The Revit Clinic

Decals and Multiple Faces

Let’s look at this scenario below:

You add a decal to an object where the geometry stops at a certain point.  Think of a split face on a wall, or a double door where there are 2 panel extrusions.

When you render the scene, a portion of the decal does not render.  For example, if the decal is placed like this over a door it will render as follows:

 

The face the decal was applied to will render to the edge of the geometry.  So in this example the decal renders to the edge of the first door panel extrusion.

For a situation like this with a component family, you could edit the family and use the Modify > Join Geometry between the 2 panel extrusions.

The decal will render as expected afterward as the face will be treated as 1 extrusion.

For another more complicated situation, if you apply a decal to a wall with split regions, you will notice the decal will not render.

Instead you can host the decal on another thin extrusion directly in front of the split face wall.  Here’s a quick video below [no sound] on a similar situation:

Video Example

If needed a transparent material can be applied to the thin extrusion if there is some overlap around the decal.  Hope this helps!

Wall-Based families and the Elevation Instance Property

By default when you load a wall-based family into a project, an Elevation instance property is created.  This controls the elevation of the component family from the associated level.

 

Say you’re creating some casework wall-based families and you want to control what this elevation dimension is based on.  For example the top of the cabinets versus the bottom on the cabinets.

If you want the elevation set to the top of the cabinets, open the family and go to one of the elevation views.  Locate the Top reference plane > Instance Properties.

 

Check the box for Defines Origin.

 

This will set the Elevation parameter to be based off the Top reference plane when loaded into the project versus the default reference level of the family.  You could then model your geometry based off this reference plane.

After Revit crash when opening local file an unrecoverable error occurs

I've included a scenario and workaround below for this issue:

1.  You are working in your local file and experience a Revit crash.

2.  When opening the local file back up, you receive an unrecoverable error has occurred message.

3.  The central file still opens normally, but the local fie will not.

This is typically caused by the workset assignments not being properly saved in the local file.  Since the project crashed, they were not closed out properly.  If you try to open the local file with the Open > Workset > Specify option, Revit will crash again.

To open the local file without the crash, specify Workset > All instead during the project open.

This should open the local file normally, and it can be properly saved once open.  After the file is re-saved and closed the Specify option should work as expected.

Hidden Linework Disappears When You Change Disciplines

Because disciplines aren't heavily documented, I've seen some users get thrown off when they change their view discipline from Structural to Coordination - suddenly their hidden linework disappears.

The reason for this behavior is due to the difference in hidden line display between Structural and the other disciplines. The Structural discipline is the only one that will automatically display invisible lines of concrete walls, floors, framing, and foundation elements as hidden. When you change to Coordination, that automatic display turns off.

To get the hidden foundations to display in the Coordination discipline, you can do the following:

1. Set the view to Wireframe.
2. Go to the Modify tab > Edit Linework panel, and choose Show Hidden Lines.
   
    
   
   
3. First select the element that's blocking the display.
4. Then select the element that hidden below.
5. Switch the view back to Hidden Line.

Linked File Line Weights

In Revit, line weights are pulled from the project settings > line weights.  This holds true for linked files, which will also utilize their specific line weight settings.

Let’s look at the following common scenario and example line weight:

You have a host architectural file, where walls object style cut weight is set to 5.

You have a linked structural file, where walls object style cut weight is set to 7.

You want the weights to appear the same thickness in a section view, so in the host project you set the Visibility/Graphic Overrides > Revit Links > link Display Setting to By Host View.

This replaces the object style cut weight for walls in the linked file to the host file setting. So in this example, instead of using 7 for the linked walls they will now utilize the host project cut weight of 5.

If you get to this point and the lines are appearing at different thicknesses look for the following:

Open the linked file in another instance of Revit.  Open Manage > Settings > Line Weights.

Since we’re looking at walls, open the Model Line Weights tab.  Locate the line weight number, and then the scale of the particular view.  Note the line width.

Now compare this to the host project setting.

Since objects pull the line weight settings from their project, this is the most common cause for varying line weight appearances when set to the same cut value.

If you need the weights to match, you can adjust the line weight of the linked file to match the host file.  You can also automatically pull the values from the host to the link using Manage > Transfer Project Standards > Line Weights.

If you do not wish to modify the line weight values of the link, you can also create a new line style under Manage > Settings > Line Styles.  Then apply this line override to the linked lines in the host project using the Modify > Linework tool.

Creating new detail components from existing detail lines & components

By default you can copy detail lines from a project drafting view into a detail component family.  You cannot however copy a detail component from a project drafting view into a detail component family.

There may be a scenario where you have a number of detail lines, and components organized in a drafting view.  What if you want to move this content all into a new detail component family for standard details?

I’ve included 3 options below depending on the complexity of the drafting view or desired detail component:

1.  Edit the detail component family from the project drafting view, and then copy & paste the detail lines [in the family] from the detail component family into the project drafting view.  When complete you could then copy all of the detail items from the project drafting view into a new detail component family.

 
2.  If you are on Subscription, and have access to the Revit Extensions Manager > Freeze Drawings tool, you can create a new drafting view containing a number of detail components.  The resulting "frozen" drafting view will contain an import instance [of the detail component families & lines] which can be partially exploded to detail content or simply copied into a new detail component family.

 
3.  You can copy & paste the detail lines from the project drafting view into a new detail component family.  Then you can load the detail component families into the new detail component family to easily nest and arrange them as needed.

Common Confusion with the Spot Slope Tool

I have had a couple of Support Requests on this topic: You add a Spot Slope in an Elevation view and it displays an incorrect slope.

When you are placing the Spot Slope in Elevation, make sure you are selecting the appropriate linework - if you cycle through the selection options using the TAB key, you'll see that it measures both the Edge and Face, which may be different values.

Free Webinar: Using Green Building XML (gbXML) for Sustainable Building Design - Part II

Autodesk and the Green Building XML (gbXML) Advisory Board invites you to attend a free webcast titled "Using Green Building XML (gbXML) for Sustainable Building Design - Part II" on January 21, 2010 at 10:00 to 11:00 am PST.

Presented by gbXML stakeholders, this webcast will demonstrate how tools for Building Information Modeling (BIM) can integrate with various analyses software, using the interoperability of gbXML to help create more sustainable building designs. Presentations and product demos will include the following:

• Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Ecotect Analysis with Autodesk Green Building Studio
  
• Graphisoft with Encina plug-in for gbXML
  
• IES VE (Integrated Environmental Solutions Virtual Environment)
  
• Trane Trace
  

Stephen Roth, Administrator of the gbXML Advisory Board and President of Carmelsoft will also discuss the current status of the gbXML and related activities.

Please Attend - Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 10:00 am PST

Teleconference info and webcast links are provided below (Registration is not required).

Attendee URL:https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join/

Conference number: PG1216303

 

Audio Conference:

1-210-795-1099      866-803-2145

Audience passcode: 8302437

 

Participants can join the event directly at:

https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PG1216303&p=8302437&t=c

Sounds like it will be interesting.