REVIT Architectural Blog

Adjusting a Second Floor Plan View in REVIT, French Associates

What to do if walls and other model elements from the first floor are showing up in your second floor plan.

Step 1.

If you have activated a second floor or mezzanine plan view, placed a floor slab and elements from the floor below are still visible the solution is quick and easy.  First you will want to bring the ‘View Properties’ up by right clicking anywhere on your working screen.   In the ‘Underlay’ box choose ‘None” rather than first floor as the program will automatically default to (this is done so that the user has the ability of viewing the first floor in order to draw the second floor slab in accurately).  Once you click on the OK button your first floor will no longer be visible and you will be left with only the level which is currently active.  If you would like to be able to view the elements that would be visible from the first floor you will want to follow the next step.

 

Step 2.

In order to see the various elements on the first floor that would actually be visible from the second (i.e. through openings in the second floor slab or the site elements) you will want to activate the view properties dialog box again by right clicking.  Once in the view properties scroll to the bottom and choose the option labeled ‘View Range’.

The view range will allow you to determine where the current level is cut, how  far above or below the cut plane elements will be visible and the level to which you will be able to view (View Depth).  Set the view depth to the desired level and after hitting ok on both the View Range and View Properties screens you will be able to see the all model elements on the chosen level.

Desired Outcome

Importing Sketchup into REVIT; French Associates, architects

French Assocaites, architects, shows how to Import SketchUP into REVIT to use as a base for a REVIT model

Step 1.

Once you have drawn and saved your SketchUP model you will want to open Revit and navigate to the ‘Massing and Site’ Tab. In the ‘Massing and Site’ tab pick the ‘In Place Mass’ option from the ‘Conceptual Mass’ panel.

You will now be prompted to name the Mass. To date we do not have a naming convention in place so name your mass anything you would like.

Once you have entered the Massing function navigate to the ‘Insert’ tab and then choose ‘Link Cad’ from the Link panel. At this point you will want to select "SketchUP Files (.skp)" from the ‘File Type’ Drop Down. Locate your SketchUP file and select enter.

Step 2.

Once your mass is in place you can now use it as a template to develop your Revit model. To do this navigate to the ‘Massing and Site’ tab again and choose ‘Model by Face’ in the ‘Conceptual Mass’ panel. This will automatically prompt you to choose a face type you would like to create (Roof, Curtain System, Wall or Floor).

Once you have selected the type of element you would like to create from a face in the SketchUP model simply pick the face on the model then select the ‘Create’ button in the ribbon and your element will appear.

To clearly view the element you have created simply hide the mass by right clicking on the mass and choosing the ‘hide’ option.

Step 3.

Repeat this function for as many faces as you would like to create from the mass. Once a face has been created it is part of the model. Floor plans, Sections and elevations can all be developed.

 

 

Export Views to AutoCAD; French Associates,Inc.

To Export Revit Views to AutoCAD

Step 1.

Open the View that you would like to export (i.e. Composite Floor Plan, Unit A Reflected Ceiling Plan, etc...). Once the correct view has been opened click on the large ‘R' in the upper left hand corner of your Revit screen.  Roll your pointer over the ‘Export' option which will open a flyout.  Within the flyout roll your pointer over the ‘CAD Formats' option then choose DWG.

Step 2.

Once the ‘Export CAD Formats' dialogue box appears choose the ‘EXPORT' button on the bottom.

 

Step 3.

You will now be prompted to both name the file as well as choose the version of AutoCAD which you would like to export to.  It is my belief that any file we send out of this office should be able to be opened by this office; therefore we should be exporting to AutoCAD 2004.

Desired Outcome

 

How to denote changes to bid documents and create an 8.5”x11” sketch

Step 1.

After you have created the desired changes in your Revit model you will need to begin the documentation process by filling out the appropriate information in the "Sheet issues/Revisions" Schedule Box which can be found by selecting the small arrow in the lower right hand corner of the "Sheet Composition" Tile in the "View" Tab.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you have activated the "Sheet Issues/Revisions" Dialog Box you will need to fill in the desired information.  Make sure that the Numbering column is set to ‘Numeric' and that the Numbering option on the right hand side of the box is set to ‘Per Project'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2.

After step one has been completed you will need to draw revision bubbles to indicate where the changes have been made.  This can be accomplished by picking the ‘Revision Cloud' icon in the ‘Detail' Tile on the ‘Annotation' tab from the ribbon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revision Clouds work much the same way as Masking Regions, or Filled Regions, in that you will be placed into sketch mode and asked to complete a revision cloud before finishing the sketch.  Once the sketch has been finalized the revision cloud will remain highlighted (if you find that your revision cloud is not highlighted you will need to select it).  Once the cloud has been chosen a pull down menu will be made available in the space below the ribbon.  From this menu you will choose the desired "change" associated with the revision cloud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3.

Your revision cloud has now been associated with the "Revision Schedule" and is ready to be tagged. To do this simply choose the "Tag by Category" option in the Annotation tab.  The tag associated with all revision clouds will be the tag for Addendums.  If you are working on a CCD or PR the tag can be changed by simply picking the tag and choosing from one of the other tag options listed in the pull down menu in the upper left hand corner of the screen. If you require an additional tag type please let me know and I will create one. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Step 4.

The sheet that the view in question is located on will automatically update the title block to include the information you entered in step 1.  If the revision tag is hidden in the view it will be removed from the title block of the sheet on which it is placed.

Step 5. Creating a Sketch

The steps for creating a sketch to place your view on are no different than creating any other type of sheet.  Since views can only be placed on one sheet at a time you will need to make a decision on which type of view your sketch requires.  If the scale used on the original sheet will fit on the sketch (with manipulation of the crop region) then you will want to ‘Duplicate View as Dependent'.  If the scale used on the original sheet will need to be modified to fit the sketch then you will want to ‘Duplicate View with Detailing' - From this point you can manipulate the crop region of your view to fit the sketch then place the view on the Sketch as you would any other type of sheet (drag and drop).

Remember to override the view name as it appears in the sketch before finalization.  As with any sheet file the Change Name and Date will automatically appear in the title block.

Also please remember that in a Dependent view any changes made to either the Original View or the Dependent will be reflected on the other (with the exception of crop region manipulation). Therefore DO NOT change the scale or detail level if the scale must be changed you will need to duplicate the view with detailing.

Wall Display in Architectural Section/Elevation

How to turn hatch paterns (brick/Block) on or of in Elevation or Section

Right click on the wall (or use the CTRL button to add multiple walls)

Then Choose the "Override Graphics In View" option which will cause a fly out to pop up.

From the fly out pick the "By Element..." option.

Within the box that pops up you can now pick from several different options. To turn the brick or block pattern off choose the "surface pattern" arrow and then uncheck "visible".

Through this series of commands another critical question can be answered..."How do we make the elevations pop".  If you pick the "Projection Lines" arrow you will be given the option to change the line weight of the selected walls.  This is something you'll want to play with but in the end will give you the ability to create sections that distinguish between walls in the foreground and background.  

Create a Key Plan

  Create Key Plan

Duplicate View

Draw lines over plan (Detail Lines - Keyplan Lines)

            *may have to create new line type

Export drawing (hide all unwanted line work)

            *export to 2004 version

Create new family

            Use Annotations - Generic Annotation

Import Cad File

            **important steps

• 1. Colors - Black & White
• 2. Layers - All
• 3. Units - Custom (suggest starting with .0001)
• 4. Say Yes

Create Unit Areas (Regions)

Create (Tab)

Filled Region

Pick lines - draw boundary

Finish Region

            *to change fill select Element Properties and Edit Type then Cut Fill

Add Text

Add Unit Labels

Types (select from various tabs)

Graphics

Parameters

            Select Add

• 1. Name - Area ‘A'
• 2. Discipline - Common
• 3. Type of Parameter - Yes/No
• 4. Group Parameter - Graphics
• 5. Select ‘Instance'

Select Region

            Element Properties

            Graphics

                        Select Box  =

                        *Select associate family parameter

Save Family (naming convention)

Load into Project

Scale Key Plan

Select box around Key Plan (the imported cad file)

Element Properties

            Edit Type

                        Scale Factor

Adjust Regions by selecting arrows to pull and push lines

Load into Project and Overwrite existing and its parameters