topic Re: Isolate elements by Material in Revit Architecture Forum

Isolate elements by Material

SamuelAB — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 15:11:47 GMT

I am looking to give tools for people to visually hunt down bad materials in their model, specifically "default" materials. I know it is possible to make a schedule of all the "default" elements, but I was wondering if it is also possible to make a view that only shows elements with default materials in them?

I've tried using the view filters with no success so far.

Thank you,

Sam

Re: Isolate elements by Material

constantin.stroescu — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:39:48 GMT

I think you can do it using Multy Category Material Takeoff Schedule.

Use only three Fields , one of them (Comments ) is for creating One selection from a group of materials..

At last use Temporary Hide/Isolate for isolating the selection...

For a better understanding have a look at my screencast:

Re: Isolate elements by Material

Karambaki — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:43:41 GMT

Yes it is,

Do the exact steps :

-In the project browser create a new material take off schedule, choose <Multi Category>

-Add only material name to the fields, it will be enough for the trick

-In the filter tab, filter by material name, make it contains > Default
Because all the default materials are default roofs.. default walls,,, default floors...etc they all have the word default
This will make the schedule only have the elements with default materials in them

-Go to sorting and grouping, remove Itemize every instance checkbox, you will result with a single white empty field in the schedule,

-Just click on that empty box, go to a 3D view or any view you want, you should see them selected,

-If you lost selection, press right click > select previous, now you save that selection, in the save selection option near the filter in the contextual tab,

-Use that saved selection in any way you would like to.

If something doesn't make sense please let me know, so I can capture a screencast for you.

Greetings,
Karam

Re: Isolate elements by Material

Karambaki — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:46:43 GMT

Constantin, I kill you man, we have to agree about the timing of posts hhhhhh, I was just writing and saw yours submitted before mine 😛

Re: Isolate elements by Material

constantin.stroescu — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 17:16:59 GMT

ha, ha, it happened also often to me....what can I say ....only that I had to wait a lot for the screencast to be processed by Autodesk Screencast Recorder....sometimes it works so slow....

Constantin

Re: Isolate elements by Material

SamuelAB — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 17:22:54 GMT

Thanks for the quick response. It's not exactly what I was looking for, but it did make me realize that I could select all the scheduled element and they would be selected in 3D. I thought I was only able to select one at a time when I last tried.

Here is my workflow.

Select View>Schedules>Material Takeoff
Rename the Schedule “Default Materials”
Add the “Family and Type” and the “Material:Name” Fields
Add a Filter for “Material Name” equals “Default”

What I was asking for in the initial question was the ability to create a view that would only show the Default materials automatically using the Visibility Graphics. Just something more streamlined that helps you monitor live projects graphically. Schedule are not always ideal.

If you can think of any way to do it with the Visibility Graphics Filter, let me know.

Thanks again.

Sam

Re: Isolate elements by Material

Karambaki — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 17:30:15 GMT

Well after you selected them, save the selection as I mentioned above, you can override them in VG from adding them in the filter tab,
You cannot create a view and isolate them directly, but is simple as a matter of isolating the selection after saving it. That's it

But note you might need to update the selection save each time you add new elements with no materials,

Re: Isolate elements by Material

constantin.stroescu — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 19:00:00 GMT

You can continue making a Filter to use with VGO...

Re: Isolate elements by Material

SamuelAB — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 20:27:42 GMT

What I don't like about this solution is that it is not automated. I'd like to open the view at anytime and see the delinquent materials without any manual processing. The schedule is the next best thing for now, I don't think Revit currently offers what I am seeking.

It does not make sense for me to manually input "Default" in the comments when the information is already available in the materials. The filter is useless to me unless it is automated. I'm not sure why Autodesk does not allow to highlight by materials yet.

Re: Isolate elements by Material

constantin.stroescu — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 20:52:46 GMT

in this case I believe you need Dynamo ore API...