Sheet index with headers for each discipline

[raysanziaei]

Is there a way to have the sheet discipline shown as a  Header in the sheet index? ( like the way ARCHITECTURE is shown as a header) Other Disciplines models are linked to our model and they don't have the Discipline identified in the sheet properties. I'm using Revit 2020 and we are using Bim360 -not sure if this matters -

[barthbradley]

I think you are misunderstanding.  You can't change the Link's Parameter in the Parent Schedule - no matter what kind of Parameter it is.  You can only report its value in the Parent Schedule.  .  

[amarkonathala]

Yeah got it!

We have to update in the link model and reload it like @RDAOU said!

[Alfredo_Medina]

Hello, the OP refers to sorting sheets that include linked models, therefore the parameters used for this purpose must be shared parameter, not project parameters. If other offices use their own project parameters, even if they have the same names, the index of sheets is not going to be able to sort all sheets from all models by the same parameter. So, @amarkonathala is correct; in this case the parameters must be shared, not project.

[RDAOU]

@Alfredo_Medina 

I believe both you and @amarkonathala   are wrong...the youtube is there you do not need shared parameters. If you can demonstrate otherwise you are welcome to indulge us with a Screencast

PS: if you also need the files from that video to inspect you are more than welcome to have 

[amarkonathala]

Yeah @RDAOU 

I agree with you But we can get the data with shared parameters also it is easy to do it!

[RDAOU]

@amarkonathala 

Where they are not required you should not use them...this Hoax of Shared parameters being a Passpartout promoted by many oldschoolers and streamer is simply BAD. 

[amarkonathala]

Yeah Ok

If you are using Project parameters means the names should be created as per the linked Model or else as per main file

Unless if you use shared parameters simply you have to add those parameters by text files we have created!

That's the thing i can say!

[RDAOU]

@amarkonathala 

Parameters are case sensitive regardless if they are shared or project!!! 

No hard feelings but you need to learn when to quit

[amarkonathala]

Ok!

[Alfredo_Medina]

I don't find in this thread the link to the Youtube video that @RDAOU is referring to. 

However, my point is this: if you want to sort sheets that come from linked models of external consultants and integrate them with your architectural sheets in one single index, properly sorted (not only showing headers of disciplines) but with all the disciplines in a certain sequence, and all the sheets within each set properly sorted, you need shared parameters because you need to sort by the same common parameters.  Therefore, the parameters must be your own custom shared parameters, that you distribute to consultants. 

This is the list of built-in parameters for sheets (in Revit 2022). If you want to sort by something else that is not here, and get your consultants to use the same parameters, you need to create shared parameters and distribute them to consultants. 

[RDAOU]

@Alfredo_Medina  the link is not hard to miss in is embedded/inserted  in Message 18 ...it would have saved you all the typing a project parameter in the Main and the Linked model suffice for sorting

Here is the same link again ...

https://youtu.be/N23E29ludbo

[Alfredo_Medina]

Ok, I watched @RDAOU 's video carefully, and then I did my own tests, in Revit 2018.3 , in Revit 2022, and in a cloud model in BIM 360, using 2022. My report is this: RDAOU is correct. Both myself and @amarkonathala were wrong thinking that thesse parameter must be shared. No, they can be project parameters.

Or they can be shared. So which one would we use?

I have always used shared parameter for this. So much, that I had not realized, or if I learned or read about this some day, I forgot, or if I tried, there was something that I didn't like. I don't know now.

However, I would still continue to use shared parameters, and I'll explain why. For this to work with project parameters, the condition is that the names of the parameters in all the models, architectural and consultants', are identical, even case sensitive. If there is any minor difference anywhere, such as in this example: Santa Ana, Santa ana, santa ana, santaana, the unified index of sheets will show some blank cells.  Modifying the name of a project parameter is easy. Modifying the name of a project parameter that came from a shared parameter is not easy. Consultants will see some disabled settings in their dialog box if they try to modify that.

I have worked as a BIM Manager in two very large projects of theme parks, with multiple buildings and many disciplines to deal with, more than 20, several people in several offices participating in the projects, some of them out of the country, with all models using the same unified index of sheets, using shared parameters that were created in a single source, a simple text file that I created. This has worked succesfully, in both projects. As a BIM Manager, I will always prefer those solutions that give me more control and less room for errors. The index of sheets of a large project can be a project manager's nightmare if it is not working correctly.

In summary, I recommend to use shared parameters for this. Even though it is possible to use project parameters, as RDAOU demonstrated.

[RDAOU]

Well I would put it the other way round....it is advisable to use a Project Parameter even though it is possible with shared

1. Firstly because Sheets are a project Category. They are not external foreign/components which require shared parameters
   • A shared parameter might be required on Title Blocks which many confuse or simply connect to Sheets. However these are loadable family...A sheet is part of the project.
2. Parameters are case sensitive regardless if they were project parameters, or shared.
   
   • A shared Mamamia is not the same as a shared mamamiA. Typos are not a valid reason to justify doing the unnecessary.
3. Project Parameter Have an advantage over Shared ones in this case. If a Typo has been made on one of the models, A Project Parameter may be simply renamed without loosing the value used in that parameter and/or sorting already applied 
   • on the other hand, if one of the stakeholders (internal or external) simply just loaded and used the shared parameter of the same name BUT from a difference SharedParameter.txt file (ie: not even a typo), simple swapping of parameters is not possible. All value will be lost and will require from that party to re-input all

More on the list of why not to use shared parameters where they are not intended to be used but the above should give a general picture. Project Manager usually do not manage such details regardless of the size of the project. Such parameters (Sheet Sorting by Discipline!) are usually part of the project template when they are required and not something which is added because someone felt like sorting a Multi Category schedule. However, mistakes do happen and are unavoidable Risk no matter how good of a project manager and a planner one is. Likelihood is always 50/50. What is more important is the Impact, how severe it is and what action is required to mitigate it. And I believe simply renaming a parameter would be the more convenient in such case 

It is after all a matter of preference too...so yeah one can continue to use shared  too

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

Got another idea for you @raysanziaei. 

You say "Other Disciplines models are linked to our model and they don't have the Discipline identified in the sheet properties".   What about entering the Discipline Name into the Link's "Name" field, adding the "RVT Link: Name" Parameter Field to your Schedule and then use this Parameter value as your Header?   

[barthbradley]

[raysanziaei]

So I need to ask all different consultants to have the same PROJECT PARAMETER- in this case named "Sheet Discipline"- in their models. Then have all their sheets "Sheet Discipline" parameter say their Discipline e.g. Civil, Structural ,,, This way, when I populate the sheet index, each consultant's sheets show up under their relative discipline. Is this correct? 

[barthbradley]

Why don't you just do it the way I suggested last?  Name the Link in your Project by its Discipline.  No need to impose on the other Disciplines then.  

[raysanziaei]

Should I make a parameter named RVT Link? 

[barthbradley]

1. Enter the Discipline Name into the Link's "Name" field.

2. Add the "RVT Link: Name" Parameter Field to your Schedule. 

[raysanziaei]

Thank you. How do I change the name of the RVT link models?