Revit Platform

General...

      Where's the Keyboard Short..
      Linking OLE DWGs
      Export Layer Standards File
      What is a Family
      How Do I Reset the Ribbon
      Section Lines not showing

Modeling...

      Creating a Slab Recess
      Floor Slab Edge Doesn't Work
      How to Schedule Pads
      Make a Sloping Driveway
      Level Not In Project Browser
      How to Find Project Origin
      How to Move Model on Site

Documentation...

      Saving Sheet Views
      Printing Reduced A3 Sheets
      Titleblock Revision Schedules
      Creating Multiple Sheets
      Fit a Site Plan to a Sheet

Families...

      Family Height Dimension

Materials

      Where are Material images ?

Schedules

      How to Count Symbols

Revit Architecture

General...

      Schedule Site Coverage
      Placing a Lot Area Tag
      Property Line Tagging
      Property Line Directions

Documentation...

      Making Elevations Stand Out

Modeling...

      How to make SplitGable eaves.
      Making Ceilings

Revit Structure

General...

      UB As Column Family
      PFC As Column Family
      How to do a Beam Cutaway
      Single Line Reobars in Fine

Revit MEP

General...

      Sizing Pipe Accessory Symbols

User Support

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FAQ Support Pages Explained

We get hundreds of customer support requests to solve everyday usage of Revit software. Mostly they arrive as emails with attachments, but others start by a phone call.

We have saved these as FAQ support topics based on an email Subject & Response form.
A typical topic sheet looks as follows...

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - <Subject>

Sent: April 2011

Attachments:  PFC-Universal Columns (NZ).RFA  PFC-Universal Columns (NZ).TXT

Hi,
Attached file refuses to display my Elevation symbols... [the Question]
Regards
ND

Response:

Hi,
I have looked at your issue... [the Answer]

Read a full How To on this topic.

Regards,
rich

[M] Member Content: Proceed to download... wait...

FAQ Support Pages Explained

We get hundreds of customer support requests to solve everyday usage of Revit software. Mostly they arrive as emails with attachments, but others start by a phone call.

We have saved these as FAQ support topics based on an email Subject & Response form.
A typical topic sheet looks as follows...

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - <Subject>

Sent: April 2011

Attachments:  PFC-Universal Columns (NZ).RFA  PFC-Universal Columns (NZ).TXT

Hi,
Attached file refuses to display my Elevation symbols... [the Question]
Regards
ND

Response:

Hi,
I have looked at your issue... [the Answer]

Read a full How To on this topic.

Regards,
rich

[M] Member Content: Proceed to download... wait...

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Keyboard Shortcut File Location

Sent: October 2013

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
Where is my Revit Keyboard Shortcuts file saved?
Regards
SMK

Response:

Hi,
For Revit 2014 and 2013 versions the Keyboard Shortcuts are displayed by Revit as part of the user interface. To modify use the Ribbon > View > User Interface tool.
If you modify any key assignments then the file is automatically saved by Revit into the folder: C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\RevitAutodesk Revit 2014 or 2013
If you have never modified the assignments then the above file will not be found in that folder.

For Revit 2011 versions the KeyboardShortcut file was saved as an XML file named: KeyboardShortcuts.xml that was saved in your…
Windows 7: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Revit\Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011 folder.
and
Windows XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\Revit\...
Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011 folder.

Note this file is automatically edited and saved when the User Interface Keyboard Shortcuts dialogue is edited.

Note:If someone has used the Export… or Import… tools the file could be saved anywhere!

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Import OLE Object

Sent: April 2011

Hi,
What is the best way to import an Excel OLE object into Revit.
Regards
SS

Response:

Hi,
Currently Revit will not either Import or Link in a DWG file that stores a linked OLE object from Excel. However, what you can do is this:

1. Paste Special the selected content from Excel and Paste Link into AutoCAD as an AutoCAD Entities (a Table object) You may want to format a new Table Style so that the formatting and appearance of the Table is suitable.

2. Back in Revit, either Import or Link in this DWG file and place the content into a Drafting View or similar.

3. Subsequent changes to the source Excel data will be updated in the AutoCAD DWG file, then once saved can be updated in the Revit Project file. In AutoCAD, right-click the Table and choose Update Table Data Links

4. Save this file and in Revit reload the DWG link file.

5. See the changes.

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Export Layer Standards

Sent: September2011

Hi,
I’m now using Revit 2012, and have recently updated the Settings in the Export to DWG / DXF Dialog for creating .dwg files for use by consultants using AutoCAD.
Is there a way to export those settings so that I can Import / Use them in a different project rather than having to start again.
In Revit 2011 there was a Save As button when modifying the Layer mapping.
I have found the button to Load Layers from Standards / Load from file, but no way to export to a file.

Regards
RH

Response:

Hi,
Yes this has changed in Release 2012.
The Layer Export listing you create is now saved in the RVT file, not exported to a separate TXT file.

When you open a current project and do a Transfer Project Standards, if the RVT (or RTE) file that settings are being Copy FROM has a Rel.2012 Export Layer Standard saved in it, then you will see the DWG/DXF Export Setup Settings item that can be checked.

More than likely your old pre-2012 company template (RTE) does not have a saved DWG Setup, so the new item is not listed.

There is still the ability to Import a legacy TXT Export Layer file.

and it will be added to the list of available Settings saved in the current Project file.

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:         Revit – Creating a Slab Recess

Sent: July 2009

Attachments:  Creating a Slab Recess.rvt

[M] Member Content: Proceed to download... wait...

Hi,
I want to recess the slab 25mm for the bathroom and then recess the shower area 50mm and show the additional slab thickening in section .
Regards
WB

Response:

Hi,
What you need is a Face Based Void that then gets placed on the Floor Slab to cut away your 25mm.

Then put back the Shower base tiling as additional elements.

That can look in section…

To get the thickened slab under place another floor under the main slab and do a Join Geometry on the two.

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Saving Sheet Views

Sent: April 2012

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
I have a project with sheet numbers, names and views that I would like to import / insert into another project.
Is there a simple way to do this?
Regards
WB

Response:

Hi,
YES
Use the Save to Library > Views… feature. You can select multiple views to export/save into a new Revit RVT file. Save this file into your Library for future use.

And select your old project sheets.

To import into a new project, re import with the Insert View tab > Insert from File > Insert Views from File…
Check which views you want if there are multiple views in the opened RVT file.

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Printing A3 Reduced Scale Prints

Sent: September 2007

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
When I print out my work to A3 format, the scale is not correct.
I think it used to be.
Is this a Revit setting or a printer setting?
Regards
WB

Response:

Hi,
Not exactly sure what you mean here.
I suspect you are doing a reduced paper size print from say an original A1 down onto an A3 sheet size.
If so DON’t use Fit to paper, instead use the Scale: 50% option.
If the Revit Titleblock size is an A2 then the Scale: needs to be 67%.
Usually best to set to place ‘Centre of page’.

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Titleblock Revision Schedules

Sent: September 2007

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
Is it possible to set up a revision legend in a Titleblock ?
Regards
WB

Response:

Hi,
YES
For Revit Revision Sessions and Clouds you need a Revision Schedule placed inside your Title Block family.
You can place Labels referencing specific Revision parameters in the Schedule definition.
Typically it might look as follows…

As a worked example, check inside the supplied Annotation > Titleblocks example: A2 Metric (NZ).rfa

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Family Height Dimension

Sent: September2011

Hi,
When creating a family we typically apply parameters to dimensions e.g. in Front Elevation when setting up the verticals. There is a reference plane at the origin 0, which is hidden behind the actual LEVEL line in the family editor. This creates a choice of two planes to which vertical parameters may apply to. I would typically put my own reference plane in (say for bench top height) and the family would typically sit at the level but the family would hover above the level because it has a "bench top height" parameter. Not sure why there is a reference plane behind the level line, or is the ref plane there the one I should be moving to suit ? I see there is a “defines origin” tickbox for the ref plane, but don’t really understand if I should dimension to the level or the ref plane.
Regards
ND

Response:

Hi,
My understanding is that driving dimensions such as a Window sill height or a Sink bench Height, should be from the user secondary Ref.Plane (eg. Top) to the Ref.Plane provided in the Template. Yes and sometimes that ref.plane has a Ref.Level annotated Datum on top of it (probably added last) so when you pick the plane for the dimension witness attachment, it finds the Datum before the Working (bottom) ref.plane. Now if you test a number of supplied Family Templates they are not all consistent as to how a formal relationship is set up between the Datum and the Working Ref. Plane behind. In some there is no visual indication of a preset ‘fixed’ (locked) status. In others there is. See below Special Equipment template Front view that indicates a Locked alignment when you TAB select the Work Plane.

In some cases the Work Ref.Plane actually has a 0 value Locked Dimension element, formally locking the Work Plane to the Datum or in the case of a Window template placeholder Wall, to lock the Work Plane to the Exterior or Interior faces of the Placement Wall. We have tested the Casework Template with a vertical driving dimension assigned to both the Datum Rel.Level and then the behind Ref.Plane at the Datum Z=0 of the Family, and the ‘In Project’ results are the same. (The Datum Ref. Level controls the Project Offset value.) So we can only assume that there is a ‘hard wired’ implied alignment between the two (but works as if a formal Locked alignment – not shown). Unfortunately there are many conditions (and constraints) built into the various respective supplied Templates that are neither obvious, shown or documented. I would still anchor the vertical dimension to the Work Plane reference in all Templates so as to be consistent.

Regards,
rich

Revit Architecture

Subject:    Revit - Areas & Site Coverage Schedules

Sent: April 2010

Attachments:  Revit-AreasSiteCoverageSchedules.rvt

[M] Member Content: Proceed to download... wait...

Hi,
The area tool - there may be this ability somewhere - who knows - its so hard to find stuff on the ribbon for those very infrequently used commands but it seems daft to either create a
room, a region or export it to AutoCAD to find the area (nett or gross) of floor plans or window openings.
I don't have sufficient confidence in the scheduling tool…
Regards
MC

Response:

Hi,
Revit Areas: In RAC2010 & 2011 the Home Ribbon > Room & Area panel far right, is where you find the create Area tools.
However I must agree you need to know to click the pull down list and make an Area Plan FIRST!

The option of Gross or Nett could also be worded or to pre-search and define bounded ‘spaces’. There after I always delete Area defining lines that are not much use and use the Area Boundary Line to create my own ‘spaces’. Proceed to nominate defined Areas you want and complete the Tag details. As to extracting your areas the Area Schedule is really basic. Just use the minimum Fields: Name and Area for your report/table.
Tip: Make sure in the Sorting you have Grand totals & Itemize every instance checked.

Here is a typical Site Coverage area plan…

And Schedule…

Saved View > Schedule attached for you to Insert and work over.
You can import/Insert by…

Regards,
rich

Revit Architecture

Subject:    Revit - Placing Lot Area Tag

Sent: September 2009

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
How do you place Lot Area Tags?
Regards
CJ

Response:

Hi,
Adding a Lot:Area Tag to a Property Line Bounded Area.
Check you have a suitable Tag Family Loaded: eg. NZ_Tag_Property_LotArea.rfa
Use Annotate Tab > Tag by Category >

Hover over Property Line segment and see Revit is previewing a Property Line Tag,
Press the TAB key so Revit toggles between the Line and Lot Tag family labels.
While the Lot Tag is active click to place somewhere (associated to the PropertyLot.
Finish Tagging and Drag move the Lot:Area label to where you want it in plan.
Double click the ? and edit add the required Lot number value.
The Area value should be retrieved from the closed Property Lines loop.

TIP:
If in doubt press the TAB key to cycle through possible options while in an active command.

Regards,
rich

Revit Architecture

Subject:    Revit - Property Line Tagging

Sent: August 2008

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
Is there a way to label property boundary lines with their length & bearing other than typing the text in manually?
Regards
JS

Response:

Hi,
Yes - you need to use the Drafting bar / Tag... / by Category..
Family:

And the default template plus Annotation /Tags library folder has

Hover over the Property line and apply the Tag with or without a Leader etc.

Regards,
rich

Revit Architecture

Subject:    Revit - Property Line Directions

Sent: August 2009

Attachments:

Tag Property Line-OverUnder (NZ).rfa
Tag Property Line-Single Line (NZ).rfa
Tag Property Line-ManualBearing (NZ).rfa
Property Lines Surveyer Adjusted.rvt

[M] Member Content: Proceed to download... wait...

Hi,
I have a problem setting up the property lines for a triangular site.
The three boundaries are:
172*50’00” 49.43m
110*07’00” 28.37m
27*31’26” 44.30m

Instead of getting a closed triangle Revit makes a zigzag line.
Please help.
Regards
AF

Response:

Hi,
You need to transpose the surveyor’s annotation values to follow a closed loop

Reply:

Thanks,
Then what the property line tag show don’t match the surveyor’s drawing even thought the line is correct. Is there a way to modify the tag?

Response:

Hi,
Good point.
We have looked at this issue and conclude there is no way to get Revit to reverse the native line direction of a Property Line Segment, nor is there any way to have a Tag Label do a Shared parameter calculated/convert a true bearing into a Surveyors annotation bearing value.
Could in a Schedule but not in a Tag Label element.
Our solution is to define an equivalent Bearing Parameter that can be entered manually and combine it with the Bearing line Length parameter. Note we can add a Shared Parameter “SurBearing” to the Property Line Element but the Tag will not retrieve it.

Regards,
rich

Revit MEP

Subject:    Revit - MEP Pipe Accessory Symbols

Sent: March 2011

Hi,
MEP standard Butterfly Valve added into a 50mm dia. Pipe line. Embedded Course/Medium ‘symbolic’ symbol at say 1:100 scale measures 3mm at plot time across – too small.
[Bottom symbol in image below].
If clone another Valve with symbol lines (which are in fact Model Lines) scaled up x 2 displays as 6mm in 1:100 Plan view [Top symbol in image below].
Fine. OK.
But the cut in pipe has it’s Course symbolic stick diagram centerline still attached to the real world connector x the Use Annotation scaling default distance.
Do you know any way to widen the ‘gap’ of the stick rep in the cut-in pipe? Cannot find any control for this.
Regards
NS

Response:

Hi,
With regard to your request about making the 2D annotation print 2 times larger than normal.
Instead of doubling the symbology size in the family, the way I normally do this is control the Annotation scale in the project.
This way also the line work correct itself so you do not get what is seen below (in your example).
To adjust this 'Project Parameter' in MEP 2010, go to Manage > MEP Settings > Mechanical Settings then adjust the scaling value accordingly:

In my example above, you can see I have changed this value to 6.
Now go back and check out the family in the project and you will see the difference?
Let me know if this works for you?

Regards,
rich

Revit Structure

Subject:    Revit - Structural Beam Cutaway

Sent: March 2010

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
Can you have a look at the attached small problem.
Can’t think at the moment how to put a double cut on a double tee beam.
Regards
IF

Response:

Hi,
That is done by adding an ‘Opening’ over the top surface and extend it beyond the beam edge.
Set your Working Plane to the Beam top face first.

Thanks for sending us your support question.

Regards,
rich

Revit Architecture

Subject:    Revit - Making Elevations Stand Out

Sent: April 2011

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
For a while now I have been trying to make elevations read better.
Make the foreground structures stand out from the those in the back.
Using the pen tool to the edges doesn't appear to do it, or does it erratically.
How can this be achieved without too much use of dumb 2d drafting lines?
Have Autodesk addressed this.
Regards
OL

Response:

Hi,
You should be using Silhouette mode.
Read it up in Help but basically you can pre-specify which lines get ‘thickened’.
Plus you can apply silhouette lines manually (similar to Linework tool) and then drag the overlay ends if necessary.
See image below captured direct from Revit with spouting and fascia lined adjusted back to give ‘depth’. See also some lines added to roof edges but not others.

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:         Revit – Floor Slab Edge Join

Sent: September 2012

Attachments:  Revit-FloorSlab-EdgeJoin-v13.rvt

[V] Content: Download example... wait...

Hi,
When I use the Thickened Slab Edge joined to a Floor Slab, it doesn't cut the hardfill properly.
Also when I move it sideways to make a rebate for Brick Veneer, it shows a piece of edge up the face of the veneer.
How can I get this to work properly?
Regards
SH

Response:

Hi,
The Join tool for a Slab Edge was made automatic back in Revit 2009, but unfortunately Revit joins the elements in the wrong sequence. You need to Un-join the Edge and then re-Join.

Steps:
1. Make sure that both slab and edge have the same materials to avoid seeing the joint.
   Even if the materials are different the section will not intersect with the slab edge. (you will see the joining line.)
2. Perform un-join geometry and then perform join geometry.
   (first select the edge and then the slab)
3. This will bring the model into the right shape while cutting the section and also on the 3D view.

It should look as follows.

The Profile Family in the example does not have a facing edge piece. It has a vertical offset to the Origin point and is placed in the project with a horizontal offset to form the desired rebate size…

The Profile Family in section with vertical Slab Thickness offset is…

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:         Revit – Scheduling Pads

Sent: October 2012

Attachments:  Revit-Cut&Fill-Schedule-Pads-v13.rvt

[V] Content: Download example... (2Mb) wait...

Hi,
I want a Schedule for my Pads (hard fill) or maybe a pads column in the cut and fill schedule?
Regards
WB

Response:

Hi,
You cannot Schedule Pads as such, they are not Building Elements. However the Pad makes a sub-Topography that can be found and Scheduled.

Steps:
1. Make all your required Pads into the main New Construction (Proposed) Topography.
   Select and give each sub-Topography surface around the Pad(s) a unique name.
   (You may need to use the Tab key to select when in Plan. Best done in an Iso 3D view.)

2. Create your Cut & Fill Schedule with Fields: Name, Projected Area, and TWO new Fields.
   Add a Parameter of Type Length named Pad Thickness assigned to Category Topography.

3. And a Calculated field of Type Volume named BaseFills with the formula:
   [Projected Area * Pad Thickness].

4. View the Schedule...it should look similar to the below image.

The Pads have a total BaseFill volume of 19.8m3

PS: Hardfill is usually under a Slab or Foundation element. Pads are more Site Preparation work, providing a base course to give a working area for construction.

Regards,
rich

Revit Structure

Subject:    Revit - Structural Reobar Fine Detail Single Line Mode

Sent: October 2012

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
Quick question regarding Revit rebar command. I note the rebar is double lined,
is it possible to change to single line without having to change to course level when in section/detail mode?
Regards
AB

Response:

Hi,
Yes you can.
For any particular view override the Category in the Visibility Graphics Detail Level column.

Result of two views both set to Fine Level of Detail: with standard VG and Overridden

Thanks for sending us your support question.

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:         Revit – Curved Driveways

Sent: October 2012

Attachments:  Revit-Curved-Driveway-v13.rvt

[V] Content: Download example... (1Mb) wait...

Hi,
I want to model a curved driveway up the slope of a Toposurface site terrain?
Can this be done in Revit as a slab object rather than just a Toposurface Subregion.
Regards
MG

Response:

Hi,
You cannot create a curved/twisted concrete floor slab that hungs the contours of a modified Toposurface. Also a Topo Subregion will not give you hard 'bent' edges to the terrain - they will be smoothed out.
There is a way to make a curved elevated sloped 'slab' that represents a driveway element in the model.

Simple answer:
Create a 3D Mass ‘surface’ and attach a Revit ‘slab’ to the Face.
The Trick:
Apply a Wall to the Mass – it cannot be a Floor because Revit Mass apply Floors can only add Floor elements to Levels within a Mass that has volume. Our sloping curved Mass has no volume!

Some more detail…
To make a ‘surface’ Mass? You need to...
Steps:
1. Create some Levels at the road height, at the garage floor and a number in between ready for putting a set of horizontal Model Lines on.
2. Goto a Site View
3. In the Project Browser double click the lowest driveway level eg. Level 1.
4. From the Massing & Site tab, create an In-Place Mass (any name will do).
5a. Draw a Model Line on the first active level, Level 1, the length equal to the intended width of the driveway at the start.
5b. Set to Level 2, Draw another horizontal Model Line (similar length and perhaps at a different orientation).
5c. Set to Level 3, Draw another Model Line, repeat for all intermediate Levels up the drive, and at the top Garage Floor slab level.
6. Stop drawing Lines (Escape) now select all the Model Lines just drawn and the [Create Form] Button appears on the Ribbon.
7. Click Create Form and Finish Mass. This makes a surface up the driveway sloped and curved.
8. Now Create a Wall or Roof by Face (not a Floor) where the Wall definition is just a simple 100mm Concrete slab – select the Mass surface in an Iso view is the easiest way to apply.

If the driveway doesn’t fit to the intermediate toposurface well enough, select the Mass (by Filter) and Edit in Place, adjust the edges and the crossing ‘profile’ Model Lines by end Grip gizzmo points. This works in Revit release 2012 and in 2013.

The finished drive might look similar to the below image.

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Model Levels Not Showing in Project Browser

Sent: Oct 2013

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
I have copied some levels in a project but they don't show up in the Project Browser.
What am I doing wrong ?
Regards
SC

Response:

Hi,
Revit is over 11 years old but this support question still keeps cropping up.
Some users (especially new ones) copy/paste the Revit way (Select+holddown the Ctrl key) to create a new Level while in a Section view.
Even though it renumbers the Level, Revit regards that copy as a duplicate of the old Level. The new Level does not show in the Project Browser as a Floor Plan view.

Solutions:
1.  Use the official create Datum > Level tool
or
2.  Use the View > Plan Views > Floor Plans tool
then select the new Level name and click OK to convert the duplicate.

Notice the Level is now in the Project Browser and the annotation head changes from Black to Blue. Hyperlink Blue is what you need.

Regards,
rich

Revit Architecture

Subject:    Revit - Materials Images Folder

Sent: December 2013

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
I have just installed Revit 2014 and need to use my old version custom materials.
Where should I save my materials images ?
Regards
RM

Response:

Hi,
You should be putting your images in a unique folder, not the default installed folder.
You can 'teach' Revit to search your own Render Image folder by added it to the Options.

If you must use the installed folder there are actually 3 for diferent resolution qualities of the same named image. A typical default one is named:
   C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Materials\Textures\3\Mats

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit Family Definition

Sent: August 2014

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
I am new to Revit. What is a Revit Family?
Regards
SMK

Response:

Hi,
A Revit Family is a definition of a object used in the design, documentation and construction of a building project.

Families define real world objects or elements in a Revit building model, and or annotation items used in the documentation of a building project.

A Model element can be anything from a Wall to a Floor, Roof, Window, Door, Wash hand basin, or Light fitting.

Families can have multiple Types with different sizes, materials or specific parameter values. Families can have Type parameters that apply to all instances of that family Type in a project and/or Instance parameters that can be varied just for that instance of that Type used.

Families can have relationships and performance rules. For example a Window can only go in a Wall however a special definition of a window can be defined such that it can only be placed in a Roof element. It would then be known or referred to as a Roof light categorized element.

In a Revit modelled project, Families can be search and 'found' by certain filter conditions and then collated into Schedules or Exported as database information for other processes and applications. Hence the term BIM or Building Information Modelling.

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit Family Definition

Sent: August 2014

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
I am new to Revit. What is a Revit Family?
Regards
SMK

Response:

Hi,
A Revit Family is a definition of a object used in the design, documentation and construction of a building project.

Families define real world objects or elements in a Revit building model, and or annotation items used in the documentation of a building project.

A Model element can be anything from a Wall to a Floor, Roof, Window, Door, Wash hand basin, or Light fitting.

An Annotation element can be anything from a Light switch symbol, a Titleblock, or a Northpoint symbol, etc., used in the documentation of a building model.

Families can have multiple Types with different sizes, materials or specific parameter values. Families can have Type parameters that apply to all instances of that family Type in a project and/or Instance parameters that can be varied just for that instance of that Type used.

There are many Categories of predefined Families that come with the Revit software and beyond that, the user can define custom Families within the characteristics of predefined Categories.

Families can have relationships and performance rules. For example a Window can only go in a Wall however a special definition of a window can be defined such that it can only be placed in a Roof element. It would then be known or referred to as a Roof light categorized element.

In a Revit modelled project, Families can be search and 'found' by certain filter conditions and then collated into Schedules or Exported as database information for other processes and applications. Hence the term BIM or Building Information Modelling.

Regards,
rich

Revit Architecture

Subject:    Split Gable Roof Eaves

Sent: August 2014

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
How do you get lower roofs to go in under a upper Split Gable Roof ?
Regards
CMC

Response:

Hi,
This is a common question for new users, especially those doing Residential projects.

There is a full step by step explanation in the Revit > How To's, see section
How To's by Task > Modeling > Create Split Gable Roof Eave August 2014.

Regards,
rich

Revit Architecture

Subject:    Making Automatic Ceilings

Sent: September 2014

Attachments:  <none>

Hi,
When I go to make a Ceiling with the Automatic default setting,
Revit says it cannot do it. I use the default Architectural template.
What am I doing wrong?
Regards
MK

Response:

Hi,
You need to check the heights of the walls that Revit would be using to create a ceiling boundary around.
The default OOTB Ceiling height is set at 2600 above Level 1. So walls up at say 2400 height will not be sensed by Revit up at 2600 height to define the Ceiling footprint boundary. Change either your Wall heights or your proposed ceiling height before picking a point for the automatic assessment.

Regards,
Rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Create Multiple New Sheets

Sent: October 2014

Attachments:  none

Hi,
Is there a way to create multiple new sheets at one time ?
Regards
SC

Response:

Hi,
Yes.
Assuming you are in a project and it has say one blank sample Sheet showing in the Project Browser...
• double click on that sheet to display it.
• while the sheet item is highlighted in the PB, right mouse Copy to the Clipboard
• click into the sheet view in the 'drawing area'
• press Crtl-V to paste the clipboard content (your selected PB Sheet)
You can press Ctrl-V multiple times and make multiple blank Sheets.
The numbers will be incremented and the previous sheet name will be used.

Note: There must be no placed Views in the sample Sheet you copy to the Clipboard.

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Reset Ribbon Interface

Sent: October 2014

Attachments:  none

Hi,
Somehow my Ribbon has got corrupted. Tools don't show properly. How do I reset the Ribbon back to the default?
Regards
BJ

Response:

Hi,
Best way to completely get Revit to rebuild the Ribbon interface back to it's original install defaults is to delete the file that saves the current ribbon settings.
The file is named: UIState.dat
Look in
C:/Users/username/AppData/Roaming/Autodesk/Revit/productname
and delete it.

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Change Model Elevation on a Topo

Sent: October 2014

Attachments:  none

Hi,
How do you move the model up or down in elevation relative to the topo surface?
Regards
MG

Response:

Hi,
Your Revit design model is pretty well complete and the client decides to ask for a change.
The building is to be moved sideways on the site but due to a sloping Toposurface the new position means the building will require more site cut excavation but you don't want to change that.

Assuming you have many detailing Views with numerous annotation (eg. Detail lines)...
if you just shift the building elements (including Levels) up the Detail will stay behind.
The solution is to Move the Toposurface (and any landscape work) down, being the least amount of items to move.

The issue is then how do you maintain the original survey contour heights, and spot height elevation values in any annotation?
The trick is to adjust the Revit Survey Point Symbol position without changing it's Elev value.
 

Procedure Steps:
  •  Move the Toposurface up or down the required amount.
  •  Move the Survey Point symbol up or down the same amount (without unclipping the
     paperclip).

Note:
Make sure your Contour Label and any used Spot Height annotation families, have Elevation Base set relative to Survey Point in their Type Properties.
 

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Section Lines Disappeared

Sent: October 2014

Hi,
My Section Lines have disappeared in my Plan view. How do I get them back on again?
Regards
GE

Response:

Hi,
Select the Section Line in another view and check it's Properties parameter
named: Hide in Views courser than:
Make sure the Scale value for the parameter is the same or greater than the View Scale.

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - How to Count Symbols

Sent: June 2015

Attachments:  none

Hi,
I have an electrical plan with lighting outlets shown. How do I get Revit to Schedule and count the number of fittings?
Regards
BJ

Response:

Hi,
I assume you have created a lighting plan as a simple layout where your lighting symbols are just annotation items.
Maybe something like this...

Unfortunately Revit cannot Schedule a range of Annotation Symbol elements.
Note: A Note Block Schedule can only 'look' for one named Note Block.
But there is a way to do it.

Usually Revit Schedules report a search for 3D building elements, for example various walls, doors or windows. So to find your light fittings, the 2D symbols would need to be 'inside' or nested into a 3D light fixture.
If your electrical lighting plan is just to be a layout plan typically showing where the lights and their switches are, you will not be wanting to have fully modeled 3D light fixtures such as for rendering and presentation views.
So the trick is to make a library of 3D Light Fixture families that are 'empty' ie. they have no 3D physical lamp shade content (just the light source), and also place (load) a Generic Annotation light symbol family into those 3D families. The Generic Annotation symbol responds to the current View Scale.

As part of the Scheduling process you may want/need to add new parameters to report in the schedule. For example your light fitting symbol may need to be able to indicate whether it is a New or Existing fitting. So you will also need to learn how to create Shared Parameters to store this information and sort it in future project Schedules.

Place your 3D Light Fixture family in the layout plan and when the Schedule search is run Revit can show a Count of elements found and hence a count of your Symbols!

Regards,
rich

Revit Platform

Subject:    Revit - Fit Site Plan to a Sheet

Sent: August 2015

Attachments:  none

Hi,
Is there a way to fit a site plan to a sheet ?
Regards
TC

Response:

Hi,
Yes.
Assuming you drag the Project Browser site plan onto a sheet and it...
• is too big and extends past the sheet border edges.
• is way too small and leaves a lot of spare space around the property lot
Then you can select another View Scale for the View when in the Project Browser
OR
Create a Custom Scale... from in the view control View scale list.
For example 1:50 is too big and 1:100 too small so generate a 1:75 value or whatever.
Make sure you change the wording in the title block to 'NTS'.

Regards,
rich