Masking a Repeating Detail Component

[TrevN]

Hi,

I've been trying to create a repeating detail component to try and replicate my AutoCAD line types. We have a lot of utilities line types, water, gas, elec etc that we need to re-create in Revit!

I can create the text in a detailed family template easily enough, however I want to mask the "text" with a background and cannot get it to work.

Is there a way I can add a masking background to my repeating detail?

Thanks

[AJA14]

Hi,

Not sure what you're trying to achieve but you can simply make your text have an opaque background in the type properties. Otherwise, I may have misunderstood.

By the way, there is a line family online that you can download and use. Just change the text in the instance properties and done.

Regards,

[TrevN]

It's not actually text, it's a repeating component.

[David_W_Koch]

And what is in the repeating component?  Text or a Label?  If so, use a text or label type that has an opaque background, as Ali Al-Hammoud suggested.

[TrevN]

The repeating component is a AutoCAD import of some text. I have tried Revit text but that does not work.

I have followed a guide up to a point, but now that Revit does not allow you to create a region (hatch) with no pattern I cannot get my repeating pattern to have an opaque background.

I am using Metric Generic Model Pattern Based.rvt template.

[AJA14]

Hi,

Try this.

Create a generic annotation family with a masking region inside. You may add some parameters to make changes in the project. But because this is an annotation family, it will rescale in the project. If you don't want that to happen, create another family using a detail item template and load your family into it.
You need to make sure you check the shared parameter in the family properties of the annotation before nesting it.

Regards,

[TrevN]

How do you get it to see it as a Detail Item?

I try to add this to a Detail Repeat Component, but because it's in the Annotation Family I can't get to pick it.

[Alisder.Brown]

TrevN

If i understand correct, this the type of thing you are looking for? Or along theese lines (See attached family)

It is a detail component with editable text, spacing, start/end offsets and backround border size.

Down side to this is you will need to manually change the size of the border if you have large words, or smaller/bigger text. (It also scales with the view scale so might need some manual manipulation if used in different views with various scales)

Hope this helps

[AJA14]

I don't think you followed.
1- Create an annotation family with a masking region and parameters.
2- Load it into project and use it or go to step 3 for a nonscalable family.
3- Make the family above shared.
4- Create another detail item family.
5- Load your annotation family into the detail item family.
6- Load your detail family into the project and use it.

Regards,

[damo3]

AJA14, the family you speak of that can be downloaded online, I think I have that and i just posted a problem I am experiencing with it, perhaps you know? The problem is, the text has opaque background which is supposed to conceal the line behind it, which in Revit, it does. But when printed to PDF... the line can be seen a strikes through the text. Know why by chance? 

[damo3]

ah nevermind, just worked it out. The nested text needs to be changed to 'shared'. effects size, but thats ok. 

[TrevN]

AJA14,

I can follow your 6 points and I can see that the Detail has come into my project however, when I try and make a repeating pattern the detail does not appear!

I have tried to create a new repeating pattern and replace the detail in an existing pattern that works but the new detail never appears?

Any ideas?

[AJA14]

Hi Trev,

If possible, post the family and an image of what you're trying to achieve and I'll take a look at it when I have a chance.

Tip for another time (Try it): Nest your detail family into a line based family.
Create an array. Add some formulas. Now you have a line based family with a repeating component in accordance with your array, and you can keynote it.

Regards,

[TrevN]

Attached.

All it should look like is:

--------S&T---------S&T---------S&T---------

Thanks for your help.

[Alisder.Brown · Accepted solution]

This?

You will need to change the size of the border using the instance parameters but it works how you want i think. (You may want to change the line type and text size) 

Annotate > Detail component > "family" 

Its a line based detail item, you can make any changes via the instance parameters

Hope this helps

[TrevN]

Brilliant, just what we need.

Thanks

[TrevN]

alisder,

This does work great but I want to change the text from S&T to something else. Everytime I try it says there are errors.

I'm not sure how you created the array link to correct this?

Cheers

[Alisder.Brown]

Strange, it works fine for me... see attached.

Place the line in the project, select it, and change the instance property for "Sys Text" to whatever you want. It shoudl work, i tried it on a few machines and works on every one. 

When exactly, and what are the errors you are getting? What are you doing precicely?

Or are you trying to recreate the family yourself?

[TrevN]

Sorry should have made that a bit clearer!

Yes, works fine in a project but what I would like to do is create a new family and change the text so it doesn't come out as S&T everytime. 

When I try and change the sys text from S&T I get error messages and constraints.

Being new to revit and not quite seeing how you created the family in the first place I think I'm missing something!

Again thanks for the help.

[Alisder.Brown]

Ah okay

So, when you are in the family, you want to change the parameter value for the "Sys Text". To do this, follow theese steps:

1. Inside the family, go to the "Create" or "Modify" tab in your ribbon
2. On the very left hand side, click the "Family types" button 
3. Change the VALUE for "Sys Text (default)" to whatever you want it to be by default , Apply, OK then save.

I just ran through this process and works fine.

Hope this helps