AVAIL Harvest Source Types: Single Container or Element Level Container

What is the difference between selecting Single Container or Element Level Container source types in AVAIL Harvest?

Whether you select Single Container or Element Level Container as your Source Type, Harvest will always do the following:

• Allow you to maintain Revit Elements (views, sheets, schedules, families, etc.) from a single RVT
• Automatically index the elements you select from the RVT into an AVAIL Channel as individual items
• Create thumbnails for each element (high resolution thumbnails for content, where applicable)

Deciding on which Source Type to Select

Single Container considerations:

• Revit elements will be plucked directly from the original container file when users use items
  • The size of the container file will affect the time it takes to access the element. The larger the container file, the longer it will take to load elements. Keeping container files smaller will result in faster end-user experiences.
    • Speed performance depends on several factors including file size, hardware, and internet speeds.

• • If a container file is regularly being edited and accessed by many users, the Element Level Container option may be preferred as the Single Container can be locked from editing if a user has recently accessed an element from the container file
• Provides the ability to drag and drop elements directly into Revit from the AVAIL Browser for Revit OR the AVAIL Desktop
• Harvest processing times are generally faster than processing times for Element Level Containers.

Element Level Container considerations

• Creates individual containers for each Revit element and plucks the elements from these new containers
  • These individual containers are created in the Distribution Location you have selected
  • Re-harvesting an element will update the existing individual container

• Fast load times because the element container created is very small
• Preferred option if users will need to upgrade elements regularly. It is much quicker to update a tiny individual container than the entire source container.
• If you're planning to host this content in the cloud using the AVAIL Host in Cloud feature, using the Element Level Container selection is required.

If you aren't sure which method is best for you, we recommend trying both and seeing which provides the best experience for you and your users!