Karo.WhatsChanged handbook.

Karo — WhatsChanged helps you track what changed in your Revit project since you last reviewed it. It compares the main project file and any loaded linked models against your personal reference point and shows added, modified, deleted, and link-replaced items in a clear list.

Getting started

1. Open a Revit project (main file with or without links).
2. On first open, the add-in quietly saves a reference point — no alert is shown.
3. When something changes later (for example, after a link reload or edits to the main file), a short notification appears in Revit.
4. Click View Changes in the notification, or open the Karo tab on the ribbon and click Whats Changed.

The Changes window

• Browse all detected changes in a sortable table with filters for change type (Added, Modified, Deleted, Link replaced), document (main file or a specific link), and free-text search.
• The summary line shows counts by change type and how many rows match your current filter.
• Click a row to locate the element on the active view — works for both the main file and linked models.
• Color changes on view (main file only) — added elements are shown in green and modified elements in yellow on the active view. Linked models are not bulk-colored; use row colors in the table and click a row to zoom, dim surrounding context, or isolate in 3D.
• Remove focus effect — clears neighbor dimming around a selected element; main-file highlight colors stay until you mark changes as reviewed.
• Scan main file — rescans the main project file and all links when you need a full refresh (background monitoring focuses mainly on linked models).
• Export reports (Excel, PDF) — saves structured spreadsheets (.xlsx) or formatted PDF change summaries of the rows currently visible in the list, respecting your active filters.
• Always open in 3D — when an element is hard to see on a plan or section, the add-in can open a dedicated 3D view and frame the element with about 2 meters of surrounding context. Drag the section box handles to adjust the view.

When you are done reviewing

Click Mark as reviewed. This saves the current model state as your new personal reference point, clears the change list, and removes highlight colors on the main file. This affects only your reference point — each team member keeps their own.

Workshared and cloud projects (BIM 360 / ACC)

Each user keeps a personal reference point; it is not shared with the team. For cloud-hosted models, your data is stored locally on your computer. After syncing with the central model, the list may include changes made by other users — use Scan main file when you need the full picture of the main project file.

In-app help

Open About in the top-right corner of the Changes window, then click How to use for a full guide inside Revit. The interface is available in English and Russian.

To manage, check, or activate your license at any time, hold Shift and click the Whats Changed ribbon button (or click the button without an active license to open the activation window).

Before you install

• Close all running Revit sessions.
• You need administrator rights on your computer (places add-in files in ProgramData and registers the publisher certificate).
• Supported versions: Autodesk Revit 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027 (64-bit Windows).

Step-by-step installation

1. Download Karo.WhatsChanged-Setup.msi from your purchase confirmation or download page.
2. Double-click the downloaded .msi file. Windows Installer will launch and prompt for administrative permissions (UAC) to install per-machine.
3. If Windows SmartScreen shows a warning such as "Windows protected your PC":
   • Click More info → Run anyway.
4. The installer automatically detects installed Revit versions (2023–2027), ensures Revit is closed, and seamlessly migrates any previous versions. You can choose full installation or select specific versions manually.
5. Click Install and wait for completion.
   • The setup automatically registers the Karo publisher certificate in the Windows trust store for trusted future updates.
6. When installation completes, start Revit. The add-in loads automatically — look for the Karo tab on the ribbon with the Whats Changed button.

Where files are installed

The add-in is placed in the standard Revit add-ins folder:

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\{year}\Karo.WhatsChanged\

(one folder per installed Revit year)

Silent & enterprise deployment

For automated deployment across corporate networks or workstations, run via command line:

msiexec /i "Karo.WhatsChanged-Setup.msi" /qn

Digital signature & security

Karo.WhatsChanged is digitally signed with a publisher certificate issued by Karo BIM Solutions.

• Automated setup: The installer places DLLs in ProgramData and registers KaroBimSolutionsPublic.cer into Trusted Root Certification Authorities and Trusted Publishers.
• IT-managed environments: If corporate policy restricts automated trust registration, administrators can deploy KaroBimSolutionsPublic.cer via Group Policy.
• Data privacy: All baseline comparison data is stored strictly on your local machine or local project directory. No project data or geometry is uploaded to external clouds.

License & device transfer

• Activation in Revit: To activate your license key or view remaining days, hold Shift and click the Whats Changed ribbon button.
• Device transfer: If you upgrade your hardware or switch workstations, you can transfer your license to the new computer.
• Subscription preservation: Moving or unbinding your license never forfeits or shortens your remaining paid subscription days — the full active period remains available.

Updating

Run the new .msi installer over the previous version. The installer handles upgrades and replaces older files automatically. No manual uninstall required.

Uninstalling

Use Settings → Apps → Installed apps (or Control Panel → Programs and Features), select Karo.WhatsChanged, and click Uninstall. Alternatively, right-click the .msi file and select Uninstall, or run msiexec /x "Karo.WhatsChanged-Setup.msi" /qn. This cleanly removes the add-in files from all Revit versions.

Supported model content

• Main Revit project file (host model)
• Loaded Revit links (.rvt)
• Detection of: added, modified, and deleted elements; parameter, type, level, phase, geometry, and location changes; link file replacement

Data storage

• Local / server models: {Project folder}\.Karo\WhatsChanged\ProjectState.db
• Cloud models (no local folder path): %LocalAppData%\Karo\WhatsChanged\{project-guid}\ProjectState.db
• User preferences: stored next to the add-in DLL in user-settings.json

Your reference data stays on your computer. It is not uploaded to any external service.

Tips for best results

• First open = silent baseline. When you open a project for the first time, the add-in saves a reference point without showing changes. Edits after that point will be detected.
• Linked models are watched automatically. The add-in monitors loaded links in the background. Use Scan main file when you want to refresh the main project file as well.
• Mark as reviewed regularly. Click Mark as reviewed when you have finished checking changes. This updates your personal reference point and clears highlight colors on the main file.
• Use filters. Narrow a long list with the change-type filter, document filter (main file vs. a specific link), or the search box.
• Deleted elements. Deleted items appear in the list only — they cannot be selected in the model. Check the Details column for the last known level, type, and position.
• 3D navigation. If an element is off-screen on a plan or sheet, the add-in offers to open a dedicated 3D view. Enable Always open in 3D to skip the prompt.
• Excel & PDF reports. Export the current filtered view as Excel workbooks or formatted PDF summaries to share with colleagues or contractors.
• Switch views. Host highlight colors apply to the active view. If you switch views, open the Changes window or click Scan main file to re-apply colors on the new view.
• Closed worksets. If not all worksets are open, the change list may be incomplete and false "deleted" rows are possible. Open all relevant worksets before reviewing.

Known limitations

• Personal reference point only. Each user has their own baseline. Marking changes as reviewed does not affect other team members' lists.
• Loaded Revit links only. Unloaded, missing, or non-Revit link types are not fully tracked while unavailable.
• No bulk color overlay on links. Linked model elements are not bulk-colored in the view. Use table row colors and click a row to zoom, select, and dim neighbors.
• Host highlights on active view only. Added/modified coloring applies to the main file on the currently active view, not on all views at once.
• Background scan scope. Automatic background monitoring focuses on linked models. The main project file is scanned when you open the Changes window or click Scan main file.
• Worksharing sync. Syncing with the central model alone does not always mean something changed for you, but after sync the list may include changes made by others.
• Deleted elements cannot be zoomed to. They are listed for information only, with last-known details from your reference point.
• Performance. Very large models (tens of thousands of elements) may take longer to scan. The add-in shows a thin progress indicator during scanning.
• Revit version match. Install the add-in for each Revit year you use. The multi-version installer handles this automatically when multiple Revit versions are present.

What this tool is designed for

Karo — WhatsChanged is built for day-to-day coordination: catching link updates, spotting unexpected edits, and reviewing changes before you sign off on a model state. It is a personal review assistant, not a full project audit log or multi-user change-management system.

Support

For questions or installation help, contact us at support@karomodum.com (also shown in the in-app About dialog).