached. The central model holds the "master" connection to Acelab, and each local copy inherits that connection automatically.
Central Model Setup
When the first user creates a central Revit model and links it to an Acelab project:
The central model stores the Acelab project connection
All product-to-family mappings are saved in the central model
This information becomes part of the worksharing structure
Local Model Behavior
When another team member creates a local copy of that central model:
The local copy automatically inherits the Acelab project link
All existing product mappings carry over to the local copy
The connection remains "dormant" until the user syncs with Acelab
Important: Users with local copies will not see the Acelab project connection until they click Sync with Acelab for the first time in their local model. This initial sync activates the connection.
Working in Your Local Model
Viewing the Project Connection
Open your local Revit model
Navigate to the Acelab tab in the Revit ribbon
Click Sync with Acelab
The add-in displays which Acelab project is linked to this model
You now have the option to unlink the project if needed (though this is rarely necessary)
Making Mapping Changes
You can create and modify product mappings directly in your local model:
Open the Map Materials panel in the Acelab tab
Link products to Revit families or materials as usual
Your new mappings are saved in your local model
When you sync with Acelab, your mappings push to the Acelab project immediately
When you sync to central, your mappings also save to the central model
Synchronizing Work
Your work synchronizes in two directions:
To Acelab (via Sync with Acelab):
New product mappings you create in your local model
Updated product information
Changes to linked families or materials
To the Central Model (via Sync to Central in Revit):
All mapping updates you made in your local copy
The central model now reflects your changes
Other users will receive your mappings when they sync their local copies
Outcome
After syncing, your local model is fully connected to the Acelab project. Any mappings you create are available to the entire team once you sync to central. Team members working in their own local copies will see your updates the next time they sync their local models with the central file.