Schedule Sorting and Grouping

[brianwclayton1969]

When creating schedules, in the Sorting and Grouping tab, is there any way to add more than the four sorting and grouping list or categories that are given in Revit? 

There are four (4) "Sort By:" features in Sorting and Grouping, then you have the Grand Totals category. I would like to see if I could add one or two more "Sort By:" categories or features incase I have more Filters I need sorting by.

Or is this ALL Revit gives you and that's it?

See attached pic for screen shot.

Thanks so much for any ideas.

[barthbradley]

If you can give me an example where you would need more than four, maybe I can offer a solution.  One would be 'pre-sorting" via a unique identifier given to the elements. 

[lucdoucet_msdl]

@brianwclayton1969 

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Or is this ALL Revit gives you and that's it?

Yes, that's all Revit will give you ... but you can duplicate your schedules and add filters to give you additional groupings. 

For example, a door schedule may have to have a "top level" sorting by Revit level. Create your basic door schedule with 4 sorting categories then duplicate the schedule the same number of levels you have in your project then assign a filter for each corresponding floor to that schedule.

You could probably manage a "second level" of sorting by filtering (for example by building name for a multi-building project). Of course, the schedules will have to be manually adjusted to fit on the sheets as they will not automatically reformat to additions lines being added and subtracted.

Hope this helps.

-luc

[brianwclayton1969]

Sorry it took me a bit to get back, my client just got back to me. Here are the screen shots that my client is looking for to sort/group the items on why they would lie more that 4 items, they would like 2 additional, how can we accomplish this or work around.

All ideas are appreciated.

Thanks

[barthbradley]

I'm not following. You say you want Sort/Group the Schedule by 8 Parameters. Which 8 Parameter Fields? 

BTW, Sorting/Grouping has nothing to do with Columns. The reason I mention that, is because in your Screenshot you wrote "Need 8 Columns".    

[lucdoucet_msdl]

@brianwclayton1969 

So to put your question in context with the information your client has given you, they will need to:

• sort by more than the 4 available fields in a revit schedule;
• the families being scheduled are casework;
• 6 out of the 7 parameters indicated are to be sorted sequentially at the same time in a meaningful order;
• they do not want an itemized list.

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Here are the screen shots that my client is looking for to sort/group the items on why they would lie more that 4 items, they would like 2 additional, how can we accomplish this or work around.

I'm guessing your client is a cost estimating or organising the logistics of production/installation of said casework.

1. Short answer: still no, you are limited with what revit gives you.
   Work around: Export the parameters to a text file and import that into excel which can allow you to sort that many levels. There are some free Autodesk App Store addins that can be of use.
   
   
2. Revit workaround A for 5 parameters: create as many tables according to the top level parameter required. Let's say these would logically be "Floor" or "Room" if planning the logistics of delivery and installation or "unit no" if fabricating. Each schedule would filter for a common "floor" or "unit" then sort the remaining 4 parameters.
   
   
3. Revit workaround B for pre-sorting numerical values: Add calculated values to the schedule using a formula for the units dimensions such as "sort = depth * 1000000 + height * 1000 + length". When sorting to this parameter, you are in effect sorting to the three dimensions in the same sort field.
   
   
4. Revit workaround C for 6 parameters: create a dynamo script to be run as required to read all the relevant parameters and create a sorted list with totals.
   1. The sorted list can then be written out to a texte note imitating the formatting of a schedule and overlaid onto linework for the grid. The dynamo script can be setup in Dynamo Player to allow the user to redefine the sort order.
      
      
   2. The sorted list can then be written out to a "sort" project parameter. But this will not allow subtotals.

There are possibly other solutions that could be simpler but knowing how your client intends to use the data as well as if there are natural groupings in the way the casework is documented. 

-luc

[brianwclayton1969]

Sorry for getting back so late.....

Here is my example from my client these are the the columns/fields/parameters that the client wants to sort in the  SORTING/GROUPING area in the Schedule.

Since the Sorting/Grouping only allows you four (4) parameters, would like to sort ten (10), if possible.

See attached.

Thanks for all ideas. 

[barthbradley]

I still don't understand what 10 sorting parameters is going to do for you. Is your intension to show calculated totals for all 10?  By the look of it, some of those parameters won't calculate totals anyways -- or if they do, the calculated value would be of no value.  

[lucdoucet_msdl]

@brianwclayton1969 

Okay, we're talking about casework families with the proposed 10 parameters on your attached file. 

Depending on the order involved, the number of remaining parameters to sort by will diminish due to the realities of the unitized nature of casework modules. I think you need to confirm the required sorting order in able for you to guide your client in the direction of a workflow that will enable them to produce the table in a usable form.

If I assume that the schedule titles are already in the correct order (ex. A = first sort, B = second sort, etc), I would off the start suggest that you have distinct schedules filtering for each building and floor. If totals are required for the whole project, create a summary table that shows totals for what they wish to count.

2 down, 8 to go.

Keying? If it is a yes/non column in the sense of does the casework include access security in the form of a key or is it a reference to the key path number for door hardware. Assuming a yes/no, it seems to be a strange thing to sort by rather than filtering and created additional distinct schedules.

Self price? Strange to want to sort by the price before knowing the part number?

Unit number. Yes, an important parameter to sort by when having to find a specific casework item and usally tags on some plan somewhere.

ZZ Detail? Is this a detail drawing reference to a sheet? Strange to sort by sheet before Room number unless you have a huge amount of details on a sheet!

ZZ part? If we assume that each casework family has a unique ZZ part number and shares a Unit no. with other ZZ parts, Is your client modelling them with embedded casework families such as a door handle family within a cabinet casework module? This will also limit the way to sort and tabulate totals.

Room number. Seems a bit deep in the sorting order to be useful. If the ZZ part number is for a door handle, in a single reference to a detail on a sheet that is in a casework unit  on that detail for a specific price assuming a the same unit can have a different price in a different floor ... You see where I am going?

So if this information needs to stay in Revit, you need to work out a work flow that divides and filters then sorts to a usable depth of 4 parameters.

If not, exporting to a dedicated spreadsheet seems to me the other option. From there, bringing the sorted information back into Revit for documentation purposes is also possible.

-luc