Elements are not Displayed or Missing

Some time ago Dave Jones started a thread at RevitForum.org regarding finding elements that have gone missing, don't show up. Grant Doherty replied that most situations can be reduced to these major concepts: Visibility Graphics (Model, Links, FILTERS), View Range, Reveal Hidden Elements (The light bulb), Phases, Worksets and Design Options. Later Nancy McClure summarized things by asking if the problem is: Project Wide, By View, By Family (Project Wide) or By Object (per view).

I think troubleshooting also depends on circumstance, meaning did I just get an error message or am I unable to find something "now" based on the belief/experience that it used to "be there".

This is my version of the list, based on Dave's and taking into account some later posts in the thread. Naturally I've added my two cents.

This warning message occurs when we are actively creating something in a view. It confirms that we've just created something but it can't be shown in the view. The following list applies to conditions that cause this message to appear.

Modelling Actions

1. The wall we created is using Depth, not height (typical of Structural Walls)
2. The column we created is using Depth, not height

Visibility/Graphics

1. The element's Category is currently off
2. The view's Detail Level is not compatible with the missing element
3. A filter applied to the view excludes the element
4. The Active Workset is not visible (V/G override)
5. The Active Design Option for editing is not visible in the view
6. The governing View Template prevents changing the above
7. The Imported Categories > Imports in Families is not checked and DWG data is used in a family

View Properties

1. Depth clipping settings are not compatible
2. View Range settings are incompatible
3. A family's offset/elevation parameter places the element beyond the view range
4. Placing the element outside the view's crop region
5. The view's Discipline is not compatible
6. The view's Display Model setting is not compatible
7. The view's Phase and Phase Filter settings are incompatible

These apply to elements that were visible once but no longer are. When elements are missing remember to use Reveal Hidden Elements to see if anyone has done something in the view or to the elements to prevent them from being visible.

Element Overrides in View (often resolved with Reveal Hidden Elements)

1. Visibility/Graphics overrides applied to element's category
2. The Linework tool, Invisible lines applied to part of or all of the element
3. User applied Right click Hide in View > by Element
4. User applied Right click Hide in View > by Category
5. User applied Right click Hide in View > by Filter
6. User applied Right click Override Graphics in View > by Element
7. User applied Right click Override Graphics in View > by Category
8. User applied Right click Override Graphics in View > by Filter
9. The View's Parts Visibility setting is in conflict
10. User applied Temporary Hide/Isolate > Apply Hide/Isolate to View

Modelling or Documentation Actions

1. The missing Element was deleted by someone
2. The family's detail level
3. The element is being obscured by another element
4. The element resides within a group and it has been excluded from the group
5. The element is part of a design option that is not visible in the view
6. The family was created with nothing visible in this view's orientation
7. The family uses a yes/no parameter to control visibility, set to off
8. The family uses an offset parameter than can shift it out of view vertically
9. DWG data is used in a family and V/G settings don't show it
10. The element is constrained to a scope boxes that is not visible in the view (datum elements only)
11. The element  is a mass, and 'Show Mass' is turned off, or mass category is off
12. The element's host view has been deleted (area boundaries)
13. Wall is consumed by another wall, join/cut geometry
14. Random element located far from project affects zoom to fit
15. The view's scale, element is too large or much too small to see
16. The element is an annotation element and is not entirely within the annotation crop region

Using Worksets

1. The Active Workset is not visible (V/G override)
2. Workset that is not visible in the view (V/G override)
3. Workset is Closed using the Workset dialog
4. Workset of a linked file was not loaded during import
5. Workset that is not visible in a linked file (V/G override)
6. Workset is not Visible in All Views (Workset dialog setting)

Using Phases

1. The element's phase settings prevent the object from being shown
2.  The view's phase settings prevent the element from being shown

Using Design Options

1. The element has been placed in a design option that isn't visible
2. The element has been cut and pasted to a different design option that isn't visible
3. The design option is not visible in the view
4. Accept Primary has been applied to a design option
5. The view's design option has been changed, deleting annotation specific to the option
6. User applied Make Primary, altering the view's display of elements and annotation

Using Linked Files

1. The element is part of a linked file that is not visible in the view
2. The user has incorrectly identified the link instance to which the element belongs
3. The element is in a link that is not in its correct position
4. User applied Right Click Hide in View > by Element to element(s) in a linked file
5. The element is a linked instance with coordinates too great for Revit to handle, affects zooming

As with any list, I'm sure I've missed or overlooked something. The more complicated any given project gets, the more features of Revit that it engages, the more opportunity for elements to go missing. Happy hunting?

Dept. of Unfair - Pipes and Ducts and the Workplane

It's been a buggy week! Bummer! Walls and lines recognize the presence of the work plane grid being visible. Ducts and pipes however don't. This means we can't use the work plane grid to sketch ducts or pipes according to the grid orientation.

Technically we CAN use the work plane gird IF we are willing to set duct and pipe elevations at zero. Revit sees the work plane grid when the ducts are getting sketched at the work plane elevation, which is zero, if assigned to the Level. Hmmm, I suppose I could sketch a reference plane in section, name it, and then assign it as the work plane for the plan view I want to use and then turn on the grid, ow my eye!!

It would be helpful and nice if it were possible without any shenanigans. Here's a little video to explain what I'm writing about.

Hiding Un-Wanted View Annotation

This is about hiding view annotation like Sections, Elevations and Callouts.

You can hide individual annotation by selecting one or more, Right Click > Hide in View > Elements.

This will hide just those selected in this view only. If you have many and many views to do this in it can get a bit tedious. To restore these Hidden Elements you need to use the Reveal Hidden Elements feature found on the View Control Shortcuts Bar.

This mode will display those things that have been hidden and allow you to UnHide them.

Two other methods are possible, one easy and one a bit more involved but also "easy" depending on your definition of easy.

For "easiest", when you print you can choose the Print Setup Option: Hide unreferenced view tags.

This means that for any views that are not currently on a sheet view Revit will not print their corresponding annotation. They are still visible and yes you have to remember to choose this setting but it is "easy" and more or less automatic.

A more involved approach requires a couple things; a view and the use of the "Hide at Scales Coarser Than" parameter, part of each view's instance parameters and found here.



The first step is to create a view, like a floor plan using a ridiculous scale like full size or maybe 6"=1'-0". This view will never fit on paper. Now you can name this view something like: "Ridiculous Scale View to Hide Annotation" (RSVTHA) or maybe something more discreet?


Now you add all your working sections or elevations that you don't want to clutter your document set. When you place these views on your "RSVTHA" view you need to make sure they are using the same value for the "Hide as Scales Coarser Than" parameter. This will prevent the annotation from showing up in any view that uses a coarser scale than 6"=1'-0". If you have some views using this scale then pick the next scale "up" or coarser.

When you are navigating your sections or manipulating where they cut the model you just use the "RSVTHA" and you never have to worry about them showing up where they aren't wanted.

Workplane Visibility Tips

Two subtle tips for those who like work with the workplane grid visible. If you do use it often you probably already know them?

First when you rotate the grid you'll find that the rectangle sketching option will be constrained to align with the grid. Also it will be easier to sketch and align to the angle of the grid.

Second if you are zoomed in on the grid, how do you select it? Zoom out so you can select the edge? Well you don't have to. Two ways:

One: click Tools menu > Select Work Plane Grid



Two: Click Workplane button > Click OK (selects the grid as a result)