2d toilet family masking region problem

[seutaojiang]

hi i am a new user of revit, and I have a question here:

I am trying to build a very simple 2d toilet family to use in floor plans. in the family, I draw a masking region, hoping to use it to mask the floor tile lines  when I use it in projects. But this mask region will not mask anything when I load this family into the project. I googled for an answer, and I actually found a section below:

Adding a Masking Region to a 2D Element in a Model Family

If you create a model family that only contains 2D elements (for example, a 2D toilet fixture) and you want to apply a masking region to the 2D element, you must include an invisible line to represent the Z dimension, which is where the masking region is drawn. The invisible line must be drawn above the level and must be a minimal length (such as 1/8”) so that the masking region does not obscure any other elements in the view.

Could anybody explain it in plain English? how can  an invisible line  represent the Z dimension?    How can i draw this masking region so that I can use it to block the tile lines in project?

Thanks in advance!!!

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

Why not use the OOTB 2D Toilet? It has a Masking Region that will hide floor tiles.

Go tho an Elevation View in the Family and Window-Select around the center base of the Toilet. It will highlight an Invisible Model Line that is 1/4". That's what the instructions you posted are speaking about.  

[seutaojiang]

thanks for your reply!  I know there are a lot of families I can use out there, but I want to know how to do it myself.

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

Here. Look at the attached File, and look for this in Elevation: 

[seutaojiang]

it works great!  are there anything special about the masking region in this file?  why is not my masking region masking anything?

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

Post your file and I'll have a look. 

[seutaojiang · Accepted solution]

thank you very much!!!  Please see the attached file, it is a very simple file, just a 2d toilet and also a mask region, which does not mask anything, unfortunately,

Tony

[Corsten.Au · Accepted solution]

Hi

masking may not work when the floor is little above level...

[seutaojiang]

hi  Ganesh,  that is not the problem. I checked and the toilet floor is level @ 0.00 high.  

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

What the heck!  I was gone 5 seconds to inspect your toilet, and before I can post a response, @Corsten.Au gets the solution!  

[seutaojiang]

?? i am a new user of this forum. Is there any difference who's solution is accepted?

[seutaojiang]

actually ganesh's solution does not work for me. I just thought it is polite to accept a help.

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

You don't have the Model Line we talked about.  Put one in there and it works great. 

BTW: you were being very polite. Thank you. I'm just busting @Corsten.Au's balls. All in good fun. 

...see attached

[Corsten.Au]

You may create a 3d extrusion as shown in the uploaded file..

this should work smoothly..

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/63xhviudnnv0d0f/AACSLcIPVUuIQTubg66HJzKea?dl=0

[seutaojiang]

yes it works!  I add a little line there and the mask begins to work. Thank you very much!

Tony

[Corsten.Au]

@barthbradley what can I say  🙂 ...its so hard to resist to post in reply...am sure you understand... Cheers!

[seutaojiang]

thanks!  another tutor told me to draw a little line in Z direction then it worked. Please see his post. to do an extrusion also should work.

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

BTW @seutaojiang: the family I attached has the Model Line drawn 260 in the "Z" direction (Elevation View).  It doesn't need to be that long. You can shorten it. I just drew it long so you could easily find it.  

Good luck!!!

[seutaojiang]

yes it works! revit can be mysterious sometimes...  but because of you guys it is a fun experience using it.  Thanks again!