Category Archives: Revit

Revit Posts

Show Hidden Lines

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This is a tool that seems to be underutilized when I visits firms, yet a tool that is very useful when it comes time to setting up construction documentation.  If there has ever come a need to show one objected hidden behind another, there is a tool for that.  On the View tab in the Graphics panel there is a command called Show Hidden Lines, this tool allows for an element to be picked an that needs to see the dashed line through, then the element to be hidden.

As usually the status bar will always display the steps needed to accomplish a command.

One tip I usually talk about when using this command is to go into Wireframe, other wise it is really hard to get the element that is being hidden. Once the command is done the view can be put back into Hidden Line mode to see the effects.  In the example below I did this with a partial height wall that was being covered with a counter top to display the wall below.

Another little tip about this tool is that is also works with detail components and modeled elements.  A modeled element can be displayed hidden through a detail component that has a masking region built into it.  The example below shows this for a plate detail component over a modeled structural beam.

 

 

Vasari Sliders part 2

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I briefly posted about the Vasari Sliders earlier this month letting everyone know they were available for download again.  Well they have updated them and fixed some minor bugs, and added some nice features.

Recent Updates 
January 2012:
1.Whole number increment snaps while sliding
2.Tooltip displays current slider value during drag
3.Angle parameters display as degrees
4.Bug fixes for family editing

 

Known Issues
•Reporting Parameters and formula-driven parameters will appear as sliders, even though they are not editable.
 

I was really happy to see the whole number increment snaps.  This is one thing that I was complaining about and when I was doing a demo for a client they seemed to have the same issue as I did.  I really like the sliders and I am waiting for someone to post a hack so I can add them inside Revit as well.

Section or Details in Legends

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I run into this question usually on a weekly basis so I thought it would be a good post.

When creating a legend, say a door frame legend, and there needs to be a reference a detail in that legend Revit wont allow it.  The section and callout commands are greyed out.  Don’t use a dummy bubble (never ever use a dummy bubble) instead go to another live view of the model (i.e. section, plan, elevation), choose the correct command section or callout, and do a reference view.

Copy that view reference to the clipboard, switch to the legend view and paste from the clipboard.

Bold Text

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This question came up in my office yesterday so I thought I would share the answer.  If you want bold text, there are two ways to get it.  Of course you can always choose a bold font, such as Arial Bold, but here are the other two options:  The first option is to make a text type that has “bold” checked in the type properties.

 

Alternately, once a particular portion of (or all) text within a text box is highlighted, the bold button appears on the Contextual Tab.

One should note, however, that the bold button will remain grayed out until text is highlighted.  So simply selecting a text box will not make this option available.

The first method should be utilized if all text in a particular text box is to be bold, and the second method should be used for large note blocks where only a portion of the text needs to be bolded.