Here are some Revit Tips & Tricks you may or may have yet learned. Enjoy!
Tip #1: Keyboard Shortcuts…where are they and how to custom them
The keyboard shortcuts can be found by going to the View Tab of the Ribbon, Windows Panel, User Interface, and choosing Keyboard Shortcuts.
In the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box, you can search for any command, use filters to see only specific commands such as “All Not Defined,” and then change/remove/add any shortcut you want. For example, I created a shortcut called “CI” to associate with “Close All Inactive Views.” This makes it faster to close all the other views you are not working with currently.
Tip #2: Save Frequently Accessed Folders to Places
When you open a file, in the Open dialog box, you can save frequently access folders to the “Places” section. This makes it easier to get back to that location quickly. To do this, start the Open command in Revit. Within the Open dialog box, navigate to the folder you want to “save.” Then, in the lower left corner click the “Tools” flyout and choose “Add Current Folder to Places.” Rinse and repeat for other folders. You can also sort those saved locations by dragging them up or down the list with your left mouse button. If you wish to remove them, just right click on the location and choose “Remove.”
Tip #3: Define a Pivot Point when Rotating a View
When you are in a 3D view and you use the Shift and Middle mouse wheel/button to orbit, Revit will orbit the view based upon the center of the Revit model. This can be annoying when you want to orbit around a specific object or area. To change the pivot point when performing this action, just select the objects you want to focus in on first, then perform the Shift + Middle Wheel press to orbit. The orbiting will then center around just those objects.
Tip #4: Rotate Components with Spacebar when Placing Against Other Objects
When you place a component such as a chair or desk family in Plan view, Revit will allow you to rotate the object 90 degrees each time to press your spacebar before selecting where you want to place the family. If you have an object in the model that is at an angle or is curved such as a wall, Revit will rotate the component against that angled/curved object when you press your spacebar prior to specifying your final location.
Tip #5: Object Snaps and Override Usage
Object Snaps are located in the Manage Tab of the Ribbon, Settings Panel, Snaps Command. Within the Snaps dialog box, you can see all the snaps available such as Endpoint, Midpoint, etc. They are all turned on by default, but you can turn them off by checking the “Snaps Off” box in the upper left corner. You can also see the keyboard override shortcuts for those snaps such as SE for Snap to Endpoint, SM for Snap to Midpoint, SN for Snap to Nearest, etc. The snap override keys are very useful if you want Revit to only look at a specific snap. An example is when you are trying to create a wall and snap to an endpoint of an object but there is a point cloud file in the way.
Tip #6: Move, Align and Rotate Surface Patterns
Did you know that you can move, align and rotate surface patterns in Revit? If you wish to move a pattern, tab into the linework of the pattern and then use the Move command to specify where you want the pattern to go. It’s that easy! If you want to align your surface pattern to another object, use the Align as you normally would. Revit will pick up the linework so you can align easily. If you want to rotate your pattern, use the Tab function to select the pattern linework then use the Rotate command to specify the angle.
Tip #7: Rotate the Crop Region for Working with Angles Easier
Did you know that you can rotate the crop region of a view for easier working? Take the view you want to work with, duplicate it and then proceed to turn on your Crop Region in the duplicated view. Then, select the Crop Region and initiate the Rotate command. Specify the angle you want and voila…!
Tip #8: Use Filters in a View for Override Purposes
You can use filters on a view to enhance your view and specify specifics about your view. For example, you can create a view filter that emphasizes all walls that are 1 hour rated to be colored/hatched/filled-in solid in the view as opposed to non-rated walls. Open the view you want to work with. Select a wall type that is to be 1 hour rated. Specify the Fire Rating as “1 hr.” within the Type Properties of the wall. Next, open the Visibility/Graphics dialog box by typing in VV. Go to the Filters Tab and Click “Edit/New.” The Filters dialog box will open. Create a new filter called “1 hr. rated walls” with the Filter Rules set to Walls/Fire Rating/Equals/1 hr. Click OK to finish the create of the new filter. Apply this new filter to the view. Lastly, override the display of the lines/patterns in Cut to be solid/colored.
Tip #9: Use Starting View Upon Opening a File
You can have Revit use a specific view to open every time you open a file. Doing so allows Revit to open a quick view instead of a heavy 3D view that was last worked in. The Starting View can be a simple Drafting View that has basic texts such as “Today’s List of Tasks.” This will let the team know what is to be accomplished in the model for the day. To make Revit use the Starting View function, start by opening your Revit model. Navigate to the view you want to use as the Starting View (take note of the name). Alternatively, you can create a new Drafting View called “Starting View” and input your list of To Do items. Next, go to the Manage Tab of the Ribbon, Manage Project Panel, choose Starting View command. The Starting view dialog box will open. Select the view you want from the drop-down list. Click OK and you are set. Save the file. The next time you or anyone opens the file, this is the view that will show up.
Tip #10: Use Section Box to Isolate Content in a 3D view
When working in Revit, it is sometimes desirable to isolate just the content you want to work with within a 3D view. You can go to the 3D view and turn on the Section Box function within the Properties panel of the view. You can then push/pull the faces of the section box to make is smaller to isolate what you want. This method, although it works is a bit cumbersome. There is a better way. You can go to the Plan view of what you are working on. Then, make a window selection of just want you want to focus in on. From there, go to the Modify | Multi-Select Contextual Tab of the Ribbon. Go to the View Panel. Select the Selection Box command. The default 3D view will open up and it will automatically turn on the Section Box as well as adjust the size to fit just what you selected. This is much easier….!
Hope you enjoy these tips. If you know of anymore, reply so others can learn too. Thanks!
1 Comment
