1. What Is a Pirros ID?
A Pirros ID is a unique, permanent identifier created the first time any asset enters Pirros.
It represents the concept of the asset, not any specific file version.
That means:
Each Detail has its own Pirros ID
Each Family has its own Pirros ID
Each Sheet has its own Pirros ID
Each Legend has its own Pirros ID
Each Schedule has its own Pirros ID
All future versions stay tied to the same ID
This ensures your library stays clean, searchable, and version-controlled—even if filenames or models change.
2. First SYNC: How Pirros Creates the ID
When you upload a Family, Detail, or Sheet for the first time:
Pirros analyzes the file
Creates a new Pirros ID
Extracts every Detail/Family inside
Sends them into either your Project Library or Typical Library
Generates thumbnails, history, and metadata
After the upload, you’ll always have:
Individual Asset pages for each extracted Detail/Family
The Pirros ID of a View or Family is found within the URL of that Detail’s webpage, and when you open it in your Revit file, in the Properties
3. Re-Syncing: Does Pirros Update or Create New?
When you upload a file again (or sync from Revit), Pirros checks:
“Does this match an existing Pirros ID?” AND “Does the desired project location match the previous Pirros ID’s project location?”
A. If YES → Pirros Updates the Existing Asset
Pirros creates a new version under the existing ID:
Asset history stays intact
Tags & metadata stay attached
Comments and associations remain
Thumbnail regenerates (unless you’ve set a custom thumbnail)
No duplicates appear in the search; stacked as “Similar” with other similar details
This is a SYNC update.
B. If NO → Pirros Creates a New Asset
If the new upload is truly different (content, geometry, GUIDs, etc.):
Pirros creates a new Pirros ID
The asset appears as a brand-new Detail or Family
Existing content is never overwritten unless Pirros is certain that it matches
C. Changes Made to a Detail in Revit
When you download a Detail from Pirros into Revit, you can see the Pirros ID of that Detail, as well as another parameter, PirrosInSync, which has a value of True or is left blank. The PirrosInSync parameter, with a value of True, indicates that the Detail in your Revit model matches the one in Pirros. Whenever you make any changes to a Detail, the value becomes blank, indicating that the Detail in your Revit file is not in sync with the version that is on Pirros.
As an admin user, if you want to make updates to a Detail within Revit and you want to update the Pirros version to match the new updates you’ve made, you can SYNC it back up to Pirros using the Revit Pirros Plugin.
When you click “Sync,” the plugin uses the Pirros ID to locate the matching Detail in your library and updates it with the latest version. You will get a pop-up box in Revit. You should select the detail(s) you made changes to, and add a meaningful message to indicate what was changed. This will show up in the history section on the full detail page in Pirros.
You can view the full version history for any Detail that has been updated by an Admin by opening that Detail’s page in Pirros.
4. Typical vs. Project Libraries
Pirros ID behavior is the same for both:
| Typical Library | Project Library |
Purpose | Firm-wide standards | Project-specific content |
SYNCs | Add versions to the same Typical ID | Add versions only in that project |
Relationships | Preserved across all linked projects | Local to the project |
The difference is where the asset lives, not how IDs work.
5. Downloads
Whenever you download an asset or source file, you will always receive:
The latest version
With all metadata and version history preserved inside Pirros
6. Expected Behavior (Simple Summary)
A clear way to remember it:
When you SYNC again…
Same asset → Pirros creates a new version under the same ID
Different asset → Pirros creates a brand-new ID
When you sync a source file…
Pirros scans all Families/Details
Matches them to existing Pirros IDs whenever possible if the project location remains the same
Only true matches get versioned
Anything new gets a brand-new ID
When you modify thumbnails…
Pirros regenerates thumbnails using your PIG settings
Unless you use a custom thumbnail (which Pirros keeps)
7. Why Pirros ID Matters
The Pirros ID system ensures:
Single source of truth for every Detail/Family
Accurate version control even if filenames change
Clean search results with no duplicates
Reliable history + audit trail
Stable references across Typical and Project workflows