Design Options - On/Off and Simultaneous

[ctough]

Hi all,

I work for an architectural firm in England and have been given the task of creating a working architectural template. I’ve already implemented ‘phasing’ into the template, which shows the existing residential dwelling and then the proposed, which shows the extension added on, the end result.

Sometimes we have projects that require two separate planning applications, 1. Permitted Development 2. House Holder Application. This means that the model has to be split up into three separate files, removing one application from the other whilst having a master set which displays both options/applications together – this can be time consuming and quite confusing having phasing views etc. I’ve tried adding an additional phase but phasing works on a linear timeline and doesn’t enable me to turn options/applications on/off and have both displayed simultaneously. I’ve also tried ‘Options’ but get the same result.

What I want to achieve and what my question is, how does I go about creating two options (or more) and be able to turn them on/off individually and also have them both displayed simultaneously? So three options all in one model/file:

Option 1 – Permitted Development

Option 2 – House Holder Application

Option 3 – Entire proposed project showing both Options/Applications

Please excuse the long winded post but this requires some explanation.

Screenshot attached to help with what I’m after.

Thanks in advance.

[benschilders]

What we at our firm sometimes do in this situation is adding a custom parameter (YES/NO). 

For example create the 3 options as 3 yes/no parameters (instance), add those to filters 
and apply those filters to your likeing on your viewtemplates or views. 

This way you could decide to show option 2 and 3 at the same time or 1 and 3 for example. 

This is just a soulution i know that works for us, perhaps somebody else knows a better one using Design options. 

[ctough]

Thanks for your response.

Is what you're referring to called an 'Instance'? I'm not familiar with this method but it sounds like it could work. Where would I find this on the toolbar?

[benschilders]

You are Welcome 🙂 Just gonna mention again that this is just a soulution we use, maybe other people will have better ones. 

1. create a project parameters (option 1, option 2 and option 3) (YES/NO) (for all needed categories)
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/Revit-M...

2. create filter's (option 1, option 2, option 3):

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/Revit-D...

3. Add filters to viewtemplate's:

If you want i could make some screenshots of this method but i think with the autodesk explanation and youtube you should be able to make this work. (Also you will learn the use of filters). 

[ctough]

Awesome, thanks! That'll keep me busy. And completely agree, it'll be best for me to learn how to use filters myself.

[ToanDN]

Are these 'options' different design schemes or different development stages?

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

I'm wondering why you don't just set up Dedicated Views for your Design Options.  I mean you could have the Main Model Elements and one Design Option Visible in those Views.  You can then apply whatever VGOs you want to those Dedicated Views. 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/Revit-M...

[benschilders]

@ctough If it really are diffrent design's (for example having multiple door sizes in the same place) i think @barthbradley  soulution is way better then the option i gave you.

If the anwser to @ToanDN  question is that you have diffrent development stage's i think that 
phases is the way to go.  You can perfectly set this up in your template, showing "options" just seperate or showing them all toghether and so on. 

[ctough]

I've explored this avenue but as far as I'm aware, I can't have two options displayed at the same time to make my master set.

[ctough]

They could essentially be both.
Sometimes we may have a design brief that presents two options to the client.
Other projects may require the drawing to be split into two separate applications or development stages as you put it. This when we have to split the drawings up.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

You can certainly show either or both or none of the options using Design options. I will give you an example when I get to the computer.

[ctough]

BINGO! That's it! Thanks so much. I was previously assigning Option views via the 'Active Design Option' drop down menu and not through the 'Design Options' tab in 'Visibility/Graphics like you've demonstrated.

Thanks for you assistance, I knew there was a way! Thanks to the others for chipping in too 🙂

[barthbradley]

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@ctough wrote:
BINGO! That's it! Thanks so much. I was previously assigning Option views via the 'Active Design Option' drop down menu and not through the 'Design Options' tab in 'Visibility/Graphics like you've demonstrated.

Thanks for you assistance, I knew there was a way! Thanks to the others for chipping in too 🙂

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Yes, that's exactly what I was talking about in message #7. Dedicated Views for your Design Options. Did you read that message? I even included a link. Did you go to it? 

This one: 

Dedicate Views to a Design Option | Revit 2019 | Autodesk Knowledge Network

[ctough]

Apologies. You did indeed explain this. I read and opened the link but dismissed it as I thought I had tried this method. A lack of experience my end didn't help.
The example that ToadDN sent really helped me understand the process.