Revit Copy Monitor is a coordination tool used to copy important elements from a linked Revit model and monitor them for changes. It is most commonly used for levels and grids, but it can also work with columns, walls, floors, openings, and selected MEP fixtures.
The main purpose is simple: each discipline keeps control of its own model, while Revit warns the other teams when monitored elements move, change, or get deleted. For example, if the structural team moves a grid line, the architectural team can be notified through Coordination Review.
What Copy Monitor Does in Revit
Copy/Monitor creates a relationship between an element in the current model and a matching element in another model. When the original element changes, Revit does not silently update everything. Instead, it creates a coordination warning so the team can review the change and decide what to do.
This is different from ordinary copy and paste. A copied-and-monitored grid, level, wall, or fixture keeps a monitored relationship with the source element. If that source element changes later, Revit can flag it when the linked model is opened or reloaded.
| Command | Use it when | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | The element exists in the linked model but not in your model. | Revit creates a copy in your model and monitors the original. |
| Monitor | Both models already have matching elements. | Revit creates a monitored relationship without copying geometry. |
| Batch Copy | You need to copy multiple MEP fixtures from a linked model. | Revit copies eligible fixtures based on Coordination Settings. |
Elements You Can Copy or Monitor
Revit Copy/Monitor is designed for important coordination elements, not for copying an entire building model. In most projects, the safest and most useful workflow is to monitor only the elements that other teams truly depend on.
| Element type | Recommended use | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Levels | Best use case. Copy levels from the model of authority at project setup. | Some properties, such as computation height and structural settings, may not copy exactly. |
| Grids | Best use case. Use for architectural and structural coordination. | Multi-segment grids are not supported. |
| Columns | Useful when architectural and structural column layouts must be coordinated. | Slanted columns are not supported. Structural workflows should consider splitting columns by levels. |
| Walls | Use only when wall position is a true cross-discipline coordination item. | Monitoring too many walls can create excessive warnings. |
| Floors | Useful for structural coordination, openings, and slab references. | Shape-edited floors may copy as flat elements. |
| Openings | Useful when wall or floor openings must be tracked. | Openings are usually handled through Copy/Monitor options for the host wall or floor. |
| MEP fixtures | Use for selected coordination-critical fixtures. | Face-hosted fixtures and Coordination Settings can limit available actions. |
Copy/Monitor is not intended for in-place elements, design options, project phasing, or broad model duplication. If your goal is to bring many model elements into another file, linking, binding, copying selected elements, or transferring project standards may be more appropriate depending on the situation.
Before You Start
- Decide which model owns the levels and grids. Usually this is agreed by the BIM lead before teams start modeling.
- Link the source RVT file into the host model from Insert > Link Revit.
- Use the correct positioning method, such as shared coordinates or origin-to-origin, based on the project setup.
- Pin the linked model so it is not moved by accident.
- Open a view where the linked elements are visible.
- Set the view discipline to Coordination if you need to see elements from multiple disciplines.
- Hide or halftone the linked model after copying if duplicate visuals make the view confusing.
Good setup matters. Copy/Monitor relationships depend on the linked model and host model staying consistent. Renaming files after monitoring relationships are created can break the coordination relationship, so finalize file naming before using the tool on a live project.
How to Use Revit Copy Monitor
This workflow shows the standard method: copying levels or grids from a linked model into the current model and monitoring them for future changes.
Step 1: Link the Revit Model
Go to Insert > Link > Link Revit. Choose the model you want to reference, then place it using the correct project positioning method. After it is placed, select the link and pin it.
Step 2: Start Copy/Monitor
Go to Collaborate > Coordinate > Copy/Monitor > Select Link.
Step 3: Select the Linked Model
Click the linked model in the drawing area. Revit opens the Copy/Monitor contextual tab. This is where you choose whether to copy elements, monitor existing pairs, change options, or use batch copy.
Step 4: Set Copy/Monitor Options
Before copying, click Options. Use this dialog to control how Revit maps element types from the linked model into the host model. For example, you can tell Revit not to copy certain types, or you can map a linked type to a different type in your current model.
This step is especially important for columns, walls, floors, and fixtures. For simple level and grid workflows, the default options may be enough, but you should still review them before copying project-critical elements.
Step 5: Copy Levels or Grids
Click Copy, then select the elements in the linked model. To select more than one element, enable Multiple on the Options Bar, select the required elements, and click Finish on the Options Bar.
Copy one category at a time. For example, copy levels first, check the result, then copy grids. This makes errors easier to find and prevents you from creating a large number of unwanted monitored elements.
Step 6: Monitor Existing Elements Instead of Copying
If both models already contain matching elements, use Monitor instead of Copy. Select the element in the current model, then select the corresponding element of the same type in the linked model. Revit creates a monitored pair without creating a duplicate element.
Step 7: Finish and Check the Result
Click the green Finish check mark on the Copy/Monitor tab. Select one of the copied elements in the host model. The monitor icon should appear near the element, showing that it has a monitored relationship with the source element.
How Coordination Review Works
When a monitored element changes in the linked model, Revit can display a warning that the link needs Coordination Review. This usually appears when the model is opened or the linked model is reloaded.
To review the warnings, go to Collaborate > Coordination Review > Select Link, then click the linked model in the drawing area. The Coordination Review dialog shows the monitored changes and lets you choose an action for each issue.
| Action | What it means |
|---|---|
| Postpone / Do Nothing | Leave the issue unresolved until the team has more information. |
| Reject | Keep your current model as it is and indicate that the linked model change should be reviewed. |
| Accept Difference | Accept the difference between the two models without moving your local element. |
| Modify, Move, or Rename | Update the element in your current model to match the linked model change. |
| Copy New Elements | Copy a new monitored hosted element into the current model when available. |
| Delete Element | Delete the corresponding element in the current model when the monitored element was removed. |
You can also add comments in Coordination Review and create an HTML coordination report. This is useful when teams need a record of accepted, rejected, postponed, or unresolved changes.
Best Practices for Revit Copy Monitor
- Monitor the smallest useful set of elements. Too much Copy/Monitor can slow down models and create unnecessary warnings.
- Use it mainly for levels and grids. These are the highest-value coordination elements in most BIM workflows.
- Agree on the model of authority. One team should own the official grids and levels.
- Do not rename linked files after monitoring is established. Monitoring relationships depend on consistent file references.
- Copy one element category at a time. Copy levels, review them, then copy grids, then continue only if needed.
- Avoid multi-segment grids. Revit Copy/Monitor does not support them.
- Use column options carefully. Structural workflows may need columns split by levels.
- Do not use Copy/Monitor as clash detection. Use Interference Check, Navisworks, or your coordination workflow for clashes.
- Use Coordination Review regularly. Postponed warnings should not be ignored forever.
Common Problems and Fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| You cannot select an element. | The category is unsupported, hidden, ignored in Coordination Settings, or not visible in the current view. | Check Visibility/Graphics, view discipline, Coordination Settings, and whether the category is eligible for Copy/Monitor. |
| Coordination Settings is missing. | Some tools or analysis features may be disabled in the Revit user interface. | Check Revit user interface options or deployment settings. |
| No warning appears after a change. | The link has not been reloaded, or the elements were copied without monitoring. | Reload the linked model and verify the monitor icon appears on the copied element. |
| Too many warnings appear. | Too many elements were monitored. | Stop monitoring low-value elements and keep Copy/Monitor focused on levels, grids, and essential coordination items. |
| Only “Do Nothing” appears for some fixtures. | MEP fixture behavior can be limited, especially with hosted fixtures. | Review fixture hosting, Coordination Settings, and whether the workflow matches Revit’s supported fixture behavior. |
How to Stop Monitoring an Element
To stop monitoring an element, select the monitored element in the view. Then go to Modify | Element Type > Monitor > Stop Monitoring.
Use this carefully. Stopping monitoring removes the relationship, so future changes to the linked element will no longer create Copy/Monitor warnings for that item.
Other Coordination Tools Near Copy Monitor
The Coordinate panel includes more than Copy/Monitor. These tools support broader BIM coordination between linked models:
- Coordination Review: Review monitored changes, add comments, choose actions, and export reports.
- Coordination Settings: Control how Revit handles copied MEP fixtures and related categories.
- Reconcile Hosting: Find hosted elements that may have lost their host after a linked model changed.
- Interference Check: Find intersections between selected categories or elements in the model.
For large projects, these tools are part of a wider model coordination process. They work best when the team also has clear file-sharing rules, model ownership rules, and regular coordination reviews. See also: how to share Revit files.
FAQ
Where is Copy Monitor in Revit?
You can find it under Collaborate > Coordinate > Copy/Monitor. Use Select Link when you want to copy or monitor elements from a linked Revit model.
What is the best use of Revit Copy Monitor?
The best use is monitoring levels and grids between architectural, structural, and MEP models. These elements affect many downstream modeling decisions, so teams need to know when they change.
Can I Copy Monitor grid lines in Revit?
Yes. Grids are one of the main supported Copy/Monitor categories. However, Revit does not support multi-segment grids for Copy/Monitor.
Can I Copy Monitor walls and floors?
Yes, but use this selectively. Walls and floors can create many coordination warnings if they are still changing often. For most projects, levels and grids should be monitored first.
What is Coordination Review in Revit?
Coordination Review is the tool used to review changes to monitored elements. It lets you postpone, reject, accept, modify, move, rename, delete, or copy related changes depending on the warning type.
Why is Copy Monitor not working in Revit?
The most common reasons are hidden categories, unsupported element types, incorrect Coordination Settings, disabled tools in the Revit interface, or trying to select elements that Copy/Monitor does not support.
Summary: Use Revit Copy Monitor when another discipline owns important elements that your model depends on. Keep it focused on levels, grids, and critical coordination items, then use Coordination Review to manage changes instead of letting model differences go unnoticed.
Mohamed Fakhry has helped thousands of architects and designers find their next project with step-by-step guidance on his blog, mashyo.com. About Mohamed
His journey began during his university years when he recognized the need for information-rich 3D models to accelerate learning and improve production processes. Now, Mohamed shares his expertise through Revit tutorials that are accessible to all.
