Just a reminder on how this works, in the off-chance that you are confused…

2015 Products
Use the Enhancements link from https://manage.autodesk.com/cep/#products-services/all

2015way.png

2016 Products
Use the Autodesk App Store

2016way.png

2017 Products
Use Autodesk Desktop App

2017way.png

Yes, there are exceptions to these rules, but it should get you headed in the right direction.

Why does this happen? Because the Bulk File Upgrader doesn’t work if it is trying to upgrade a Local and it can’t find a Central (I believe this is a Revit API thing)… and you may get this error:
filename.rvt could not be upgraded: The file-based central model could not be reached, because e.g. the network is down or the file server is down. 

The core problem here is that someone has probably given you a Local copy, when they should have given you a Central or Detached copy to link into your project.

If we want to upgrade lots of these “local-type” linked files, how can we get around this batch upgrade limitation? We will need to to use eTransmit – twice. Let’s say we are upgrading from Revit 2013 to Revit 2015:

  1. Make a blank 2013 RVT project
  2. Link in all the 2013 version files you want to upgrade
  3. Save the host file in 2013 and close it
  4. Transmit the host using Revit 2013, including Links and tick the ‘Open and Save models in the active version of Revit’ option (this places the newly saved linked models into a transitory state, where you can choose to save as central or work with this model temporarily)
  5. Open Revit 2015
  6. Addins – Transmit a Model
  7. Choose the output eTransmitted 2013 host file from step 4
  8. Make sure to tick the “Linked Revit models” and “Cleanup” boxes
  9. Click Transmit Model and wait for all of the files to be upgraded (yay)
  10. Remember to discard the host file before transmitting or copying the files

Note: using the “Add Files” option in eTransmit and adding RVTs manually will not upgrade them.

Here’s the link for eTransmit for Autodesk Revit 2015.

Also, you *might* have to press ok after each if you get this error (Easy Keynoter?)

Steve picked up some very interesting points from Revit Help about updated Etransmit, including:

  • eTransmit for Autodesk Revit 2015: When you transmit a model, you can now select to:
    • include supporting files such as documents and spreadsheets
    • disable worksets
    • delete sheets
    • include only views that are placed on sheets
    • include or exclude types of views such as detail views or sections

Interestingly, it is now recognized as a valid way to cleanup and archive models, as per this page:

Common uses for eTransmit for Autodesk Revit 2015:
  • Internal archiving
  • Sending deliverables to clients
  • Model exchange between consultants/partners
  • Model cleanup
  • Sharing models between disciplines
  • Upgrading models

Steve’s post:

Revit OpEd: Revit 2015 Help is Online

I actually don’t need to transmit RVT files too often (yet).  However, I often want to archive a ‘snapshot’ of all the data associated with a project.  eTransmit for Revit makes this possible – and relatively easy.  I recently used it to archive a project, and the resulting folder contained 235 files!

Obviously, you need to be on Subscription to download.  Here are the links:

eTransmit for Autodesk Revit 2012 Extension 2012-05-31

eTransmit for Autodesk Revit 2013 Extension 2012-05-10

One interesting error that I came across was:
A file with the same name but a different path has already been transmitted.

Here are items eTransmit currently includes:

PS – I remember how excited I was when I first saw eTransmit for AutoCAD!  I’m not that old, am I?

New free tool available on Labs for Revit!  It basically allows you to bundle up a project for easy transmission to another party.

Here is the description from the Labs page:
eTransmit for Revit is a technology preview of an add-in application for Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2012, Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2012, and Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2012 software.


For best results, installing Revit 2012 Web Update 1 is recommended. // more


With eTransmit for Revit, you can:


Copy and detach a Revit model and associated files to a single folder for internet transmission. This removes the typical error messages when you copy central files using the operating system.


Locate dependent files automatically and include them in the transmittal folder, reducing the possibility of error. All dependent files are automatically converted to use relative paths to ensure that the dependent files can be located by the model.


Choose to include related dependent files such as linked Revit models, CAD files, DWF markups, decal images, and external keynote files. You can transmit any Revit (.rvt) model that has been upgraded to Revit Release 2012.


Transmit models that are using file-based worksharing or server-based worksharing. eTransmit for Revit will also work with non-workshared Revit models.

Some of the new features in Revit 2012 start to fit into place now (such as the ability to Import Linked CAD files).

Here is the link again:
Autodesk Labs Utilities eTransmit for Revit

And here is some more info from the Labs page.

menu View the eTransmit dialog box.
Download the known issues document (PDF).