Revit Visibility Hierarchy

Revit gives the user a number of ways to override the display of an element.  It may not always be clear which method “wins” over another method, but there is a visibility hierarchy.  This list may not cover every possible scenario but does include common overrides.  

10 being the lowest and 1 being the highest using walls as an example:

1. Line Work Tool
2. Override Graphics in View > By Element > Halftone
3. Graphic Display Options – Silhouette Edges
4. Override Graphics in View > By Element
5. View Filters
6. View Depth – “Beyond” Line Style
7. Phasing Graphic Overrides
8. Visibility / Graphic Overrides > Override Host Layers > Cut Line Styles
9. Visibility / Graphic Overrides > Projection \ Cut Lines
10. Project Object Styles

Here is a graphical example using walls:

Another example to this:

• There is a Visibility/Graphic Override for the wall category in the view
• The wall has an override by element
• The view uses a phase graphic override
• There is a view filter applied overriding the graphics of walls over a specific thickness

When all 4 of these overrides are in place, by default the Override Graphics in View > By Element is visible since it is highest up the chain at #4:

Remove that override and I now see my view filter:

Remove the view filter and I see the phasing graphic override:

And lastly, change the phase filter of the view and I will see my Visibility/Graphic Override:

Comments

[D]

Its interesting, a few years back the order was a tiny bit different.
The silhouette tool was not so high up.

Elevations could be customised quicker if "by element" and "view filters" were before silhouette. Having to use the line work tool to undo some specific silhouette elements (railings/balconies, sun shades/generic models) is a lot of work.

[Laura Coomber]

Revit MEP also has Graphic overrides in Duct systems and Piping Systems. Where do those fall in the list?