Ever seen a file with what appears to be a nest of levels going every which way? Levels represent a plane, and the plane only shows up where it is drawn. If it does not cross through a view, it will not show up in that view. Levels also define where plans are set. Floor plans, ceiling plans, structural plans and area plans are all defined by a level. They do not have to have a plan related to them; they can just define a height for something like a parapet. Levels that define a view of any type show up blue and if double clicked on Revit will open that view. If the level head is black, then there are no views related to that level. They can also define boundaries for some Revit objects such as a wall that can be set to start at one level and go up to another. Let the height of either level change and the wall adjusts accordingly.
This example, although just a small building, shows how levels can get a bit out of control. Some of these may not be necessary but they could at least have been set up so it is not such a mess. The 3D view shows where each level’s plane is defined.
The elevations show the levels locations also.
Some of these levels may not be necessary and can just clutter the drawings. This is apparently a restaurant, but is it necessary to have level for “Bar Top” or “Table Top” set up? Is “Ceiling” a necessary level? Please tell me they are not setting up the ceiling based on that level.
Something else that can happen is that a level gets drawn in a section and then it only crosses a narrower section of the project. For example, the team has decided to place a level called “Rowlock” in the project. Joe placed one in the wall section he was working in.
Joe drew this from left to left to right and the company’s template has the head of the level to go to the second pick point. Joe also did not unselect the option to Make Plan View while drawing the level. The Plan View Types… show the plans that would have been created automatically.
Now Bob is also working in this model and he is in another wall section. He does not see Joe’s “Rowlock” level so he assumes that it has not been created. He then created “ROWLOCK” level and like Joe he also created plans to go along with his level.
There are now plans related to two different “ROWLOCK” or “Rowlock” levels in the project.
Another thing to consider is that in ever section or elevation that crosses those planes created by the level lines there will be clean up to put the level heads all to one side. This mistake is easy enough to fix in this small project but if this were a much larger project it can go unnoticed for a long time.
Now for the solution to all of this, quick and easy. Do not draw levels ever again.
If there is a need for a level use the Pick Line option instead of drawing a line and do this in an elevation where the true extents of the levels are shown, not in a section view. Doing this will have the level match the same boundaries as the one picked. The head of the level will match and be locked with the others. The extents of the level will match. Don’t forget to stop by the Options bar and set for plan views or not and also set the distance for the offset. When using Pick Line be sure to check which side of the line being picked to put the new level in the direction it is needed.
Much cleaner look and level heads will always be lined up together.
Donnia Tabor-Hanson aka CADMama
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