Revit Basics - Schedule Keys

There are a number of ways to utilize a Schedule key in Revit, but today's post will highlight the most basic... which is to manage standard room finishes.

To use a Schedule Key to manage standard room finishes, creating a Schedule and toggling to Schedule Keys as shown in the image below.

Keep reading to learn more...

Revit Room Area Basics - Part II

Following up on last week's Part I on a basic post about Revit's Room and Space area calculations, I wrote today's post...

Our main focus here will be on linked models, and how area is calculated. Specifically, we will assume this is an MEP model with Spaces placed in it. The architectural model is shown in the first image below (click to enlarge)... notice the it is set to calculate area from the face of walls.

Keep reading to learn more...

Helpful Posts for New Students

Now that we are past the Labor Day holiday here in the USA, most students here are back to school.

With that in mind, here are a few helpful posts to get your semester of learning Autodesk Revit off to a good start:

• Revit Templates; New Users Beware
• Updating Your Graphics Driver - A How To Post For Students
• Student Access to Autodesk Software (for Free)
• Templates and Families Not Installed
• Ensacpe is free for students: https://enscape3d.com/educational-license

Keep reading to learn more...

Controlling Workset Visibility in Linked Models - Structural Example

A quick post an controlling Workset visibility through linked models.

I am still not a fan of using worksets to control visibility, in general, as I previously wrote here: Avoid Using Worksets to Control Visibility. But there is always an exception to the rule, and in that case... here are a few tips.

Keep reading to learn more...

Revit Basics: Wall Joins

In Autodesk Revit, walls clean up regardless of phase. For example, in the example below, the new wall cleans up (i.e. joins) with the existing wall. This is often not desirable as we want the contractor to clearly see the transition between new and existing in the printed drawings; there is a construction joint here that needs to be considered.

Read on to learn more...

Revit Basics: Viewport Title Overview and How to Edit Them

A viewport title, or drawing title, is automatically added when a view is placed on a sheet. There are a few subtle things related to editing, or modifying them, that are helpful to know. And that is this "Revit Basics" post.

When you select the viewport, or drawing, on a sheet you can edit the length of the extension line which appears only in this situation (i.e. the viewport is selected). If you move the viewport now, the view title goes along for the ride.

If you select the view title directly, the grip is gone and you can move the view title apart from he viewport.

Continue Reading...

Revit Basics - View Range plus Discipline

Sometimes restating something again, and a little differently, can help a person understand a topic more clearly. Perhaps this post on Revit's View Range will connect a few more dots for those having trouble fully grasping the concept. Plus, this post ties in the plan view's Discipline setting and the Beyond linetype...

First, notice that the View Range dialog can be expanded and has a helpful graphic as shown here. Revit help also has this detailed description of View Range: About the View Range

Architectural plan view:

• If an item touches the Cut Plane, or is below it, it will appear.
• Wall cabinets will appear above the cut plane
• Actually, casework, windows and generic models appear if at or below the Top Range
• By contrast, you will notice the specialty equipment (SE) item will not appear in plan.

The Bottom & View Depth typical align and we see nothing below this in the model.

Revit Basics: Controlling Element Visibility

You can use these steps to hide a specific sub-set of elements in Revit. In most cases it would be ideal to create a custom Shared Parameter, but that gets a little more complicated.

In this example, I add a keyword to the Comments instance parameter.

Next, I create a Filter that looks for...

Revit Basics Tip: Toggle Dimension Witness Line Location

A super simple tip to share today...

Simply clicking on the grip in the middle of a dimension's witness line, not dragging, will toggle its location.

What does it do?

On walls: the two finish faces and the center.

On openings: two jambs and center line.

Check out the video below for a quick demo...