Type Catalog - Family Type Parameter and Missing Spaces

This is for the Department of I could kick myself or Dept. of why can't I remember this.

These are two images of the same Type Catalog, one works and the other doesn't. The key location of the issue/difference is marked in yellow. This first one won't work.

Two little spaces on either side of the colon, like this: Family Name : Family Type.

Note to self, remember this next time around knucklehead!

Schedule Text and Width Factor Fidelity

Schedules in Revit 2015 are able to use any of the text styles defined for a project. Text styles have supported the use of a Width Factor for several years. In schedules however this width factor is not observed so there is a loss of fidelity when comparing text elements and text that appears in schedules. The text above and below the schedule lines are using a width factor of 0.75 but the schedule rows do not look that same despite using the same text style.

Log this under Fit and Finish?

Text Formatting with Bold and Underline

Text is a common source of frustration in Revit. Replacing, improving the text editor remains a top rated wishlist item. Jean-Marc wrote to me the other day to mention something that I can assign to the Dept. of Subtle. If you use Bold and Underline on a portion of text and then transition to normal but still underlined Revit text doesn't deal with the underline transition well. Here's a comparison between what happens in Revit and Word.

I don't often use text but when I do I'm always wishing for that new text editor.

Conditional Formatting - was unfair!

Too good to wait to till tomorrow to share!

In the past I commented about the fact that Revit MEP has conditional formatting while Revit Architecture and Structure do not. That is still technically true but... fast forward to now...

David Baldacchino and I were exchanging some emails about work arounds and I was lamenting about the conditional formatting again. He remembered that he discovered a real good trick!

When you are creating/editing a schedule and select a value that can be formatted, like Area or a Number value for example, are you listening? Press the ALT & N keys at the same time and this dialog appears. Yes in Revit Architecture and Structure!

Conditional Formatting in schedules regardless of the version of Revit still does not show up when a schedule is added to a sheet however. This means the tool is useful primarily for internal checking or as an analysis tool but fails to deliver for presenting the information to others. Always leave us wanting more do they?

P.S. This works in Revit 2009 and 2010. Keep in mind that undocumented finds like these may mean that the factory didn't know it was possible and therefore it is technically unsupported. Use it at your own peril?

2009 Features - Dept. of Subtle - Currency and Commas

Another, "Finally!!" moment is nearly upon us. We have been VERY patiently waiting to be able to put currency symbols on our schedule values and the 2009 release will provide it! Along with this we will finally get to place commas in our numbers when they get into the thousands. Subtle, little...yes, but it is about time!! Welcome the little stuff!!