Tag Archives: Random Clicks

What Did I Dimension Part 2

Back in 2013 I did a post about understanding what a dimension was tied to, shortly after I learned another way to accomplish this task for an entire string not just a single segment.  I was going to follow up whit another post and got busy or spaced it out, last week I used this tip in a training session and the long time Revit users were all astonished this was possible.  This is when I realized I never did the follow up post, sorry for the 4 year delay but here is another way to accomplish this task.

Similar to the previous post after a dimension string is placed, select the string, Right Click on the “EQ” grip of the string.  This will bring up the Contextual dialog, there select “Show Related”

Once the Show related dialog box opens up it will allow the user to cycle through (using the << or >> icons) the different elements that pertain to that dimension string.

 

What did I dimension

What Did I Tag

For those of you who follow this blog know I often mention simple Right Click commands that I find beneficial to an everyday user.  For instance most users have loved the “What Did I Dimension” post a few years back.  This tip is along the same line except it works with Tags.  If a tag is selected, then Right Click one of the options will be “Select Host”.

RightClickTag SelectHost

I find this extremely helpful when detailing or reviewing floor plans.  For example if there is a series of wall tags and one of them appears to be incorrect, does that mean the wrong wall modeled, or did the wrong wall get tagged?  How about a detail (assuming it is utilizing tagging and not text), all of the notes are detail item tags and with a “Free End” leader who knows if it is pointing to the correct element. By Right Clicking on the tag and choosing the “Select Host” option it will change your selection from the tag to the element being tagged.  With it selected a user can change or verify any property of that object.

Hopefully this simple Right Click feature will help in your daily process.

 

Windows Explorer/My Computer Columns

I previously posted about how to use the windows column filter to display what is needed.  I thought there should be a follow up post on how to change the display of the columns as well.  If you right click on a column header there will be a context menu that comes up allowing for a few options.  One I use often is Size All Columns to Fit, depending on what I am looking for sometimes I will select the More… option and add additional columns to see properties that are otherwise not visible.  Plus I have been in the habit of adding tags, titles etc when in Word or Excel, this way I can sort by these values in Windows Explorer.

Windows_Explorer_Columns

Random Clicks Windows Explorer / My Computer Sorting Tip

Every once in a while I accidentally click on the screen randomly and get a nice surprise.  This is how I found out about dragging grips in Revit as well as windows scroll bars.  This tip is about Windows Explorer and how to filter what is being displayed.

When you look at the headers in the windows screen there can be two arrows associated to them.  If the column is being used for sorting then it will have an Up arrow allowing for it to be sorted ascending or descending, this one I have known for years.  The other one is used for filtering, even if it isn’t used for grouping.  Depending on what column is selected and what file or folders are in the window different options will come up.  This is huge for me, in the past I would group by file type and then scroll down to the appropriate types, now I just Filter by the file types needed.  Try clicking on other columns and see what options are available.

 

Windows_Explorer_Filtering

Random Click Revit Drag End

I have a term that I have coined the “Claw” while in Revit.  It relates to when a user is trying to move the end of a line based object (i.e. Grid, Wall, Beam) and they zoom in to find the grip and then while holding the mouse button, try to pan or zoom while using the middle mouse.  My tip is to drag that grip outside of the view window, for instance to the ribbon or properties pallet etc., and then release the mouse button.  The objects grip can now be moved without having to hold the mouse button down, hence allowing the user use their index finger to zoom or pan.  Once the objects grip is in the correct location click the mouse button to place it’s location.

 

 

This saves users from having to “Claw” their way through the file.