Groups - when, if at all, to use it? Other best methods for typical floors

[GRZEGORZ_PLECHAWSKI]

Hi I'm a nooby to Revit and got confused with groups when reading a chapter in "Mastering A-desk Revit 2020" about groups. I am working on a residential building that is basically symmetrical and has several typical (with slight differencies) recurrent floors.

Now, I read that best practice for groups is NOT to:

1. use attached relationships (for example attaching walls to levels or hosts such as floors and roofs) or

2. not to mirror them (!).

In my situation - symmetrical / mirrored building with repetitional apartments and levels what would be the best solution?

I tried to create groups for appartments (also mirrored) and external walls but several issues occured. For example my elevations are almost identical at every level but for some faces on the walls. When i use paint option - i am only able to paint the group I edit, and thus, the rest of the levels would be painted in the same manner (another issue is connected with cut face, but nvm that right now). And I don't want that ;/. I want every level to be the same BUT for painting...

And also if I cannot attach walls from those grouped appartments with floors - then why would I bother with groups anyway? Or what is the workaround for that? What would be the best practice for me?

Thanks in advance.

[Ahmed_Muharram]

i don't prefer using groups use copy and paste to selected levels from modify tab

[barthbradley]

My question to you is WHY GROUPS?   Why have you adopted this mindset?  Before I as on outside contractor would even  condone such thing, I would need a whole lot more information from you. Care to share?  

[GRZEGORZ_PLECHAWSKI]

well, I got like 3 or 4 types out of 16 apartments within a building floor. Some of them are mirrored. 6 floors/levels. If I change 1 - I'll get the job done with the others in no time. Same goes with floors. That's about it concerning mindset. Worked great with cad drawings...(blocks)

[bimscape]

Seems a sensible / logical approach to me

[GRZEGORZ_PLECHAWSKI]

Thanks for reply - You mean grouping approach? If so - how to deal with issues mentioned above?

[Anonymous]

You could consider using links rather, but exclude the exterior walls and floors from the link, and use the main model for the exterior walls.  Each link instancew can be controlled individually, or mirrored if required.