External wall finish material legend. I can't seem to make one?

[Anonymous]

I'm having real trouble with something that I think is very likely simple. 

I have a building elevation were the finish bricks are arranged into several colours and textures. I want to create a legend that specifies the exact make and model of the bricks to the builder so he creates the correct pattern.

When I create a new legend and select one my wall build-ups from the component element list, I only have the option for section or plan view. I don't have elevation/front view available. 

I realise I can create regions within the legend and replicate the hatch\colour combination used on the brick materials, but this seems very time consuming and the data won't be linked, so I'd have to change both if I make a change to the appearance the hatch on the model. This method will work as a workaround, but doesn't seem very "Revit"

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Gav

[Anonymous]

I'm having real trouble with something that I think is very likely simple. 

I have a building elevation were the finish bricks are arranged into several colours and textures. I want to create a legend that specifies the exact make and model of the bricks to the builder so he creates the correct pattern.

When I create a new legend and select one my wall build-ups from the component element list, I only have the option for section or plan view. I don't have elevation/front view available. 

I realise I can create regions within the legend and replicate the hatch\colour combination used on the brick materials, but this seems very time consuming and the data won't be linked, so I'd have to change both if I make a change to the appearance the hatch on the model. This method will work as a workaround, but doesn't seem very "Revit"

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Gav

[Lance.Coffey]

Hello Gav (@Anonymous), thank you for the question!

The limitation on view direction is specific to Wall elements. For example, a Window could be viewed in Front/Back elevation views, while a Wall has only Section and Plan view options.

There is an Idea posted here requesting a change in this: Legends capabilities

      If you would like to see this idea implemented, please vote it up!

While I was searching on the Ideas board, I found a related post with a possible workaround for your situation: Plan View Legend Components for Floors & Roofs

      This involves creating Generic Model families with the desired material applied. If your wall pattern/color is controlled by a material in Revit, then changes to the material would update both the wall and the Generic Model family used to represent the wall in the Legend.

[Lance.Coffey]

Hello Gav (@Anonymous), thank you for the question!

The limitation on view direction is specific to Wall elements. For example, a Window could be viewed in Front/Back elevation views, while a Wall has only Section and Plan view options.

There is an Idea posted here requesting a change in this: Legends capabilities

      If you would like to see this idea implemented, please vote it up!

While I was searching on the Ideas board, I found a related post with a possible workaround for your situation: Plan View Legend Components for Floors & Roofs

      This involves creating Generic Model families with the desired material applied. If your wall pattern/color is controlled by a material in Revit, then changes to the material would update both the wall and the Generic Model family used to represent the wall in the Legend.

[Anonymous]

The amount Revit relies on "Work arounds" to perform simple everyday
tasks is still staggering to me. This is not cheap software!

Trying to persuade people to use Revit because it's better is almost
impossible. People, like myself are only using it because we're forced
to by industry. Industry that went in the Revit direction because nonCAD
using CEO's were spun a tale of how amazing it is. Each annual release
is just sharpening the edge of a blade that is too bent to use.

I'm continuously disappointed in Revit

[Anonymous]

The amount Revit relies on "Work arounds" to perform simple everyday
tasks is still staggering to me. This is not cheap software!

Trying to persuade people to use Revit because it's better is almost
impossible. People, like myself are only using it because we're forced
to by industry. Industry that went in the Revit direction because nonCAD
using CEO's were spun a tale of how amazing it is. Each annual release
is just sharpening the edge of a blade that is too bent to use.

I'm continuously disappointed in Revit

[Lance.Coffey]

Hello @Anonymous, thank you for the update!

I am sorry to hear that you are repeatedly encountering roadblocks in your usage of Revit. I am definitely familiar with this feeling!

In this case, I think there is a conflict between expected usage and desired usage. I.e. The front/back of the walls wasn’t seen as something that would need to be displayed in legends (and as a result view orientation in legends was limited to plan/section views for walls), but in your case you have a detailed pattern on the face of walls that you want to communicate to the builder (in a legend).

In this situation, when requesting changes to how Revit behaves (Legends capabilities) I think it is especially important to include details around the workflow that is being used (beyond just the desired feature). Part of this would be to convey the value of the change, but also to potentially influence other changes that would be in alignment with the overall workflow, beyond the single requested change.

Regarding the method of working around the current design limitation, have you been able to test creating a family (Generic Model -> Create Extrusion -> Apply Material -> Load into project) to see if this could give you the results you are looking for?

[Lance.Coffey]

Hello @Anonymous, thank you for the update!

I am sorry to hear that you are repeatedly encountering roadblocks in your usage of Revit. I am definitely familiar with this feeling!

In this case, I think there is a conflict between expected usage and desired usage. I.e. The front/back of the walls wasn’t seen as something that would need to be displayed in legends (and as a result view orientation in legends was limited to plan/section views for walls), but in your case you have a detailed pattern on the face of walls that you want to communicate to the builder (in a legend).

In this situation, when requesting changes to how Revit behaves (Legends capabilities) I think it is especially important to include details around the workflow that is being used (beyond just the desired feature). Part of this would be to convey the value of the change, but also to potentially influence other changes that would be in alignment with the overall workflow, beyond the single requested change.

Regarding the method of working around the current design limitation, have you been able to test creating a family (Generic Model -> Create Extrusion -> Apply Material -> Load into project) to see if this could give you the results you are looking for?

[emodderman]

Could you just create an elevation view of that wall and hide unnecessary categories? then the pattern will be "live"... you can annotate how you wish to direct the builder.

[emodderman]

Could you just create an elevation view of that wall and hide unnecessary categories? then the pattern will be "live"... you can annotate how you wish to direct the builder.

[r741218]

Check BIM Blender. Found it by Googling "Revit is sh*t".

Autodesk is a monopoly. It will not get better. Toposolid with separate subscription and no more Toposurface for us is only the beginning.

[r741218]

Check BIM Blender. Found it by Googling "Revit is sh*t".

Autodesk is a monopoly. It will not get better. Toposolid with separate subscription and no more Toposurface for us is only the beginning.