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Xstructures-Revit-Architecture-Manual

The document is an introductory guide to Autodesk Revit Architecture aimed at beginners, covering various aspects of the software including user interface, project creation, and preliminary design. It includes detailed sections on site design, conceptual design environment, and building model components such as walls, doors, and roofs. The document serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding and utilizing Revit for architectural projects.

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Hayley Garcia

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

126 views

Xstructures-Revit-Architecture-Manual

Uploaded by

Hayley Garcia

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

You are on page 1/ 265

XSTRUCTURES ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS

UNIT 503 Fedman Suites, 199 Salcedo Street Legaspi Village

Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati City 1229 Philippines
Tel: +63 2 8716 8988
Cel: 0921 653 2042 / 0966 802 4425 Fax: +63 2 893-8909 ext 802
Email: [email protected]

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Autodesk Revit
Architecture
An introduction to Revit
Architecture for Beginners

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XSTRUCTURES ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS
UNIT 503 Fedman Suites, 199 Salcedo Street Legaspi Village
Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati City 1229 Philippines
Tel: +63 2 8716 8988
Cel: 0921 653 2042 / 0966 802 4425 Fax: +63 2 893-8909 ext 802
Email: [email protected]

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Contents
Introduction to Revit 16

User Interface 16
Ribbon 17
Expanded panels 18
Dialog launcher 18
Contextual ribbon tabs 19
Customizing the Ribbon 19
Application Menu 21
Recent Documents 22
Open Documents 22
Quick Access Toolbar 22
To move the Quick Access toolbar 23
To add tools to the Quick Access toolbar 23
To customize the Quick Access toolbar 24
Tooltips 24
Ribbon tooltips 25
In-canvas tooltips 25
Keytips 26
Project Browser 26
To change the size and location of the Project Browser 27
Using the Project Browser 28
Drawing Area 33
To manage views in the drawing area 34
To invert the background color of the drawing area 34
To refresh the screen 34

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Status Bar 35
To hide the status bar 35
Options Bar 35
Properties Palette 36
Opening the Properties Palette 36
Type Selector 38
Filtering the Display of Instance Properties 39
Modifying Instance Properties 40
Modifying Type Properties 41
Creating a New Family Type in a Project 42
To create a new family type in a project 42
Previewing Family Types 42
View Control Bar 43
Recent Files 44
InfoCenter 44
Overview of InfoCenter 44
Search For Information 45
Overview of Communication Center 46
Search Topics in Help 47

Start a Project: Creating, Opening, and Saving a Project 47

Creating a Project Using Default Settings 47
Creating a Project Using a Template 48
Saving Revit Files 49
Saving a File with a Different Name or Location 49
Before You Begin a Project 49
Project Templates 50
Creating a Template 50
Project Units 51

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Setting Project Units 51

Preliminary Design 53
Levels and Grids 53
Levels 54
Adding Levels 55
Grids 56
Adding Grids 56
Project Location and Orientation 57
Specifying the Project Location 57
Internet Mapping Service 58
Default City List 59
Rotating a View to True North 60
Rotating Project North 62

Site Design 62
Site Settings 63
Defining Site Settings 63
Adding Custom Contour Lines to a Site Plan 64
Setting Section Graphics 64
Setting Property Data 64
Site Setting Properties 65
Toposurfaces 66
Creating a Toposurface by Picking Points 66
Create from Import: Creating a Toposurface from Imported 3D Data 66
Toposurface Subregions 67
Adding a Toposurface Subregion 67
Changing a Toposurface Subregion 67
Toposurface and Subregion Properties 69
Property Lines 69

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Create by Sketching 69
Create by Entering Distances and Bearings 70
Building Pads 70
Adding a Building Pad 71
Modifying Building Pads 73
Modifying the Structure of a Building Pad 73
Building Pad Type Properties 74
Building Pad Instance Properties 75
Parking Components 75
Site Components 76
Contour Line Labels 77
Labeling Contour Lines 78

Conceptual Design Environment 80

Conceptual Design Environment Overview 80
Conceptual Design Environment Interface 82
Conceptual Massing Family Creation 82
Drawing in the Conceptual Design Environment 83
Drawing Overview 83
To draw in the conceptual design environment 83
3D Snapping 84
3D Aligning 85
3D Work Planes 87
Setting and Showing Work Planes 88
3D Reference Planes 88
Reference Points 89
Revit Families 89
Families Overview 90
Different Kinds of Families 90

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System Families 90
Loadable Families 93
Revit Architecture Standard Loadable Families 93
In-Place Families 94
In-Place Elements 94
Creating an In-Place Element 95

Building the Model 95

Walls 96
Walls Overview 96
Location Line 96
Placing Walls 97
Attaching Walls to Other Elements 98
Effect of attaching walls to a roof 99
To attach walls to other elements 99
To detach walls from other elements 99
Doors 100
Placing Doors 101
Changing the Door Type 102
Adding Doors to Curtain Walls 102
Changing the Door Orientation 104
Moving a Door to a Different Wall 104
Door Instance Properties 104
Door Type Properties 106
Curtain Elements 107
Curtain Wall Workflow 107
Curtain Elements Overview 108
Curtain Walls 109
Creating Linear Curtain Walls 109

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Windows 110
Placing Windows 111
Changing the Window Type 111
Moving a Window to a Different Wall 111
Floors 111
Adding Floors 112
Changing the Floor Type 112
Editing a Floor Sketch 113
Sloped Floors 113
Floor Slab Edges 114
Architectural Columns 115
Adding a Column 116
Attaching Columns 116
To attach columns 116
Detaching Columns 117
Components 117
Placing Components 118
Ceilings 119
Creating a Ceiling 120
Roofs 121
Roofs Overview 121
Adding a roof by footprint 121
Adding a roof by extrusion 122
Adding sloped glazing 123
Creating a Roof 123
Sketch a roof by footprint 123
Sketch a roof by extrusion 124
Sketch sloped glazing 125

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Add a roof to another roof 126

Create a conical roof 126
Start and End Points for Extruded Roofs 126
Modifying Roofs 127
Edit the roof sketch 127
Change the roof type 127
Resize the roof using shape handles 128
Change the roof overhang 128
Cut openings in an extruded roof 128
Joining and Unjoining Roofs 129
Joining Roofs 130
Unjoining Roofs 130
Roof Slope 131
Creating a Roof Slope Using the Defines Slope Property 131
Creating a Roof Slope Using Slope Arrows 133
Adding Elements to Roofs 136
Eaves 136
Creating a Plumb Cut, Two-Cut Plumb, or Two-Cut Square Eave 138
Aligning Eaves 138
Changing the Eave Height 139
Dormers: Creating a Dormer Using Slope Arrows 139
Creating a Dormer Opening in a Roof 140
Fascia 142
Adding Roof Fascia 143
Roof Soffits 144
Adding Roof Soffits 144
Roof Gutters 146
Adding Roof Gutters 147

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Openings 147
Cutting Rectangular Openings in Walls 148
Cutting Openings in Floors, Roofs, and Ceilings 150
Cutting Shaft Openings 151
Circulation 152
Stairs 152
Creating Stairs by Sketching Runs 153
To sketch a run 153
To create stairs with a landing 154
To modify a run of stairs 156
Creating Stairs by Sketching Boundary and Riser Lines 156
Stairs with Landings 157
Railings 158
Adding a Railing 158
Changing the Railing Type 159
Ramps 159
Adding a Ramp 160
Changing the Ramp Type 160
Editing a Ramp 160
Ramp Properties 160
Modifying Ramp Properties 161
Rooms and Areas 161
Rooms and Areas Overview 161
Rooms 163
Creating a Room 164
Adding Room Separation Lines 165
Showing or Hiding Room Separation Lines 165
Room Tags 165

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Tagging a Room 165

Design Options 166
Design Option Overview 166
Design Option Workflow 167
Creating Design Option Sets 168
To create a design option set 168

Loading Structural Component Families 171

Loading Structural Families 171

Structural Columns 171

Adding columns in 3D View 172
Placing a Vertical Structural Column 173
Placing Slanted Structural Columns 175

Beams 175

Beam Systems 178

Creating a Structural Beam System 179
Defining the Boundary of a Structural Beam System 179
Picking Supports as the Beam System Boundary 181
Sketching a Beam System Boundary 183
Specifying Beam Direction in a Beam System 184

Braces 186
Loading Structural Braces 186
Adding Structural Braces 187

Trusses 189
Creating a Truss Family 189
Truss family editor tools 189
Sketching a Truss Family Layout 190
Adding a Truss 191

Isolated Foundations 191

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Adding Isolated Foundations 193

2D Views 194
Plan Views 195
Creating a Plan View 195
Creating a Reflected Ceiling Plan View 195
Elevation Views 195
Elevation Tags 196
Creating an Elevation View 196
Changing the Elevation Symbol 198
Changing the Clip Plane in an Elevation View 198
Section Views 199
Creating a Section View 199
Callout Views 200
Callout Tag Parts 201
Creating a Callout View 201

3D Views 202
Creating an Orthographic 3D View 202
Creating a Perspective 3D View 203
Adjusting the Camera Position 203
Modifying the Camera Position in a Perspective 3D View 203
Specifying the Background for a 3D View 205
Changing the Extents of a 3D View 206

Legend Views 208

Creating a Legend 209
Dimensioning Legend Components 209
Placing Components from a Legend into a Project View 210

Schedules 210
Schedule Overview 211

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Types of Schedules 210

Formatting Schedules 211
Schedule Tips 211
Creating a Schedule 211
Adding a Schedule to a Sheet 212

Visibility and Graphic Display in Project Views 212

Overview of Visibility and Graphic Display 215
Overriding Visibility and Graphic Display of Individual Elements 213
Overriding Graphic Display of Element Categories 215
Hiding and Unhiding Elements in a View 216
Hiding Elements 216
To unhide hidden elements: 216
Making Use of Filters 217
Creating a Filter 217
Applying a Filter 220

Project Phasing 222

Creating Phases 224
Combining phases 224
To combine phases 223
Phase Filters 224
Default Phase Filters 224
Phase Status 224

Annotating 225
Placing Dimensions 231
Placing Aligned Dimensions 225
Placing Linear Dimensions 226
Placing Angular Dimensions 227
Placing Radial Dimensions 228

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Text Notes 231

Adding Text Notes 229
Tags 231
Applying a Tag By Category 231
Symbols 231
Modifying Symbols 232

Detailing 233
Detail Views 236
Creating a Detail View 233
Drafting Views 236
Creating a Drafting View 236
Detail lines 236

Preparing Construction Documents 237

Construction Documents Overview 243
Sheets 243
Adding a Sheet 238
Title Blocks 243
Creating a Title Block 239
Viewports 243
Creating a Viewport Type 240
Applying a Viewport Type 240
Modifying Viewport Type Properties 241
View Titles on Sheets 243
Modifying a View Title on a Sheet 241
Schedules on Sheets 243
Adding a Schedule to a Sheet 243
Sheet Lists 243
Creating a Sheet List 244

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Renderings Workflow 246

Walkthrough Overview 246

Creating a Walkthrough Path 247
Editing a Walkthrough Path 248
Exporting a Walkthrough 249

Exporting to DWG 254

Exporting a View to an Image File 253

Print 255
Print Setup and Print Preview 255
Selecting Views to Print 256
To select views or sheets 256
To change a saved view/sheet set 256
To revert view/sheet set settings 257
To delete view/sheet sets 257
Printing to PDF 258

Exercises
TWO STOREY RESIDENTIAL PROJECT 260
3-STOREY MIXED-USE BUILDING W/ 264 SQM BLDG FOOTPRINT 264

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Introduction
1
Introduction to Revit
Revit is Building Information Modeling (BIM) software offering a multi-disciplinary and
collaborative approach to design and construction projects. Revit empowers
architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to produce consistent,
coordinated, and complete model-based designs for buildings and infrastructure. By
unifying powerful tools for architecture, MEP, and structural engineering into a single
interface, Revit helps project teams achieve better outcomes together.

User Interface
The Revit interface is designed to simplify your workflow. With a few clicks, you can
change the interface to better support the way that you work. For example, you can
set the ribbon to one of 4 display settings. You can also display several project views at
one time, or layer the views to see only the one on top.

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Ribbon
The ribbon displays when you create or open a file. It provides all the tools necessary to
create a project or family.

As you resize the Revit window, you may notice that tools in the ribbon automatically
adjust their size to fit the available space. This feature allows all buttons to be visible for
most screen sizes.

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Expanded panels
An arrow next to a panel title indicates that you can expand the panel to
display related tools and controls.

By default, an expanded panel closes automatically when you click outside the
panel. To keep a panel expanded while its ribbon tab is displayed, click the push
pin icon in the bottom-left corner of the expanded panel.

Dialog launcher
Some panels allow you to open a dialog to define related settings. A dialog-
launcher arrow on the bottom of a panel opens a dialog.

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Contextual ribbon tabs

When you use certain tools or select elements, a contextual ribbon tab displays
tools that relate to the context of that tool or element. In many cases, the
contextual tab merges with the Modify tab. A contextual ribbon tab closes
when you exit the tool or clear the selection.

You can specify whether a contextual tab automatically comes into focus or the
current tab stays in focus. You can also specify which ribbon tab displays when
you exit a tool or clear a selection.

Customizing the Ribbon

You can customize the ribbon by changing its display and rearranging its tabs
and panels.

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Application Menu
The application menu provides access to common file actions, such as New, Open,
and Save. It also allows you to manage files using more advanced tools, such as Export
and Publish.

Click the Revit icon at the top left of the application to open the application menu.

To see choices for each menu item, click the arrow to its right. Then click the desired
item in the list.

As a shortcut, you can click the main buttons in the application menu (on the left) to
perform the default
operation.

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Recent Documents
On the application menu, click the Recent Documents button to see a list of
recently opened files. Use the drop-down list to change the sort order of recent
documents. Use the push pins to keep documents on the list, regardless of how
recently you opened them.

Open Documents
On the application menu, click the Open Documents button to see a list of all
open views in open files. Select a view from the list to display it in the drawing
area.

Quick Access Toolbar

The Quick Access toolbar contains a set of default tools. You can customize this
toolbar to display the tools that you use most often.

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To move the Quick Access toolbar

The Quick Access toolbar can display above or below the ribbon. To change
the setting, on the Quick Access toolbar, click Customize Quick Access Toolbar
drop-down ➤Show Below the Ribbon.

To add tools to the Quick Access toolbar

Navigate the ribbon to display the tool that you want to add. Right-click the
tool, and click Add to Quick Access Toolbar.

NOTE Some tools on contextual tabs cannot be added to the Quick Access
toolbar.

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If you removed default tools from the Quick Access toolbar, you can add them
again by clicking the Customize Quick Access Toolbar drop-down, and selecting
the tool to add.

To customize the Quick Access toolbar

To make a quick change to the Quick Access toolbar, right-click a tool on the
Quick Access toolbar and select one of the following options:

■ Remove from Quick Access Toolbar removes the tool.

■ Add Separator adds a separator line to the right of the tool.

To make more extensive changes, on the Quick Access toolbar drop-down, click
Customize Quick Access Toolbar. In the dialog, do the following:

Tooltips
Tooltips provide information about a tool in the user interface or an item in the drawing
area, or instructions on what to do next when using a tool.

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Ribbon tooltips
When you hold the cursor over a tool on the ribbon, by default Revit
Architecture displays a tooltip. The tooltip provides a brief description of the tool.
If you leave the cursor over the ribbon tool for another moment, additional
information displays, if available. While the tooltip is visible, you can press F1 for
context-sensitive help that provides more information about that tool.

NOTE If you press F1 before the tooltip displays, the default help topic opens
instead of the appropriate context-sensitive help topic. Wait for the tooltip to
display before pressing F1.

These tooltips are useful when you are first learning how to use the software. You
can adjust the amount of information displayed in tooltips or how quickly the
information displays. You can also turn off the tooltips when you no longer need
them.

Some tooltips include embedded videos, called ToolClips™. These videos use
motion to show how to use the tool. They play automatically when you display
the tooltip. To see an example, display the tooltip for

Modify tab ➤Modify panel ➤ (Trim/Extend to Corner).

In-canvas tooltips
When you are working in the drawing area, Revit Architecture displays a tooltip
near the cursor. This same information is repeated in the status bar.

● When you move the cursor over an element, the tooltip identifies the
element, showing its category, family, and type.
● When you are using a tool, the tooltip provides hints on what to do next.

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To turn off these tooltips, define the Tooltip assistance option as None, as
described below.

To adjust or turn off tooltips

1 Click ➤Options.
2 On the User Interface tab, for Tooltip assistance, select one of the following
values:
● Minimal: For ribbon tooltips, displays only the brief descriptions, suppressing
the display of additional information. In-canvas tooltips display as usual.
● Normal: (Default) For ribbon tooltips, displays a brief description when you
move the cursor over a tool, followed by more information if you leave the
cursor in place for another moment. In-canvas tooltips display as usual.
● High: For ribbon tooltips, displays the brief description and more
information about the tool (if available) at the same time, without a delay.
In-canvas tooltips display as usual.
● None: Turns off ribbon tooltips and in-canvas tooltips so they no longer
display.

NOTE When you turn off tooltips, context-sensitive help (F1) is also turned off. If
you want context-sensitive help to be available, set Tooltip assistance to
Minimal.

Keytips
Keytips provide a way to access the application menu, the Quick Access toolbar, and
the ribbon using the keyboard. To display keytips, press Alt.

You can use keytips to navigate through the ribbon. Type the keytip for a ribbon tab to
bring that tab into focus and to display the keytips for its buttons and controls. If a
ribbon tab has an expanded panel containing additional tools, type its keytip to
display the panel and see keytips for those tools.

Project Browser
The Project Browser shows a logical hierarchy for all views, schedules, sheets, families,
groups, linked Revit models, and other parts of the current project. As you expand and
collapse each branch, lower-level items display.

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To change the size and location of the Project Browser

● To show the Project Browser, click View tab ➤User Interface panel, and
select the Project Browser check box.
● To hide the Project Browser, click View tab ➤User Interface panel, and
clear Project Browser, or click the Close button (the red X) at the top of
the browser.
● To resize the Project Browser, drag one of its borders.
● To move the Project Browser, drag the browser’s title bar within the Revit
window. As you move the cursor, an outline indicates where the browser
will move to, and what its shape will be. Release the mouse button to
place the browser in the desired location. You can also drag the Project
Browser outside the Revit window to the desktop.
● To float the Project Browser in the drawing area, double-click its title bar.
You can then move the browser to the desired location, and drag its
borders to resize it.

Changes to the size and location of the Project Browser are saved and restored
when the application is restarted.

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Using the Project Browser

The Project Browser is a powerful way to navigate and manage complex projects.

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Drawing Area
The drawing area of the Revit window displays views (and sheets and schedules) of the
current project. Each time you open a view in a project, by default the view displays in
the drawing area on top of other open views. The other views are still open, but they
are underneath the current view. Use tools of the View tab ➤ Windows panel to
arrange project views to suit your work style.

The default color of the drawing area background is white; you can invert the color to
black. (See instructions below.)

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To manage views in the drawing area

● To display a project view that has not yet been opened, navigate to the
view in the Project Browser, and double-click the view name.
● To see a list of open views, click View tab ➤Windows panel ➤Switch
Windows drop-down. The bottom of the menu lists the open views. A
check mark indicates the view that currently has focus in the drawing
area.
● To display another open (but hidden) view in the drawing area, click View
tab ➤ Windows panel ➤Switch Windows drop-down, and click the view to
display.
● To open a second window for the current view, click View tab ➤ Windows
panel ➤ (Replicate). This tool is useful if you want to pan and zoom on
certain areas of the design, while also viewing the entire design in another
window. (Use the Tile tool to see both views at the same time.) Any
changes that you make to the project in the new window also display in
other windows of the project.
● To arrange all open windows in a series in the drawing area, click View tab
➤ Windows panel ➤ (Cascade).
● To see all open views at the same time, click View tab ➤ Windows panel ➤
(Tile).
● To close all hidden views, click View tab ➤ Windows panel ➤ (Close
Hidden Windows). If more than one project is open, one window per
project remains open.
● To increase the size of the drawing area, click View tab ➤ Windows panel
➤ User Interface drop-down, and clear check boxes to hide interface
components, such as the Project Browser and the status bar.

To invert the background color of the drawing area

1. Click ➤Options.
2. In the Options dialog, click the Graphics tab.
3. Select or clear the Invert background color option.

To refresh the screen

■ Press F5.

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Status Bar
The status bar is located along the bottom of the Revit window. When you are using a
tool, the left side of the status bar provides tips or hints on what to do. When you are
highlighting an element or component, the status bar displays the name of the family
and type.

To hide the status bar

Click View tab ➤ Windows panel ➤User Interface drop-down, and clear the
Status Bar check box.

To hide only the Worksets or Design Options controls on the status bar, clear their
corresponding check boxes.

The progress bar appears on the left side of the status bar when a large file is
opening and indicates how much of the file has downloaded.

Several other controls appear on the right side of the status bar:
● Worksets: Provides quick access to the Worksets dialog for a workshared
project. The display field shows the active workset. Use the drop-down list
to display another open workset.
● Design Options: Provides quick access to the Design Options dialog. The
display field shows the active design option. Use the drop-down list to
display another design option. Use the Add to Set tool to add selected
elements to the active design option.
● Active Only: Filters selections to select only active design option
components.
● Exclude Options: Filters selections to exclude components that are part of
a design option.
● Press & Drag: Allows you to drag an element without selecting it first.
● Editable Only: Filters selections to select only editable, workshared
components.
● Filter: Refines the element categories selected in a view.

Options Bar
The Options Bar is located below the ribbon. Its contents change depending on the
current tool or selected element.

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To move the Options Bar to the bottom of the Revit window (above the status bar),
right-click the Options Bar, and click Dock at bottom.

Properties Palette
The Properties palette is a modeless dialog where you can view and modify the
parameters that define the properties of elements in Revit.

Opening the Properties Palette

When you start Revit for the first time, the Properties palette is open and docked
above the Project Browser on the left side of the drawing area. If you
subsequently close the Properties palette, you can reopen it using any of the
following methods:

● Click Modify tab ➤Properties panel ➤ (Properties).

● Click View tab ➤ Windows panel ➤User Interface drop-down ➤Properties.
● Right-click in the drawing area, and click Properties.

You can dock the palette to either side of the Revit window and resize it
horizontally. You can resize it both horizontally and vertically when it is undocked.
The display and location of the palette will persist from one Revit session to the
next for the same user.

Typically you keep the Properties palette open during a Revit session so that you
can

● Select the type of element you will place in the drawing area, or change
the type of elements already placed.)
● View and modify the properties of the element you are placing or of
elements selected in the drawing area.
● View and modify the properties of the active view.
● Access the type properties that apply to all instances of an element type.

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If no tool for placing elements is active, and no elements are selected, the
palette displays the instance properties for the active view.

Unless elements of different types are selected, the Edit Type button accesses a
dialog where you can view and modify the type properties of the selected
element (or those of the view, depending on how the properties
filter is set).

NOTE You can also access the type properties for the active tool or currently
selected elements by clicking Modify|<Element> tab ➤Properties panel ➤(Type
Properties). When available, this button always accesses type properties for the
selected element(s), or for a family type selected in the Project Browser. The Edit
Type button on the palette, however, accesses type properties for the entity

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whose instance properties are currently displayed, which could be either the
active view, the active tool, or a currently selected element type.

In most cases (see exceptions in note below), the Properties palette displays
both user-editable and read-only (shaded) instance properties. A property may
be read-only because its value is calculated or assigned automatically by the
software, or because it depends on the setting of another property. For
example, a wall’s Unconnected Height property is only editable if the value of its
Top Constraint property is Unconnected. For specific dependencies, see the
instance property descriptions for individual element types, such as Wall
Instance Properties.

NOTE When you select the top node in the Project Browser (Views), or an
individual family type, the Properties palette displays the associated read-only
type properties. To modify the type properties, click Modify tab ➤Properties
panel ➤(Type Properties). When you open the Family Editor, the palette displays
family parameters by default.

Type Selector
When a tool for placing elements is active, or elements of the same type are
selected in the drawing area, the Type Selector displays at the top of the
Properties palette. It identifies the currently selected family type and provides a
drop-down from which you can select a different type.

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To make the Type Selector available when the Properties palette is closed, right-
click within the Type Selector, and click Add to Quick Access Toolbar.

Filtering the Display of Instance Properties

Immediately below the Type Selector is a filter that identifies the category of the
elements a tool will place, or the category and number of elements selected in
the drawing area. If multiple categories or types are selected, only the instance
properties are common to all display on the palette. When multiple categories
are selected, use the filter’s drop-down to view only the properties for a specific
category or for the view itself. Selecting a specific category does not affect the
overall selection set.

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Modifying Instance Properties

Use the Properties palette to modify the instance properties of
● the element you are about to place using a tool
● elements selected in the drawing area
● the active view

The content of the Properties palette varies according to the situation. If a tool is
active, or one or more elements of the same type are selected, the Type
Selector at the top of the palette identifies the currently selected family type. In
the following example, a single wall is selected.

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If no tool for placing elements is active, and no elements are selected in the
drawing area, the palette displays the instance properties of the active view.
The Properties palette displays both user-editable and read-only properties. To
modify a user-editable property value, click it and either enter a new value,
select one from a drop-down list, or select/clear a check box. For some
properties, the value box contains a button that opens a dialog or browser
window in which you define the desired value.

To commit a change you make to a property value, do any of the following:

● Move the cursor off the palette.
● Press Enter (twice if a new value is selected from a drop-down).
● Click Apply.

If making multiple changes, you can press Tab to move from one property to the
next, or just click the next one you want to change. You can then use any of the
methods listed above to commit all your changes at once.

To cancel changes before committing them, press Esc twice. Closing the palette
also cancels your changes.

Modifying Type Properties

Use the Type Properties dialog to modify the type properties of

● the element you are about to place using a tool

● one or more elements of the same type selected in the drawing area
● the active view (when no tool is active and no elements are selected)

Note that any changes you make to type properties will apply to all instances of
that type within the project.

To open the Type Properties dialog, do either of the following:

● Click Modify tab ➤Properties panel ➤ (Type Properties).

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● On the Properties palette, click (Edit Type).

Creating a New Family Type in a Project

You can add a new type to the family and change the parameters for that
type. This feature allows you to define an entire family of different-sized
components within the project.

NOTE A new family type created in the project exists only in that project.

To create a new family type in a project

1. In the drawing area, select an element belonging to the desired type.
2. On the Properties palette, click (Edit Type).
3. In the Type Properties dialog, click Duplicate.
4. In the Name dialog, enter a name for the new type and click OK.
5. Specify properties for the type, as desired.
6. To preview the new element type, click Preview.
7. In the Type Properties dialog, click OK.

Previewing Family Types

The Type Properties dialog features a preview window that shows an image of
the family type. As you set parameters and change values for the type, the
image in the window updates accordingly.

To preview a family type

1. In the drawing area, select an element belonging to the desired type.
2. On the Properties palette, click (Edit Type). The Type Properties dialog
displays.
3. To see (or hide) a preview of the family type, click the Preview button at
the bottom of the dialog.
As you change type parameters, the preview image updates to reflect
the changes.

Manipulating the preview image of a family type

4. To control the appearance of the preview image, do any of the following:

● For View, select a view name to see how this type of element will
appear in a different view.

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● Use the scroll bars to move the image up, down, left, or right in the
preview window.
● Use the SteeringWheels navigation tool. If you are previewing a 3D
view of the element, you can also use the ViewCube.

The following is an example of a Type Properties dialog for a wall type, with the
Preview pane displayed.

View Control Bar

The View Control Bar is located at the bottom of the view window above the status
bar.

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It provides quick access to functions that affect the current view, including the
following:
● Scale
● Detail Level
● Visual Style
● Sun Path On/Off
● Shadows On/Off
● Show/Hide Rendering Dialog (Available only when the drawing area displays a
3D view)
● Render Settings
● Crop View
● Show/Hide Crop Region
● Temporary Hide/Isolate
● Reveal Hidden Elements

Recent Files
When you start Revit Architecture, by default the Recent Files window displays, listing
the projects and families that you opened most recently. Click a recent project or
family to open it, or use one of the buttons to perform another action.

If you are already working in a Revit session, return to the Recent Files window by
clicking View tab ➤Windows panel ➤User Interface drop-down ➤Recent Files.

InfoCenter
You can use InfoCenter to search a variety of information sources with one query. You
can also easily access product updates and announcements.

Overview of InfoCenter
You can use InfoCenter to search for information, display the Subscription
Center panel for subscription services, display the Communication Center panel
for product updates, and display favorites panel to access saved topics.

You can use InfoCenter to:

● Search for information through keywords (or by entering a phrase)

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● Access subscription services through Subscription Center panel

● Access to product-related updates and announcements through
Communication Center panel
● Access saved topics through Favorites panel
● Access topics in Help

To display the InfoCenter box in a collapsed state, click the arrow to its left.

To browse search results

➤On the panel for Search Results, Subscription Center, Communication Center,
or Favorites, on the right side of the category header, do one of the following:
● Click the Next button.
● Click the Previous button.

To rearrange the topics displayed on a panel

1. Display a panel by doing one of the following:
● In the InfoCenter box, enter a keyword or phrase. Then press ENTER or click
the Search button.
● In the InfoCenter box, click the Communication Center button.
● In the InfoCenter box, click the Favorites button.
2. Click and drag a category or group header to the desired position.

NOTE You can rearrange categories within a group, but you cannot move them
into other groups.

Search For Information

You can enter keywords or a phrase in the InfoCenter box to search for
information.

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When you enter keywords or a phrase in the InfoCenter box, you search the
contents of multiple Help resources as well as any additional documents that
have been specified in the InfoCenter Settings dialog box or through the CAD
Manager Control Utility.

NOTE You must have Internet access to display search results from the Autodesk
Online category.

Keyword searches produce better results. In case of a misspelled word, spelling

suggestions are displayed on the panel.

The results are displayed as links on the InfoCenter Search Results panel. Click a
link to display the topic, article, or document.

Overview of Communication Center

To open Communication Center, click the Communication Center button in the
InfoCenter box.

Communication Center provides the following types of announcements:

● Autodesk Channels: Receive support information, product updates, and
other announcements (including articles and tips).
● CAD Manager Channel. Receive information (RSS feeds) published by your
CAD manager.
● RSS Feeds. Receive information from RSS feeds to which you subscribe. RSS
feeds generally notify you when new content is posted. You are
automatically subscribed to several default RSS feeds when you install the
program.

You can customize the items that display in the Communication Center panel.

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Search Topics in Help

You can click the Help button to display topics in Help.

You can get much more benefit from the Help system when you learn how to
use it efficiently. You can quickly find general descriptions, procedures, details
about dialog boxes and palettes, or definitions of terms.

To display topics in Help

● In the InfoCenter box, click the Help button.

Start a Project: Creating, Opening, and

Saving a Project
When creating a project in Revit Architecture, you can

● Use default settings, which are defined in a project template. Revit Architecture
includes a default template called default.rte, which contains several settings to
help you begin the design process immediately.
● Use a custom template.

Creating a Project Using Default Settings

Use this procedure when you want to use the default template. It skips the step
of specifying the template to use when creating the project.

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Do one of the following:

● Press Ctrl+N.
● On the Recent Files on page 38 window, under Projects, click New.

Revit Architecture creates a project file, using settings in the default template.
The default project name displays in the title bar of the Revit window. To assign a
different file name, click ➤(Save As).

Creating a Project Using a Template

Use this procedure when you want to be able to specify the template to use
when creating the project.

1. Click ➤New ➤ (Project).

2. In the New Project dialog, for Template file, click Browse.
3. Navigate to the location of the desired project template, select the
template file (with the file type RTE), and click Open.

Revit Architecture provides several project templates, which reside in the Metric
Templates or Imperial Templates folder in the following location:

● Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application

Data\Autodesk\<productname and release>\
● Windows Vista or Windows 7: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\<product name
and release>\

You can use one of these templates or create your own templates as needed to
maintain corporate standards or to simplify the setup process for different types
of projects.

4. For Create new, click Project.

5. Click OK.

Revit Architecture creates a project file using the settings defined by the
specified template. The default project name appears in the title bar of the Revit
window. To assign a different file name, click ➤(Save As).

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Saving Revit Files

The Save tool saves the active file to its current name and folder.

● To save a file, do any of the following:

● Click ➤ (Save).
● Press Ctrl+S.
● On the Quick Access toolbar, click (Save).

If you want to save the current file to a different file name or location, click
➤ (Save As).

If you are working in a project that has worksharing enabled and you want to
save your changes to the central model, click Collaborate tab ➤Synchronize
panel ➤Synchronize with Central drop-down ➤ (Synchronize Now).

Saving a File with a Different Name or Location

● Click ➤ (Save As).
● Select a Project, Family, Template, or Library file type to save.
● In the Save As dialog, navigate to the desired folder.
● If desired, change the file name.
● To specify save options, click Options, set the options as desired, and click
OK.
● Click Save.

Before You Begin a Project

Before you start adding content to a Revit project, consider the following
approaches to the design process:

● Set Project Units. Specify the display format of various quantities in a

project.
● Using levels and grids. Begin the design process by defining levels and
grids for the model.
● Importing data. If you started the design process using another CAD
program (such as AutoCAD), you can import existing data. Revit

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Architecture imports various CAD formats, including DWG, DXF, DGN, and
ACIS SAT files, as well as SketchUp (SKP) files and Industry Foundation
Classes (IFC).
● Massing. You can start a project by designing a conceptual model. After
you create basic shapes with the massing tools, you can convert mass
faces to building elements.

Project Templates
Project templates provide initial conditions for a project. Several templates are
provided with Revit Architecture, or you can create your own. Any new project
based on the template inherits all families, settings (such as units, fill patterns, line
styles, line weights, and view scales), and geometry from the template.
There are various methods you can use to create a custom project template:
● Open an existing template file, modify the settings as necessary, and save
it as a new template (RTE) file.
● Start with a blank project file, define all settings for it, and then save it as a
template (RTE) file.
● Start with a blank project file and specify all names for views, levels, and
viewports. You can create a set of drawings by creating sheets and
adding views to the sheets. As you start to draw the geometry in those
views, the views on the sheets update.
● Start with a project that includes geometry that can be used as a base for
new projects. For example, if you have defined geometry for a college
campus and want to include that geometry in multiple new projects for
the college, save the project with the geometry as a template. Each time
you open a project with this template, the geometry is included.
Templates use the file extension RTE.

Creating a Template

1. Click ➤New ➤Project.

2. In the New Project dialog, under Template file, select:
○ None to create your template from a blank project file.
○ Browse to base your template on an existing project template.
Navigate to the template location.

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3. Under Create new, select Project template.

4. Click OK.
5. Define settings.
6. Create any geometry that will be used as a base in future projects.

7. Click ➤Save As ➤Template.

8. Enter a name and select a directory for the template.
9. Click Save.

NOTE If you do not base the template on an existing template, the Select Initial
Units dialog displays. Specify either Imperial or metric units.

Project Units
You can specify the display format of various quantities in a project. What you
specify affects the look of quantities on the screen and in a printout. You can
format data for informational or presentation purposes.

Project units are grouped by discipline, such as common, structural, or electrical.

When you change the discipline, different unit types are available. In the Project
Units dialog, each unit type has a preview of the display format. For example,
length might have a display format of 1' 5 1/2".

NOTE The actual display of editable values that affect the size of the model may
be different. For example, you might specify the display of dimensions to round
to the nearest 1 inch; however, if you edit a dimension value in the drawing
area, it may show a value that has fractional inches.

Setting Project Units

1. Click Manage tab ➤Settings panel ➤ Project Units.
2. In the Project Units dialog, select the discipline.
3. Click the value in the Format column to change the display value for that
unit type. The Format dialog displays.
4. Specify Units, if necessary.

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5. For Rounding, select an appropriate value. If you select Custom, enter a

value in the Rounding increment text box.
6. For Unit symbol, select an appropriate option from the list.
7. Optionally select:

● Suppress trailing 0’s.

When selected, trailing zeros do not display (for example, 123.400
displays as 123.4).
● Suppress 0 feet.
When selected, does not display the 0 foot value (for example, 0’ -
4” displays as 4”). This option is available for Length and Slope units.
● Show + for positive values
● Use digit grouping.
When selected, the Decimal symbol/digit grouping option specified
in the Project Units dialog is applied to the unit value.
● Suppress spaces.
When selected, suppresses spaces around feet and fractional
inches (for example, 1’ - 2” displays as 1’-2”). This option is available
for Length and Slope units.

8. Click OK.

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Architectural
Modeling
Revit Architecture provides various familiar components for building design. No
2
programming language or coding is required to create these components.

Preliminary Design

Levels and Grids

To establish context and guidelines for the project, create levels and grids.

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Levels
Use the Level tool to define a vertical height or story within a building. You
create a level for each known story or other needed reference of the building
(for example, first floor, top of wall, or bottom of foundation).
To add levels, you must be in a section or elevation view. When you add levels,
you can create an associated plan view.
Levels are finite horizontal planes that act as a reference for level-hosted
elements, such as roofs, floors, and ceilings. You can resize their extents so that
they do not display in certain views.
When you start a new project using the default template in Revit Architecture, 2
levels display: level 1 and level 2.
You can hide level annotations after you add them.

Levels are finite horizontal planes that act as a reference for level-hosted
elements, such as roofs, floors, and ceilings. You can resize their extents so that
they do not display in certain views.
When you start a new project using the default template in Revit Architecture, 2
levels display: level 1 and level 2.
You can hide level annotations after you add them.

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Adding Levels
1. Open the section or elevation view to add levels to.

2. Click Home tab ➤Datum panel ➤ (Level).

3. Place the cursor in the drawing area and click.
NOTE As you place the cursor to create a level, if the cursor aligns to
an existing level line, a temporary vertical dimension displays
between the cursor and that level line.
4. Draw level lines by moving the cursor horizontally.
On the Options Bar, Make Plan View is selected by default. As a
result, each level you create is a story level and has an associated
floor plan view and a reflected ceiling plan view. If you click Plan
View Types on the Options Bar, you can choose to create only the
view types that you specify in the Plan View Types dialog. If you
clear Make Plan View, the level is considered to be a non-story level
or a reference level; no associated plan view is created. Walls and
other level-based elements can use reference levels as their top or
base constraint.
As you draw level lines, the heads and tails of the lines can align to
one another. When you select a level line that is aligned with others,
a lock appears to show the alignment. If you move the level line
horizontally, all aligned level lines move with it.
5. Click when the level line is the correct length.
You can change the name of the level by clicking the number to
select it. You can also change the height of the level by clicking the
dimension.
Revit Architecture assigns the label (for example, Level 1) and the

level symbol to the new level. Use the Project Browser to

rename the level, if desired.

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Grids
Use the Grid tool to place column grid lines in the building design. You can then
add columns along the column grid lines. Grid lines are finite planes. You can
drag their extents in elevation views so that they do not intersect level lines. This
allows you to determine whether grid lines appear in each new plan view that
you create for a project.
Grids can be straight lines or arcs.

Adding Grids
1. Click Home tab ➤Datum panel ➤(Grid).
2. Click Modify | Place Grid tab ➤Draw panel, and select a sketch
option. Use (Pick Lines) to snap the grid to an existing line, such as a
wall.
3. Click when the grid is the correct length.
Revit Architecture automatically numbers each grid. To change the
grid number, click the number, enter the new value, and press
ENTER. You can use letters for grid line values. If you change the first

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grid number to a letter, all subsequent grid lines update

appropriately.
As you draw grid lines, the heads and tails of the lines can align to
one another. If grid lines are aligned and you select a line, a lock
appears to indicate the alignment. If you move the grid extents, all
aligned grid lines move with it.

Project Location and Orientation

When you create a project, specify the geographic location using the street address,
nearest major city, or the latitude and longitude. This project-wide setting is useful for
generating location-specific shadows for views that use them, such as solar studies,
walkthroughs, and rendered images. You can also rotate a view to reflect True North
(instead of Project North, which is the top of the view). Rotating a view to True North
ensures that natural light falls on the correct sides of the building model and that the
sun’s path through the sky is accurately simulated.

Specifying the Project Location

1. Click Manage tab ➤Project Location panel ➤ Location. The Location
Weather and Site dialog opens. You can also access this dialog from the
Sun Settings dialog.
2. Click the Location tab.
3. For Define Location by, select one of the following:
● Internet Mapping Service. When your computer is connected to the
Internet, this option displays an interactive map through the Google
Maps™ mapping service. Until you specify a different project
location, the location is defined as <Default> and is set to the
longitude and latitude of the major city specified by Revit
Architecture for your locale.
NOTE As its name implies, the Internet Mapping Service requires a working
Internet connection in order to be fully functional. If Internet service is
unavailable, you can still use this method to specify a project location;
however, the corresponding longitude and latitude for the location

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cannot be set until your Internet connection is restored, as described in

this topic.
● Default City List. Displays a list of major cities from which to select a
location. Until you specify a different project location, the location is
defined as <Default> and is set to the longitude and latitude of the
major city specified by Revit Architecture for your locale. The
Default City List option is recommended for HVAC sizing. No Internet
connection is required.
4. Specify the project location using one of these methods:

Internet Mapping Service

A. For Project Address, enter the street address, city and state, or latitude
and longitude of the project, and click Search. Enter latitude and
longitude coordinates as <latitude>,<longitude>. The value you enter for
Project Address in this dialog does not affect the project address that
displays in the title blocks of sheets for the project. Your search results
display.
B. If necessary, respond to any of the following alerts as described.
● Address not found. Either refine the project address and click Search or,
for a newly established address, enter a nearby address, click Search, and

then drag the project location map pin to the appropriate location.
● Multiple results found. Click one of the hyperlinked locations displayed in
the project location tooltip, and click Search.
● No Internet connection. Check your Internet connection. If no connection
is available, click OK to close the Location dialog and save your project
address. When a dialog notifies you of a mismatch between the project
address you entered and the selected map location, click Continue. If
you do not have access to the Internet at all, no further steps are needed;
the project address is stored as text. If the Internet is only temporarily
unavailable, when Internet service is restored, re-open the Location
dialog, click Search, and continue with the steps in this procedure.
C. Use the following tools to adjust the map as needed:
● Pan. When you place the cursor over the map, the cursor changes
to a hand, and you can drag the map to pan the view. You can
also use these controls: (Pan up), (Pan down), (Pan left),
and (Pan right).

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● Zoom. Click (Zoom in) or (Zoom out), or drag the zoom slider to
adjust the zoom level.
● Return to last result. Click if you have adjusted the map and want
to restore the last search result.
■ Map views. Click a map view to select it:
■ Map. Shows street map.
■ Satellite. Shows satellite imagery.
■ Hybrid. Shows street map superimposed on satellite imagery.
■ Terrain. Default view. Shows street map superimposed on
topographical map.

D. Drag the project location map pin to move the project location as
needed. When you move the project location pin, the Project Address
field displays a searchable latitude/longitude value. Click Search to
resolve the address and display it in the Project Address field. If multiple
results are found, click one of the hyperlinked locations displayed in the
project location tooltip, and then click Search.

NOTE Unlike the Google Maps™ mapping service, the Location dialog does not
support adding placemarks.

E. If the project is located in an area that observes daylight savings time and
you want shadows to be adjusted accordingly, then select Use Daylight
Savings time.

Default City List

A. Specify the project location using one of the following methods:
■ Nearest major city. For City, select a city from the list. The
corresponding Latitude, Longitude, and Time Zone values are
displayed.
■ Exact location. Enter values for Latitude and Longitude.

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B. If the project is located in an area that observes daylight savings time and
you want shadows to be adjusted accordingly, then select Use Daylight
Savings time.

5. Click OK.

Rotating a View to True North

1. Open a plan view.
NOTE If you need to rotate a 3D view to True North, use the ViewCube.
2. Change the view orientation to True North, as follows:
a. Access view properties.
b. On the Properties palette, for Orientation, select True North, and
click Apply.
3. Rotate the project to True North, as follows:
a. Click Manage tab ➤Project Location panel ➤Position drop-down ➤

Rotate True North.

b. Rotate the building model, using one of the following methods:
i. On the Options Bar, for Angle from Project to True North, enter
a value to set the angle of rotation. For example, if the
difference between Project North (the top of the view) and
True North is 45 degrees, enter 45. The model rotates in the
view to the specified angle.
ii. Click in the view to rotate the model to True North graphically
(similar to using the Rotate tool).

Rotating a building model in a plan view that is oriented to True

North

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Plan view with the building model rotated to True North

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Rotating Project North

Drafting conventions dictate that Project North is the top of the view. If you need
to change Project North, use the Rotate Project North tool. This tool changes
Project North for all views in the project.
1. Click Manage tab ➤Project Location panel ➤Position drop-down ➤
Rotate Project North.
2. In the Rotate Project dialog, select the desired option.
3. Click OK.
A message displays to indicate that the project was rotated. It also shows
errors, if any. You can export errors to review and correct them.

Site Design
Revit Architecture features several tools to help you lay out a site plan. You can start
by sketching a toposurface, add property lines, a building pad, and parking and site
components. You can then create a 3D view or render it for a more realistic
presentation.

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Site Settings
You can modify a project's global site settings at any time. You can define contour line
intervals, add user-defined contour lines, and select the section cut material.

Defining Site Settings

Concepts
You can modify a project's global site settings at any time. You can define
contour line intervals, add user-defined contour lines, and select the
section cut material.
To see the results of your changes to the contour line settings, open a site
plan view. To see the results of your changes to the section cut material,
open a section view.

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● Select At Intervals Of, and enter a value for contour line intervals.
This value determines the elevation at which contour lines display.
● For Passing Through Elevation, enter a value to set the starting
elevation for contour lines. By default, Passing Through Elevation is
set to zero. If you set the contour interval to 10, for example, lines
display at -20, -10, 0, 10, 20. If you set the Passing Through Elevation
value to 5, lines display at -25, -15, -5, 5, 15, 25.

Adding Custom Contour Lines to a Site Plan

● Start. Enter the elevation where additional contour lines begin
to display.
● Stop. Enter the elevation at which additional contour lines no
longer display. This value is enabled when you select Multiple
Values for Range Type.
● Increment. Specify the increment for each additional contour
line. This value is enabled when you select Multiple Values for
Range Type.
● Range Type. For one additional contour line, select Single
Value. For multiple contour lines, select Multiple Values.
● Subcategory. Specify the line style for the contour line. The
default styles are Hidden Lines, Primary Contours, Secondary
Contours, and Triangulation Edges.

Setting Section Graphics

● For Section cut material, select a material to use to display the site in
a section view. Appropriate materials include Site-Earth, Site-Grass,
and Site-Sand.
● For Elevation of poche base, enter a value to control the depth of
the cross-section of earth, for example, –30 feet or –25 meters. This
value controls the poche depth for all topography elements in your
project.

Setting Property Data

● Specify an option for Angle Display. If you select Degrees, property
lines display in the Property Lines bearings table using the 360-
degree bearing standard. Property line tags display using the same
notation.
● Specify an option for Units. If you select Decimal degrees, the angles
in the Property Lines bearings table display as decimals rather than

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as degrees, minutes, and seconds.

How do I get here?

Click Massing & Site tab ➤Model Site panel ➤ .

Site Setting Properties

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Toposurfaces
The Toposurface tool defines a topographical surface (a toposurface) using
points. You can create toposurfaces in 3D views or site plans.

Creating a Toposurface by Picking Points

1. Open a 3D or site plan view.
2. On the Options Bar, set a value for Elevation. The points and their
elevations are used to create the surface.
3. Next to the Elevation text box, select one of the following:
● Absolute Elevation. Points display at the specified elevation.
You can place points anywhere in the active drawing area.
● Relative to Surface. Allows you to edit an existing toposurface
by placing points on it at the elevation you specify. To use this
option effectively, you may want to work in a shaded 3D
view.
4. Click in the drawing area to place points. If needed, change the
elevation on the Options Bar as you place additional points.

How do I get here?

Click Massing & Site tab ➤Model Site panel ➤ (Toposurface).

Create from Import: Creating a Toposurface from Imported 3D Data

You can automatically generate a toposurface based on 3D contour
data imported in DWG, DXF, or DGN formats. Revit Architecture analyzes
the 3D contour data and places a series of elevation points along the
contour lines.
1. Open a 3D view of the site plan.
2. Select the imported 3D contour data in the drawing area.
The Add Points from Selected Layers dialog displays.
3. Select the layers to which you want to apply elevation points, and
click OK.
How do I get here?

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Click Massing & Site tab ➤Model Site panel ➤ (Toposurface).

On the Modify | Edit Surface tab, click Tools panel ➤Create From Import
drop-down ➤ (Select Import Instance).

Toposurface Subregions

Adding a Toposurface Subregion

● Click (Pick Lines) or use other sketch tools to create a subregion on
the toposurface.

Changing a Toposurface Subregion

1. Select the subregion.
2. On the Subregion panel, click (Edit Boundary).
3. Click (Pick Lines) or use other sketch tools to modify a subregion
on the toposurface.
Example
Toposurface subregions are areas that you sketch inside existing
toposurfaces. For example, you can use subregions to draw parking lots
on a graded surface, roads, or islands. Creating a subregion does not
result in separate surfaces. It merely defines an area of the surface where
you can apply a different set of properties, such as material.
The following image shows a toposurface that has a toposurface
subregion, shown in gray.

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How do I get here?

● Click Massing & Site tab ➤Modify Site panel ➤ (Subregion).

Revit Architecture enters sketch mode.

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Toposurface and Subregion Properties

Property Lines
To create property lines, you can use the sketching tools in Revit Architecture or enter
survey data directly into the project. Revit Architecture aligns the survey data with True
North.

Create by Sketching
1. Open a site plan view.
2. In the Create Property Line dialog, select Create by sketching.
3. Click (Pick Lines) or other sketch tools to sketch lines.
4. Sketch the property lines.
Lines should form a closed loop. If you sketch an open loop, and click
Finish Property Line, Revit Architecture issues a warning that it will not
calculate the area. You can ignore the warning to continue, or close the
loop.

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Create by Entering Distances and Bearings

1. Open a site plan view.
2. In the Create Property Lines dialog, select Create by entering distances
and bearings.
3. In the Property Lines dialog, click Insert, and add the distances and
bearings from your survey data.
4. (Optional) Describe a property line as an arc.
How to
a. For Distance and Bearing, enter values that describe a line segment
between 2 points on the arc.
b. For Type, select Arc.
c. For Radius, enter a value.
The radius value must be greater than half the length of the line
segment. The larger the radius, the larger the circle becomes,
resulting in a flatter arc.
d. For L/R, select L if the arc appears to the left of the line segment.
Select R if the arc appears to the right of the line segment.
5. Insert additional lines as needed.
6. Click Up and Down to modify the order of the property lines.
7. In the drawing area, move the property lines to their exact placement,
and click to place.

NOTE You can snap the property line to a benchmark using the Move tool.

Building Pads
You can add a building pad to a toposurface and then modify the pad's structure and
depth. You add a building pad by sketching a closed loop on a toposurface. After
sketching the pad, you can specify a value to control the height offset from the level
and other properties. You can define openings in the pad by sketching closed loops
inside the perimeter of the building pad, and you can define a slope for the building
pad.

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You can add a building pad to a toposurface only. It is recommended that you create
the building pad within a site plan. However, you can add a building pad to a
toposurface in a floor plan view. The pad may not be immediately visible in the floor
plan view if the view range or building pad offset are not adjusted appropriately. For
example, suppose that you sketch a toposurface at an elevation of 10 meters in a floor
plan view. You then sketch a pad on the surface at an offset of –20 meters from the
surface. If the view depth of the plan view is not low enough, you will not see the pad.

Adding a Building Pad

1. Open a site plan view.
2. Use the draw tools to sketch the building pad as a closed loop.
3. On the Properties palette, set the Height Offset From Level and other
properties as needed.
TIP To see the building pad in a Floor Plan view, set the building pad offset to a
value higher than Level One, or adjust the view range.

Concepts
You can add a building pad to a toposurface and then modify the pad's
structure and depth. You add a building pad by sketching a closed loop on a
toposurface. After sketching the pad, you can specify a value to control the
height offset from the level and other properties. You can define openings in the
pad by sketching closed loops inside the perimeter of the building pad, and you
can define a slope for the building pad.
You can add a building pad to a toposurface only. It is recommended that you
create the building pad within a site plan. However, you can add a building
pad to a toposurface in a floor plan view. The pad may not be immediately
visible in the floor plan view if the view range or building pad offset are not
adjusted appropriately. For example, suppose that you sketch a toposurface at
an elevation of 10 meters in a floor plan view. You then sketch a pad on the
surface at an offset of –20 meters from the surface. If the view depth of the plan
view is not low enough, you will not see the pad.

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Examples
The following image shows a section view of a building pad offset from the
surface.

The following image shows a 3D view of a building pad on a graded

toposurface.

The following image shows a 3D view of a sloped building pad on a toposurface.

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How do I get here?

Click Massing & Site tab ➤Model Site panel ➤ (Building Pad).
Click the tools on the Modify | Create Pad Boundary tab ➤Draw panel.

Modifying Building Pads

1. Open the site plan that contains the building pad.
2. Select the building pad.
NOTE Use Tab to cycle through the selection options. Selection options are
displayed on the left side of the status bar.
3. Click Modify | Pads tab ➤Mode panel ➤ (Edit Boundary).
4. Click Modify | Pads ➤Edit Boundary tab ➤Draw panel ➤ (Boundary
Line, and use the sketch tools to make the necessary changes.
5. To slope the building pad, use a slope arrow.
6. Click (Finish Edit Mode).

Modifying the Structure of a Building Pad

1. Open the site plan that contains the building pad.
2. Select the building pad.

NOTE Use Tab to cycle through the selection options. Selection options are
displayed on the left side of the status bar.

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3. Click Modify | Pads tab ➤Properties panel ➤ (Type Properties).

4. In the Type Properties dialog, for Structure, click Edit.
5. In the Edit Assembly dialog, set the function for each layer.
Each layer must have a function assigned to it, so Revit Architecture can
match layers accurately.
Layers can be assigned for the following functions:
● Structure. A layer that supports the remainder of the building pad.
● Substrate. A material that acts as a foundation for another material.
● Thermal/Air Layer. A layer that provides insulation and prevents air
penetration
● Finish 1. A finish layer, for example, the top surface of the building
pad.
● Finish 2. A finish layer, for example, the bottom surface of the
building pad.
● Membrane Layer. A membrane of zero thickness that prevents
water vapor penetration.
6. Set the Material and Thickness for each layer.
7. Click Insert to add a new layer. Click Up or Down to change the layer
order.
8. Click OK twice.

Building Pad Type Properties

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Building Pad Instance Properties

Parking Components
You can add parking spaces to a toposurface and define the toposurface as the parking
component’s host.

To add parking components

1. Open a view that displays the toposurface to modify.

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2. Place the cursor on the toposurface and click to place the component. Place as many
components as desired.

You can create an array of parking components.

How do I get here?

Click Massing & Site tab ➤Model Site panel ➤ (Parking Component).

To rehost parking components

1. Select the parking components.

2. Click Modify | Parking tab ➤Host panel ➤ (Pick New Host).
3. Select the toposurface.

When you use the Pick Host tool, you are deliberately setting the parking component on
top of the toposurface. If you move the parking component around on the
toposurface, it remains attached to the toposurface.

Example

Site Components
You can place site-specific components, such as trees, utility poles, and fire hydrants, in a site
plan. If no site components are loaded into your project, a message indicates that no
appropriate families are loaded.

To add site components

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1. Open a view that displays the toposurface to modify.

2. Click the Site Component tool and select the desired component from the Type
Selector.
3. Click in the drawing area to add one or more components.

Example

How do I get here?

Click Massing & Site tab ➤Model Site panel ➤ (Site Component).

Contour Line Labels

You can label contour lines to indicate their elevation. Contour labels display in site plan views.

Example of labeled contour lines:

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Labeling Contour Lines

You can label contour lines to indicate their elevation. Contour labels display in site plan
views.

1. Create a topographic surface with different elevations.

2. Open a site plan view.
3. Sketch a line that intersects one or more contour lines.

If the line does not intersect a contour line, Revit Architecture issues an error.

Labels display on the contour lines. (You may need to zoom in to see the labels.) The
label line itself is not visible, unless you select a label.

Example

Labeled contour lines

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How do I get here?

Click Massing & Site tab ➤Modify Site panel ➤ (Label Contours).

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Conceptual Design Environment

The Revit conceptual design environment provides flexibility early in the design process for
architects, structural engineers, and interior designers to express ideas and create parametric
massing families that can be integrated into building information modeling (BIM). Use this
environment to directly manipulate a design’s points, edges, and surfaces into buildable forms.

The designs created in the conceptual design environment are massing families that can be
used in the Revit project environment as the basis from which you create more detailed
architecture by applying walls, roofs, floors, and curtain systems. You can also use the project
environment to schedule floor areas, and to conduct preliminary spatial analysis.

Conceptual Design Environment Overview

The conceptual design environment is a type of family editor in which you create conceptual
designs using in-place and loadable mass family elements. When a conceptual design is
ready, it can be loaded into the Revit project environment (RVT file). Creating designs in this
environment can accelerate the design process.

NOTE The standard Family Editor is used when working with families outside the conceptual
design environment. When a family is loaded from the conceptual design environment into a
project, the standard massing tools are available.

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To enter the conceptual design environment, use one of the following methods:

● Conceptual Design Environment

Use the Revit user interface and create new massing families that reside outside the
project environment. If desired, you can load these massing families into a project.

● Revit Project Environment

Use the In-Place Mass tool in a Revit project to create or manipulate massing families.
When accessed through the In-Place Mass tool, the conceptual design environment
does not have 3D reference planes and 3D levels.

NOTE The Revit conceptual design environment creates new masses. Masses created using a
previous release of Revit Architecture use the same massing tools originally used to create
them, and remain dedicated to these tools throughout the duration of the project.

Early Conceptual Study Models

Create and explore models before committing to a particular design. If a decision is made to
use one, integrate it into the main Revit project.

As conceptual designs are developed, they may go through several possible formations
before meeting the desired project requirements. The conceptual design environment
provides direct form creation and manipulation, making it easy to rapidly create different
design possibilities.

Integrated Study Models

You can reference the conceptual design into a Revit project file, and continue to modify it.
For example, a design can be used to provide important reference information for the building
model. Conceptual designs that have been saved as Revit project files can continue to be
developed in the conceptual design environment.

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Conceptual Design Environment Interface

The tools for developing conceptual designs are all accessed from the ribbon, which changes
depending on what is required to accomplish an action. For example, if you draw a rectangle
and select it, Create Form becomes available. The Create Form tool allows you to
instantly extrude the drawing and make it a solid or void form.

If you then select a surface on the form, Divide Surface becomes available. This tool allows you
to divide surface areas into buildable components.

As you work on a conceptual design, you manipulate it directly in the drawing area, using
several available controls.

Conceptual Massing Family Creation

As you create massing families in the conceptual design environment, many of the important
tools are accessed from the Home tab and the Options Bar.

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In the conceptual design environment, when forms or lines are selected, the Options Bar
displays useful options. The Options Bar displays options for:

■ Selecting the work plane.

■ Making a surface from the lines.

■ Enabling 3D snapping.

■ creating a chain of lines

■ setting the offset value

■ setting the radius

Drawing in the Conceptual Design Environment

When you access the conceptual design environment, you can immediately start to draw a
concept in 3D. Select a drawing tool, such as a line, and click anywhere in the drawing area
to start creating a form.

NOTE To draw in a 2D view, open it from the Project Browser.

Drawing Overview
You draw when you are placing lines and points to create a form. You can draw on the
following elements:

■ 3D levels

■ 3D reference planes

■ reference points

3D levels and 3D reference planes are automatically detected. They highlight in the
drawing area as the cursor moves over them. Click to select one of these to set it as the
active work plane.

To draw in the conceptual design environment

1. Click Home tab ➤Draw panel ➤ Line.

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NOTE If you want to draw a reference-based form, click Home tab ➤Draw panel ➤
Referencebefore selecting a drawing tool.

Several options become available on the Options Bar. You can set the placement
plane, create a surface by drawing closed profiles, draw a chain of lines, and set an
offset or radius value.

2. Click Modify | Lines ➤Draw panel ➤ Draw on Face to draw on a surface, or

click Modify | Lines ➤Draw panel ➤ Draw on Work Plane to draw on a work
plane.
3. Click in the drawing area, and draw a line.
4. Click Home tab ➤Select panel ➤ Modify.

3D Snapping
Use 3D snapping to ensure an exact location for placing points on a model vertex. For
example, you can use 3D snapping to help place a surface on a mass that you can
later use in the project as a floor or a roof. To enable 3D snapping, select 3D Snapping
on the Options Bar.

To create a surface using 3D snapping

1. Create 2 forms.

2. Click Home tab ➤Draw panel ➤Line.

3. On the Options Bar, select 3D snapping.
4. (Optional) On the Options Bar, select Chain and a named reference from the
Placement Plane list.
5. Draw a line from one vertex to the other vertex.

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NOTE The lines snap to the vertex.

6. Select the line and click Modify | Lines tab ➤Home tab ➤ Create Form.

3D Aligning
Use the align tool in 3D view to align one or more elements with a selected element.

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Select the align tool, click on the element to use as a target (vertex, edge, face,
surface, point, line, arc, reference plane, or level) and click again to pick the element
to align with the target.

Side view of unaligned elements

Aerial view of unaligned elements

Click to select element face to align

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Click to select element face to align to

Elements are aligned

3D Work Planes
When you select a drawing tool in the conceptual design environment, the available
3D work planes are automatically detected as the cursor passes over them in the
drawing area. You can click to select one of these work planes, or explicitly set one
from the named references listed in the Placement Plane list on the Options Bar. If you
have several tiled 3D views, and you change the active work plane in one of the views,
it changes for every 3D view.

NOTE You can directly align elements in 3D views without selecting the work plane.

When a drawing tool is selected, 2 tools become available:

■ Draw on Face: allows a planar surface to be the work plane.

■ Draw on Work Plane: allows a level or reference plane to be explicitly set as

the work plane.

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■ Workplane Viewer: allows editing a temporary 2D view of the current active

workplane.

Setting and Showing Work Planes

To set and show a work plane

1. Click Home tab ➤Work Plane panel ➤ Set.

2. Move the cursor over the drawing area to highlight available work planes.
3. Click to select the work plane when it highlights.
4. Click Home tab ➤Work Plane panel ➤ Show. The active work plane becomes
visible.

To explicitly set a work plane

1. Click Home tab ➤Work Plane panel ➤ Set.

2. On the Options Bar, select the work plane from the Placement Plane drop-down
list. Alternatively, you can click a work plane in the drawing area.

TIP The Placement Plane list is also available when you select a new tool from the Draw
panel.

3D Reference Planes
Reference planes are displayed in the conceptual design environment in the 3D view.
These reference planes can be edited as 3D elements. For example, you can pin the 3D
reference plane so that it cannot be moved, and you can unpin it and drag it to
change its size. When selected, the name of the reference plane displays in the 3D
view.

3D reference plane, pinned, and showing circular drag handles

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Reference Points
A reference point is an element that specifies a location in the XYZ work space of the
conceptual design environment. You place reference points to design and plot lines,
splines, and forms. In the following example, 5 reference points have been placed to
define the path of a spline.

There are 3 types of reference points:

■ Free

■ Hosted on lines and surfaces

■ Geometry-driving

Revit Families
All of the elements that you add to your Revit projects – from the structural members, walls,
roofs, windows, and doors that you use to assemble a building model to the callouts, fixtures,
tags, and detail components that you use to document it – are created with families.

By using predefined families and creating new ones in Revit Architecture, you can add both
standard and custom elements to your building models. Families also provide a level of control
over elements that are similar in use and behavior, allowing you to easily make design
changes and manage your projects more efficiently.

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Families Overview
A family is a group of elements with a common set of properties, called parameters,
and a related graphical representation. Different elements belonging to a family may
have different values for some or all of their parameters, but the set of parameters (their
names and meanings) is the same. These variations within the family are called family
types or types.

For example, the Furniture category includes families and family types that you can use
to create different pieces of furniture, like desks, chairs, and cabinets. Although these
families serve different purposes and are composed of different materials, they have a
related use. Each type in the family has a related graphical representation and an
identical set of parameters, called the family type parameters.

When you create an element in a project with a specific family and family type, you
create an instance of the element. Each element instance has a set of properties, in
which you can change some element parameters independent of the family type
parameters. These changes apply only to the instance of the element, the single
element in the project. If you make any changes to the family type parameters, the
changes apply to all element instances that you created with that type.

Different Kinds of Families

There are 3 kinds of families in Revit Architecture:

■ system families

■ loadable families

■ in-place families

Most elements that you create in your projects are system families or loadable families.
Loadable families can be combined to create nested and shared families. Non-
standard or custom elements are created using in-place families.

System Families
System families create basic building elements such as walls, roofs, ceilings, floors, and
other elements that you would assemble on a construction site. System settings, which

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affect the project environment and include types for levels, grids, drawing sheets, and
viewports, are also system families.

System families are predefined in Revit Architecture. You do not load them into your
projects from external files, nor do you save them in locations external to the project.

Revit System Families and Settings

Revit Architecture includes the following system families and project and system
settings.

System Families:

■ Ceilings

■ Curtain Systems

■ Curtain Wall Mullions

■ Detail Items

■ Floors

■ Fluids (a Revit MEP-specific family)

■ Model Text

■ Railings

■ Ramps

■ Roofs

■ Site (Pad)

■ Stairs

■ Structural Columns

■ Structural Foundations

■ Structural Framing

■ Walls

Project/System Settings:

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■ Area and Volume Calculations

■ Arrowheads

■ Color Fill Schemes

■ Detail Level

■ Dimensions

■ Drawing Sheets

■ Elevations

■ Filled Regions/Fill Patterns

■ Filters

■ Grids

■ Keynoting

■ Levels

■ Lines

■ Load Types

■ Match Lines

■ Materials

■ Model Text

■ Object Styles

■ Phases

■ Project Browser Organization

■ Project Units

■ Sections

■ Site Settings

■ Spot Dimensions

■ Snaps

■ Structural Settings

■ Sun and Shadow

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■ Temporary Dimensions

■ Text

■ Viewports

■ View Tags (Callout, Elevation, and Section Tags)

■ View Templates

Loadable Families
Loadable families are families used to create both building components and some
annotation elements. Loadable families create the building components that would
usually be purchased, delivered, and installed in and around a building, such as
windows, doors, casework, fixtures, furniture, and planting. They also include some
annotation elements that are routinely customized, such as symbols and title blocks.

Because of their highly customizable nature, loadable families are the families that you
most commonly create and modify in Revit Architecture. Unlike system families,
loadable families are created in external RFA files and imported, or loaded, in your
projects. For loadable families that contain many types, you can create and use type
catalogs, which allow you load only the types that you need for a project.

Revit Architecture Standard Loadable Families

Revit Architecture includes the following standard loadable families:

■ Annotations

■ Balusters

■ Casework

■ Columns

■ Curtain Panel by Pattern

■ Curtain Wall Panels

■ Detail Components

■ Doors

■ Electrical Components

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■ Entourage

■ Furniture

■ Furniture System

■ Lighting Fixtures

■ Mass

■ Mechanical Components

■ Planting

■ Plumbing Components

■ Profiles

■ Site

■ Specialty Equipment

■ Structural

■ Sustainable Design

■ Titleblocks

■ Windows

In-Place Families
In-place elements are unique elements that you create when you need to create a
unique component that is specific to the current project. You can create in-place
geometry so that it references other project geometry, resizing or adjusting accordingly
if the referenced geometry changes. When you create an in-place element, Revit
Architecture creates a family for the in-place element, which contains a single family
type.

Creating an in-place element involves many of the same Family Editor tools as creating
a loadable family.

In-Place Elements

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In-place elements are custom elements that you create in the context of a project.
Create an in-place element when your project needs unique geometry that you do not
expect to reuse or geometry that must maintain one or more relationships to other
project geometry.

You can create multiple in-place elements in your projects, and you can place copies
of the same in-place element in your projects. Unlike system families and loadable
families, however, you cannot duplicate in-place family types to create multiple types.

Although you can transfer or copy in-place elements between projects, you should do
so only when necessary, because in-place elements can increase file size and degrade
software performance.

Creating an in-place element involves many of the same Family Editor tools as creating
a loadable family.

Creating an In-Place Element

1. In a project, click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Component drop-down ➤ (Model
In-Place).
2. In the Family Category and Parameters dialog, select a category for the
element, and click OK.

The category that you choose will be the category under which the family for the
in-place element will display in the Project Browser, in which it will schedule, and
in which you can control its visibility.

3. In the Name dialog, type a name, and click OK.

The Family Editor opens.

4. Use the Family Editor tools to create the in-place element.

5. When you finish creating the in-place element, click Finish Model.

Building the Model

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Walls
Like other basic elements in a Revit Architecture building model, walls are instances of
predefined system family types, which represent standard varieties of wall function,
composition, and thickness. You can customize these characteristics by modifying a wall’s
type properties to add or remove layers, divide them into regions, and change their thickness
or assigned material.

After you place a wall in a drawing, you can add sweeps or reveals, edit the wall’s profile, and
insert hosted components such as doors and windows.

Walls Overview
You add walls to a Revit Architecture
building model by clicking the Wall tool,
selecting the desired wall type, and
placing instances of that type in a plan
view or 3D view.

To place an instance, you select one of

the draw tools on the ribbon, and either
sketch the linear extents of the wall in
the drawing area, or define them by
picking an existing line, edge, or face.
The position of the wall relative to the
path you sketch or the existing element
you select is determined by the value of
one of the wall’s instance properties:
Location Line.

Location Line
A wall’s Location Line property specifies which of its vertical planes is used to position the wall
in relation to the path you sketch or otherwise specify in the drawing area. When laying out
compound walls that join, you can place them precisely with respect to a particular material
layer of interest, such as the concrete masonry units.

Regardless of the wall type, you can select any of the following planes, either on the Options
Bar (before placing the wall) or on the Properties palette (before or after):

■ Wall Centerline (default)

■ Core Centerline

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■ Finish Face: Exterior

■ Finish Face: Interior

■ Core Face: Exterior

■ Core Face: Interior

Placing Walls
Use this procedure to place one or more instances of a specific type of partition wall in your
building model.

1. In a floor plan view or 3D view, click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Wall drop-down ➤
Wall.
2. If you want to place a wall type other than the one displayed in the Type Selector at
the top of the Properties palette, select a different type from the drop-down.

You can use the bottom part of the Properties palette to modify some of the instance
properties for the selected wall type before you start placing instances. To open a
dialog where you can edit the type properties, click Edit Type. Any changes you
make in the Type Properties dialog will apply to all existing instances of the current wall
type as well as the ones you are about to place.

3. On the Options Bar, specify the following:

● Level. (3D views only) Select a level for the wall’s base constraint. You can
choose a non-story level.
● Height. Select a level for the wall’s top constraint, or enter a value for the
default setting of Unconnected.
● Location Line. Select which vertical plane of the wall you want to align
with the cursor as you draw, or with the line or face you will select in the
drawing area.
● Chain. Select this option to draw a series of wall segments connected at
endpoints.
● Offset. Optionally enter a distance to specify how far the wall’s location
line will be offset from the cursor position or from a selected line or face (as
described in the next step).
4. On the Draw panel, select a draw tool to place the wall using one of the following
methods:

■ Draw the wall. Use the default Line tool to place a straight wall segment by
specifying both a start point and an endpoint in the drawing. Alternatively, you

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can specify the start point, move the cursor in the desired direction, and then
enter a value for the wall length. Other tools on the Draw panel let you sketch
rectangular, polygonal, circular, or arced layouts.

As you are drawing a wall with any of these tools, you can press the Spacebar to
flip the interior/exterior orientation of the wall in relation to its location line.

■ Place the wall along an existing line. Use the Pick Lines tool to place wall
segments along lines you select in the drawing. The lines can be model lines,
reference planes, or edges of elements, such as roofs, curtain panels, and other
walls.

TIP To place walls simultaneously on an entire chain of lines, move the cursor over
a line segment, press Tab to highlight them all, and then click.

■ Place the wall on an existing face. Use the Pick Faces tool to place a wall on a
massing face or a generic model face that you select in the drawing.

TIP To place walls simultaneously on all vertical faces on the mass or generic
model, move the cursor over one of the faces, press Tab to highlight them all,
and then click.

5. To exit the Wall tool, click Modify.

You can now add dimensions if desired, or adjust the layout and geometry of walls
using the tools described under Editing Elements.

Attaching Walls to Other Elements

After placing a wall, you can override its initial top and base constraints by attaching its top or
base to another element in the same vertical plane. The other element can be a floor, a roof,
a ceiling, a reference plane, or another wall that is directly above or below. The height of the
wall then increases or decreases as necessary to conform to the boundary represented by the
attached element.

By attaching a wall to another element, you can avoid having to manually edit the wall’s
profile when your design changes. In the following example, the image on the left shows a roof
placed on walls that have been drawn with their top constraint specified as Level 2. The
middle image shows the effect of attaching the walls to the roof. The image on the right shows
how the wall profile changes accordingly when the pitch of the attached roof is changed.

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Effect of attaching walls to a roof

The following guidelines apply:

■ You can attach wall tops to non-vertical reference planes.

■ You can attach walls to in-place roofs or floors.

■ If a wall's top is currently attached to a reference plane, attaching the top to a

second reference plane detaches it from the first.

■ You can attach walls that are parallel in the same vertical plane; that is, directly
above or below one another.

To attach walls to other elements

1. In the drawing area, select one or more walls you want to attach to other
elements.
2. Click Modify | Walls tab ➤Modify Wall panel ➤ Attach Top/Base.
3. On the Options Bar, for Attach Wall, select either Top or Base.
4. Select the elements to which the wall will attach.

To detach walls from other elements

1. In the drawing area, select the walls to detach.
2. Click Modify | Walls tab ➤Modify Wall panel ➤ Detach Top/Base.
3. Select the individual elements from which to detach the walls. Alternatively, if
you want to detach the selected walls from all other elements at once (or you
are not sure which elements are attached), click Detach All on the Options Bar.

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NOTE You can also modify and change the type of the Wall along with edit the profile
of a wall to your preference.

Doors
In Revit Architecture, doors are hosted components that you can add to any type of wall.
Doors can be added in plan, section, elevation, or 3D views. You select the type of door to
add, and then specify its location on the wall. Revit Architecture automatically cuts the
opening and places the door.

Door layout in plan view

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Placing Doors
1. Open a plan, section, elevation, or 3D view.
2. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤ Door.
3. If you want to place a door type other than the one displayed in the Type Selector at
the top of the Properties palette, select a different type from the drop-down.

NOTE To load additional door types from the Revit library, click Place Door tab ➤Model
panel ➤Load Family, navigate to the Doors folder, and open the desired family file. You
can also download door families from the Autodesk® Seek website
(http://seek.autodesk.com).

4. If you want to tag doors automatically as you place them, click Modify | Place Door
tab ➤Tag panel ➤ Tag on Placement.
5. Move the cursor over a wall to display a preview image of the door.

When placing the door in plan view, press the Spacebar to flip the door hand from left
to right. To flip the door facing (make it swing in or out), move the cursor closer to the
inner or outer wall edge.

By default, the temporary dimensions indicate the distances from the door centerline to
the centerlines of the nearest perpendicular walls. To change these settings, see
Temporary Dimension.

6. When the preview image is at the desired location on the wall, click to place the door.

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Changing the Door Type

1. In the drawing area, select the door.
2. In the Type Selector at the top of the Properties palette, select a different type from the
drop-down.

Adding Doors to Curtain Walls

In Revit Architecture, you add a door to a curtain wall by customizing a curtain panel so that it
schedules as a door.

1. Open a plan, elevation, or 3D view of the curtain wall.

2. Move the cursor over an edge of the curtain panel to be customized until one of its
mullions or the curtain wall highlights.
3. Press Tab until the panel highlights, and then click to select it and display the pin icon.
4. Click the pin icon to unpin the panel.
5. In the Type Selector on page 33 at the top of the Properties palette, select a curtain
wall door to replace the panel. Only curtain wall doors can replace a curtain wall
panel.

If necessary, you can load a curtain wall door by clicking Insert tab ➤Load from Library
panel ➤ Load Family. In the Load Family dialog, open the Doors folder, select any
door family with curtain wall in its name, and click Open to load the family into the
project.

6. Highlight the mullion under the door, and click to display its pin icon.
7. Click the pin icon to unpin the mullion, and then press Delete.

To delete a curtain wall door, select it and change it back to a curtain wall panel using
the Type Selector.

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Curtain wall door

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Changing the Door Orientation

Moving a Door to a Different Wall

Note that the following procedure does not apply to curtain wall doors, which are created by
customizing curtain wall panels.

1. Select the door.

2. Click Modify | Doors tab ➤Host panel ➤ Pick New Host.
3. Move the cursor over another wall, and when the preview image is in the desired
location, click to place the door.

Door Instance Properties

Common instance properties for doors are described on the next page.

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Door Type Properties

To modify a type property of a door, you change the value of the corresponding parameter
as described under Modifying Type Properties.

NOTE Changing a door type property will affect all doors of that type in the project.
Note also that the type name does not update when you change type parameter
values. For example, you could use the type parameter Structure to change the width
of the Generic - 6” wall type to 6.5”, but the type name will remain Generic - 6”. If you
want to create a new door type, click Duplicate.

Common type properties for doors are described below.

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Curtain Elements
Use Revit Architecture to create building facades. Model these facades using the supplied
curtain wall types, and modify them to suit your needs. Curtain walls and systems can be as
simple or complicated as required.

This section provides information about curtain walls, curtain grids, mullions, curtain systems,
and setting properties to create the desired look.

Curtain Wall Workflow

You can use the default Revit Architecture curtain wall types to set up curtain walls. These wall
types provide 3 levels of complexity, upon which you can simplify or enhance:

● Curtain Wall 1 -- has no grids or mullions. There are no rules associated with this wall type.
This wall type provides the most flexibility.

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● Exterior Glazing -- has preset grids. The grid rules can be changed if the setting is not
suitable.
● Storefront -- has preset grids and mullions. The grid and mullion rules can be changed if
the settings are not suitable.

Curtain Wall 1, Exterior Glazing, Storefront Wall Types

Curtain Elements Overview

When you place a curtain wall, you can draw grid lines on it to define where the mullions are
placed. Mullions are the structural elements that divide adjacent window units. You can
modify a curtain wall by selecting the wall and right-clicking to access a shortcut menu. On
the shortcut menu are several choices for manipulating the curtain wall, such as selecting
panels and mullions.

Curtain wall

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Curtain Grid

Curtain Mullions

Curtain Walls
A curtain wall is any exterior wall that is attached to the building structure and which does not
carry the floor or roof loads of the building. In common usage, curtain walls are often defined
as thin, usually aluminum-framed walls containing in-fills of glass, metal panels, or thin stone.
When you draw the curtain wall, a single panel is extended the length of the wall. If you create
a curtain wall that has automatic curtain grids, the wall is subdivided into several panels.

Creating Linear Curtain Walls

1. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Wall.
2. Select a curtain wall type from the Type Selector drop-down.
3. To create a wall with automatic horizontal and vertical curtain grids, specify the
Vertical and Horizontal Layout properties for the wall type.
4. Create the wall, using one of the following methods:
● Draw the wall: By default, Line is active. (If it is not active, click Modify |
Place Wall tab ➤Draw panel ➤ ( Line), or select another draw tool.)

As you draw a wall, you can quickly set its length by entering a value on
the keyboard, taking advantage of the listening dimension feature.

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If you want to flip the orientation of the wall about its location line, press
the Spacebar as you draw the wall. This works for all wall drawing tools,
such as rectangles, circles, and 3-point arcs.

● Pick Lines ( ): Select existing lines. Lines can be model lines or edges of
elements, such as roofs, curtain panels, and other walls.
● Pick Faces ( ): Select either a massing face or a generic model face. The
generic model could be created as in-place or family file based.

TIP To highlight all vertical faces on the mass or generic model, press Tab.
Click to place walls simultaneously on each highlighted face.

To exit the Wall tool, press Esc twice.

5. To change a panel type, do the following:

a. Open an elevation or a view where you can see the curtain wall panels.
b. Select a panel. Move the cursor over a panel edge, and press Tab until
the panel is selected. Watch the status bar for information, and then click
to select it.
c. Select the appropriate panel type from the Type Selector drop-down.
6. If you sketched a curtain wall without automatic grids, you can add grids
manually.
7. If needed for the design, add mullions to the grids.

Completed curtain wall

Windows
In Revit Architecture, windows are hosted components that you can add to any type of wall
(or to an in-place roof, in the case of a skylight). Windows can be added in plan, section,

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elevation, or 3D views. You select the type of window to add, and then specify its location on
the host element. Revit Architecture automatically cuts the opening and places the window.

Placing Windows
Use this procedure to add a window to any
kind of wall (or to add a skylight to an in-place
roof).

1. Open a plan, elevation, section, or 3D

view.

2. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤

Window.
3. If you want to place a window type
other than the one displayed in the Type
Selector at the top of the Properties palette, select a different type from the drop-down.

Changing the Window Type

1. In the drawing area, select the window.
2. In the Type Selector on page 33 at the top of the Properties palette, select a different
type from the drop-down.

Moving a Window to a Different Wall

1. Select the window.
2. Click Modify | Windows tab ➤Host panel ➤ Pick New Host.
3. Move the cursor over another wall, and when the preview image is in the desired
location, click to place the window.

Floors
You create floors by sketching them, either by picking walls or by using the Line tool. Typically,
you sketch a floor in a plan view, although you can use a 3D view if the work plane of the 3D
view is set to the work plane of a plan view. Floors are offset downward from the level on
which they are sketched.

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In a conceptual design, you can use floor area faces to analyze masses, and create floors
from a mass.

Adding Floors

1. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Floor drop-

down ➤ Floor.
2. Draw the floor boundaries, using one of the
following methods:

● Pick walls: By default, Pick Walls is active. (If it is

not active, click Modify | Create Floor Boundary
tab ➤Draw panel ➤ (Pick Walls). Select walls in the drawing area to use as floor
boundaries.

● Sketch boundaries: To sketch the profile of the floor, click Modify | Create Floor
Boundary tab ➤Draw panel, and select a sketching tool.

The floor boundary must be a closed loop (profile). To create an opening in the floor, you can
sketch another closed loop where you want the opening to appear.

3. On the Options Bar, for Offset, specify an offset for the floor edges.

NOTE When you are using Pick Walls, select Extend into wall (to core) to measure the
offset from the wall's core.

4. Click Finish Edit Mode.

Changing the Floor Type

To change the floor type in sketch mode

1. On the Properties Palette, click Edit Type.

2. In the Type Properties dialog, for Type, select a different floor type.
3. Click OK.

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To change the floor type in a project view

1. Select the floor in the project view.

Watch the tooltip and the status bar to be sure you select the floor, not another
element. If desired, you can use a filter to select the floor.

In the Type Selector select the desired floor type from the drop-down.

Editing a Floor Sketch

1. In a plan view, select the floor.

Watch the tooltip and the status bar to be sure you select the floor, not another
element. If desired, you can use a filter to select the floor.

2. Click Modify | Floors tab ➤Mode panel ➤ Edit Boundary.

3. Make any necessary changes.
4. 4 Click Finish Edit Mode.

Sloped Floors
To create a sloped floor, use one of the following methods:

● Draw a slope arrow while sketching or editing the floor boundary.

● Specify a value for the Offset from Base property for parallel floor sketch lines.
● Specify a value for the Defines Slope and Slope properties for a single floor sketch line.

A sloped floor in a cinema

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Floor Slab Edges

You add slab edges by selecting horizontal edges of floors. You can also select model lines.

1. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Floor drop-down ➤ Slab Edge.

2. Highlight horizontal edges of floors, and click to place a slab edge.

You can also click model lines. As you click edges, Revit Architecture treats this as one
continuous slab edge. If the slab edge segments meet at corners, they miter.

3. To finish the current slab edge, click Modify | Place Slab Edge tab ➤Placement panel
➤ Restart Slab Edge.
4. To start another slab edge, move the cursor to a new edge and click to place. This
different slab edge does not miter with other existing slab edges, even if they meet at
the corners.
5. To finish placing slab edges, click Modify | Place Slab Edge tab ➤Select panel ➤
Modify.

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Slab added to floor

Tips

■ You can place slab

edges in 2D views
(such as plan or
section views) or in 3D
views. Watch the
status bar to look for
valid references. For
example, if you are
placing a slab edge
on a floor, the status
bar might display:
Floors : Basic Floor :
Reference.

■ When placing a slab edge in section, place the cursor near the corners of the floor to
highlight the reference. After placing slabs, you can modify them in several ways.

Architectural Columns
This topic describes how to add architectural columns to a project. You can use architectural
columns to model column box-outs around structural columns and for decorative applications.

Architectural columns inherit the material of other

elements to which they are joined. Compound layers
in walls wrap

at architectural columns. This does not apply to

structural columns.

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Adding a Column
You can add columns in plan view. The height of the column is defined in the properties of the
component. Using the properties, you can define the Base Level and the Top Level, as well as
offsets.

1. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Column drop-down ➤ Architectural Column.

2. On the Options Bar, select Room Bounding to designate the column as room-bounding
before you place it.

NOTE You can also change the room-bounding property of a column after placement.

3. Click in the drawing area to place the column.

TIP Typically, you align columns when placing them by selecting a grid line or wall. If you
randomly placed them and you want to align them, click Modify tab ➤Modify panel ➤
Align, and select the columns to align. In the middle of the columns are 2 perpendicular
reference planes that you can select for alignment.

Attaching Columns
Columns do not automatically attach to roofs, floors, and ceilings. When you select a column
(or multiple columns) you can attach it to roofs, floors, ceilings, reference planes, structural
framing members, and other reference levels.

To attach columns
1. In the drawing area, select one or more columns.
2. Click Modify | Columns tab ➤Modify Column panel ➤ Attach Top/Base.
3. On the Options Bar:

■ For Attach Column, select Top or Base to specify which part of the
column you are attaching.

■ For Attachment Style, select Cut Column, Cut Target, or Do Not Cut.

■ For Attachment Justification, select Minimum Intersection, Intersect

Column Midline, or Maximum Intersection. The target (roofs, floors, ceilings)
can be cut by the column, the column can be cut by the target, or
neither can be cut. After a column is attached to a target, you can edit its
properties and reset the values for the Attachment Justification at Top and
Offset from Attachment at Top instance parameters.

■ Specify Offset from Attachment. Offset from Attachment sets a value to

be offset from the target.

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NOTE If the column and target are both structural concrete, they will be cleaned
instead of cut. If the column is structural and the target is non-structural, a warning
message appears.

4. In the drawing area, select the target (for example, roof or floor) you want to
attach the column to.

Detaching Columns
1. In the drawing area, select the column you want to detach. You can select
multiple columns.
2. Click Modify Columns tab ➤Modify Column panel ➤Detach Top/Base.
3. Click the target you want to detach the column from.

If the column is attached to the target by its top and bottom, click Detach All on
the Options Bar to detach the top and bottom of the column from the target.

Components
In Revit Architecture, components are used to model building elements that are usually
delivered and installed on site, such as doors, windows, furniture, and so on. Components are
instances of loadable families and are hosted by other elements, which are instances of
system families. For example, a door is hosted by a wall, while a freestanding component such
as a desk is hosted by a floor or a level.

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Placing Components
Use this procedure to place freestanding components (such as furniture, plumbing fixtures, or
plantings) into a project view.

1. Open a project view appropriate for the type of component you want to place. For
example, you can place a desk in a plan or 3D view, but not in a section or elevation.
2. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Component drop-down ➤ Place a Component.
3. In the Type Selector at the top of the Properties palette, select the desired component
type.

If the desired component family has not yet been loaded into the project, click Modify
| Place Component tab ➤Mode panel ➤ Load Family. Then navigate to the
appropriate category folder in the Load Families dialog, select the family, and click
Open to add the family to the Type Selector.

4. If the selected component family has been defined as face-based or work plane-
based (see the Note following this procedure), click one of the following options on the
Placement panel, which displays on the Modify | Place Component tab:

● Place on Vertical Face. This option is only available for some components and
allows placement only on vertical faces.

● Place on Face. This option allows placement on faces regardless of

orientation.

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● Place on Work Plane. This option requires an active work plane to be defined in
the view. You can place the component anywhere on the work plane.

5. In the drawing area, move the cursor until the preview image of the component is in the
desired location.
6. If you want to change the orientation of the component, press the Spacebar to rotate
the preview image through its available positioning options.
7. When the preview image is in the desired location and orientation, click to place the
component.

After you place a component, you can specify that it moves when a nearby wall
moves.

Ceilings
You can create a ceiling defined by walls, or sketch its boundary. Create ceilings in a ceiling
plan view. Ceilings are level-based elements: you create them at a specified distance above
the level in which they reside. For example, if you create a ceiling on Level 1, it may be placed
3 meters above Level 1. You specify this offset in the ceiling type properties.

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Creating a Ceiling
1. Open a ceiling plan view.

2. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤ (Ceiling).

3. In the Type Selector, select a ceiling type.
4. Place a ceiling using one of the following methods:

Use walls as ceiling boundaries

By default, the Automatic Ceiling tool is active. When you click inside walls that form a
closed loop, the tool places a ceiling within those boundaries. It ignores room separator
lines.

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Sketch ceiling boundaries

a. Click Modify|Place Ceiling tab ➤Ceiling panel ➤ (Sketch Ceiling).

b. Use tools in the Draw panel of the ribbon to sketch a closed loop that defines the
ceiling boundary.
c. (Optional) To create an opening in the ceiling, sketch another closed loop within
its boundary.
d. On the ribbon, click (Finish Edit Mode).

Sloped Ceilings

● To create a sloped ceiling, use one of the following methods:

● Draw a slope arrow while sketching or editing the ceiling boundary.
● Specify a value for the Offset from Base property for parallel ceiling sketch lines.
● Specify values for the Defines Slope and Slope properties for a single ceiling
sketch line.

Roofs
In Revit Architecture, you can create a roof from a building footprint, as an extrusion, or from a
mass instance. A roof cannot cut through windows or doors.

Roofs Overview

Adding a roof by footprint

● 2D closed-loop sketch of the roof perimeter
● Created when you select walls or draw lines in plan view
● Created at level of view in which it was sketched
● Height is controlled by Base Height Offset property
● Openings are defined by additional closed loops
● Slopes are defined when you apply a slope parameter to sketch lines

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Adding a roof by extrusion

● Open-loop sketch of the roof profile
● Created when you use lines and arcs to sketch the profile in an elevation view
● Height is controlled by the location of the sketch in elevation view
● Depth is calculated by Revit Architecture based on size of sketch, unless you
specify start and end points.

It is helpful to use reference planes when sketching the profile of an extruded roof. For
example, sketch 3 vertical reference planes parallel to one another, and then sketch a
horizontal reference plane that intersects all 3 vertical planes.

The Roof by Extrusion tool lets you create a roof with simple slopes. To create a roof with
complex slopes, you can use massing. After you create a roof by extrusion, you can
rehost the roof or edit the work plane of the roof.

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Adding sloped glazing

You can create sloped glazing using the footprint or extrusion method. Sloped glazing
has one or more slope-defining lines and can join to curtain walls and basic wall types.

Creating a Roof
Add a roof using one of the following methods:

Sketch a roof by footprint

1. Display a floor plan view or a reflected ceiling plan view.
2. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Roof drop-down ➤ (Roof by Footprint).

NOTE If you try to add a roof on the lowest level, a dialog prompts you to move it
to a higher level. If you choose not to move the roof to a different level, Revit
Architecture notifies you later if the roof is too low.

3. On the Draw panel, select a sketch or pick tool.

To edit roof properties before sketching, use the Properties palette.

TIP When using Pick Walls, you can specify the overhang before you sketch the
roof. On the Options Bar, select Extend to wall core if you want the overhang to
be measured from the core of the wall, and then specify a value for Overhang.

4. Sketch, or pick, a closed loop for the roof.

5. Specify slope defining lines.

To change the slope definition of a line, select the line and, on the Properties
palette, click Defines Roof Slope. You can then change the slope value.

When a roof line is set to slope defining, this symbol appears adjacent to it.

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6. Click (Finish Edit Mode), and then open a 3D view.

Completed gable roof with overhang

Sketch a roof by extrusion

1. Display an elevation, 3D, or section view.

2. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Roof drop-down ➤ (Roof by Extrusion).

3. Specify the work plane.
4. In the Roof Reference Level and Offset dialog, select a value for Level. The
highest level in the project is selected by default.
5. To raise or lower the roof from the reference level, specify a value for Offset.

Revit Architecture places a reference plane at the specified offset. Using the
reference plane, you can control the position of the extruded roof in relation to a
level.

6. Sketch the profile of the roof as an open loop.

Roof profile sketched using spline tool

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7. Click (Finish Edit Mode), and then open a 3D view.

Completed extruded roof

Attach walls to the roof, if desired.

After you create a roof by extrusion, you can rehost the roof or edit the work
plane of the roof.

Sketch sloped glazing

1. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Roof drop-down ➤ (Roof by Footprint) or

(Roof by Extrusion).

NOTE If you try to create a roof on the lowest level, a dialog prompts you to
move it to a different level, ensuring that the roof is higher than any walls joining
to it. If you choose not to move the roof to a different level, Revit Architecture
notifies you later if the roof is too low.

2. Sketch the roof.

3. If the roof is based on a footprint, specify roof boundary lines as slope-defining, or
use the roof slope arrow to define the slope.
4. Click (Finish Edit Mode).
5. Select the roof, and in the Type Selector, select Sloped Glazing.

You can place curtain grids on the curtain panels of the sloped glazing. Press Tab
to switch between horizontal and vertical grids.

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Sloped glazing with mullions and grid lines

Add a roof to another roof

1. To cut off a roof in order to sketch another roof on top of it, select the roof in the
drawing area.
2. On the Properties palette, specify a Cutoff Level, and then specify a height for
Cutoff Offset.

This property specifies the distance above or below the level at which the roof is
cut off.

3. Sketch the new roof on top of the existing roof.

Create a conical roof

If a roof includes a slope-defining arc line, you can specify the number of segments for
the line.

1. In the drawing area, select the arc line.

2. On the Properties palette, specify a value for Number of Full Segments.

By default, 4 segments are created. If you specify zero segments, a conical roof is
created.

Start and End Points for Extruded Roofs

The extrusion of a roof can extend in either a positive or a negative direction along the
plane perpendicular to the face of a solid component (such as a wall), as shown.

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You can edit the start and end points using the roof properties.

Modifying Roofs
After completing a roof, you can modify its physical structure, change its properties, or join it
with another roof.

Edit the roof sketch

1. In the drawing area, select the roof.
2. Depending on how the roof was created, click Modify | Roofs tab ➤Mode panel

➤ (Edit Footprint) or (Edit Profile).

3. Make necessary changes.

If you want to change the position of the roof, use the Properties palette to edit
the Base Level and Offset properties to change the position of the reference
plane. If you’re warned that the roof geometry cannot move, edit the roof
sketch, and check for constraints on the sketch, such as between a level line and
a sketch line of the roof.

4. Click (Finish Edit Mode).

Change the roof type

Use one of the following methods to change the roof type:

In sketch mode

1. On the Properties palette, click (Edit Type).

2. In the Type Properties dialog, select a roof type from the Type list.
3. Click OK.

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In a project view

1. Select the roof in the project view.

2. In the Type Selector, select a different roof type.

Resize the roof using shape handles

Use this method to resize roofs that were created by footprint or by face.

1. In an elevation or 3D view, select the roof.

2. Drag the shape handle, as desired.

Change the roof overhang

When editing the footprint of a roof, modify properties of its boundary lines to change
the roof overhang.

1. In sketch mode, select a boundary line for the roof.

2. On the Properties palette, enter a value for Overhang.
3. Click (Finish Edit Mode).

Cut openings in an extruded roof

1. Select the extruded roof, and click Modify | Roofs tab ➤Opening panel ➤
(Vertical).
2. If the Go to View dialog displays, select the appropriate plan view in which to
edit the profile.

A plan view representation of the roof displays. Reference planes define the
boundary of the roof.

3. Sketch closed-loop openings.

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Closed-loop sketches in sketch mode

4 Click (Finish Edit Mode).

Closed-loop sketches become vertical cuts in the roof

Joining and Unjoining Roofs

You can join roofs to other roofs or walls, or unjoin them if they were previously joined. This is
useful if you have already sketched roofs and walls and then want to change your design by
adding smaller roofs to create dormers or awnings.

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Joining Roofs
NOTE This is a general procedure for joining roofs. You may have variations based on
design intent.

1. After you sketch walls and a roof for your design, sketch another roof that you
want to join to the original roof.

Note that you cannot add the second roof by editing the sketch of the first.

2. If desired, set the lines of the second roof to be slope defining, except the roof
line that will be coincident with the first roof or the wall.

3. Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤ (Default 3D View).

4. On the View Control Bar, for Visual Style, select Shaded.
5. If necessary, spin the design to facilitate selecting the wall or roof edges.

6. Click Modify tab ➤Geometry panel ➤ (Join/Unjoin Roof).

7. Select an edge of the roof that you want to join, and then select the wall or roof
to which you want to join the roof.

Joined roofs

Unjoining Roofs
The Unjoin tool lets you unjoin geometry with a single click in the drawing area.

1. Click Modify tab ➤Geometry panel ➤ (Join/Unjoin Roof).

2. Select the roof that you want unjoined from everything.

Revit Architecture unjoins the roof.

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Roof Slope
You can define the slope of a roof using the following methods:

■ Defines Slope property

■ Slope arrows

Creating a Roof Slope Using the Defines Slope Property

By applying the Defines Slope property to lines of a roof boundary, you can create different
types of roof

lines.

1. In sketch mode, select a roof boundary line that defines slope (indicated by ).

2. On the Properties palette, select or clear Defines Roof Slope.

3. To specify roof pitch, select a slope-defining boundary line, click the numeric slope
definition in the drawing area, and enter a value for the slope.

You can specify the format of the Slope property in the Project Units dialog.

Examples

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One sloped line forms a flat roof

Two opposite sloped lines form a gable

Three or four sloped lines form a hip roof

Other roof footprints and sloped lines yield different results

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Creating a Roof Slope Using Slope Arrows

You can use slope arrows to create slopes on a roof. See Creating a Sloped Surface Using a
Slope Arrow.

The following example shows a roof that you can create in Revit Architecture using a slope
arrow.

Creating a Roof with Different Eave Heights

You can create a roof with slope-defined lines at different elevations by joining 2 separate
roofs.

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TIP This procedure works best with a multi-level building.

1. Create a footprint roof sketch similar to the following:

2. On the Properties palette, specify a cutoff level for the roof. For example, if you are
sketching the roof on level 2, you might specify level 4 as the cutoff level.
3. Click (Finish Edit Mode).

4. Create another footprint roof sketch at a higher level, similar to the following:
5. Click (Finish Edit Mode).
6. In a 3D view, select both roofs, and click Modify tab ➤Geometry panel ➤
(Join/Unjoin Roof).

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7. View the 2 roofs in a plan view:

You now have a single roof with different eave heights.

Finished house in a rendered view

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Adding Elements to Roofs

Add elements to a roof in order to complete the roof design.

Eaves
When you sketch a roof, you create eaves by specifying an overhang value. After you
complete the sketch of the roof, you can align eaves and change the eave cut.

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Eaves can be cut as the following:

Plumb cut eave

2-cut plumb eave

2-cut square eave

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Creating a Plumb Cut, Two-Cut Plumb, or Two-Cut Square Eave

1. In the drawing area, select the roof.
2. On the Properties palette, for Rafter Cut, select Plumb Cut, Two Cut - Plumb, or
Two Cut - Square.
3. For Two Cut - Plumb and Two Cut - Square, specify a value for Fascia Depth
between zero and the thickness of the roof.

Aligning Eaves
Use the Align Eaves tool to realign eave heights of different boundary lines of a roof.

1. While in sketch mode, click Modify | Roofs > Edit Footprint tab ➤Tools panel ➤
(Align Eaves).

Dimensions display near the eaves to indicate their height.

2. Select a roof eave line, and then select an option for adjusting eave properties:
● Adjust Height changes the Plate height from roof base or Offset from roof
base value.
● Adjust Overhang changes the eave height by adjusting the Overhang
value.
3. Select the eave that is at the desired overhang/height.
4. Select remaining eaves whose overhang/height is to be adjusted to match the
first eave.

As you select the remaining eaves, you can choose between adjusting the
height or the overhang if you created the roof lines using Pick Walls. If you used
the sketch tools to draw the lines, only Adjust Height is available.

5 Click (Finish Edit Mode).

The results of adjusting the overhang are visible after you finish the roof.

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Changing the Eave Height

After you complete a roof sketch, you can change the height of the eaves so that you
create eaves of varying heights.

1. While in sketch mode, select a slope-defining boundary line.

2. On the Properties palette, specify a value for Offset From Roof Base or Plate
Offset From Base.
3. Click (Finish Edit Mode).

Dormers: Creating a Dormer Using Slope Arrows

1. Sketch a roof footprint, including slope-defining lines.
2. While in sketch mode, click Modify | Create Roof Footprint tab ➤Modify panel ➤
(Split Element).
3. Split one of the lines in the footprint at 2 points, creating a middle line segment
(the dormer segment), and then click Modify.
4. If the dormer segment is slope-defining ( ), select the line, and on the Properties
palette, clear Defines Roof Slope.
5. Click Modify | Create Roof Footprint tab ➤Modify panel ➤ (Slope Arrow), and
sketch a slope arrow from one end of the dormer segment to its midpoint.

Correct placement of cursor for slope arrow

6. Click Slope Arrow again, and sketch a second slope arrow from the other end of
the dormer segment to its midpoint.

Properly sketched slope arrows

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7. Click (Finish Edit Mode), and open a 3D view to see the results.

Hip roof with dormer

Creating a Dormer Opening in a Roof

1. Start with a building model in which a dormer has been created.

2. Open a plan view or an elevation view in which you can see the dormer roof
and the attached walls. If the roof is extruded, open an elevation view.

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3. Click Home tab ➤Opening panel ➤ (Dormer).

4. Highlight the main roof on the building model, and click to select it.

Watch the status bar to be sure that you are highlighting the main roof.

The Pick Roof/Wall Edges tool is active so that you can pick the boundaries that
compose the dormer opening.

5. Place the cursor in the drawing area.

Valid boundaries are highlighted. Valid boundaries are a joined roof or its bottom
face, a side face of a wall, a bottom face of a floor, an edge of the roof to be
cut, or a model line on the face of the roof to be cut.

In this example, side faces of walls and joined faces of the roof were selected.
Note that you do not need to trim the sketch lines to have a valid boundary.

6. Click (Finish Edit Mode).

7. Create a section view through the dormer to see how it cuts the main roof.

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Revit Architecture makes both vertical and horizontal cuts in the roof.

Dormer opening in a 3D view

Fascia
You can add fascia to edges of roofs, soffits, and other fascias. You can also add fascia
to model lines.

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You can place fascia in 2D views, such as plan or section views, or 3D views.

Adding Roof Fascia

1. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Roof drop-down ➤ (Fascia).
2. Highlight edges of roofs, soffits, other fascia, or model lines, and click to place the
fascia. Watch the status bar for information about valid references.

As you click edges, Revit Architecture treats this as one continuous fascia. If the
fascia segments meet at corners, they miter.

3. Click Modify | Place Fascia tab ➤Placement panel ➤ (Restart Fascia) to finish
the current fascia and start a different fascia.
4. Move the cursor to a new edge and click to place.

This different fascia does not miter with other existing fascias, even if they meet at
the corners.

5. Click onto white space in the view to finish placing roof fascias.

Crown molding fascia

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NOTE Fascia profiles miter correctly only around a square cut roof. The roof in this image
was created by running a fascia along the edge of a roof with a Two-Cut Square rafter
cut.

Roof Soffits
Use the Roof Soffit tool to create roof soffits.

Adding Roof Soffits

Design intent for creating roof soffits can vary widely. This procedure creates a soffit
from a 2-loop sketch between a wall and a roof. The soffit is associated with the walls
and the roof. To create non-associative soffits, use the Lines tool while in sketch mode.

1. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Roof drop-down ➤ (Roof Soffit).

2. Click Modify | Create Roof Soffit Boundary tab ➤Draw panel ➤ (Pick Roof
Edges).

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This tool creates a locked sketch line.

3. Highlight the roof, and click to select it.

Roof selected with Pick Roof Edges tool

4. Click Modify | Create Roof Soffit Boundary tab ➤Draw panel ➤ (Pick Walls),
highlight the outside faces of the wall beneath the roof, and click to select.

Wall highlighted for soffit line

Sketch lines for soffit after picking walls

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5. Trim the excess sketch lines and close the sketch loop.
6. Click (Finish Edit Mode).

To see the soffit better, create a section view through the plan view that shows
the wall meeting the roof.

Roof, soffit, and wall in section view

NOTE The Join Geometry tool was used to join the soffit and the roof in the previous
illustration. To complete the image, join the soffit to the wall, and the wall to the roof.

Roof Gutters
You can add gutters to edges of roofs, soffits, and fascia. You can also add gutters to
model lines.

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You can place gutters in 2D views, such as plan or section views, or 3D views.

Adding Roof Gutters

1. Click Home tab ➤Build panel ➤Roof drop-down ➤ (Gutter).
2. Highlight horizontal edges of roofs, soffits, fascias, or model lines, and click to
place the gutter.

Watch the status bar for information about valid references.

As you click edges, Revit Architecture treats this as one continuous gutter.

3. Click Modify | Place Gutter tab ➤Placement panel ➤ (Restart Gutter) to finish
the current gutter and start a different gutter.
4. Move the cursor to a new edge, and click to place.
5. To finish placing gutters, click on white space in the view.

Gutter in section

Openings
Use the Opening tool to cut openings in walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, structural beams, braces,
and structural columns.

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● When you cut a floor, ceiling, or roof, you can choose to cut vertically or perpendicular
to the surface. You can also sketch complex shapes using the drawing tools.
● When cutting an opening in a wall, you can sketch a rectangular opening in a straight
or arc wall. (For walls, you can create rectangular openings only. You cannot create
round or polygon shapes.)

Cutting Rectangular Openings in Walls

Use this procedure to cut rectangular openings in a straight or curved wall.

View of an opening in an arc wall

To cut a rectangular opening in a wall

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1. Open an elevation or section view where you can access the wall that will host
the opening.
2. Click Home tab ➤Opening panel ➤ Wall Opening.
3. Select the wall that will host the opening.
4. Sketch a rectangular opening.

Wall elevation view with opening being sketched

After you specify the final point of the opening, the opening displays.

5. To modify an opening, click Modify, and select the opening.

Modifying a selected opening

You can use the drag controls to modify the size and location of the opening. You can
also drag it to a new location on the same wall, and add dimension to the opening.

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Cutting Openings in Floors, Roofs, and Ceilings

Use this procedure to cut an opening in a roof, floor, or ceiling (for example, to
accommodate a chimney). You can cut openings in the faces of these elements, or
you can select the entire element to make a vertical cut.

1. Click Home tab ➤Opening panel, and select By Face or Vertical.

Use the By Face option when you want the opening to be perpendicular to the
selected face. Use the Vertical option when you want the opening to be
perpendicular to a level.

2. If you chose By Face, select a face in the floor, ceiling, or roof. If you chose
Vertical, select the entire element.

Selected face for opening by face

Selected element for vertical cut

Revit Architecture enters sketch mode, where you can create an opening of any
shape.

3. Click Finish Opening.

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Cutting Shaft Openings

Use this procedure to place an opening that extends through the entire height of a
building (or through selected levels) cutting through the faces of roofs, floors, or ceilings
simultaneously.

1. Click Home tab ➤Opening panel ➤ Shaft.

2. Sketch a shaft opening by drawing lines or by picking walls.

TIP Typically you will want to sketch the shaft on a host element, such as a floor, in
a plan view.

3. If desired, add symbolic lines to the opening.

4. When you are done sketching the shaft, click Finish Opening.

Shaft opening with symbolic lines

5. To adjust the levels that the opening cuts, select it, and make the following
adjustments on the

Properties palette:

■ For Base Constraint, specify a level for the start point of the shaft.

■ For Top Constraint, specify a level for the end point of the shaft.

6. Click Apply.

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The shaft cuts through and is visible on all intermediate levels. If you move the
shaft on any level, it moves on all levels. The symbolic lines are visible on all levels
too.

Circulation

Stairs
You create stairs in a plan view by defining the run of the stairs or by sketching riser lines and
boundary lines. You can define straight runs, L-shaped runs with a platform, U-shaped stairs,
and spiral stairs. You can also modify the outside boundary of the stairs by modifying the
sketch. The risers and runs update accordingly. Revit Architecture also generates railings
automatically for the stairs. In multi-story buildings, you can design one set of stairs and extend
identical sets up to the highest level you define in the stair properties.

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Creating Stairs by Sketching Runs

Sketching a run is the easiest way to create stairs. The boundaries and risers are
generated automatically as you sketch the run. When you finish the sketch, a railing is
applied automatically. The Run tool limits the design of your stairs to straight runs,
straight runs with landings, and spiral staircases. For more control when designing stairs,
sketch the run by sketching the boundary and riser lines.

To sketch a run
1. Open a plan or 3D view.
2. Click Home tab ➤Circulation panel ➤ Stairs.
3. Click Modify | Create Stairs Sketch tab ➤Draw panel ➤ Run.

The Line tool is selected by default. Select a different tool on the Draw panel if
desired.

4. Click to start the run.

Click start point on left side

5. Click to end the run.

Click endpoint on right end

6. Click (Finish Edit Mode).

Completed stairs in 3D with default railings and balusters

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To create stairs with a landing

1. Click Home tab ➤Circulation panel ➤ Stairs.
2. Click Modify | Create Stairs Sketch tab ➤Draw panel ➤ Run.

The Line tool is selected by default. Select a different tool on the Draw
panel if desired.

3. Click to start the run.

4. Click to position the landing when the desired number of risers have been
reached.
5. Drag the cursor along the extension line and click to start drawing the
remaining risers.
6. Click to finish the remaining risers.

7. Click (Finish Edit Mode).

First run of stairs- 9 risers created with 9 remaining

Additional run of stairs perpendicular to the original

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Completed sketch with landing created automatically

You can modify a stair footprint that you have sketched using one of the drawing
tools.

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To modify a run of stairs

1. Select the stairs.
2. Click Modify | Stairs tab ➤Mode panel ➤ Edit Sketch.
3. Click Modify | Stairs > Edit Sketch tab ➤Draw panel, and select the
appropriate drawing tool to make your changes.

Creating Stairs by Sketching Boundary and Riser Lines

You can define your stairs by sketching boundaries and risers instead of having Revit
Architecture calculate the stair run automatically. This method gives you more control
when sketching the footprint of the stairs.

1. Open a plan or 3D view.

2. Click Home tab ➤Circulation panel ➤ Stairs.
3. Click Modify | Create Stairs Sketch tab ➤Draw panel ➤ Boundary.

Sketch the boundaries using one of the drawing tools.

4. Click Riser.

Sketch the risers using one of the drawing tools.

5. Click (Finish Edit Mode).

Revit Architecture generates the staircase with the railings automatically applied.

Stairs sketched using Boundary and Riser tools

3D view of stairs sketched using Boundary and Riser Tools

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Stairs with Landings

When a landing is included in the stairs that you create by sketching boundary
and riser lines, split the boundary lines where they meet the landing so the railing
accurately follows the landing and the slope of the stairs.

1. After you have sketched the stairs and are still in sketch mode, click

Modify | Create Stairs Sketch tab ➤Modify panel ➤ Split.

2. Split the boundary lines where they meet the landing.

Modifying Stairs Sketched with Boundary and Riser Lines

You can modify stairs that you sketch using boundary lines and risers the
same way you can modify the stairs that you sketched using the Run tool.
You can use the drawing tools to change the footprint and the instance
and type parameters to change the stair properties.

Tips

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● Do not connect left and right boundary lines to each other. You can
sketch them as single lines or multi-segmented lines (for example, straight
lines and arcs connected).
● Connect riser lines between the left and right boundaries.
● The top riser line on a run of stairs represents the actual riser without a
tread.

Railings
You can add railings as free-standing components to levels, or attach them to hosts (such as
floors, ramps, or stairs). When you sketch a railing, rails and balusters are automatically placed
on the railing at evenly spaced intervals.

Adding a Railing
1. Click Home tab ➤Circulation panel ➤ Railing.
2. If you are not in a view where you can sketch a railing, you are prompted to pick
a view. Select a view from the list, and click Open View.
3. To set the host for the railing, click Modify | Create Railing Path tab ➤Tools panel
➤ Pick New Host, and place the cursor near the host (for example, a floor or
staircase).

As you move the cursor, the appropriate hosts highlight.

NOTE To select a level, just click in the drawing area to start drawing the railing.

4. Click on the host to select it.

5. Sketch the railing.

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If you are adding a railing to a run of stairs, the railing must be sketched along
the inside line of the stair stinger in order for the railing to host and slope correctly.

6. Modify instance properties as needed on the Properties palette, or click Edit

Type to access and modify type properties.
7. Click Finish Edit Mode.
8. Change to a 3D view to see the railing.

Changing the Railing Type

To change the railing type in sketch mode

1. On the Properties palette, click Edit Type.

2. In the Type Properties dialog, for Type, select a different railing type.

To change the railing type from a project view

1. Select the railing in the project view.

2. In the Type Selector, select the desired railing type from the drop-down.

Ramps
You use the same tools and procedures for sketching ramps that you use to sketch stairs. You
can create ramps in a plan or 3D view by sketching the run of the ramp or by sketching
boundary lines and riser lines. Just like stairs, you can define straight runs, L-shaped runs, U-
shaped ramps, and spiral ramps. You can also modify the outside boundary of the ramp by
modifying the sketch.

Finished ramp

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Adding a Ramp
The easiest way to add a ramp is to sketch a run. However, the Run tool limits the design
of your ramp to straight runs, straight runs with landings, and spiral ramps. For more
control when designing ramps, sketch the run of the ramp using the Boundary and Riser
tools.

1. Open a plan or 3D view.

2. Click Home tab ➤Circulation panel ➤ Ramp.

Revit Architecture enters sketch mode, and the Run tool is active.

3. Optionally, click Home tab ➤Work Plane panel ➤Set, to select a different work
plane.
4. Click Modify | Create Ramp Sketch tab ➤Draw panel, and select either (Line)
or (Center-ends Arc).
5. Place the cursor in the drawing area, and drag to sketch the ramp run.
6. Click (Finish Edit Mode).

Changing the Ramp Type

To change the ramp type in sketch mode

1. On the Properties Palette, click Edit Type.

2. In the Type Properties dialog, for Type, select a different ramp type.

To change the ramp type in a project view

1. Select the ramp in a plan or 3D view.

2. In the Type Selector, select the desired ramp type from the drop-down.

Editing a Ramp
1. Select the ramp in a plan or 3D view.
2. Click Modify | Ramps tab ➤Mode panel ➤ Edit Sketch.

Ramp Properties
You can modify several properties for ramps, including thickness, slope, and base level.

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Modifying Ramp Properties

1. Modify the instance properties of a ramp by changing corresponding parameter
values on the Properties palette.
2. To access/modify the ramp type properties, on the Properties palette, click
Edit Type.

NOTE Changes made to type properties affect all ramps of this type in the
project. You can click Duplicate to create a new ramp type.

Rooms and Areas

Architects, designers, and structural engineers use rooms, areas, and color schemes to plan
occupancy and usage of a building, and to perform basic analysis of a design. In Revit MEP,
mechanical engineers can use room-bounding information as a starting point for defining
spaces and zones for heating and cooling loads analysis.

Rooms and Areas Overview

A room is a subdivision of space within a building model, based on elements such as walls,
floors, roofs, and ceilings. These elements are defined as room-bounding. Revit Architecture
refers to these room-bounding elements when computing the perimeter, area, and volume of
a room.

In Revit Architecture, you can turn on/off the Room Bounding parameter of many elements.
You can also use room separation lines to further subdivide space where no room-bounding

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elements exist. When you add, move, or delete room-bounding elements, the room’s
dimensions update automatically.

A floor plan divided into rooms, such as bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and so on

An area is a subdivision of space within a building model, typically on a larger scale than
individual rooms. However, areas are not necessarily bounded by model elements. You can
draw area boundaries or pick model elements to use as boundaries.

When you add model elements, the area boundaries do not necessarily change
automatically. You can specify how area boundaries behave:

● Some area boundaries are static. That is, they do not change automatically and must
be changed manually.

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● Some area boundaries are dynamic. They stay connected with underlying model
elements. If the model elements move, the area boundaries move with them.

A floor plan divided into private areas (yellow) and

common areas (green)

Rooms
You can create rooms using the Room tool or by placing them from a room schedule. To add
rooms to a schedule, open a room schedule view and click Modify Schedule/Quantities tab ➤
Rows panel ➤New. This is helpful when creating an early design, before defining walls or other
bounding elements in a project. Then you can place the predefined rooms in the project.

You can create rooms only in plan views and schedule views.

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Creating a Room
1. Open a plan view.
2. Click Home tab ➤Room & Area panel ➤ (Room).
3. To display a room tag with the room, make sure that Tag on Placement is
selected: Modify | Place Room tab ➤Tag panel ➤ (Tag on Placement).

To omit a room tag when you place the room, turn off this option.

4. On the Options Bar, do the following:

● For Upper Limit, specify the level from which to measure the upper
boundary of the room. For example, if you are adding a room to a Level 1
floor plan, and you want the room to extend from Level 1 to Level 2 or
some point above Level 2, specify an Upper Limit of Level 2.
● For Offset, measuring from the Upper Limit level, enter the distance at
which the upper boundary of the room occurs. Enter a positive number to
go above the Upper Limit level, or enter a negative number to go below
it. The default is 10’ (4000 mm).
● Indicate the desired orientation of the room tag.
● To include a leader line with the room tag, select Leader.
● For Room, select New to create a new room, or select an existing room
from the list.
5. To see room-bounding elements, click Modify | Place Room tab ➤Room panel ➤
Highlight Boundaries.

Revit Architecture highlights all room-bounding elements in gold, and displays a

warning. To see a list of all room-bounding elements in the model, including those
that do not display in the current view, click Expand in the warning dialog. To exit
the warning and remove the highlighting, click Close.

6. Click in the drawing area to place the room.

NOTE Revit Architecture will not place a room in a space that is less than 1’ or 306
mm wide.

7. If you placed a tag with the room, name the room as follows:
a. Click Modify | Place Room tab ➤Select panel ➤Modify.
b. In the room tag, click the room text to select it, and replace it with the
room name.

If you place a room inside bounding elements, it expands to the element boundaries.
You can also place a room in a free space or one that is not entirely bounded, and

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then draw room-bounding elements around the room later. When you add bounding
elements, the room expands to the boundaries.

Adding Room Separation Lines

1. Open a floor plan view.
2. Click Home tab ➤Room & Area panel ➤Room drop-down ➤ (Room
Separation Line).
3. Sketch the room separation lines.

If the space already contains a room, the room boundaries adjust to the new room
separation lines. If the space does not yet contain a room, you can add one. You can
also do the following:

● Tag the room.

● Apply a color scheme to the plan view or to a section view.

Showing or Hiding Room Separation Lines

1. Open a plan view or 3D view.
2. Click View tab ➤Graphics panel ➤ (Visibility/Graphics).
3. Click the Model Categories tab.
4. In the Visibility column, expand the Lines group.
5. Select or clear Room Separation.
6. Click OK.

Room Tags
Rooms and room tags are separate but related Revit Architecture components. Rooms are
model elements in Revit Architecture, like walls and doors. Room tags are annotation elements
that can be added and displayed in plan views and section views. Room tags can display
values for related parameters, such as room number, room name, computed area, and
volume.

Tagging a Room
Before you can tag a room, you must add the room to the project. If you do not use the
Tag on Placement option when creating rooms, you can use the following procedure to
tag rooms later.

NOTE As an alternative, use the Tag All Not Tagged tool to tag all untagged rooms in a
view. This tool can be useful, for example, when you place and tag rooms in a floor plan

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view, and you want to see tags for the same rooms in a reflected ceiling plan (RCP)
view.

To tag a room

1. Open a plan or section view.

2. Click Home tab ➤Room & Area panel ➤Tag Room drop-down ➤ (Room Tag).
3. On the Options Bar, do the following:
● Indicate the desired orientation of the room tag.
● To include a leader line with the room tag, select Leader.
4. Click in a room to place the room tag.

NOTE As you place room tags, they align with existing tags.

After placing a room tag, you can modify its properties.

Design Options
After designing the majority of a project, use design options to develop alternative designs in
the project. For example, you can use design options to adapt to changes in project scope,
review other designs, or show variations to a client.

Design Option Overview

With design options, a team can develop, evaluate, and redesign building components and
rooms within a single project file. Some team members can work on specific options, such as
variations of a lobby, while the rest of the team continues with the main model.

Design options can vary in complexity. For example, a designer may want to explore
alternatives for entry designs or structural systems for a roof. Design options tend to become
more focused and simplified as a project progresses. They are typically used as follows:

■ Changing the entry design

■ Exploring different layouts for rooms or furniture

■ Trying different window configurations

■ Developing sustainable design alternatives

You can use design options to explore multiple designs as the project develops. At any time in
the design process, you can have multiple sets of design options. Typically, each set of design

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options addresses a particular issue or area. For example, to explore possibilities for a pergola
and sunshade for a roof terrace, you can create an option set called Roofing with multiple
roofing designs (Sunscreen or Louvers). In addition, you can create an option set called Roof
Structure with multiple structural designs (Brackets or Beams). After the final design is chosen,
you can incorporate the chosen options into the main model and remove the alternatives.

Design Option Workflow

In general, the process of using design options is as follows:

1. Decide on the areas for which you want to develop design options.

Example: You want to create one set of design options for the entry of a building and a
second set of design options for the roof.

2. Create the building model, including all elements that will be common to all of the
design options. (This is the main model.)

Example: Create the building first, including the foundation, floor, walls, and other parts
of the building. Do not include any elements that will belong to the entry or the roof;
those elements will be added using design options.

NOTE If you add elements to a building and later decide that those elements should be
part of a design option, you can move them to the design option.

3. Create a design option set for each area.

Example: You create one design option set named Entry and another design option set
named Roof.

4. For each design option set, edit the primary option.

When you create a design option set, Revit Architecture also creates a primary option
for the set. The primary option is typically the preferred design or the design that you
think will be chosen. It will be displayed in project views by default. Other design options
will appear in views only when you specify.

Edit the primary option to add elements to the design as desired.

5. Create secondary options for each design option set.

You can create one or more secondary options for each set.

Example: For the Entry option set, you create secondary options named Revolving Door
and Two Double Doors.

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In general, any elements that will be modified or referenced in an option should belong
to the design option instead of the main model.

6. Create views that display each design option.

By default, all project views display the main model with primary design options only. To
see secondary options, create project views that show them. (These are called
dedicated views.) You can then place these views on sheets to present the designs to
clients.

7. Incorporate a design option into the main model.

After the client has selected the desired option for each option set, you can
incorporate the selected designs into the main model. This process deletes the design
option set, so the other options in the set are no longer available, and the selected
option becomes part of the building model.

Creating Design Option Sets

You begin the design option process by creating design option
sets. A design option set is a collection of alternatives that
address a particular design problem. For example, you can
create one design option set to show different designs for the
entry of a building. You can create another design option set for
alternative roof configurations. Each design option set contains
one primary option and one or more secondary options.

To create a design option set

1. Click Manage tab ➤Design Options panel ➤ (Design Options).
2. In the Design Options dialog, under Option Set, click New.

By default, Revit Architecture names the new set Option Set 1 and creates a primary
option in the set.

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3. To rename the option set, select the option set name, and under Option Set, click
Rename. Enter a name, and click OK.
4. To rename the primary option, select its name, and under Option, click Rename. Enter a
name, and click OK.
5. Click Close.

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Basic Structural
3
Modeling

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Loading Structural Component Families

When you load structural families, Revit Architecture provides a type catalog to assist you with
the family selection process. You can sort through the data and load only the specific
structural family type required for your project. This helps decrease project size and minimizes
the length of the Type Selector list when selecting structural types. For example, if you load the
entire C-Channel family, you have to scroll through a list of dozens of C-Channel types in order
to make your selection. Simplify the choices by loading a single C-Channel type, such as a
C15x40.

After the family is loaded, it is saved with the project.

Loading Structural Families

1. Click Insert tab ➤Load from Library panel ➤Load Family.
2. Navigate to the directory containing the file you wish to open or use the web-based
library of Revit families. See Opening Files from the Web Library.

By default, the window displays the RFA file types.

3. Select a structural family file.

In the lower left-corner, the Type Catalog populates with family types.

4. In the Type column of the Type Catalog, select the family type or types to load. Select
multiple types by holding Ctrl during selection. You can filter the list of types by selecting
specific parameters from the list at the top of each column.
5. Click Open.
6. From the Type Selector, select the new family you just loaded and place it in the
document window.

Structural Columns
Structural columns are used to model vertical load-bearing elements in a building. Although
structural columns share many of the same properties as architectural columns, structural
columns have additional properties defined by their configuration and industry standards.

Structural columns differ from architectural columns in behavior as well.

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Structural elements such as beams, braces, and isolated foundations join to structural columns;
they do not join to architectural columns.

Typically, drawings or models received from an architect may contain a grid and architectural
columns. You create structural columns by manually placing each column or by using the At
Grids tool to add a column to selected grid intersections.

Structural columns can be created in plan or 3D views.

Adding columns in 3D View

It is helpful to set up a grid before adding structural columns, as they snap
to grid lines.

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Sample grid for placing structural

elements

The grid lines also provide vertical planes

for braces. Click Home tab ➤Datum
panel ➤Grid.

You can place structural columns that

attach to other structural elements.

Placing a Vertical Structural Column

1. Click Structure tab ➤Structure panel ➤Column drop-down ➤Structural Column.
2. Click Modify | Place Structural Column tab ➤Placement panel ➤Vertical Column.
3. If a structural column family has not been previously loaded, Revit Architecture prompts
you to load one.
4. On the Properties palette, select a column type from the Type Selector drop-down.
5. If you intend to rotate the column after placement, select Rotate after placement on
the Options Bar.
6. Optionally, click Modify | Place Structural Column tab ➤Properties panel ➤Properties
(and Type Properties when appropriate) to edit the properties of the column before
adding it to your model.

NOTE You can create your own column family by defining specific properties based on
structural requirements. You can control how a column family displays within a project
plan view. In the Family Editor, select Show family pre-cut in plan views if you want the
column display to remain consistent despite the cut plan for that project plan view.

7. The Height/Depth area of the Options Bar is shown in the following illustration.

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You may pre-select the Height (top) or Depth (base) of a structural column on the
Options Bar.

8. On the Options Bar, select either Height or Depth from the list.
9. In the Constraint list to the right of the Height/Depth selection, specify the constraint of
the top or base of the column by Level or select Unconnected.

If you select Unconnected, enter the Height or Depth measurement in the text box to
the right of the Constraint list. This measurement of Unconnected Height/Depth is
relative to the current Level.

10. Click to place the column.

Placing a column

Columns snap to existing geometry in Revit. When you place columns at grid
intersections, both grids are highlighted.

Highlighted grids

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To rotate the column during placement

While placing columns, use the SPACEBAR to change the column rotation before the
column is placed. Each time you press the SPACEBAR, the column rotates to align with
the intersecting grids at the selected location. In the absence of any grids, press the
SPACEBAR to rotate the column 90 degrees.

Rotating a column

Placing Slanted Structural Columns

When placing slanted structural columns, you can opt to place it in a plan view or in 3D view
by using 3D Snapping. You can also place it using the elevation or section view of the project.

Beams
Beams are structural elements used for load-bearing applications. Elements of each beam are
defined through the type properties of the specific beam family. In addition, various instance
properties can be modified to define the functionality of the beam.

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Sample beams

You can attach beams to any structural element, including structural walls, in your project. The
beams join to structural bearing walls when the Structural Usage property of the wall is set
either to Bearing or to Structural Combined.

Beams attached to structural walls

To draw beams between 2 points

1. Click Structure tab ➤Structure panel ➤Beam.

2. Click in the drawing area to specify the start point.
3. Use the mouse to sketch the beam, moving the cursor to the endpoint.
4. Click to specify the endpoint.

You can use the Grid tool to add multiple beams to selected grids when columns are also
present at the working level.

Beam between points

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To draw a beam to a specified length

1. Click Structure tab ➤Structure panel ➤Beam.

2. Click in the drawing area to specify the start point.
3. Use the mouse to sketch the beam, moving the cursor toward the endpoint.
4. Type a length. A text box will appear to show your entry.

Use the Grid tool to add multiple beams to selected grids when columns are also
present at the working level.

Enter beam length

You should add beams after creating a grid since beams snap to grids. Add a grid by
clicking Home tab ➤Datum panel ➤Grid. However, structural beams can be added
without an existing grid.

You can add beams using one of the following methods:

■ Sketch individual beams.

■ Select grid lines that lie between structural elements.

■ Create a chain of beams.

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Beam Systems
Structural beam systems create a single structural framing element that contains a series of
individual beams placed in parallel. The beam system provides a quick method for framing an
area of a structure that requires additional support.

Example of a structural beam system

Beam system parameters adapt to changes in the design. If a column is relocated, the beam
system parameters adapt to the changes automatically.

Example of a structural beam system and parametric adaptation after column is relocated

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Creating a Structural Beam System

You can create a structural beam system either by picking the structural supporting
elements, such as beams and structural walls, or by sketching the border. After
specifying the beam system boundaries, you can specify the beam direction and
beam system properties, such as spacing, justification, and beam type.

To create a structural beam system

1. Click Structure tab ➤Structure panel ➤Beam System.

2. Click Modify | Create Beam System Boundary tab ➤Beam System panel ➤
Sketch Beam System.
3. Define the beam system boundary.
4. Specify beam direction.
5. Specify beam system properties.
6. Click Modify | Create Beam System Boundary tab ➤Mode panel ➤Finish Edit
Mode.

Defining the Boundary of a Structural Beam System

To define the boundary of a structural beam system, you can pick the structural
supporting elements that exist on the edge of the proposed beam system, or you can
use the drawing tools to sketch the lines. Of the 2 methods, you should try to use the
Pick Supports tool whenever possible. When you pick the supports, the beam system is

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automatically locked to those elements. Any changes to the location of the supporting
elements are automatically applied to the beam system.

Creating a beam system by picking supports

Creating a beam system by sketching lines

You can define the beam system boundary in either a plan or 3D view. If you work in a
3D view, you should specify the work plane before picking the supports.

TIP Although you can sketch a beam system in a 3D view, it is recommended that you
create the beam system in a plan view to achieve greater accuracy and to ensure that
the lines are on a parallel plane.

After the beam system boundary is defined, the beams are placed inside the specified
area according to the pattern specified in the beam system properties.

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Picking Supports as the Beam System Boundary

In either a plan or 3D view, you can pick structural beams and walls to define the
boundary of the structural beam system.

1. Click Structure tab ➤Structure panel ➤Beam System.

2. Click Modify | Place Structural Beam System tab ➤Beam System panel ➤
Sketch Beam System.
3. Click Draw panel ➤Pick Supports.

TIP When picking supports, the first support you pick specifies the beam
direction. The beams within the beam system will be parallel to this beam.
You can modify this at any time.

4. Pick the first support member.

A sketch line with 2 drag handles displays over the picked support. Two
shorter parallel lines display on each side of the line, indicating the beam
system direction.

Beam system with first support member picked

5. Pick the remaining lines that define the beam system boundary.

NOTE The lines must result in a closed loop. Use the editing tools (Trim,
Extend, and so on) on the Options Bar as necessary to create a closed
loop of sketch lines.

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Beam system with entire boundary selected

After specifying the beam system boundary, you can

● Modify the beam direction if necessary.

● Modify beam system properties if necessary.
● Use either the Pick Support or Lines tool to sketch an opening in the beam
system.
6. Click Modify | Create Beam System Boundary tab ➤Mode panel ➤Finish
Edit Mode.

Floor plan and 3D view of completed structural beam system.

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Sketching a Beam System Boundary

You can use the sketching tools to define the perimeter of a beam system. You
can also use these tools to modify a beam system boundary, created using the
Pick Supports method.

1. Click Structure tab ➤Structure panel ➤Beam System.

2. Click Modify | Place Structural Beam System tab ➤Beam System panel ➤
Sketch Beam System.
3. Click Draw panel ➤Line to sketch, or click Draw panel ➤Pick Lines to
select existing lines.
4. Draw or pick the lines that define the beam system boundary.

Sketched beam system boundary with lines locked to supports

After specifying the beam system boundary, you can

● Modify the beam direction if necessary.

● Modify the beam system.
● Use either the Pick Support or Lines tool to sketch an opening in the beam
system.
5. Click Modify | Create Beam System Boundary tab ➤Mode panel ➤Finish
Edit Mode.

Floor plan and 3D view of completed structural beam system

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Specifying Beam Direction in a Beam System

When sketching a beam system boundary, you can specify the beam direction within
the structural beam system. All beams within the beam system will be parallel to the
boundary line you select.

NOTE Walls and beams curved in plan view cannot be used to define the direction of a
beam system.

To specify beam direction:

1. Select the beam system, and click Mode panel ➤ (Edit Boundary) on the
ribbon.

2. Click Draw panel ➤ (Beam Direction) on the ribbon.

3. Select from one of the following tools on the Draw panel of the ribbon:

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The following image shows the selected sketch line and the resulting beam direction.

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Braces
Braces are diagonal members connected to beams and columns. Like beams, you create
braces by snapping the pointer to another structural element, clicking a start point, snapping
to another structural element, and clicking an endpoint. For example, braces can appear
between a structural column and a structural beam.

You can add braces in either a plan view or a framing elevation view. Braces attach
themselves to beams and columns and adjust parametrically to changes in the building
design. When attached to a beam, you can specify the type of attachment, distance, or
ratio. In addition, you can set which end of the referenced element you want relative to the
distance or ratio value; if the end is attached to a column or wall, you can set the level and
offset for the height of the point.

You can copy, move, mirror, array, and rotate braces out of the vertical plane in which they
were created. You can accomplish this in plan and 3D views.

Typical brace

Loading Structural Braces

You can load structural braces in several ways:

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To load brace families

1. Click Structure tab ➤Structure panel ➤Brace.

2. Click Modify | Place Brace tab ➤Mode panel ➤Load Family.
3. In the Open dialog, navigate to either the imperial or metric library, and open
the Structural/Framing folder.
4. Select a brace type folder: either Steel, Light Gauge Steel, Concrete, or Wood,
and click Open.

NOTE When you open a framing family, you can select multiple brace sizes. In the
Specify Types dialog that displays after you click Open, press and hold the Ctrl
key when selecting brace sizes. If necessary, you can filter the Catalog by
clicking the arrow at the column heading.

Adding Structural Braces

You can add braces in either a plan view or in a framing elevation view.

To add a brace in a framing elevation view

1. Open a framing elevation view.

2. .If necessary, load additional braces from the Structural/Framing folder under the
Library folder of the Revit Architecture program group.
3. Click Structure tab ➤Structure panel ➤Brace.
4. On the Properties palette, select the appropriate brace from the Type Selector
drop-down.
5. To edit the properties of the brace before adding the brace to your model, click
on the Properties palette.
6. In the drawing area, highlight the snapping point where you want to begin the
brace, such as on a structural column. Click to place a start point.

Snap to begin brace

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7. Move the pointer in a diagonal direction to sketch the brace and place the
cursor near another structural element to snap it. Click to place the endpoint.

Sample braces in a framing elevation view

To add a brace in a plan view

1. Open a plan view.

2. Click Structure tab ➤Structure panel ➤Brace.
3. On the Options Bar, specify both the Start Level and offset distance and
the End Level and offset distance.
4. Click the start point and the endpoint of the brace in the project.

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Trusses
In Revit Architecture, you can add a truss to your building model. Use the Truss tool, which
creates the truss according to the layout and other parameters specified in the truss family
type you select.

The lines in the layout determine the placement of the sub elements that comprise the truss
element, such as the top chord, bottom chord, and web members.

All types within a truss family share the same layout. Individual types specify other parameters,
such as the structural framing families to be used for modeling chords and web members.

To use the Truss tool, select a truss family type and then specify the truss start point and
endpoint in the drawing area. Then Revit Architecture creates structural framing elements as
necessary, placing them on the layout lines specified for the selected family.

Creating a Truss Family

A truss layout family consists of lines that define truss elements such as chords and webs. Chord
and web members are created such that their center lines (local x axis) will lie along the layout
lines that you define in the truss layout family. The entire layout will be transformed such that
the distance between the 2 end reference planes will be determined by the truss instance
based on its shape in the project. The Length parameter may be used in your truss layout
family to perform calculations to specify the exact location of vertical web members or to
calculate the number of panels to create in the project environment.

Truss family editor tools

■ Click Home tab ➤Detail panel ➤Top Chord to draw the location and
geometric configuration of the top chord layout lines.

■ Click Home tab ➤Detail panel ➤Bottom Chord to draw the location and
geometric configuration of the bottom chord layout lines.

■ Click Home tab ➤Detail panel ➤Web to draw the location of vertical and
diagonal web layout lines.

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■ Click Home tab ➤Properties panel ➤Family Type to select the types of
structural framing families used for chords and webs.

You may create different types of the same layout family. Differences between
these types include the following.

■ The types of structural framing families used for chords and webs

■ The member rotation of chords or webs about their local x axes

■ The member end releases

Sketching a Truss Family Layout

The structural truss family template provides 5 permanent reference planes: top,
bottom, left, center and right; the left and right planes indicate the span length of the
truss. Truss layout lines which end at these planes or are coincident with them will
maintain this relationship during layout transformation in the project environment.

To sketch truss chords

1. Click Home tab ➤Detail panel ➤Top Chord.

2. Sketch along the top reference plane to define the top chord.

3. Click the lock symbol attached to the line to lock the chord to the plane.
4. Click Home tab ➤Detail panel ➤Bottom Chord.
5. Sketch along the bottom reference plane to define the bottom chord.
6. Again, click the lock symbol to lock the chord to the plane.

Sketch a truss web

7. Click Home tab ➤Detail panel ➤Web.

8. Sketch the panel webs.
9. If needed, place additional dimensions between sketched lines and reference
planes.

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10. .Save this file to your Family directory. The truss type is now ready for loading into
your model.
11. Click Home tab ➤Family Editor panel ➤Load into Project.

Adding a Truss
Revit Architecture transforms the truss layout to fit the span of the truss and creates
framing elements that correspond to lines in the transformed truss layout.

To add a truss

1. Open a view of the building level where you want to add the truss.
2. Click Structure tab ➤Structure panel ➤Truss.
3. On the Properties palette, from the Type Selector drop-down, select the truss
type.
4. Click Modify | Place Truss tab ➤Draw panel ➤ (Line) to specify the start point
and endpoint for the truss, or click (Pick Lines), and then select an edge or
line to which you want to constrain the truss model.

Isolated Foundations
Isolated foundations are standalone families that are part of the structural foundation
category. Several types of isolated foundations can be loaded from the family library,
including pile caps with multiple piles, rectangular piles, and single piles.

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Pile caps with multiple piles

Rectangular and triangular pile caps

HP shaped and pipe piles

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Adding Isolated Foundations

1. Click Structure tab ➤Foundation panel ➤Isolated.

You can load isolated foundation families by clicking Modify | Place Isolated
Foundation tab ➤Model panel ➤Load Family.

2. On the Properties palette, select an isolated foundation type from the Type Selector
drop-down.
3. Place the isolated foundation in either a plan or 3D view.

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Documenting the
Project
4

2D Views
The floor plan view is the default view in a new project. Most projects include at least one floor
plan. (Floor plan views are created automatically as you add new levels to your project.)

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Plan Views

Creating a Plan View

1. Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤Plan Views drop-down ➤ (Floor Plan).
2. In the New Plan dialog, select one or more levels for which you want to create a
plan view.
3. If you want to create a plan view for a level that has an existing plan view, clear
Do not duplicate existing views.
4. For Scale, select an appropriate view scale for the new view.
5. Click OK.

NOTE If you create duplicate plan views, the duplicate view displays in the
Project Browser with the following notation: Level 1(1), where the value in
parentheses increases with the number of duplicates.

Creating a Reflected Ceiling Plan View

1. Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤Plan Views drop-down ➤ (Reflected Ceiling
Plan).
2. In the New RCP dialog, select one or more levels for which you want to create a
view.

NOTE Hold the Ctrl key as you select to choose multiple levels.

3. If you want to create a plan view for a level that has an existing plan view, clear
Do not duplicate existing views.
4. For Scale, select an appropriate view scale for the new view.
5. Click OK.

Elevation Views
Elevation views are part of the default template in Revit Architecture. When you create
a project with the default template, 4 elevation views are included: north, south, east,

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and west. It is in elevation views where you sketch level lines. For each level line that you
sketch, a corresponding plan view is created.

You can create additional exterior elevation views and interior elevation views. Interior
elevation views depict detailed views of interior walls and show how the features of the
wall should be built. Examples of rooms that might be shown in an interior elevation are
kitchens and bathrooms.

Elevation Tags

You designate elevations with an elevation tag . The tag snaps to walls as you
drag it around with the cursor. You can set different properties for the tag. The elevation
view arrowhead is visible in a plan view, provided the elevation view’s crop region
intersects the view range of the plan view. If you resize the crop region of the elevation
such that it no longer intersects the view range, the arrowhead is not visible in the plan
view.

Creating an Elevation View

1. Open a plan view.

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2. Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤Elevation drop-down ➤ (Elevation).

The cursor appears with the elevation symbol.

3. On the Options Bar, select a view scale.

4. Place the cursor near a wall, and click to place the elevation symbol.

NOTE As you move the cursor, you can press Tab to change the position of the
arrowhead. The arrowhead snaps to perpendicular walls.

5. To set different interior elevation views, highlight the square shape of the
elevation symbol, and click.

The elevation symbol displays with check box options for creating views, as the
following image shows.

TIP The rotation control is useful for aligning to angled elements in the plan.

6. Select the check boxes to indicate where you want to create elevation views.
7. Click away from the elevation symbol to hide the check boxes.
8. Highlight an arrowhead on the symbol to select it.
9. Click the arrowhead once to view the clip plane:

Elevation symbol with clip plane

The end points of clip planes snap and join to walls. You can resize the width of
the elevation by dragging the blue controls. If the blue controls do not display in
the view, select the clip plane and click Modify Views tab ➤Element panel ➤
Element Properties. In the Instance Properties dialog, select the Crop View
parameter, and click OK.

10. In the Project Browser, select the new elevation view.

The elevation view is designated by a letter and number, for example, Elevation:
1 - a.

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Changing the Elevation Symbol

1. Select the elevation tag arrowhead.
2. Click Modify | Views tab ➤Properties panel ➤ (Type Properties).
3. Modify the appropriate property values by clicking in the Value fields.
4. Click OK.

Changing the Clip Plane in an Elevation View

Clip planes define the boundaries for an elevation view. The end points of clip planes
snap and join to walls. You can resize the viewing area of an elevation by resizing the
clip planes.

1. In a plan view, select the elevation tag arrowhead.

The clip planes for the elevation display in the drawing area, as shown in the
following image.

NOTE If the far clip plane (the dotted green line) is not visible, on the Properties
palette, select an option for the Far Clipping parameter.

2. Drag the blue dots or the arrows to resize the clip plane.

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Section Views
Sections views cut through the model. You can draw them in plan, section, elevation,
and detail views. Section views display as section representations in intersecting views.

You can create building, wall, and detail section views. Each type has a unique
graphical display, and each is listed in a different location in the Project Browser.
Building and wall section views display in the Sections (Building Section) branch and
Sections (Wall section) branch of the Project Browser. Detail sections appear in the
Detail Views branch.

Creating a Section View

1. Open a plan, section, elevation, or detail view.

2. Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤ (Section).

3. In the Type Selector, select Detail, Building Section, or Wall Section.
4. On the Options Bar, select the view scale.
5. Place the cursor at the starting point of the section, and drag through the model
or family.

NOTE You can snap a section line parallel or perpendicular to a non-orthogonal

datum or wall.

Snapping to a wall is available in plan views.

6. Click when you reach the end point of the section.

The section line and the crop region appear and are selected, as the following
image shows.

7. If desired, resize the crop region by dragging the blue controls. The depth of the
section view changes accordingly.
8. Click Modify or press Esc to exit the Section tool.

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9. To open the section view, double-click the section header, or select the section
view from the Sections grouping of the Project Browser.

The section view changes when the design changes or the section line is moved.

Callout Views
A callout shows part of another view at a larger scale. In a construction document set,
use callouts to provide an orderly progression of labeled views at increasing levels of
detail.

You can add a callout to a plan, section, detail, or elevation view. In these views, the
callout tag is linked to the callout view. The callout view shows an enlarged version of
part of the parent view, and provides more information or details about that part of the
building model.

The view in which a callout is drawn is the parent of the callout view. If the parent view
is deleted, the callout is also deleted.

Callout views accessed from tags in the parent view

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Callout Tag Parts

A callout tag is an annotation element that marks the location of a callout in a parent
view.

The callout tag consists of the following parts:

■ Callout bubble. The line drawn around part of the parent view to define the
callout area.

■ Callout head. A symbol that identifies the callout. When you place the callout
on a sheet, the callout head displays the corresponding detail number and sheet
number by default.

■ Leader line. A line that connects the callout head to the callout bubble.

■ Reference label. For reference callouts only. Text displayed in a callout tag to
provide information about the callout.

Creating a Callout View

You can add a detail callout or a view callout to a plan, section, detail, or elevation
view. When you draw the callout bubble in a view, Revit Architecture creates a callout
view. You can then add details to the callout view to provide more information about
that part of the building model.

1. In a project, click View tab ➤Create panel ➤ (Callout).

2. In the Type Selector on page 33, select the type of callout to create: a detail
callout or a view callout (a callout view that has the same view type as the
parent view).

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3. On the Options Bar, for Scale, select a scale for the callout view.
4. To define the callout area, drag the cursor from the upper-left to the lower-right,
creating a callout bubble as shown by the dashed line enclosing the upper-left
corner of the grid.

5. To see the callout view, double-click the callout head .

The callout view displays in the drawing area.

3D Views
You can create perspective and orthographic 3D views in Revit Architecture.

Creating an Orthographic 3D View

1. Open a plan, section, or elevation view.
2. Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤3D View drop-down ➤Camera.
3. On the Options Bar, clear the Perspective option.
4. Click once in the drawing area to place the camera, and click again to place
the target point.

Place Camera Above Southeast Corner of Model

Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤3D View.

This places the camera above the southeast corner of the model with the target
positioned on the center of the ground floor.

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Creating a Perspective 3D View

Drag the cursor to the desired target and click.

Revit Architecture creates a perspective 3D view and assigns a name to the view: 3D
View1, 3D View2, and so on. To rename the view, in the Project Browser right-click it,
and select Rename.

NOTE When used in a workshare enabled file, the 3D view command creates a default
3D view per user. The assigned name to this view is {3D - username}.

You can use a section box to limit the viewable portion of a 3D view.

Adjusting the Camera Position

Modifying the Camera Position in a Perspective 3D View

NOTE Changes made to the orientation or position of the 3D camera are considered
temporary until they are saved.

1. Open the perspective 3D view.

2. In the Project Browser, right-click the perspective 3D view name, and select Show
Camera.

The camera is selected in all views where the camera is visible, such as plan,
elevation, and other 3D views.

Selected camera in plan view

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Selected camera in 3D view

Selected camera in elevation view

3. In the Project Browser, double-click the view in which you want to modify the
camera position (for example plan or elevation).
4. Drag the camera to move it. The view updates according to the new camera
position.
5. Drag the target to move it. The view updates according to the new target point.
6. Select the perspective view. Drag the handles to vary the field of view (FOV).

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Specifying the Background for a 3D View

After creating a 3D view, you can specify a gradient background for it, with different
colors for the sky, horizon, and ground.

In an orthographic view, the gradient is a blend between the horizon color and the sky
or ground color. In an orthographic view that is oriented to an elevation view or in a
perspective view in which the horizon is visible, the sky meets the ground at the ground
plane and blends with the horizon color. The horizon is set to the ground plane for the
view (Level 1, by default).

NOTE When you render a 3D view, you can specify clouds and haze for the background
of the rendered image, or you can insert a custom image.

When you export the view to an image or to a 2D DWF file, the gradient background is
included. When you export the view to a 3D DWF file, the gradient background is not
included.

When you print a 3D view with a gradient background, you can print only using raster
processing. To print the view using vector processing, you must first turn off the gradient
background.

If you create a view template for a 3D view, the gradient background settings are
stored as part of the template under Graphic Display Options.

To specify the background for a 3D view

1. Open the 3D view.

2. Click View tab ➤Graphics panel ➤ (Graphic Display Options).
3. Under Background, select Gradient background.
4. Select the desired colors for the sky, horizon, and ground.
5. (Optional) If the horizon will be visible in the view, specify the ground level:
a. In the Graphic Display Options dialog, for Sun Position, click (Browse).
b. In the Sun and Shadow Settings dialog, select Ground Plane at Level, and
specify the level to use for the ground plane.
c. Click OK.
6. In the Graphic Display Options dialog, click OK.

The view displays the gradient background, and the horizon and ground, if visible.

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Changing the Extents of a 3D View

You can use a section box to clip the viewable portion of a 3D view. When you enable
a section box in a 3D view, the only change to the view is the addition of the section
box. The following image shows a 3D view with a section box enabled.

After you enable the section box, you can modify its extents using drag controls in the
3D view, or you can modify extents from other views, for example a plan or elevation
view. Section box extents are not cropped by the view’s crop region.

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To enable a section box:

1. Open a 3D view.
2. On the Properties Palette, under Extents, select the Section Box option.
3. Click OK.
4. Select the section box and use the drag controls to modify the extents, as
necessary.

The following image shows the section box selected with the blue arrow drag
controls visible. The section box extents have been modified to cut into the stair
tower.

To modify section box extents outside of the 3D view:

1. Enable the section box in a 3D view.

2. Open an associated view, for example a plan or elevation view.
3. In the Project Browser, right-click the 3D view name, and click Show Section Box.

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4. Drag the blue arrow controls to resize the section box.

To control visibility of section box extents:

1. Click View tab ➤Graphics panel ➤ (Visibility/Graphics).

2. In the Visibility/Graphics dialog, click the Annotation Categories tab.
3. Clear the check box for Section Boxes, and click OK to hide the section box
extents in the view.

Select the check box to show the extents.

Legend Views
Creating a Legend
1. Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤Legends drop-down ➤ (Legend).
2. In the New Legend View dialog, enter a name for the legend view and select
the view scale.
3. Click OK.

The legend view opens and is added to the Project Browser list.

4. Add the desired element symbols to the view using any of the following methods:
● Drag model and annotation family types from the Project Browser into the
legend view.

They display as view-specific symbols in the view.

● Alternate method for adding model family symbols:

a. Click Annotate tab ➤Detail panel ➤Component drop-down ➤
(Legend Component).
b. On the Options Bar, for Family, select a model family symbol type.
c. Specify the view direction for the symbol. Some symbols have more
options than others. For example, wall types can be displayed in floor plan
or section representations. Wall-hosted elements like doors can be
represented in plan, and front and back elevations. If you are placing a
hosted symbol, such as a door or window, the symbol displays with the
host in floor plan representation. You can specify a value for the Host
Length.
d. Place the symbol in the view.

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● Alternate method for adding annotation symbols:

a. Click Annotate tab ➤Symbol panel ➤ (Symbol).
b. From the Type Selector, select an annotation type and place the symbol
in the view.
5. Click Annotate tab ➤Text panel ➤ (Text).

NOTE If the text size you want to use is not listed, click Modify | Place Text tab ➤
Properties panel ➤Type Properties. In the Type Properties dialog click Duplicate
to create a new text type.

6. From the Type Selector, select an annotation type and place the symbol in the
view
7. Place the necessary text in the legend.

Dimensioning Legend Components

You can add dimensions to individual legend components using the Dimension tool.

You can dimension to most lines within a legend component. However, you cannot
dimension to host components, such as walls, ceilings, and floors. Likewise, you cannot
dimension system family components within a legend.

Window legend with first window dimensioned

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Placing Components from a Legend into a Project

View
You can use legend views as graphical palettes. This means that you can select a
component in a legend view and use the Create Similar or Match tools to place the
component in another view.

Schedules
Schedule Overview
A schedule is a tabular display of information, extracted from the properties of the
elements in a project. A schedule can list every instance of the type of element you are
scheduling, or it can collapse multiple instances onto a single row, based on the
schedule's grouping criteria. You can create a schedule at any point in the design
process. As you make changes to the project that affect the schedule, it automatically
updates to reflect those changes.

Types of Schedules

You can create several types of schedules:

■ Schedules (or Quantities)

■ Key Schedules

■ Material Takeoffs

■ Annotation Schedules (or Note Blocks)

■ Revision Schedules

■ View Lists

■ Drawing Lists

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Formatting Schedules
You have several choices available for formatting the look of the schedule. You can

■ Specify the order and type of properties to display

■ Create totals

■ Create your own custom properties, which you can then include in the
schedule

■ Apply phases to a schedule

■ Set conditions to apply background color to cells in the schedule in order to

verify design parameters are met.

Schedule Tips
■ Mouse-wheel scrolling is available in schedule views. Move the mouse wheel to
scroll vertically. Hold Shift and move the wheel to scroll horizontally.

■ You can select an element in a non-schedule view from a schedule view. This
works best if you are tiling windows. (To tile windows, click View tab ➤ Windows
panel ➤Tile.) To view an element in a non-schedule view, click in the element’s
cell in the schedule, and then click Modify Schedule/Quantities tab ➤Schedule
panel ➤ Highlight in Model. The Show Elements in View dialog displays. You
can continue to click Show in this dialog to open other views that show the
element.

Creating a Schedule
1. Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤Schedules drop-down ➤
Schedule/Quantities.
2. In the New Schedule dialog, select a component from the category list. A
default name appears in the Name text box, which you can change as
necessary.
3. Select Schedule building components.
4. Specify the phase.
5. Click OK.
6. In the Schedule Properties dialog, specify the schedule properties.
7. Click OK.

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Adding a Schedule to a Sheet

1. In a project, open the sheet to which you want to add a schedule.
2. In the Project Browser, under Schedules/Quantities, select the schedule, and
drag it onto the sheet in the drawing area. Release the mouse button when the
cursor is over the sheet.

Revit Architecture displays a preview of the schedule at the cursor.

3. Move the schedule to the desired location, and click to place it on the sheet.

You can modify the schedule after placing it on the sheet. In the sheet view,
right-click the schedule, and click Edit Schedule. The schedule view displays. You
can now edit the cells of the schedule. You can also rotate the schedule on the
sheet.

Visibility and Graphic Display in Project

Views
You can override the visibility and graphic display of model elements, annotation elements,
imported elements, linked Revit model elements, and workset elements for each view in a
project. The settings that you are overriding are those specified at the project level. Project
level settings are specified in the Object Styles dialog. You can override the cut, projection,
and surface display for model categories and filters. For annotation categories and imported
categories, you can edit the projection and surface display. In addition, for model categories
and filters, you can apply transparency to faces. You can also specify visibility, half-tone
display, and detail level of an element category, filter, or individual element.

Overview of Visibility and Graphic Display

Most overrides for visibility and graphic display are made in the Visibility/Graphics
dialog. The exception is for individual element overrides; these are made in the View-
Specific Element Graphics dialog.

From the Visibility/Graphics dialog, you can view overrides that have already been
applied to a category. If the graphic display of a category has been overridden, the

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cell displays a preview of the graphic. If no overrides have been made to a category,
the cell is blank, and the element displays as specified in the Object Styles dialog.

In the following image, the doors category has overrides for projection/surface lines and
for cut pattern.

Overriding Visibility and Graphic Display of Individual

Elements
1. Open the view in which you want to override the visibility or graphic display of
individual elements.
2. In the drawing area, right-click the element you want to override, and click
Override Graphics in View ➤By Element.

The View-Specific Element Graphics dialog opens and displays the current
visibility and graphic display settings for the element. You may need to expand
the categories to view setting details.

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3. In the View-Specific Element Graphics dialog, make your edits.

NOTE For annotation, import, and detail elements, only relevant override options
display.

■ Visible: show or hide the element in the view.

■ Halftone: blend the line color of an element with the background color
of the view. All line graphics (including fill patterns) and solid fills are drawn
halftone when this option is selected. Halftone has no effect on material
color in shaded views.

■ Transparent: display only lines for the element and not surfaces.

When elements are transparent, only edges and fill patterns (including
solid fills) are drawn on element faces. The faces between pattern lines
are not drawn. In Hidden Line view and Shaded with Edges view, parts of
edges are hidden. An edge can be hidden by the face of any non-
transparent element and by a face of its own element (even when it is
marked transparent). Edges are not hidden by other transparent
elements.

■ Projection Lines: edit the line weight, color, and pattern.

■ Surface Patterns: edit visibility, color, and pattern.

■ Cut Lines: edit the line weight, color, and pattern.

■ Cut Patterns: edit visibility, color, and pattern.

After you edit any of the above, you can click Apply to keep the View-Specific
Element Graphics dialog open and instantly see how the change affects the
model.

4. When finished, click OK.

NOTE Individual element overrides are not stored in view templates.

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Overriding Graphic Display of Element Categories

1. Open the view in which you want to override the graphic display of element
categories.
2. Right-click an element in the drawing area, and click Override Graphics in View
➤By Category.

When you use this method, the element’s category is already highlighted when
the Visibility/Graphics dialog opens.

Alternatively, you can click View tab ➤Graphics panel ➤ (Visibility/Graphics).

NOTE If you open the Visibility/Graphics dialog from a drafting view, only those
categories that can appear in a drafting view display.

3. If necessary, click the appropriate tab in the Visibility/Graphics dialog (Model

Categories, Annotation Categories, or Imported Categories).

If you are overriding element categories in a linked Revit model

a.
Click the Revit Links tab.
b.
Click the button in the Display Settings column.
c.
In the RVT Link Display Settings dialog, click Custom.
d.
Click the appropriate tab (Model Categories, Annotation Categories, or
Imported Categories).
e. Select Custom from the drop-down menu.
4. Highlight a category row.
5. Click the Override button for the line or pattern to edit.

NOTE For annotation and imported categories, you can only override projection
and surface display.

6. For lines, edit the line weight, line color, and line pattern. For patterns, edit the fill
color and fill pattern.
7. (Optional) Select the Halftone check box next to a category to blend the line
color of an element with the background color of the view. This produces a
lighter shade for the line color.
8. For model categories, you can also select a detail level at which to display the
element category.

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The detail level of the category overrides the detail level of the view. For
example, you can set a wall to display at medium or fine detail level to see its
structure, even if the view detail level is set to coarse.

You cannot set the detail level for subcategories. They inherit it from their parent
category.

9. Click Apply to view your changes, and click OK to exit the Visibility/Graphics
dialog.

Hiding and Unhiding Elements in a View

You can hide individual elements or categories of elements in a view permanently or
temporarily. When you hide an element that is used as a reference for a tag or a
dimension, the tag or dimension is also hidden.

Hiding a revision cloud does not affect the revision table.

Hiding Elements
1. In the drawing area, select the element to hide.
2. Click Modify | <Element> tab ➤View panel ➤ (Hide in View) drop-down ➤
(Hide Elements), (Hide Category), or (Hide by Filter).

Alternatively, right-click the element, and click Hide in View ➤Elements,

Category, or By Filter.

If you select Element, the element is hidden in the view. If you select By
Category, all elements of that category are hidden in the view. If you select By
Filter, the Filters tab on the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog displays for
modifying, adding, or removing filters.

To unhide hidden elements:

1. Select the element.
2. Do one of the following:

■ Click Modify | <Element> tab ➤Reveal Hidden Elements panel ➤

(Unhide Element) or (Unhide Category).

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■ Right-click the element, and click Unhide in View ➤Elements or

Category.

NOTE The Unhide Element and Unhide Category options become active
when you select an element that was hidden by element or, a category
that was hidden by category.

3. On the View Control Bar, click to exit Reveal Hidden Elements mode.

Making Use of Filters

Filters provide a way to override the graphic display and control the visibility of elements
that share common properties in a view. For example, if you need to change the line
style and color for 2-hour fire-rated walls, you can create a filter that selects all walls in
the view that have the 2-hour value for the Fire Rating parameter. You can then select
the filter, define the visibility and graphic display settings (such as line style and color),
and apply the filter to the view. When you do this, all walls that meet the criteria defined
in the filter update with the appropriate visibility and graphics settings.

Creating a Filter
1. Click View tab ➤Graphics panel ➤ (Filters).
2. In the Filters dialog, click (New), or select an existing filter and click
(Duplicate).

NOTE If you open a Revit project that was created in Revit Structure, you may see
in the list of available filters Selection Filters and Rule-based filters. You can modify

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and apply rule-based filters in Revit Architecture. You can also apply selection
filters in Revit Architecture, but selection filters can only be modified in Revit
Structure.

3. If you are creating a new filter, in the Filter Name dialog, enter a name for the
filter.

If you are duplicating an existing filter, the new filter displays in the Filters list. For
example, if you are duplicating a filter called 2-hour Fire-Rated Doors, the name
2-hour Fire-Rated Doors 1 displays in the Filters list. To rename the filter, click the
name, and click (or right-click the name, and click Rename).

4. Click OK.
5. Under Categories, click one or more categories to include in the filter.

The categories that you select determine the parameters that are available in
the Filter By lists.

The parameters that display are those that are common to all selected
categories.

For example, you can create a filter to show only 2-hour fire-rated doors. In this
case, you would select only the doors category. If you wanted to create a filter
to show 2-hour fire-rated doors and walls, you would select the doors and walls
categories.

6. From the Filter By list, select the parameter to filter by (for example, fire rating).

If the parameter you want to filter by is not in the list, click More Parameters to
view additional parameters or to create a custom parameter. To create a
custom parameter (for example, NIC [not in contract]):

a. In the Project Parameters dialog, click Add.

b. In the Parameter Properties dialog, enter the parameter data. In this
example, the parameter name is NIC, the discipline is Common, the Type
of Parameter is Yes/No, the parameter is grouped on the Properties
palette under Other, the parameter is an instance parameter, and the
parameter only applies to elements in the Casework and Furniture
categories.

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c. Click OK.
d. If elements are selected in the drawing area, the Parameter Value dialog
opens. Specify a parameter value for the selected elements, and click
OK.
e. In the Project Parameters dialog, click OK.
f. In the Filters dialog, select the parameter from the Filter By list.
7. Select the filter operator from the following options:

■ Equals. The characters must match exactly.

■ Does not equal. Excludes everything that does not match the value you
enter.

■ Is greater than. Looks for values greater than the value you enter. If you
enter 23, values greater than but not equal to 23 are returned.

■ Is greater than or equal to. Looks for values greater than or equal to the
value you enter. If you enter 23, values of 23 and greater are returned.

■ Is less than. Looks for values less than the value you enter. If you enter 23,
values less than but not equal to 23 are returned.

■ Is less than or equal to. Looks for values less than or equal to the value
you enter. If you enter 23, values of 23 and lower are returned.

■ Contains. Selects a character anywhere in a string. If you enter the

character H, all attributes that contain the character H are returned.

■ Does not contain. Excludes a character anywhere in a string. If you enter

the character H, all attributes that contain the letter H are excluded.

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■ Begins with. Selects a character at the beginning of a string. If you enter

the character H, all attributes that begin with H are returned.

■ Does not begin with. Excludes a character at the beginning of a string. If

you enter the character H, all attributes that begin with H are excluded.

■ Ends with. Selects a character at the end of a string. If you enter the
character H, all attributes that end with H are returned.

■ Does not end with. Excludes a character at the end of a string. If you
enter the character H, all attributes that end with H are excluded.

8. Enter a value for the filter, or select a value from the list (available for some
parameter types).

NOTE If you select the equals operator, the value that you enter must match the
search value. The search is case-sensitive.

9. Enter additional filter criteria as necessary. You can add up to 3 additional

criteria. When you enter more than one filter criterion, elements must meet all
criteria to be selected.
10. Click OK when you are done creating filter criteria.

Applying a Filter
How do I get here?

■ Click View tab ➤Graphics panel ➤ (Visibility/Graphics), and click the Filters
tab.

■ Select an element in the drawing area, and click Modify | <Element> tab ➤
View panel ➤Override Graphics in View drop-down ➤ (Override By Filter).

■ Select an element in the drawing area, and click Modify | <Element> tab ➤
View panel ➤Hide in View drop-down ➤(Hide By Filter).

1. On the Filters tab of the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog, click Add.

The Filters dialog opens, which contains a list of filters created in the
project. If no filters exist in the project, click Edit/New to create a filter.

2. Select a filter, and click OK.

3. Select or clear the Visibility check box to turn visibility of the filtered object
on or off.
4. Override the projection, surface, and cut line styles and projection
patterns as necessary.

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5. Check the Halftone option to make filtered objects appear at halftone.

6. Check the Transparent option to make filtered objects transparent.
7. Click OK or Apply to activate the filter for that view.
8. Filters are view-specific. OK activates the filter and closes the dialog. Apply
activates the filter and keeps the dialog open.

NOTE If multiple selection filters are applied to the same view, the order in
which they are listed denotes priority. The selection filter nearest the top of
the list takes precedence.

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Project Phasing
Many projects, such as renovations, proceed in phases, each representing a distinct time
period in the life of the project. Revit Architecture tracks the phase in which views or elements
are created or demolished. It lets you create phases and phase filters that you can apply to
views, which define how the project appears during various stages of work. You can also use
phase filters to control the flow of building model information into views and schedules. This
allows you to create phase-specific project documentation, complete with schedules.

You can apply phases to schedules. For example, in a large renovation project, a door
schedule would usually list all doors created in the project. In a building with hundreds of doors,
the schedule could become difficult to work with, because the demolished doors would be
listed with the post-renovation doors. Instead of working with a schedule in which half of the
doors are eventually demolished, you could create one pre-demolition schedule and one
post-renovation schedule, applying the appropriate phase to each.

Creating Phases
1. Click Manage tab ➤Phasing panel ➤ (Phases).

The Phasing dialog opens, displaying the Project Phases tab. By default, each
project has phases called Existing and New Construction.

2. Click the number box adjacent to a phase.

Revit Architecture selects the entire phase row. The following image shows the
New Construction phase selected.

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3. Insert a phase.

IMPORTANT: You cannot rearrange the order of phases after you add them, so
be aware of placement.

To insert a phase before or after the selected phase, under Insert, click Before or
After.

Revit Architecture names the phases sequentially as you add them. For example:
Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and so on.

4. If desired, click the Name text box of a phase to rename it. Similarly, click the
Description text box to edit the description.
5. Click OK.

Combining phases
When you combine phases, the selected phase is deleted. All elements with that phase
value for their Phase Created and Phase Demolished properties update to show the
new combined phase value.

To combine phases
1. Click Manage tab ➤Phasing panel ➤ (Phases).
2. Click the number box adjacent to the phase to combine with another phase.
3. Under Combine with, click Next or Previous.
4. Click OK.

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Phase Filters
A phase filter is a rule that you apply to a view to control the display of elements based
on their phase status: new, existing, demolished, or temporary.

Default Phase Filters

Each Revit project contains the following default phase filters:

■ Show All. Shows new elements (using the graphics settings defined for that
category of elements) and existing, demolished, and temporary elements (using
the Graphic Overrides settings for each phase defined using Manage tab ➤
Phasing panel ➤Phases ➤Graphic Overrides tab).

■ Show Demo + New. Shows demolished elements and all new elements added
to the building model.

■ Show New. Shows all new elements added to the building model.

■ Show Previous + Demo. Shows existing elements and demolished elements.

■ Show Previous + New. Shows all original elements that were not demolished
(Show Previous) and all new elements added to the building model (+ New).

■ Show Previous Phase. Shows all elements from the previous phase. In the first
phase of a project, existing elements are new to that phase, so applying the
Show Previous Phase filter causes no elements to be displayed.

NOTE To show all elements from all phases, do not apply a phase filter to the view.

Phase Status
Each view can show one or more phases of the construction. You can specify different
graphic overrides for each phase status.

■ New. Element was created in the phase of the current view.

■ Existing. Element was created in an earlier phase and continues to exist in the
current phase.

■ Demolished. Element was created in an earlier phase and demolished in the

current phase.

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■ Temporary. Element was created and demolished during the current phase.

Annotating
Placing Dimensions
The Dimension tool lets you place permanent dimensions on components in your
project or family. You can select from aligned, linear (horizontal or vertical projection of
a component), angular, radial, or arc length permanent dimensions.

Placing Aligned Dimensions

You can place aligned dimensions between 2 or more parallel references or 2 or
more points, such as wall ends.

1. Click Annotate tab ➤Dimension panel ➤ (Aligned).

Options are Wall centerlines, Wall faces, Center of core, and Faces of
core. For example, if you select wall centerlines, the cursor first snaps to
the centerline of a wall when you place it over the wall.

2. On the Options Bar, for Pick, select Individual References.

3. Place the cursor at a reference point on an element, such as a wall.

The reference point highlights if you can place the dimension there.

TIP You can cycle through the different reference points for walls by
pressing Tab. Intersections of internal wall layer boundaries provide

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references for aligned dimensioning. A gray square reference displays at

any intersection of internal wall layers.

4. Click to specify the reference.

5. Place the cursor on the desired location of the next reference point, and
click.

As you move the cursor, a dimension line displays. You can continue to
select multiple references, if desired.

6. When you have reached the last reference point, move the cursor away
from the last component and click.

The permanent aligned dimension displays.

Placing Linear Dimensions

Linear dimensions are placed between selected points. The dimensions are
aligned to the horizontal or vertical axis of the view. The selected points are
endpoints of elements or the intersection of references (for example, the join of 2
walls).

You can use arc end points as references when placing linear dimensions.

Horizontal and vertical dimensions are available in the project environment only.
You cannot create them in the Family Editor.

The following illustration shows horizontal and vertical linear dimensions on an

irregular-shaped building.

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1. Click Annotate tab ➤Dimension panel ➤ (Linear).

2. Place the cursor at a reference point on an element, such as a wall or a
line, or at the intersection of references, such as a join between 2 walls.

The reference point highlights if you can place the dimension there. You
can switch through the different reference points of intersections by
pressing Tab.

3. Click to specify the reference.

4. Place the cursor on the desired location of the next reference point, and
click.

As you move the cursor, a dimension line appears. You can continue to
select multiple references, if desired.

5. After selecting a second reference point, press Spacebar to align the

dimension to the vertical or horizontal axis.
6. When you have reached the last reference point, move the cursor away
from the last element, and click.

The dimension displays.

Placing Angular Dimensions

Angular dimensions can be placed on multiple reference points sharing a
common intersection. You cannot drag the dimension arc to display a full circle.

1. Click Annotate tab ➤Dimension panel ➤ (Angular).

2. Place the cursor on a component and click to create a start point for the
dimension.

TIP You can switch the reference point for the dimension between a wall
face and a wall centerline by pressing Tab.

3. Place the cursor on a component not parallel to the first, and click.

TIP You can select multiple reference points for the dimension. Each
element you are dimensioning must pass through a common point. For
example, to create a multiple-reference angular dimension among 4
walls, each of the 4 walls must pass through a common point.

4. Drag the cursor to size the angular dimension. Select the sector where you
want the dimension to display:

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Wall join with 4 distinct sectors

5. When the dimension is sized properly, click to place it.

Placing Radial Dimensions

1. Click Annotate tab ➤Dimension panel ➤ (Radial).
2. Place the cursor on the arc and click.

A temporary dimension displays.

TIP You can switch the reference point for the dimension between a wall
face and a wall centerline by pressing Tab.

3. Click again to place the permanent dimension.

Text Notes
You can insert wrapping or non-wrapping text notes, which are measured in paper
space and automatically scale with the view. For example, a 1/4" text note indicates
that the text note will display as 1/4" high on a sheet. If you reduce the size of the view
scale, the text automatically resizes.

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Adding Text Notes

1. Click Annotate tab ➤Text panel ➤ (Text).

The cursor changes to the text tool .

2. On the Format panel, select a Leader line option:

■ No Leader (default)

■ One Segment

■ Two Segments

■ Curved - to change the curve shape, drag the elbow control.

TIP When you place a text note with a leader, the last leader point snaps to all
possible leader attachment points from nearby text notes. When you place a
text note without a leader, it snaps to the text origins from nearby text notes or
labels. Origin is a point that depends on the text alignment (left, right, or center).

3. Select a left attachment point and a right attachment point.

NOTE The default attachment points are top left and bottom right, but you can
change the defaults.

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4. Select a horizontal alignment (Left, Center, or Right).

5. Do one of the following:

■ For non-wrapping text. Click once to place the note. Revit Architecture
inserts a text box in which to type.

■ For wrapping text. Click and drag to form a text box.

■ For a text note with a one-segment or a curved leader. Click once to

place the leader end, draw the leader, and then click the cursor (for non-
wrapping text) or drag it (for wrapping text).

■ For a text note with a two-segment leader. Click once to place the
leader end, click where you want to place the leader elbow, and then
finish the leader by clicking the cursor (for non-wrapping text) or dragging
it (for wrapping text).

6. (Optional) On the Format panel, select attributes for the text: Bold, Italic, and
Underline (or press Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, or Ctrl+U).
7. (Optional) To create a list in the note, click (Paragraph Format), and select a
list style.
8. Enter text, and then click anywhere in the view to finish it.

The text note controls remain active so that you can change the note’s position
and width.

9. Press Esc twice to end the command.

Tags
Use the Tag tool to attach a tag to a selected element. A tag is an annotation for
identifying elements on a drawing. Properties associated with a tag can display in
schedules. The following image shows door tags, window tags, and room tags.

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Applying a Tag By Category

Before attempting this procedure, load the necessary tags for elements that need a
tag. For example, if you need to tag an item of furniture, load a furniture tag.

1. Click Annotate tab ➤Tag panel ➤ (Tag by Category).

2. On the Options Bar:

■ To set the orientation of the tag, select Vertical or Horizontal.

After you place the tag, you can change its orientation by selecting the
tag and pressing Spacebar.

■ If you want the tag to have a leader line, select Leader.

■ Specify whether the leader should have an Attached End or a Free End.

■ If desired, enter a value for the length of the leader in the text box next
to the Leader check box.

3. Highlight the element to tag, and click to place the tag.

After the tag is placed, it is in edit mode and can be repositioned. You can move
the leader, text, and tag head arrow.

Symbols
A symbol is a graphic representation of an annotation element or other object. Symbols
are sometimes referred to as tags. For example, the following symbol legend identifies

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the annotation symbols that are used in a set of construction documents. Revit
Architecture also uses symbols for moment frames, cantilever connections, and other
elements.

Use the Symbol tool to place 2D

annotation drawing symbols into the
project.

Modifying Symbols
You can modify the appearance of symbols through their properties. You can change
properties before or after you place the symbol.

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To edit symbol properties, do one of the following:

■ Select the symbol, and use the Properties palette to modify instance properties.

■ Select the symbol, and on the Properties palette, click (Edit Type), to modify
type properties.

Detailing

Detail Views
A detail view is a view of the model that appears as a callout or section in other views.
This type of view typically represents the model at finer scales of detail than in the
parent view. It is used to add more information to specific parts of the model.

Creating a Detail View

You can create a callout from a plan, section, or elevation view and then add detail
components while using the model geometry as a base. When you create a callout or
section detail, you can reference another detail or drafting view in the project.

The following is a general procedure for creating a callout or section detail from a Revit
Architecture view.

1. Do one of the following to activate the view creation tool:

■ Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤ (Callout).

■ Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤ (Section).

2. From the Type Selector, select Detail View: Detail.

3. On the Options Bar, select an appropriate detail scale.
4. To reference another detail or drafting view, on the Options Bar, click Reference
other view, and select a view from the list.
5. Choose 2 points on the plan view to define where the section is cutting.

NOTE If this is a callout view, select the area to include in the callout view.

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6. On the Properties Palette on page 32, for Display Model, select Halftone, and
click OK.

Model elements in the callout view display in halftone, allowing you to visually
see the difference between the model geometry and added detail
components.

Sample callout with halftone roof, ceiling, and wall for background

7. Click Annotate tab ➤Detail panel ➤ (Detail Line).

8. Sketch along lines of the halftone elements or use them as part of your detail.

As you sketch lines, the cursor snaps to the model geometry in that view.

9. Sketch lines that provide applicable construction details.

10. If desired, create filled regions.

You might create a region to show concrete, grass, or sealant. As you sketch the
lines for the region, you can change the line style on the Properties Palette by
selecting a different value for the Subcategory property. For example, you might
want the region boundary to have invisible lines.

11. Add detail components to the detail.

12. If desired, add text notes, dimensions, and symbols.

Sample details created with Revit Architecture detailing tools

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Drafting Views
During the course of a project, you may want to create details in a view that are not
directly associated with the model. Rather than create a callout and then add details
to it, you may want to create detail conditions where the model is not needed (for
example, a carpet-transition detail which shows where carpet switches to tile, or roof-
drain details not based on a callout on the roof).

You create this unassociated, view-specific detail in a drafting view. The drafting view is
not associated with the model. In a drafting view, you create details at differing view
scales (coarse, medium, or fine) and use 2D detailing tools: detail lines, detail regions,
detail components, insulation, reference planes, dimensions, symbols, and text. These
are the exact same tools used in creating a detail view. However, drafting views do not
display any model elements. When you create a drafting view in a project, it is saved
with the project.

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Creating a Drafting View

1. Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤(Drafting View).
2. In the New Drafting View dialog, enter a value for Name, and select a value for
Scale.

If you select Custom, enter a value for Scale value 1.

3. Click OK.

The drafting view opens in the drawing area.

4. In the Project Browser, expand Drafting Views to see the newly created drafting
view listed.
5. To create the drafting view, use the detailing tools on the Annotate tab.

The detailing tools include Detail Lines, Insulation, Masking Region, Filled Region,
Text, Symbol, and Dimension.

Detail lines
The Detail Line tool has the same line styles as the Line tool, but detail lines are view-
specific, like detail components and other annotations.

Detail lines are drawn in the view’s sketch plane. They can be used to detail a view with
part of the model visible, such as in a wall section or callout. Or detail lines can be used
in a drafting view to draft lines with no reference to the model. Some examples of detail
lines in a drafting view are signage or typical details that have no reference to the
model.

You can also use detail lines for tracing over underlay elements.

1. Click Annotate tab ➤Detail panel ➤ (Detail Line).

2. Sketch lines as appropriate.

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Preparing Construction Documents

Construction Documents Overview
Construction documents are the records that you share with clients, engineers, and
construction professionals to communicate a design. For example, clients need to see
floor plans, elevations, and 3D drawings of the design for approval. Engineers from other
disciplines will want to see those drawings, as well as more detailed drawings, to help
them understand the building model and how it affects their work. Construction
professionals need all of these drawings, as well as schedules and material takeoffs, to
build the design.

A construction document set (also called a drawing set or a sheet set) consists of
several sheets. Each sheet contains one or more drawings and schedules for the
building design.

Sheets
In Revit Architecture, you create a sheet view for each sheet in a construction
document set. You can then place multiple drawings or schedules on each sheet.

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Adding a Sheet
1. Open the Revit project.
2. Click View tab ➤Sheet Composition panel ➤ (Sheet).
3. Select a title block, as follows:
a. In the New Sheet dialog, select a title block from the list.

If the list does not show the desired title block, click Load. In the Library
folder, open the Titleblocks folder, or navigate to the folder where the title
block resides. Select the title block to load, and click Open.

Select None to create a Sheet without a title block.

b. Click OK.
4. Enter information in the title block of the sheet.
5. Add views to the sheet.
6. Change the default number and name that Revit Architecture assigned to the
sheet. The sheet number and name display in the Project Browser under Sheets
(all).

NOTE To track printing times, Revit Architecture displays a date and time stamp
on sheets. To format the display of this stamp, modify the regional and language
settings on your computer.

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Title Blocks
A title block is a template for a sheet. It generally includes a border for the page and
information about the design firm, such as its name, address, and logo. The title block
can also display information about the project, client, and individual sheets, including
issue dates and revision information.

Creating a Title Block

1. Click ➤New ➤ (Title Block).
2. In the New Title Block dialog, select one of the predefined title block sizes, or
select New Size.rft to create a title block with a new size. Click Open.

The Family Editor opens.

3. Add lines and text to the title block.

You can also add the following to a title block:

■ Images or corporate logos.

■ Custom fields.

■ A revision schedule.

4. To save the title block, click ➤ (Save). Specify a location and file name,
and click Save.
5. Load the title block into a project.

Viewports
When you add a view to a sheet, a viewport displays on the sheet to represent the
view. The viewport is like a window through which you can see the actual view. If
desired, you can activate the view and modify the building model from the sheet.

A viewport on a sheet

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Creating a Viewport Type

The following procedure assumes that you have created sheets in a project, and
placed views on the sheets.

To create a viewport type

1. Open a sheet.
2. Select a viewport for a view on the sheet.
3. On the Properties palette, click Edit Type.
4. In the Type Properties dialog, click Duplicate.
5. In the Name dialog, enter a name for the new viewport type, and click
OK.
6. Complete the parameters for the viewport type.
7. Click OK.

Revit Architecture applies the new viewport type to the selected viewport.

Applying a Viewport Type

After creating a viewport type, you can apply it to viewports on sheets in a
project. The following procedure assumes that you have created sheets in a
project, placed views on the sheets, and created one or more viewport types.

To apply a viewport type to a view on a sheet

1. Open a sheet.

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2. Select a viewport.
3. In the Type Selector on the Properties palette, select the viewport type to
apply to the viewport.

Modifying Viewport Type Properties

1. On a sheet, select a viewport.
2. On the Properties palette, click Edit Type.
3. Edit viewport type properties.

View Titles on Sheets

Modifying a View Title on a Sheet

The following procedure assumes that you have created sheets in a project, and
added views to the sheets.

To modify an individual view title

1. Open a sheet.
2. Select the viewport for the view whose title you want to change.
3. To change the view title on the sheet, do either of the following:

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■ Rename the view. This method changes the name of the view in the
Project Browser and on the sheet.

■ Change the view title. This method retains the current view name in the
Project Browser, but specifies a different view title to display on the sheet.

a. Select the viewport.

b. On the Properties palette, under Identity Data, for Title on Sheet,
enter the view title to display on the sheet.

If you want to change the display attributes for the view title, create or
modify a view title type.

4. To change the length of the horizontal line that displays with the view title, do the
following:
a. Zoom in on the view title until you can clearly see the blue drag controls.

NOTE Be sure that you have selected the viewport for the view on the sheet. If
you try to select the view title without selecting the viewport, the blue drag
controls for the horizontal line do not display.

b. Drag the controls to shorten or lengthen the horizontal line.

If you want to change or omit the horizontal line in a view title, create or modify a
viewport type.

Schedules on Sheets
You can place schedules on sheets in a construction document set. The same schedule
can reside on multiple Sheets.

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Adding a Schedule to a Sheet

Revit Architecture displays a preview of the schedule at the cursor.

3. Move the schedule to the desired location, and click to place it on the sheet.
You can modify the schedule after placing it on the sheet. In the sheet view,
right-click the schedule, and click Edit Schedule.

Sheet Lists
A sheet list is a schedule of the sheets in a project. A sheet list can also be referred to as
a drawing index or a sheet index. You can use a sheet list as a table of contents for a
construction document set. The sheet list is typically placed on the title sheet.

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Creating a Sheet List

1. In a project, click View tab ➤Create panel ➤Schedules drop-down ➤ (Sheet
List).
2. On the Fields tab of the Sheet List Properties dialog, select the fields to include in
the sheet list.
3. (Optional) To create user-defined fields, click Add Parameter.
4. In the Sheet List Properties, in the Fields tab, select Include elements in linked files
to associate any number of placeholder sheets with the Project Browser. Click
OK.
5. Specify the remaining schedule properties using the Filter, Sorting/Grouping,
Formatting, and Appearance tabs.
6. Click OK.

The resulting sheet list displays in the drawing area. In the Project Browser, it displays
under Schedules/Quantities.

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4
Visualization
Workflow:
Rendering,
Walkthrough, Exploded
Isometric Drawings, and
Solar Studies

You can use Revit Architecture to generate a real-time rendered view of a building model
using the Realistic visual style, or you can create a photorealistic image of the model using the
Rendering tool. Revit Architecture renders 3D views with various effects and content, such as
lighting, plants, decals, and people. The real-time rendering view displays realistic materials
and textures. Either of these rendering styles can be used to present the design to clients or
share with team members.

Renderings Workflow
In Revit Architecture, the process of rendering a 3D view is as follows. (The first 4 steps can be
performed in any order.)

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1. Create a 3D view of the building model.

2. Specify render appearances for materials, and apply materials to model elements.
3. Define lighting for the building model.

■ If the rendered image will use artificial lights, add them to the building model.

■ If the rendered image will use natural light, define sun and shadow settings.

4. (Optional) Add the following to the building model:

■ Plants

■ People, cars, and other entourage

■ Decals

5. Define render settings.

6. Render the image.
7. Save the rendered image. (You can opt to Save the Rendered Image as a Project View
or Export the Rendered Image to a File)

Walkthrough Overview
A walkthrough is a camera that follows a path that you define. The path comprises frames and
key frames. A key frame is a modifiable frame where you can change the direction and
position of the camera.

A walkthrough path might look something like the following image. The red dots indicate key
frames.

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By default, walkthroughs are created as a series of perspective views, but you can also create
them as orthographic 3D views.

Creating a Walkthrough Path

1. Open a view in which to place the walkthrough path.

NOTE Typically, the view is a plan view, but you can also make a walkthrough in
other views, including 3D, elevation, and section views.

2. Click View tab ➤Create panel ➤3D View drop-down ➤ (Walkthrough).

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3. If desired, on the Options Bar on page 32, clear the Perspective option to create
a walkthrough as an orthographic 3D view. Also select a view scale for the 3D
view.
4. If you are in a plan view, you can vary the height of the camera by offsetting it
from a selected level. Enter a height in the Offset text box and select a level from
the From menu. This can give you the effect that the camera is going up a flight
of stairs.
5. Place the cursor in a view, and click to place a key frame.
6. Move the cursor in the desired direction to draw the path.
7. Click again to place another key frame. You can place key frames anywhere,
but you cannot change their position during creation of the path. You can edit
the key frames after you finish the path.
8. To finish the walkthrough path, you can do any of the following:

■ Click Finish Walkthrough.

■ Double-click to end the path.

■ Press Esc.

After you finish placing camera key frames, Revit Architecture creates a walkthrough
view under the Walkthroughs branch of the Project Browser on page 26 and assigns it
the name Walkthrough 1.

Editing a Walkthrough Path

1. In the Project Browser, right-click the walkthrough view name, and select Show
Camera.
2. To move the entire walkthrough path, drag the path to the desired location. You
can also use the Move tool.
3. To edit the path, click Modify | Cameras tab ➤ Walkthrough panel ➤ (Edit
Walkthrough).

You can select which control in the path you want to edit from the drop-down menu.
Controls affect the position and direction of the camera.

Dragging the Camera to a New Frame

1. For Controls, select Active Camera.

2. Drag the camera along the path to the desired frame or key frame. The
camera snaps to key frames.
3. You can also type the frame number in the Frame text box.

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4. While the camera is active and located at a key frame, you can drag the
target point of the camera and the far clip plane. If the camera is not at a
key frame, you can change only the far clip plane.

Changing the Walkthrough Path

1. For Controls, select Path.

The key frames become controls along the path.

2. Drag a key frame to the desired location.

Notice that the value in the Frame text box stays constant.

Adding Key Frames

1. For Controls, select Add Key Frame.

2. Place the cursor along the path, and click to add a key frame.

Removing Key Frames

1. For Controls, select Remove Key Frame.

2. Place the cursor on an existing key frame on the path, and click to
remove it.

Displaying the Walkthrough View when Editing

As you edit a walkthrough path, you may want to see the results of your changes
on the actual view. To open the walkthrough view, click Modify | Cameras tab ➤
Walkthrough panel ➤ (Open Walkthrough).

Exporting a Walkthrough
You can export a walkthrough to an AVI or image file. When you export a walkthrough
to an image file, each frame of the walkthrough is saved as an individual file. You can
export all frames or a range of frames.

To export a walkthrough:

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1. Open the walkthrough view.

2. Click ➤Export ➤Images and Animations ➤Walkthrough.

The Length/Format dialog opens.

3. Under Output Length, specify:

■ All frames to include all frames in the output file(s).

■ Frame range to export only a specific range of frames. For this option,
enter the frame range in the entry boxes.

■ Frames/second. As you change the number of frames per second, the

total time automatically updates.

4. Under Format, specify Visual Style, Dimensions on page 881, and Zoom to the
desired values.
5. .Click OK.
6. Accept the default output file name and path, or browse to a new location and
enter a new name.
7. Select the file type, either AVI or an image file (JPEG, TIFF, BMP, or PNG).
8. Click Save.
9. In the Video Compression dialog, choose a video compressor from the list of
compressors you have installed on your computer.
10. To stop recording the AVI file, click Cancel next to the progress indicator at the
bottom of the screen or press Esc.

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Export and Print

5
Exporting to DWG
1. Click ➤Export ➤CAD Formats ➤ (DWG files).
2. In the Export CAD Formats dialog, determine which views and sheets are to be
exported to the DWG file.

If you are exporting a single view, select Current View/Sheet Only from the Export list on
the View/Sheet Set tab.

If you are exporting multiple views and sheets:

a. On the View/Sheet Set tab, for Export, select In session view/sheet set.
b. Select the views and sheets to export.|

3. On the DWG Properties tab, specify export options:

■ Layers and Properties

■ Colors

■ Linetype Scaling

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■ Coordinate System Basis

■ One DWG Unit

■ Text Treatment

■ Solids (3D Views Only) on page 1129

■ Export Rooms and Areas as Polylines

4. Click Next.

NOTE To save the current export settings and close the dialog without exporting, click
Save Settings.

5. In the Export CAD Formats dialog, navigate to the target folder for the exported files.
6. For Files of type, select an AutoCAD version for the exported DWG file.
7. For Naming, select Automatic - Long (Specify prefix) or Automatic - Short to define the
automatically generated file name.
8. Optionally, to prohibit Revit Architecture from creating external references, clear Xref
views on sheets. Any Revit or DWG links in the project are exported to a single file rather
than several files that reference each other.
9. Click OK.

Revit Architecture exports the selected views and sheets to DWG files and places them in the
target folder.

When you export a 3D view to a DWG file, colors are treated as follows:

■ Edge colors: because they are not rendered in AutoCAD, edge colors are ignored on
export. This will result in correct shaded/realistic views (edge overrides will no longer be
assigned to the entire model).

■ Phase colors: color overrides on solid fills are supported on export, but color overrides
on patterns are not.

When you export a 2D view to a DWG file, lines are treated as follows:

■ If 2 lines overlap in the drawing, the thicker of the lines is retained. The thinner line is
shortened or removed.

■ If a thick line is shorter than a thin line and its start point and endpoint fall within the
thin line, no action occurs.

■ If 2 collinear lines with the same visual parameters overlap, they are merged into one.

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■ When walls become lines in the DWG file, no short collinear lines are produced.

Exporting a View to an Image File

When you export an image, Revit Architecture prints any view directly to a raster image file.
You can then use this image for online presentations or printed materials.

To export a view to an image file

1. Click ➤Export ➤Images and Animations ➤ (Image).

2. In the Export Image dialog, click Change to change the default path and file name for
the image, iif desired.
3. Under Export Range, indicate the images to export:
● Current window. This option exports the entire contents of the drawing area,
including parts that are outside the current viewing area.
● Visible portion of current window. This option exports whatever is currently visible
in the drawing area.
● Selected views/sheets. This option exports the specified sheets and views. Click
Select. In the View/Sheet Set dialog, select the views and sheets to export, and
click OK.
4. Under Image Size, specify image display properties:
● To specify a print size and orientation for the image, select Fit To and enter a pixel
value. For Direction, select Horizontal or Vertical. Revit Architecture fits the image
horizontally or vertically into the specified number of pixels.
● To magnify or reduce the image, select Zoom To and enter a percentage. Revit
Architecture prints the image at the specified zoom setting.
5. Under Options, select the desired print options:
● By default, links in the exported image display in black. To display blue links,
select View Links in Blue.
● To hide unwanted parts of the drawing in the exported view, select any of the
following:

Hide Ref/Work Planes, Hide Scope Boxes, Hide Crop Boundaries, and Hide
Unreferenced View Tags.

6. Under Format, select an output format for shaded views and non-shaded views. If you
specified a Zoom To percentage for Image Size, select a DPI (dots per inch) value for
Raster Image Quality.

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7. Click OK.

The selected sheets or views are exported as images in the specified file.

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Print
Print Setup and Print Preview
You can specify various options for a print job in Revit Architecture.

1. Click ➤Print ➤ (Print Setup).

Or, if the Print dialog is already open, click Setup.

2. In the Print Setup dialog, for Name, select the saved print settings to use, if any.
3. Under Paper, specify options for Size and Source.
4. Under Orientation, select Portrait or Landscape.
5. Under Paper Placement, specify where the view prints on the sheet.

If, for Offset from Corner, you select User Defined, enter X and Y offset values.

6. Under Hidden Line Views, choose an option to increase print performance for
hidden line views in elevations, sections, and 3D views.

Vector processing times vary depending on the number of views processed and
on view complexity. Raster processing times depend on the dimensions of the
view and on the amount of graphics. Vector processing typically produces much
smaller print files than raster processing.

7. Under Zoom, specify whether to fit the drawing to the size of the page or zoom to
a percentage of the original size.
8. Under Appearance, specify a value for Raster Quality.

This option controls the resolution of the raster data being sent to the print
device. A higher quality results in a longer print time.

9. For Colors, select an option:

■ Black Lines: All text, non-white lines, pattern lines, and edges print in
black. All raster images and solid patterns print in grayscale. (This option is
not available for publishing to DWF.)

■ Grayscale: All colors, text, images, and lines are printed in grayscale.
(This option is not available for publishing to DWF.)

■ Color: All colors in the project are maintained and printed, provided the
printer supports colors.

10. Under Options, specify additional print settings:

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■ View links print black by default, but you can choose to print them in
blue.

■ When printing, you can hide the following elements: scope boxes, work
planes, reference planes, and crop boundaries.

■ Hide unreferenced view tags. Select this option if you do not want to
print section, elevation, and callout tags that are not on sheets.

■ If views display some elements in halftone, you can replace the halftone
drawings with thin lines.

11. Click OK.

Selecting Views to Print

When you are printing project views or sheets, you can specify which views and sheets
are to be included.

To select views or sheets

1. Under Print Range or Range, select Selected Views/Sheets, and click Select.
2. In the View/Sheet Set dialog, select the views and sheets to print or export.
3. To quickly select all sheets or views, click Check All. Click Check None to clear all
selections.
4. To save this view/sheet set for later reuse, click Save As, and enter a name.
5. Click OK. If you have not named the view/sheet set, you are prompted to name
it.

NOTE You cannot transfer this view/sheet set to other projects.

To change a saved view/sheet set

1. Under Print Range or Range, select Selected Views/Sheets, and click Select.
2. In the View/Sheet Set dialog, for Name, select a view/sheet set name from the
list.
3. Add or remove the desired views.
4. Click Save.

NOTE If you click OK before clicking Save, your changes are not saved to the
selected view/sheet set. The first time you click OK, however, you are prompted
to save your changes to the modified set. If you click No, the changed settings

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are applied to the in-session set. Any future changes you make without saving
are also applied to the in-session set. These changes are lost when you exit the
Revit Architecture session.

To revert view/sheet set settings

1. In the View/Sheet Set dialog, for Name, select a saved set.
2. Click Revert.

The settings revert to their original saved state or in-session state.

To delete view/sheet sets

1. In the View/Sheet Set dialog, for Name, select a saved set.
2. Click Delete.

Printing to PDF
You can print construction documents to PDF (Portable Document Format). The
resulting PDF files can be shared with other team members, viewed online, or printed.
When printing multiple views and sheets to PDF, you can specify whether each view or
sheet is saved in a separate PDF file, or one PDF file contains all selected views and
sheets.

TIP You can also export construction documents to DWF. DWF files are smaller in size
than PDF files, and they can be easily shared with colleagues for online review.

To print to PDF

1. Click ➤ (Print).
2. In the Print dialog, for Name, select your PDF print driver.

If the list does not include a PDF print driver, talk to your system administrator
about installing one on your system.

3. Click Properties.
4. In the Properties dialog, define settings for the PDF print driver as desired, and
click OK.
5. To print only the sheet or view in the drawing area:

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a. Under Print Range, select Current Window to print the entire view or sheet
that currently displays in the drawing area, or select Visible Portion of
Current Window to print the part of the view or sheet that currently
displays in the drawing area.
b. Under File, for Name, specify the name and location of the resulting PDF
file. If needed, click Browse and navigate to the target folder.
6. To print multiple views and sheets:
a. Under Print Range, select Selected Views/Sheets.
b. Click Select.
c. In the View/Sheet Set dialog, select the views and sheets to print to PDF,
and click OK.
d. Under File, to generate a single PDF file that contains all of the selected
views and sheets, select Combine Multiple Selected Views/Sheets into a
Single File. To generate one PDF file for each selected view and sheet,
select Create Separate Files.
e. For Name, specify the name and location of the resulting PDF file. If
needed, click Browse and navigate to the target folder.

If you are generating multiple PDF files, the specified file name is used as a
prefix. It is appended with the names of the selected views and sheets.

7. If you are printing multiple pages and you want them to print in reverse order,
under Options, select Reverse Print Order.
8. To change print settings, under Settings, click Setup.
9. When you are ready to print, click OK.
10. Some PDF print drivers may display another dialog requesting a location and
name for the PDF file. Provide the information requested, and click OK.

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EXERCISE 1
TWO STOREY RESIDENTIAL PROJECT

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Add Property Line Using Bearings

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Input Deed Data:

S 71-00 E 11.24m to point 2

S 4-00 W 22.25m to point 3

N 90-00 W 24.00m to point 4

N 0-00 E 22.96m to point 5

N 79-00 E 15.20m to point 1

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EXERCISE 2
3-STOREY MIXED-USE BUILDING W/ 264 SQM BLDG
FOOTPRINT
The model should include the following:
● Facade facing South
● 7000mm width RROW at South side
● 36.50m x 27m toposurface/terrain (4m highest elevation, 0m lowest elevation)
● 10m x 22m podium next to RROW (with building pad)

● 22m x 12m building dimensions (on stilts; Level 1 is 2m from the NGL)
● 3m height for each floor
● 1 stair access on northwest side of the building
● 150mm floor slab per floor
● 2 types of Generic Wall (200mm and 150mm)
● At least 2 types of doors (1 for commercial spaces and 1 for toilet)
● 600 x 600 concrete column size (*Beams are optional for this exercise)

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● 1 Storefront Curtain Wall and door for each commercial space

● 1 rooftop / roof deck with railing (stair access with 2% sloped roof)
● Balconies on each floor with Pipe Railing
● Add PWD ramp if necessary
● Add people, vegetation, and basic furniture layout

Requirements:
● Sheets
○ Site Development Plan
○ Floor Plans (Dimensioned and annotated with wall, floor, and window tags)
○ Elevations and Section/s
○ 3D view / ISO drawing
○ 1 detailed diagram of the building (exploded with paths)

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