Mass placed in Site file is transparent when linked into Building file

[mpukas]

There's a large existing boulder on the property which I modeled as a Mass and loaded intro the Site file. When the Site is is linked into the Building file, the boulder is displaying in 3D view as transparent. I've fiddled with every possible view setting, linked view settings, phases settings, VG overrides, phase overrides, etc. and I cannot find what is controlling the transparency of the mass in the building file. In the Building file I can control line style, line color using Object Style and VG overrides, and I can change the appearance with phase overrides. But not the transparency. 

TIA. mpp

Site file with Boulder as opaque:

Site file with Boulder opaque

Building file with Boulder as transparent: 

Building file with Boulder transparent

[jay_colcombe]

This usually relates the the default Mass Material

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-make-a-mass...

[mpukas]

@jay_colcombe  I tried that, in both the Site and Building files, and it doesn't change the transparency in the Building file.

[ToanDN]

Create a 3d view in the site file show a exactly as you want, name it clearly. Set the 3d view in the building file to display the link using linked view and pick that view.

[mpukas]

Yeah, that works by linked view (i tried it before and it didn't work. So I must not have had done something correctly). But I want to understand what setting is in the Building file that causing the Boulder to be transparent. Thanks as always ToanDN. 

[ToanDN]

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@mpukas wrote:

Yeah, that works by linked view (i tried it before and it didn't work. So I must not have had done something correctly). But I want to understand what setting is in the Building file that causing the Boulder to be transparent. Thanks as always ToanDN. 

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Lots of reason.  Hard to tell without the files.

[mpukas]

Files attached

[mpukas]

I suspect it could be something to do with phasing, but I haven't been able to figure it out. 

[mpukas · Accepted solution]

I found my problem - in Phases > Graphic Overrides > Material I did not have a material selected for Existing Phase. When I selected Phase - Exist, the Boulder turned opaque.

[mpukas]

This has been an exercise in why Revit is so maddeningly frustrating to understand... some element attributes are controlled one way, and other attributes are controlled a different way. And, there are so, so, so many settings in different functions that control visibility graphics in different ways. 

I copied the Boulder mass from the Site file into the Building file to have a comparison to see how changing settings affects each element. 

In the Site file where the boulder lives, I edit the boulder, select the mass, and for material set it to <by category>. In the Site file, when I change the Default Mass material, the Boulder changes as expected. 

Changing the material attributes, including transparency, in the Building file will not affect the Boulder in the linked Site file, only the Boulder placed in the Building file. 

Changing Object Styles > Projection Lines in the Building file will affect both Boulders in Building file and linked Site file. 

But changing V/G overrides in the Building file only affects the Boulder in the Building file, not the Site file. 

Maddening. Absolutely maddening. At least I've learned from this experience, and hopefully will be able to troubleshoot other issues more efficiently in the future. 

[ToanDN]

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@mpukas wrote:

I found my problem - in Phases > Graphic Overrides > Material I did not have a material selected for Existing Phase. When I selected Phase - Exist, the Boulder turned opaque.

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This is only a temporary solution, and it only works when your view filter is set to show the boulder as an existing element.  Try change the view phase filter to Show Complete and see what you get.

[mpukas]

When I change the Phase Filter, the Boulder remains opaque now that the Phases > Graphic Overrides > Existing Phase > Material has a material. 

Is that what you're asking? 

[g_asso]

Adding drama on this matter:

I made a mass [A], then copied [B]. in a linked file A, no matter what I try, is always transparent, while B, is opaque.
What is even more funny, I deleted A, and duplicated B into C, and now... C is transparent.

I think I understand why I never used massed before, and why I will never use them again.

None of the solution suggested on this page works for me.