Drawing Sheet duplication

You need to duplicate a Sheet for a project with Title block information and you do not want to create it from scratch.

Steps:

Select the sheet you want to duplicate in the Project Browser.

Right click and select “Copy to Clipboard” from the menu.

Go to Modify tab > Paste > Paste from Clipboard.

Repeat the “Pasting” procedure as needed. In this example, duplication is executed 4 times using the original sheet CK28_10 001 – Beganegrond.

Sheet numbering will be incremented as shown in the above figure, CK28_10 2 till CK28_10 5.

Note:

If  ”Copy to Clipboard” is grey out in the “right click menu”, it means that the Sheet you are trying to copy has a View and/or Legend in it. This trick will not work.

To tag, or not to tag

To tag, or not to tag, that is your problem in a Revit session. This is analogue to "To be, or not to be", the famous opening phrase of a soliloquy in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, and the fundamental question and answer is there.

Most of the Revit users will agree that tagging an object will give more benefits rather than using the Revit command Annotation, Text. Once an object needs be revised, the annotation will be automatically changed while using Text, you got to do it manually, a tedious work in the long run.

My recommendation: Always do tagging an object. There are several built-in parameters present in all Family Category. Why not take sometime to review your families and start adding your favorite tags.

I hope this will inspire you to work more efficient in annotating your Revit drawings.

Section Symbols Disappear

A sophisticated program like Revit has many options and settings and you can expect sometimes that a user will get lost and be frustrated in controlling the visibility graphics for a particular view. One of our design team members asked me why his Section Symbols disappeared suddenly in one of his plan views. There are many reasons why a Section Symbol may not show up in a view. Below are some pointers you can follow to solve this visibility issue.

- Check if Section category is on.
- Check Hidden Elements and unhide them if the Elements are hidden thru the Option Bar.
- Section Mark will not show up in a plan view in case the Crop Region for a section view does not “intersect” a plan view’s Cut Plane.

- Inspect the section view, select View Properties, and adjust the Hide at scales coarser than a given value.

- If you are applying Phases in a later design stage, most probably the Section Symbols reside in phase New Construction and this is no longer an active phase.

View Template versus Phases in Revit

Do you know that a View Template will lock down some of the settings in your working view? With a second thought, why should I apply a View Template? It involves a lot of fine tuning (extra work) while doing a drafting work, especially if it involves Phasing and Phases Filter.

My advice, keep a solution that simply works.

Cannot Change a View Property in Revit?

A common question in our office especially the newbie users.

Problem: You want to use the Properties palette to change a view property, but the property displays in gray, and you cannot change it.

Issue: The property may be controlled by a view template.

Solution: Do one of the following:

- Modify the assigned view template: On the Properties palette, click the value for View Template. In the Apply View Template dialog, under View Properties, change the value of the target view property, or clear Include so the view template no longer controls that property.

Important: The change to the view template affects all other views that are dependent on the template.

- Disassociate the view from the template: On the Properties palette, for View Template, select None.

The view is no longer linked to the template. The view retains its current properties, but future changes to the template will not affect the view.

- Assign a new template to the view: On the Properties palette, click the value for View Template. On the Apply View Template dialog, select another template that defines the target property as desired, or that does not define the property at all so you can define the property for each individual view.

Source: Autodesk Wikihelp

Revit Structure 2014 Update Release 1

Just a reminder for my fellow Revit users:

Update Release 1 is not a full install; rather it is using service pack technology similar to AutoCAD®- based products. Prior to installing the Update Release 1, please verify that you have already installed the First Customer Ship build of Autodesk Revit Structure 2014 (Build: 20130308_1515).

You can apply this update to Autodesk Revit Structure 2014 running on all supported operating systems and languages. Consult the readme file for installation instructions and be sure to install the correct update (32-bit or 64-bit) for your software and operating system. Consult the enhancements documentation for areas improved by the Update Release.

Note: After Update Release is applied correctly the build number specified on the Help>About dialog will be 20130709_2115.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=22002614&linkID=9280927

Source: Autodesk Site

Revit 2013 Update Release 3

Update Release 3 is not a full install; rather it is using service pack technology similar to AutoCAD®- based products. Prior to installing the Update Release 3, please verify that you have already installed the First Customer Ship build of Autodesk Revit 2013 (Build: 20120221_2030) or any of the Update Releases for Autodesk Revit 2013 (Update Release 1 Build: 20120716_1115 or Update Release 2 Build: 20121003_2115).

You can apply this update to Autodesk Revit 2013 running on all supported operating systems and languages. Consult the readme file for installation instructions and be sure to install the correct update (32-bit or 64-bit) for your software and operating system. Consult the enhancements documentation for areas improved by the Update Release.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=21891257&linkID=21208796

Source: Autodesk Site

Managing the Revit Server Accelerator Connection

You improve performance for server-based worksharing when you use a Revit Server Accelerator to connect to the Revit Servers that host your central models. Use this procedure to check the status of your connection to the Accelerator that has been assigned for your location (as specified in your system's RSACCELERATOR2013 environment variable) and to specify a different Accelerator when necessary. If you lose the network connection to a Revit Server Accelerator or choose not to use one, you will be directly connected to the Revit Servers.

Note: Typically a BIM manager or administrator specifies which Accelerators are available as well as the Revit Servers to which they can connect. See the Revit Server Installation Guide.

1. Click Collaborate tabSynchronize panel drop-down Manage Connection to Revit Server Accelerator.

2. In the Manage Connection to Revit Server Accelerator dialog, enter the server name or the IP address of the Accelerator.
Note: You cannot switch to a different Accelerator if multiple Revit sessions are open, a server-based central model is open, or the Accelerator is not available.

3. Click Connect.
When a valid connection is established, the successful connection status icon displays and the server name updates.

4. Click Close.

Source: Autodesk WikiHelp

Cannot Overwrite Central Model on Revit Server

Warning: You cannot overwrite a central model when it is located on the Revit server. If you need to replace the central model, contact your administrator for help.

Issue: Only an administrator can move or delete a central model.

Solution: Contact your administrator. See Removing a Model from a Revit Server.

Source: Autodesk WikiHelp

Revit Phasing in a renovation project

Recently I was involved to assist in a renovation project which makes use of phasing in Revit. Wow, I thought this is my chance to use the theoretical knowledge about phasing which I've learned 5 years ago from a Revit/CAD guru associate. At that time, he warned me about the pitfalls of using phasing in the Revit world and if I recalled correctly, he advised to use it carefully by deciding how many phases you need and define it within the "Phasing" control tab panel. This is an important step in phasing within Revit. Secondly, set up each individual view to reflect what you wish to show. While modeling the building, ensure that you are in the correct view which corresponds with the phase you are after too.

Going back to the renovation project that I am talking about, I dogged into the project file and the first thing that I noticed was, it deviates from the normal standard phasing method. The earlier team involved made use of the "filter" in Visibity Graphics Tab to control each phase view. Sadly to say, I thought to myself, this will create a big headache for the one who will continue the project. Sub phase and step code were introduced in the Phase attributes for each element (in Phasing-Phase Created Parameter). Just wondering why they did it. In the Phase tab the filter is already there waiting to be modified or use it out of the box.

Reorganizing the whole phasing will be a very painful task and I have a weekend to think it over.

Revit 2012 - Ribbon behavior due to .Net 4.5 installation

Hotfix - Autodesk Revit 2012 - Ribbon behavior due to .Net 4.5 installation

This hotfix corrects the behavior of the ribbon panels after .Net 4.5 is installed.

Make sure that Update Release 2 has been applied prior to adding the hotfix. Verify that the build number of Revit 2012 is 20110916_2132. If the build number is 20120126_0600, it indicates that Update Release 2 and the Memory Allocator Hotfix has been applied.

The Readme contains the latest information regarding the installation and use of this update. It is strongly recommended that you read the entire document before you apply the update to your product. For your reference, you should save the Readme to your hard drive or print a copy.

Link: 
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=21344242&linkID=9273944


Source: Autodesk site

Height/Depth of Walls

When you create a wall (an architectural wall or a structural wall), you can specify the following properties on the Options Bar:

- Level (for 3D views)
- Depth/Height
- Top Constraint
- Unconnected Height

Together with Base Constraint, these properties control whether the wall is drawn from a specified level upwards or downwards, the height of the wall, and whether its height will change when its base constraint or top constraint moves.

When you create a wall in a plan view, the Base Constraint is the level associated with the view. When you create a wall in a 3D view, use Level on the Options Bar to specify the level to use for the wall's Base Constraint value.

Note: When you use Depth on the Options Bar, use a structural plan to see the walls extending downward from the current level, or modify the view range of a floor plan to make them visible.


Source: Autodesk Site

Revit User interface items disappeared for some tabs

A user in our office reported that an item in his Modify tab disappeared while other tabs appear normal.

It seems that having Revit on a second display with a diffrent display resolution as the main monitor could cause this problem. Anyone out there experiencing this issue?

I recommend closing and restarting the Revit program should help to correct the display problem.

Saving Loaded Families

Save a selected family or all families loaded in the current project or template in a location that you specify.

You can save the family or families to a location on your system or to a network location. Each family is saved as an RFA file and all family types are saved with the family. Only Loadable families can be saved with this option. In-place families and System families, such as walls, duct systems, and patterns, cannot be saved.

To save a selected family

1. Do either of the following:
   Click [R] >Save As >Library >Family.
   Right-click a family in the Project Browser, and click Save.

2. In the Save Family dialog:
   A. If you are using Save As >Library >Family, for Family to save, select the family from a list of families loaded in the project.
   B. For Save in, navigate to the location where you want to save the family.
   C. Specify the name and file type for the family, and click Save.

To save all families

1. Do either of the following:
   Click [R] >Save As >Library >Family.
   Right-click the Families category in the Project Browser, and click Save.

2. In the Save Family dialog:
   A. For Save in, navigate to the location where you want to save the families.
   B. For Family to Save, select <All Families>, and click Save.

Source: Autodesk Site

Slanted Wall - Leaning Wall: Part 2

The slanted wall or leaning wall shown below is often a question asked in the various Revit forums and also in our office. Let me guide you on how to do it in addition to the method that I early published way backed in 2010. 

The following are steps to follow:
1. You start an In-Place Mass. Enter a name whatever you like.

2. Create the Mass with a face that is at an angle you want to create. Tip: create your Mass in a 3D view wherein you can choose a wall face to use as a work plane. You are not doing the actual Mass of the targeted Wall. It is just the face of the angled wall.

3. Make the necessary adjustment and finish the Mass.

4. Go to Architect and Site tab, Wall tool, and select Wall by Face.

5. Pick the angled face of the Mass you have just created.

6. Do the wall editing profile on both sides to include the slanted portion.

7. The resulting model will be as shown below.

8. Place your wall openings using your standard door or window family.