I get this question a lot, so here is the answer!
Revit does not natively have the ability to export a Navisworks .NWC file.
Revit needs a plugin to enable this export feature.
The plugin should be located here in the Revit UI, “Add-ins“ tab, “External Tools”, “Navisworks 2022” (Or your version of Revit).
If the plugin is not there.
If you have Navisworks Simulate or Manage installed, during the install it should have given you the options to install this Revit plugin.
Try re-running the installer.
Please note the Navisworks 2019 installer will only install the Revit Navisworks Exporter for Revit 2019 not 2018 and not 2020. This is the same for all Navisworks installer versions.
Installing the Revit Navisworks Exporter Plugin for Revit
Download the “Navisworks NWC Export Utility” from here.
Once the file is downloaded, run the executable file to install.
You will need administrator rights to install.
Autodesk web site
Scroll down it at the bottom.
Direct download links
2023: Revit Navisworks Exporter
2022: Revit Navisworks Exporter
2021: Revit Navisworks Exporter
2020: Revit Navisworks Exporter
2019: Revit Navisworks Exporter
2018: Revit Navisworks Exporter
2017: Revit Navisworks Exporter
2016: Revit Navisworks Exporter
Export process
To export a .NWC model from Revit.
1. Open the Revit model.
2. Create a 3D view only showing the 3D elements you would like to export.
3. Select the plugin “Navisworks 2022” (Or your version of Revit).
This is located here in the Revit UI, “Add-ins“ tab, “External Tools”, “Navisworks 2022” (Or your version of Revit).
4. In the “Export scene as…” dialog box, Browse to the saver location and type in a file name.
5. See image below for the standard settings I use when exporting .NWC files.
Things to think about here are.
· “Convert linked Files”, do you want to convert linked Revit Files.
Please note that if the exporter encounters an error when exporting a Revit linked file it will just quit. No error window telling you what Revit element is causing the error.
You will need to open each file and export each to work out what element is causing the error.
· “Coordinates” shared or project internal.
I always use shared if I am unsure.
Navisworks export does not actually export the file in a different location.
All Navisworks models are exported with Revit “Project internal” coordinates.
But “Shared” files have a Transform applied in Navisworks.
To see this select a .NWC file from the selection Tree in Navisworks and select “Units and Transform”. See image below.
Changes these to 0 for Revit project internal.
Or you can copy and paste location data between Revit files that are not aligned.
· “Divide File into Levels”
This groups element by the level they are hosed by.
This is not an accurate method of selecting elements by level, many elements end up on the wrong level. It can also make it more complicated to build selection sets in Navisworks.
6. The export Progress dialog will open and you file will be exported
