Create Separate Food Service Drawings

[PhilvK]

Would creating a new project and inserting the main project file as a link be the best way to create food service equipment drawings for a project?  I don;t want to burden the main file. What template would be the best to use?

[RDAOU]

If you have 1000 piece of equipment or if you think it is cool to have linked models sure.

If not place in the same model on workset which is open in only the plan view for food service. That reduces the load and lag you are worried about.

Template for the family: which to use depends on how you want the behavior. GENERIC would be my first choice considering their advantage with respect to view range. A more complex would be to mix specialty equipment nested as shared into a generic. This will give you the best of both categories. Scheduling as specialty equipment and visibility as generic.

Template for the linked project: Also depends on the visibilty behavior you expect when linking to your model. Food Service equipment fall under Architectural hence I would suggest using Architectural. If you use a Mechanical Template they would be half toned.

PS: Keep in mind, people need 1 less model to manage. Image every discipline want their furniture in a linked model 🙂

[barthbradley]

Sure. Maybe model the families in the "Specialty Equipment.rft" and insert into a Project started with the "Default.rte".  

[PhilvK]

RDAOU - I've never worked with a workset but will look up how

Barthbradley - I don't see a Specialty Equipment Template in the template list. In any case, I don't want to insert the Food Service equipment back into the  file I am using for the building, or am I misunderstanding you?

Thank you both.

[barthbradley]

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@PhilvK wrote:

am I misunderstanding you?

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Maybe I'm understanding you. What do you mean by: "What template would be the best to use?"  

...or maybe the question should be; What do you mean by: "I don't want to burden the main file" ? 

[RDAOU]

@PhilvK 

You work solo on the model? Not a workshared? ie: No central model and Workset never been enabled under collaborate tab?

@barthbradley  he meant template for the project which the food service equipment will be in. 

• I would go for Architectural if they are linked into a Mechanical Project 

[PhilvK]

RDAOU - Correct

Barthbradley - For eample, when I create an HVAC plan for a project (for coordinating only), I create a new project using the mechanical template and insert the main project into it just as one would load a dwg file to be used as a background xref in Autocad. At least I think that's the process since I do not do it regularly. 

[RDAOU · Accepted solution]

@PhilvK 

Use Architectural Template if the Families are modeled using an Architectural Family template (example: Specialty Equipment)

1. Linking into the Mechanical Model and having (under Visibility Graphics) the link display set to by host or by Link will half tone the Food Service equipment of the Architectural Model
2. Linking into the Architectural Model and the Link Display is to By Link, you would have the option to have the equipment display in Full Tone as per architectural views while the mechanical Link can be half toned or displayed as per mechanical link

If they (the food service equipment) are Mechanical equipment, then it wont matter much you can use a Mechanical Template same which you are using for your main model

[PhilvK]

This sounds like what I am after which is for the facility info to be screened / half-toned background, and the equipment to be full lineweight.

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

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@RDAOU wrote:

@barthbradley  he meant template for the project which the food service equipment will be in. 

• I would go for Architectural if they are linked into a Mechanical Project 

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What the heck does the "Discipline" name given to the rte have to do with anything the OP is asking?  He could use "Wet Porn.rte" if he wants.  The OOTB "Default.rte" is fine too.     

[PhilvK]

All I am trying to do is create a separate file that I can work on placing and arranging food service equipment accurately with respect to walls, counters, bars, etc.  I would like to be able to plot views and sheets so that the Food Service Equipment is displayed prominently with the facility elements shown as a light background. If it was an Autocad project, I would xref the floor plan into the file, change it to plot as screened and take it from there.

I asked about the what template to use because if I was doing this for HVAC, I would start with the Mechanical template for the 2nd file. I just thought having the FSE separate would help in not creating a huge Revit file and was looking for advice on good ways to achieve this.

[barthbradley]

Use whatever RTE you want. It doesn't matter. Heck, use another Project to start a New Project if you want.  

BTW: I notice that there are 2 of @RDAOU  's posts that you did not mark as Solutions.  Was this intentional?  

[ToanDN]

Architectural

[PhilvK]

I never know what the proper etiquette is for marking 'accepted'. All are good responses.