Revit Cookbook - Southeast Missouri State University

Revit Cookbookby Bryan BowersWritten January, 2012Updated February, 2015Revit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 20150

Table of ContentsOutline – One Day Revit Workshop . 2Introduction . 3Program Interface and Workspace. 3Zooming / Viewing Model . 4Tool and Command Operation . 4File Naming Notes . 4Project Browser . 5Initial Notes on Functions and Tools . 6Datum Elements and Building Components. 7Building Components and Their Properties . 7Levels . 8Grids . 11Drawing and Editing Practice . 12Revit 2012 – Steps to Draw a Simple House. 1910 Revit Tips . 40Selecting Objects . 41Revit Review Questions . 42Dimensions . 43How to Create a Foundation Wall and Add Footings . 48How to create Soffits . 53How to Create a Sheet (for Printing) . 58Other Commands . 62Rendering . 62Seek . 62Sections . 62Layouts . 63Additional Learning Resources . 64Two Favorite Web Sites . 64Additional Web Sites . 64Dealer Led Training. 64Revit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 20151

Outline – One Day Revit WorkshopWorkshop is hosted by Technology Resource Center at Southeast Missouri State UniversityInstructor – Bryan Bowers, (573)651‐2649 office or (573)450‐2614 cellIntroduction Program Interface and WorkspaceZooming and ViewingProject BrowserDatum Elements and Building Components Building Components and PropertiesLevelsGridsDrawing and Editing ToolsCreating a Simple Model Creating walls and modifying wall stylesAdding components – Doors, Windows and plumbing fixturesCreating a Roof and CeilingCreating Various Views – Inside Elevation and 3D perspectiveDimensioningAdditional Learning Resources SeekLayouts and Other View CommandsRevit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 20152

IntroductionProgram Interface and WorkspaceOn the screen shot above identify the following: Application menu (letter R)RibbonsTab NamesPanelsOptions BarProperties PaletteProject BrowserView Control BarScale ControlRevit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 20153

Zooming / Viewing Model Mouse Wheel ‐Pan, Zoom, Orbit Compass Steering WheelTool and Command OperationRevit will stay in a tool or command until you select another command. Pressing escape does notexit the command; it will usually restart the command. Most functions used will be on the homeribbon.To select objects or components you will use the modify tool (I often call this the pick button).File Naming Notes Revit Projects have the extension RVT Revit templates have the extension RTE.Templates are the starting points for projects. When starting a new Revit project you shouldalways use a template. Backup files have the 001, 002, 003 within the name and so on. These are great if things goreally bad, but in general you should never open them.Revit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 20154

Project BrowserIn Revit we are creating a computer model of our building. Instead of drawing I like to think of aRevit project being more similar to building model cars from kits when I was a kid. The projectbrowser is a key feature that list the different views of you model. In other words the model is builtonce, but we can have as many different views as we want. Below are some screen shots showing aportion of what we can see.In addition to views the project browser has a Rendering section and Schedule section and a Sheetssection. The Sheets are the link from the views to hard output of the plans.Revit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 20155

Initial Notes on Functions and Tools1.If the Project Browser is not shown, how would you turn on Project Browser?2. Explain how you would temporarily hide objects in a view.3. Explain how to unhide hidden objects.4. Undo Command – Where is it located and what does it do?5. Most commands will be located in the Ribbon.6. If I cannot find command I am looking for it is most likely in the Ribbon.Revit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 20156

Datum Elements and Building Components Building ComponentsLevelsGridsFor this section open the project named West Street Video located in S:\bbowers\Revit Workshop.Next open two windows. One showing the South Elevation and the other showing a 3D view. Yourscreen should look something like this:Building Components and Their PropertiesWe will look at various components and hide items to view different components for the building.Once you have selected an item you can view its properties. In properties window you can selectEdit Type to view its type properties and its structure makeup.Revit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 20157

Mini Exercise 1: Select one of the exterior walls and answer the following questions:What is the Base Constraint?What is the Top Constraint?How thick is the Wall?What material is the wall made of?How did you find the answer to the last two questions?LevelsLevels control the vertical placement of components in the Model. Virtually every component youplace in the project will be associated with a level.Mini Exercise 2: Edit level height and view component relationships:1.In the South Elevation view, click on the 18’ (height) for the T.O.M. level and change it to32’ and pressenter.2. Note how wall heights change in both the elevation view and the 3D view3. In the 3D view hide various components until you can see the concrete floor.4. Select the floor. Your properties window should look similar to below, note the component.5. Change the Height Offset to some silly number such as ‐6’ and click Apply.Revit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 20158

Creating LevelsFor the next exercise we will create some new levels. All functions and commands in Revit workvery similar. This means that the steps we learn now will be very similar to commands that we uselater on.Additional note on Levels: In general, when we create a new level we are also creating a new floorplan view with the same name. For example, if we create a level named “2nd Floor” we will alsohave a Floor Plan View name “2nd Floor”.Levels can be created by copying an existing level and renaming it or by drawing a new level. Mypreference is to draw a new level ‐ the mini exercise below will create two new levels and show twomethods to draw them.Mini Exercise 3: Create New LevelsPart 1 – Using the Line ToolWe will start the exercise in the South Elevation1.Maximize the screen.2. Click the Architecture tab and then pick on Level in the DatumpanelSide Note ‐‐ Key Revit PrincipalAs soon as we select the Level command the draw panel appears.This is fundamental to how Revit works. The menus and interface will change based on the toolyou are currently using. So when drawing Levels two choices exist:Line ‐ You will pick a starting and ending point for the level line.Pick Line – You will pick an existing level and Revit will mimic that level.Later when we are drawing walls and other objects you will notice many more choices will beavailable in the Draw panel.Revit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 20159

3.Pick the Line command in the Draw Panel4. Draw the line from left to right above all other levels5. Pick on level name to rename it and pick on level height tomake it an even numberPart 2 – Create a level with the pick toolAt this point you should still be in the level command if not you will need to pick it again.1.Select the Pick tool in the Draw Panel2. Set the Offset on the option bar to 10’3. Pick on the highest level line (point should be slightly above line to get the offset to go up).A new level is now createdExtraa.Have text and level mark appear on other sideb. Adjust position of text for levelRevit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 201510

GridsGrids (and Levels) are annotation elements. That means they are not part of your actual model, butmodel components can be referenced to them. A very good example of this is having a columnplaced at the intersection of grid lines, this column can be attached to the intersection. The Grid(and Level) consists of two main parts: The reference line and the header text. Using Grids is highlyrecommended for commercial buildings.Mini Exercise 4 – Working with GridsPart 1 – Adjust label positionsBefore starting double click on the “Level 1” Floor Plan in the Project Browser1.Pick on one of the Grid lines2. Pick and hold on the hollow circle, just below the label3. Drag down the label.Part 2 – Move a Grid line1.Pick on one of the interior grid lines2. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to change the position of the grid line. Notice how thecolumn moves with the grid line, but the wall that was wrapped around the column doesnot move.Part 3 – Create a new Grid Line1.Select the Architecture tab, then pick the Grid tool in the Datumpanel2. Pick the Line tool and draw a grid line between 2 existing grid lines.3. After picking the second point you can adjust the position of the grid line using temporarydimension.Note: Typically the grid would be set up at start of project, so we are just experimenting to get afeel for the grid linesRevit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 201511

Drawing and Editing PracticeThe following exercise will give us a better feel for the different drawing and editing tools. We willsee different drawing options with the Wall command and then we use some of the modifycommands to make adjustments.Drawing and Editing ExercisePart 1 – Draw WallsFirst start a new project, using the default template. Then use the save button and using name it[your initials]Drawing Exercise1.Go to the application menu2. Select New and thenselect Project3. In the New Project window select Browse and then pick on the default template4. Go to the home ribbon and select Wall in the Build panel5. In the properties window select the wall type asGeneric – 12”6. Pick the Rectangle Tool in the Draw panelRevit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 201512

7. On the screen drag out a rectangle, whose size is approximately100’ x70’. After clicking the second corner. Pick on thetemporary dimension and change them to excatly 100’ by 70’ .8. Select Wall in the Build panel and then select the Line tool in the Draw panel9. Draw a horizontal line through the midpoints of the two vertical lines10. Select the Pick Lines tool and change the offset to 8’11. Place a wall 8’ above the middle line. Ifdoing correctly a dashed blue line willappear above the middle line.12. Now we will draw a line that is 16’ from the West wall.Select the Line tool in the Draw panel. Change the offsetdistance to 16’ on the Options bar. Now pick the centerlineat points shown on adjacent figure.Note: After you have picked the first point you should see theline being drawn to the right of the exterior wall. If it is not hitthe space bar.Revit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 201513

13. Select the Circle tool in the Draw panel. Pick the midpoint of the middle wall and draw acircular wall with a radius of 12’. After this your project should look something like thepicture below:14. Select the Door tool in the Build Panel. Select any type of Single door15. Place the Door as shownRevit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 201514

Part 2 – Modify Tools – Editing Walls1.Select the top of the circle and press the delete button.2. Pick the Modify ribbon. Select the Split Element tool3. Pick near the center of the circle.This will split the wall into 2 walls4. Select the Trim / Extend to Corner tool5. Pick at points shown:6. Repeat picking points on other sideAfter steps 5 and 6 your walls should look similar to the following:Revit Cookbook, Copyright 2012, Bryan Bowers, September 17, 201515