Revit Tip: Insert from File

Insert from File

Tired of having two projects open at the same time just to copy details and drawings over?

Let’s try the Insert from File and Views… option instead.

From here we will need to select the RVT file that we would like to copy some information from.

Revit will go through the same process as opening the file, but instead we are shown a display of all the available views to load.

This list includes Drafting Views, Drawings Sheets, Schedules, and even Renderings. The checkbox in the bottom corner allows you to even Preview the selection.

This is a great way to copy over all those drafting views from a previous project in one fell swoop.

Or to copy all those MEP dummy sheets that you really don’t want to create again.

This certainly saved me the time of copy and past for each view singularly, so maybe it will help you too.

I haven’t tested all the importing methods and possibilities, so feel free to test it out and let me know what you find.

Revit Tip: Revision Schedule

Using the revision feature of Revit

Revit allows for tracking of revisions and tagging clouds.

Problem

Without using the Revision feature of Revit, our drawings wind up with a chart that lists all revisions regardless of relevance to the sheet.

Solution

1. Create a border that has a Revision Schedule in the title block. (more on this later)
2. Create revisions in your project
• Under settings>revisions click add:New.
• The sequence number corresponds to revision number, so this will be displayed in your tag triangle. (more on that later)
• Add a date and description for the Revision
• Do not check issue until all the clouds have been created.
• Once you move to the next revision you can change the visibility to tag only. This will hide the clouds and leave the triangle for previous versions.
3. On a sheet, not in model space, create a revision cloud. Change the properties of the cloud to the appropriate revision that you set up in step 2. NOTE: If you have multiple clouds on the sheet they all need to be in one sketch, not separate clouds. One cloud per revision, otherwise each instance will show up in the schedule.
4. Use the tag feature to tag the cloud as you see fit.
5. At the start of a new revision:
• Create a new revision in settings.
• Check the box to issue the previous revision
• Change the visibility for the previous revision to “TAG”
• Add your new revision clouds.

This will also allow us to tag a cloud similar to tagging a wall. It will also allow our Revit model to track all the revisions in case we need to go back to one. Most importantly, the revision list on the title block now only shows those revisions that the sheet was issued for.

We have introduced the new automatic revision schedule to the newest template and it works great in 2009.

One thing you might not know is the ability to ‘tell’ Revit which revision a particular sheet should be shown in. Previously, we were required to place a revision cloud on every sheet for every revision for the schedule to read properly.

Instead, once all your revisions are set up in the Project information just click the sheet border and click Properties.

For the menu scroll down to the Revisions on Sheet entry and hit the edit button.

Now you can select which Revisions this sheet is included with.

Maybe in the next version they can figure out how to tie this into the drawing list…

Revit Tip: Dependent Views

Dependent Views

I don’t know when this feature became available, but it was sometime between 9.1 and 2009, 2008 maybe? Next time you need to break up a plan into multiple callouts why don’t you try this little technique.

Most of us create an overall view and then do double or triple duty and have to tag, annotate, and dimensions all of those callout views. This can be a time consuming task, especially when you need to switch back and forth to make sure all your areas are covered, also a risky situation if you don’t cover everything. Instead let’s Duplicate with Detailing our overall plan first. Leave that overall plan at 1/16” scale.

What’s that other option?? Just hold on, we will get there.

Now we are going to change this new plan to our blow-up scale of 1/8” and start tagging and dimensioning the entire building. Name it something like “Overall Plan – Annotations.”

Yes, dimension everything and tag everything here. Once. Just once and you are done. No more guess work to see if everything is covered. Why? Keep reading to see the great benefit of doing it this way.

Now that your plan is complete, let’s break-up that huge plan. Wait don’t use that Callout button or that Duplicate with Detailing feature again!! We are going to use that Duplicate as a Dependent option on our annotation plan. Start with one. Now resize your crop region on this plan to an appropriate sheet sized plan.

You should notice the new green annotation crop region. This will allow you to crop anything that is in the overall annotation plan out of this one that you don’t want shown. If you switch back to your main plan, you can see where all your Dependent Views are being cropped at.

Do this as many times as necessary to finish documenting your plans. Now you have created one plan that will update all the others and vice versa. This includes dimensions and text and tags and any other annotation that we normally have to copy from sheet to sheet.

Now, you can go back and put callouts on your original overall plan that reference the new specific Dependent Views. Just make sure to hit the checkbox for Reference other view.

Revit Tip: Plan Regions

Plan Regions

Can’t quite get your plan to cut the building where you need it? Still missing some windows or details vital to the completion of the documents.

Have no fear, the Plan Region is here!!

What’s that you say? You don’t know anything about Plan Regions!!

These are a great way to create a callout plan within a plan.

First, sketch the area we want to show at a different level cut.

Finish your sketch.

Then by selecting the Plan Region and editing the Properties, we can modify the Cut Plane just for that one little area.

Now, a previously invisible window is cut for a complete graphical illustration.