Dept. of Reviteristics - An Opening isn't a Door

I posted THIS in April of 2010 but it's been a recurring question for many years.

Responding to a recent question, the Cased Opening family provided by Revit is assigned to the Category: Generic Models because many architects do not want these included in door schedules. At the time is seemed like an easy way to segregate them, yet when they shipped them they put them in the same folder with doors. New users for years have been clicking Door to add their newly loaded cased openings and been flummoxed when they aren’t there.

It might have been more appropriate to put them in the Door category and use a parameter value to filter them out of a schedule. They picked a solution and here we are.

Another issue we all face before we know, the where to find things can get fussy, like a Refrigerator. Ask ten people where they’d expect to find one and if none of them have any Revit background you probably won’t get a single "in Specialty Equipment > Domestic".

In my earlier post I vented a bit about a better way to place components. We still don't have any "factory" supplied solution. Kiwi Codes Family Browser however is a pretty elegant way to go and if Autodesk isn't paying attention to it, they should be! They've got some new features either about to be release or have just, check them out!

Reviteristic - Revit Links are More Important?

When we link a Revit model into another project file there are number of instances where the linked model seems to interfere with selecting elements that are actually native parts of the model. I encounter this the most when I'm working with Revit MEP.

For example, using the Create System option for an Air Terminal the option to Select Equipment seems to only have eyes for the architectural model and it can be nearly impossible to select the very nice Single Duct VAV box right in front of you.

What to do? Well you could write a blog post like this and complain to start 8-).

If you change your view to Model Graphics Style: Wireframe you'll find that Revit is no longer as focused on the linked model. Another solution is to have a view with the linked model and another where the link is not displayed. When you are ready to create your systems just switch to the other "cleaner" view and no such issue.

Happy selecting!

Dept. of Reviteristics - Wall Representation

Dave Plumb with BWBR Architects in St. Paul, MN suggested this one to me, thanks! I was just in Minneapolis two weeks ago ironically and didn't get to tip a couple with him, maybe next time!

Walls can be displayed in Legends and Revit provides a preview in the Wall Assembly dialog (making/editing walls). Technically it's a toss up between a Reviteristic and a Subtlety. Take a look at this image, a Legend with a wall and a Wall type preview (section view orientation), the finish side is on the right in the legend and on the left in the preview.


Is it a Show Stopper? You bet...well okay, not really! Just an insight from another Revit user like me who probably doesn't get out much either. Sorry Dave!

Dept. of Reviteristics - Modify?

There are four ways to "quit" something in Revit. The first and perhaps best way is to just pick another tool/command and do something else. Next (number two) is the ESC key on the keyboard. Sometimes you have to tap the ESC key twice to truly exit a command. Another (number three) is to use the Right Click > Cancel. This also may require using it twice in order to completely exit a command.

Last (number four) is the Modify button...on the Design Bar, the first one at the top of every Design Bar Tab.
Does the word Modify make you immediately think "Quit", "Stop", "Bail Out", "Escape", "Wait", "Let's not do anything now" etc? No? You are not alone. It is something that always puzzled me but I've never questioned, I just accepted it as "the way it is". Probably the best thing to do, but it remains a Reviteristic in my book!

Dept. of Reviteristics - One Family at a Time

Eric Stewart with Design Development Architects mentioned this to me the other day and I thought it qualified as a "Reviteristic".

When you use the File menu > Load from Library > Load Family you get to load as many families as you can select in a single folder.

When you use one of the various tools to place a component and then choose to Load a new family you only get to load ONE. Eric wonders why? I wonder why? Seems a bit arbitrary to limit us to just one selection in this mode. Using the component placement tools doesn't seem to warrant the limitation.

I say off with the "shackles"!!

Dept. of Reviteristics - Revit MEP - That Pesky Options Bar

When you enter a duct size or offset (elevation) on the Options Bar you may have been bitten by the "old scroll wheel automatico-resizer-syndrome"?? Ouch...you picked a 12" high duct and suddenly you find your height is 48" just because you moved your mouse back over the drawing window and used that middle button/scroll wheel to zoom in or out.


Trouble is the "focus" of Revit is still in that field on the Options Bar. The TAB key, doesn't help. Pressing Enter doesn't help... Nothing seems to...

Well here's what I do, I click on one of the Scroll Bar's buttons to move the focus back into the drawing window. This allows me to move the focus back into the Drawing Window without actually clicking in the Drawing Window, which would place a first point instead of letting me zoom in/out.



Edit: Comment by "Mr. Jackson" suggests his technique: Use the middle button to "pan" for a second. I think is a better solution too!

Dept. of Reviteristics - Edit Button

This is specifically leveled at the new EDIT button that appears when you are working in the family editor and using the sweep & swept blend solids and voids.

I'm referring to this Options Bar arrangement including the Edit button.


In the past releases a sweep only required you to click Sketch Profile and sketch it. Now there is an extra button, the EDIT button to get to sketch. This one:


If you weren't aware of it, you can click to select the profile origin to get access to the Edit button on the Options Bar to start sketching the profile though.


This allows you to ignore the issue of which one is Profile 1 and Profile 2 if you can't remember which way you sketched the path in the first place. It seems likely that the Sweep inherits this functionality because of the swept blend, not because it really needed the extra click.

If we were to plan well we'd make all our profiles first and then just choose to load and apply these profiles instead of clicking the Edit button. But we know how many well laid plans end up. I could do without an extra click, the goal after all is reducing the "clicks". Happy to have the Swept Blend and will endure the extra click.

Dept. of Reviteristics - Sneaky Buttons

I wrote THIS POST ages ago now, August 25, 2007 to be exact. My time flies!

I call any button in Revit that doesn't look like "normal" buttons that we are used to, "Sneaky". The most sneaky of all is the little rascal in the Family Editor that lets you associate parameters to other parameters. This is the one.


Yeah the one with no tool tip...no hint what it might do. For those afraid to click on stuff it can be positively paralyzing. Just try telling someone like that to click and watch the hesistation. They're thinking, "Is Steve trying to make me crash Revit or what?".

I think this sneaky button is definitely a Reviteristic.