Generic Annotation - Symbol - Lines do not snap

[EricWiens]

Hi,

We are creating SLD blocks for Revit using "symbols".  We are having trouble with the symbols and being able to snap to lines in the symbol while drawing in a detailed view.When using a detailed view we can place the symbol but only the reference lines from the origin are snapable.  In the family I have selected the lines  that I want to snap to while detailing and made sure that the proprties of the line "Reference" = Strong Reference and this does not seem to help.  This is very annoying as our symbols need several snap points in various locations. 

I have seen some references to Revit 2010 etc, but nothing regarding Revit MEP 2014.

Any suggestions?

[CoreyDaun · Accepted solution]

If you are aiming to create components to be used in details and diagrams, create them as Detail Items. Generic Annotations are designed to symbolically represent a Family and possesses an annotative behavior. Due to this, one cannot reference anything except for the origin planes of a Generic Annotation. If you could, then your dimensions would drastically change (and likely becomes invalid) if the drawing scale should change.

[send2hamilton]

It turns out that masking region and filled region boundaries are "snappable" in generic annotations.  You can outline the area you woudl like snappable for more functionality.  Note that labels show up over a filled region but other lines do not (they appear to show up in the family editor but they disappear when loaded into a project).  One option is to create a "blank" filled region set to transparent so that just the outline exists.  The only way I could find to create the "blank" region was to make a custom .pat file consisting of a single white dot with maximum spacing in x-y directions.  Blank pattern is attached if interested.

[send2hamilton]

It's worth considering when weighing pros/cons of creating an annotation vs. a detail item is that detail items can be keynoted.

[EricWiens]

Yes, we tried out detailed items.  It appears to work.

Another interesting problem is going to be text size.  We may start the schematic off at 1:1 but then may change it to 1:10 or something to make it fit better on the page.  The text stays the same size.  This is an issue when the SLD get's so big that it almost fits on one page, and you need an another inch of paper to make it all fit.  In CAD it's easy just to tweak the scale a bit to make it fit.  Tweaking the scale is way better than creating a second page.  Our single line diagrams can be fairly large and we always try to make then fit on one page as long as they can be easily read.  Sometimes we have to use two pages, but that is rare.  I guess we work on fairly large complex buildings a lot, but not the gigantic ones.

[cdeel]

This worked for us! Thank you.

[dannett2B232]

So is there a way to turn a Generic Annotation into a Detail Item or do I have to explain to my employer that I wasted an entire day and a half creating a library of schematic symbols that are functionally useless?

[fabiosato]

Hello,

Unfortunatelly not, Generica Annotation are made in their real size in sheets, on the other hand Detail Items are made to represent the real size.

So when you change the scale of the view, let´s say from 1:50 to 1:100, a Generic Annotation will get bigger, while Detail Item will keep its size.

[jeremy.colombe]

This is a great idea and it is what I am doing. Using a blank pat file worked like a charm. Then you can load the same GA families into your 3D entities to have the same schematic representation on your plans as your schematics 😉

[scott_dakin2]

Wasting a day and a half doing something in Revit is nothing. You'll waste much more than that later on. 😂

You mean the employer that has not put you on a training course to teach you how Revit works?

I wouldn't feel bad for them at all tbh...

[jeremy.colombe]

I don't see this type of stuff gets covered or absorbed in training courses. Theres all kinds of easter eggs and efficient tips that I learn solely from forums and the internet. I am the only Revit MEP Certified person in my area as far I know and Revit is only really catching on in the last three to four years here although I have been doing projects in Revit for almost ten.

I don't feel bad bad I just feel bad because I am always on the search to be more efficient. 🙂

[jeremy.colombe]

I have found the biggest problem with GA nested symbols, you can't filter! If you use Detail Items you can 

[clebson.pinheiro]

Parabéns pela solução !! 

[jeremy.colombe]

Back down this rabbit hole. What is everyone doing for an as built stamp? 

I want a symbol to insert on sheets which has snapping lines and the ability to move around to a blank location on the sheet.

If I use a detail item I can't add it directly to a sheet only as a legend which removes the abilty to snap lines.

Generic Annotations cannot snap.

Next solution I will try is adding the symbol directly to the title sheet family with a multi position parameter.

Any other ideas?

[jhamiltonCMTA]

My preferred method is to put the Record Drawings language directly in the title block where the stamp was.  This way you don't have to find a blank spot for it on every sheet.

[jeremy.colombe]

Mine too but not our standard

[curtisridenour]

you can add Reference Planes to a legend so it snaps on to the edges of the title block 

[curtisridenour]

what do you mean by Generic Annotations cannot snap? i just created a generic annotation that snaps to my title block just fine.

[jeremy.colombe]

Only the origin planes. You can't have all sides of a box snap

[jeremy.colombe]

OooooooI didn't realize that!!! Thanks!!