> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.mksdtech.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.mksdtech.com/beam/beam-for-rhinoceros/beam-directory.md).

# .beam Directory

View and change the .beam directory

BEAM moves data between Rhino and Revit through files. The **.beam directory** is the folder where these files are saved and read:

* *.beam* files from [BEAM](/beam/beam-for-rhinoceros/beam.md) and [BLOCS](/beam/beam-for-rhinoceros/blocs.md)
* `.3dm` and `.bin` files from [RAY](/beam/beam-for-revit/ray.md)

Rhino and Revit both list the files in this folder, newest first.

## Default location

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Windows" %}

```
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Beam\Temp
```

For example `C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Beam\Temp`.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="macOS" %}

```
~/Documents/Beam
```

On macOS, **BEAM** and **BLOCS** ask where to save each file, and remember the last folder.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Change the directory

The same three buttons are in the Rhino panel's top bar and in the toolbar of every Revit dialog.

<figure><img src="https://1008084047-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M20iL6J8Vf1nWgor7JL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-528ff8bc4656db426a2775e7ba0a86888f1deb94%2Fmock-panel-topbar.png?alt=media" alt=".beam directory buttons in the panel top bar" width="390"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

| Button                    | What it does                                                    |
| ------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Set .beam directory**   | Pick a new folder. Rhino and Revit on this machine both use it. |
| **Reset .beam directory** | Go back to the default folder.                                  |
| **Open .beam directory**  | Open the folder in File Explorer.                               |

If the custom folder cannot be found, for example when a network drive is disconnected, BEAM uses the default folder.

{% hint style="success" %}
To work as a team, point everyone to the same folder on a shared network drive. Everyone then sees the same *.beam* files.
{% endhint %}

## Clean-up

{% hint style="info" %}
When Revit closes, BEAM keeps the 50 newest files in the default folder and deletes the rest. Custom folders are never cleaned. Delete old files from them yourself from time to time.
{% endhint %}