Accepting Design Option deletes everything not associated to an option

[Anonymous]

I am very confused about what is going on with my design options.  The project I am working on is an apartment building (3 different buildings actually).  I have all 3 buildings as one model, since they are very similar except for a few small changes, so instead of modeling the building 3 different times, and making design changes to all 3 models I have them set up in one model with 3 design options.  Everything within the model is part of a design option.  I have gotten to a point that I want to split this into 3 different models.  I have all my main plans set to "Automatic" within the design options so when I "Accept Primary" my hope was that these views would not be deleted.  But when I accept the primary option all views that are set as "Automatic" are being deleted, and I do not have an option to uncheck them.  Whereas the views that are associated with another design option I can uncheck and not delete.  What am I doing wrong here? 

Thanks in advance! 

[Anonymous]

im not sure im following here. i think you might be leaving out some vital information about the steps you are taking. i cant replicate what you're saying...

if you are doing a save as in order to get your 'new' three models (all different) then you will need to change the primary (option 1) to one of the other options. then change 'automatic' setting in VG to the 'new' primary then 'accept primary'.

'automatic' - just means its looking at option-1 (default primary)

can you upload? R2015?

ps i always find it useful to have plans that are looking at each option - saves confusion

[Kimtaurus]

If you accept a primary option, Revit removes all other options in that option set.

Option Accept primary.JPG

When a view is associated with an option which will be deleted, Revit prompts a messages asking if you want to delete that view as well.

If you uncheck the view(s), the views remain in the project.

Option Accept primary delete view.JPG

[Anonymous]

Yes, I did a save as and create 3 Seperate Revit models, set my primary option to the correct building option, then tried to accept primary.  I have all views that are detailed and I wanted to stay set to "automatic" so they weren't tied to a design option in hopes that they wouldn't be deleted, and so I wouldn't have to have 3 different floor plans, 3 different elevation views, 3 sets of interior elevation views, 3 roof plans, 3 ceiling plans, 3 sets of units plans, etc etc etc.

My problem is, when this dialog box you are talking about comes up, everything that is grayed out in the attached image are the views that are not associated to a design option and I do not want deleted. I am not given the option to not delete them. 

I tried setting up a new project, drew 3 very basic design options, created 3 floor plans tied to each design option, and 1 that is set to "automatic", then accepted primary and my view set to "automatic" is not being deleted.  So I am very confused as to why they are being deleted in my apartment project and I can't choose not to delete them. 

I assume I will have to go back to my main model and create everything 3 times from the way it looks then split it, which is not very efficient. 

[Anonymous]

'automatic' in this context just means - primary option (option-1 by default unless you change it in VG!)

if you havent made any other option primary (in your 'simple' project) then <automatic> will be option-1 which wont be deleted

if all of your plans in your apartment project are looking at <automatic> then you are only seeing one option????? in all the 'different' views - the primary option is the only one you will be seeing

when you have 3xdifferent floor layouts (however slight the difference) surely you need 3x plan drawings. and so 3xdifferent eveything?...... No?

this is exactly what design options is for - and all of these can be held within one model........BINGO! Kerching $$££''s

if you make 3xseparate models then any changes <<outside>> the option differences - within the main model - will need to be replicated through all three models. why would you want to do that to yourself?

[Anonymous]

This is the way the architect wanted it done. 

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

haha - bless.....

to go back to your original Q......

if you set the views in your original apartment model to the option you want to see - NOT <automatic>

then do the save as...

then go to each model and make primary (a different option for each model)

then accept primary

this will save you a bit of time (especially if you have all the sheets set up! before you do the split)..... however any changes to what used to be the main model thereafter will need to be replicated in each model

now you will have three separate models with different plans etc - careful with your drawing numbers!!! because the sheet numbers will just be carried through - and so you will end up with different drawings with the same sheet numbers (maybe thats what your architect wants as well ;-))

you could do it with linked models - might save you a bit of time replicating the changes. where the 'main model' is one link.... and the changes are each separately linked into it? may have problems with joining walls etc?

anywhich way - as soon as you come out of design options you're creating a management nightmare for yourself. well your architect is creating a management nightmare for you...... ;-(

good luck

[Anonymous]

Design options cannot be used as design iterations. They are made to show varied possible configurations for the SAME element/area. If you want multiple instances, linked models are the best way to go. Build a "carcass" model of the common elements and then link models with the variations to it. Note that any walls in the carcass cannot be joined natively with walls in the variant models, you will need to find a way to either annotate or detail those joins if that is a factor that matters to you or the architect.

For future reference, understand that Revit is a database driven software. For that reason, everything it allows you to do is named appropriately so that you understand what data is being driven by your design. If you cannot find the exact tool you need to accomplish something, hijacking another one will almost invariably result in models/schedules that either cannot be reproduced consistently, are difficult to adjust or modify, or differ from the intent.

[barthbradley]

You say: "everything within the model is part of a design option".  Could you explain what you mean by this? 

You say: "I have all my main plans set to "Automatic" within the design options so when I 'Accept Primary' my hope was that these views would not be deleted." 

A value of Automatic indicates one of two things: 1) When no design option is being edited, the view displays the primary option, or 2) When a design option is being edited, the view displays the active option. "Accept Primary" is an editing mode option.  If you promote a secondary option to Primary, any view that is set "Automatic" will change to reflect that primary option you choose. NOTHING IS DELETED.

To prove this to yourself, set up a view for each Design Option you have. In each of those views, go to Visibility and Graphics:Design Option and change "Automatic" to the name of a Design Option. Each view should now represent a different Design Option. 

Now go into edit design options and promote a secondary option to primary.  Close out of editing mode and check out your different views. They all still show the Design Option you set for that view. 

[Anonymous]

I will try this option out, seems like it would save me some time.

I am having issues where, for some reason, when I have Set "Building #1" to my primary option, then accept as primary, it is deleting quite a decent number of views tied to my design option "Building #1" for example, all of my unit ceiling plans are being deleted even after I have set them to design option "Building 1" 

I knew this was going to be a mess at the end, I just didn't expect it to be this much of a mess! ugh (and as usual they want plans ASAP!) 

Thanks for your help! 

[Anonymous]

I think I will just copy this model 3 times, set the primary in each to the correct building, and leave all design options in there.  That seems to be the easiest and quickest way to handle it.  Thanks for the idea! 

[Anonymous]

not sure whats happening with your options - something definitely not right??!! i admire your pragmatism..... just get it done = right or wrong!

it took me a long time to get my head round design options and all the while i thought they were a torture sent by the devil - now i have grown to love them!