Project Based Design Options

[scott.v]

Hello All, 

Is there any solution to design options that may be project-based rather than view based?  I really don't believe there is but maybe someone has found a workaround.  

Essentially I want 1 model with 3 different options.  Rather than setting each view up for the model, I'd rather set the models to be x y or z option to automatically show a predetermined option in all views.  

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I suspect what I need is a magical genie to make this happen.

Thank you.

[ToanDN]

No.  Except maybe making the Option(s) you want to show Primary everytime you print.

[scott.v]

Thanks Toan

[barthbradley]

That doesn't make any sense to me.  You say: "Essentially I want 1 model with 3 different options. Rather than setting each view up for the model, I'd rather set the models to be x y or z option to automatically show a predetermined option in all views."   That pretty much sums up the Design Options workflow to a tee.  Dedicated Views of one Model.    

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

[scott.v]

Hi Barth, 

It may make more sense if I explain that I have multiples of the same linked model with slightly different features to be shown.  So Model A - Type1, Type 2 and Type 3.  Options are set in a view, so for every view I create I'd have to set the option. A lot of work and the potential for error I believe would be high.

Is that clearer?

[barthbradley]

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@scott.v wrote:

Hi Barth, 

It may make more sense if I explain that I have multiples of the same linked model with slightly different features to be shown.  So Model A - Type1, Type 2 and Type 3.  Options are set in a view, so for every view I create I'd have to set the option. A lot of work and the potential for error I believe would be high.

Is that clearer?

---

Not really, but thanks.  It doesn't even sound like a Design Option Workflow.  Sounds like you are overlapping multiple linked models of the same building in one Project and hiding all but one them in each View.  It doesn't sound very "symbiotic".  Certainly, doesn't sound like any Design Option planning we've done.  

Maybe, I'm just misinterpreting.    

[Lachlan-JWP]

Have you tried using view templates? You can set the design option to be displayed for a linked model there.

[scott.v]

Symbolic it would not be.  

Imagine you have 100 houses in an estate, made up of 5 types of houses. If small conditions change on some of the house lots then I need to expand 5 types to ... 30 types let's say.   To avoid having to make a new type for a very small change I ideally would like options.

As the next commenter mentioned the only way to really do this with some certainty on control is to use design options and manage them via view templates.  This was the only way I could think to do it, very tedious.  

Often there are work-around or tools in revit that I just don't ever have to use so I thought I'd try my luck asking here.

Thanks for your replies.

[barthbradley]

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@scott.v wrote:

Symbolic it would not be.  

sym·​bi·​ot·​ic | \ sim-bē-ˈä-tik 

[scott.v]

Well I read that too fast didn't I 😉

[lucdoucet_msdl]

---

@scott.v wrote:

It may make more sense if I explain that I have multiples of the same linked model with slightly different features to be shown.  So Model A - Type1, Type 2 and Type 3.  Options are set in a view, so for every view I

create I'd have to set the option. A lot of work and the potential for error I believe would be high.

---

With this clarification in mind, here is what I understand: You have an estate model in which you have linked Model homes called A, B, C, etc, each of which have little changes (or variations) of type 1, 2, 3, etc.

Here what I suggest:

1. Model the variations as design options in the Model project files with names Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, etc.;

2. For each linked instance of a model in the Estate project, rename the instance to include the Type and a sequential number for each. For example;

• Model A | instance 1 -> Type 1.001,
• Model A | instance 2 -> Type 1.002,
• Model A | instance 3 -> Type 2.001,

3. In a view, assign the Revit Link visibility graphics to show the appropriate Design option for the site condition;

4. Create a view template for only the Revit Link visibility overrides;

5. Apply the view template for all views that show the linked Model project files.

When creating new design options for a model, repeat the steps 1 thru 5, with changing only the Revit Link visibility graphics for the new design in steps 2 and 3. 

The chance of error resides in assigning the Revit Link visibility graphics in views that already require visibility overrides for Revit Links, such as changing the detail level, overriding to all thin lines, etc. By automating steps 3 thru 5 in Dynamo, and by naming the Linked Model instances with the same name as the required design option, you could affect the change to only that parameter leaving other graphic overrides intact. All existing templates will need to have the Revit Link section unselected to allow the Dynamo changes.

Hope this helps,

-luc

[lucdoucet_msdl]

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@scott.v wrote:

Is there any solution to design options that may be project-based rather than view based?  I really don't believe there is but maybe someone has found a workaround.  

---

As a project based alternative to the previous view based solution, here is another approach with the same structure of files: Estate project, Model project files A, B, C each having Design options Type 1, 2, 3, etc having Type 1 as the primary design option.

1. Link the "master" Model project files A, B, C, of Type 1 (which includes all other types) in the appropriate lots on the estate project;
2. For each design option, make a copy of the "Master" model project file in a subdirectory and rename the file to include the design option type. Open each copy and assign the corresponding design option as primary;
3. Link these Type Model project files into the estate project file;
4. For each instance to be a different design option, select the instance and through the properties dialogue, reassign it to the Revit link with the appropriate Type.

When changes are required or new design types are created, make these changes in the "Master" Model Type 1 project file as a new design option Type Y, save a copy of that option in the subdirectory with the type Y in the name, link into the project and reassign the existing link instance to the new linked file. Work is only in the Estate and Master Model files for each significantly different building, the design options for types 2 or higher are overwritten as changes are done the the master model.

This will still have an impact if using Revit Link view overrides for lineweight, object visibility etc. So best to keep overrides to be the same as the Estate graphic overrides.

-luc

[scott.v]

Wow Luc that's a very clear set of ideas there.  Thank you very much for the time you spent explaining that. I'll investigate and see which method works best in our scenario. 

Thanks again!