Using Acad Details - An Oldy but Goody

I posted this in June 2004 at AUGI just after Zoogdesign merged with AUGI. Still true today with a couple of changes to Revit since, I wrote:

I was preparing a short discussion for our local Revit user group meeting, South Coast Revit User Group (SCRUG) to cover detailing with Revit. While not an expert at detailing as an architectural person by any means I have spent a fair amount of time working with acad details and microstation too...the following applies to AutoCAD detail files specifically but most will apply to Microstation as well.

This list was also assembled assuming that "you" are not abandoning the acad files in favor of Revit only based details. These tips will help you keep the details portable and useable in either application.

First, stay focused on your goals and choose common ground that helps you achieve them. Avoid statements that start with; "I can't..." We can't..." "I won't...."

Font and Dimension Tips:
DON'T use a width factor other than (1) in AutoCAD text styles (Revit now supports width factors in text and dimension styles but may not import them initially)
DON'T use custom symbols that aren't also present in the TTF font
DON'T use a custom leader routine and/or custom arrows/terminators

DO use a TTF font in AutoCAD OR
DO use Revit's shxfontmap.txt to map shx fonts to a TTF font in Revit)
DO use the dimension leader object in AutoCAD
DO use a standard arrow or dimension terminator
DO make sure that blocks with attributes follow these rules too

Project Mgmt and General:
DO put details in a project specific location and don't move them
DO Import and link details and check the "current view" option
DO consider a separate detail project if you are dealing with a large multi-building project
DO manage them in "one" place, for consistency (AutoCAD since that's what were talking about here)
DO use a detail specific layer structure to manage lineweights more easily if required
DO make sure your details are located near 0,0 (origin)
DO use custom programming routines to automate changes these tips require
DO make sure drafting views use the same scale as the imported detail
Do use hatches that are not too dense or too large (defining "too" varies unfortunately)
Do use hatches that are properly bounded and don't use line segments that are too short for Revit (<1/32")

DON'T move the details once linked
DON'T explode details (change them in Acad, if you want to keep them useable for both)

If you must explode (don't), do so in a separate project to isolate all the extra objects styles, line patterns and styles and fill patterns that will proliferate in the project after doing so. If you have many "line has inaccurate direction..." or "line is too short..." errors. Embed the geometry of the detail in a detail component family first. Then use that in your project, the errors will be trapped in the family and not burden your Review Warnings process, and finish detailing with Revit text, dimensions etc.

If you follow these "rules" you will find that you can, nearly always, import a detail "as is" and minimize rework on libraries that will likely remain available for both applications. (stay dwg that is)

Remember the goal probably ought to be pure Revit details eventually so I prefer to think of this as a bridging activity instead of a long term solution.

If you compare this post with the AUGI post I've added a little bit here...