Why does Revit only get 85-90% the way there w/ typical graphics/ annotations

[Anonymous]

Revit can do so much, yet it never seems to close the deal.   Whatever graphic representation of the model used or added annotations, it never creates a complete quality graphic drawings in somewhat of a straightforward manner.   The last 10-15% always requires enhancement, lies, cheating, or work-arounds.   So tired of trouble-shooting !  I sure would like to be productive in my work.  This is a constant fight.

[barthbradley]

Dude, having one of "those" days; huh? Been there before. I feel your pain. What is it today; specifically? Maybe we can help?   

[RobDraw]

You're complaining about 10 - 15%? That should be a compliment!

[bimscape]

......to stop you getting complacent 🙂

[chrisplyler]

If CAD software made things TOO easy, then drafting would be lower paying work that anyone could do. Revit idiosyncrasies provides you job security!

[Anonymous]

If that's the way Autodesk and it's programmers looks at the situation then that certainly explains why we are where we are. If my car only gets me 85-90% of the way there it doesn't do me much good if I have to get out and push.

[RobDraw]

Wrong. AutoDesk has never claimed Revit to be a complete, ready to go package. How do you think they could anticipate every variation of standards and work flows? It can take years for a company to go from ground zero to fully implementing Revit.

[barthbradley]

@Anonymous: You still haven't explained the specifics of your issue. It might not be software-related at all. Maybe it's hardware-related -- or maybe you are just a bad driver.  In any case, we can't help you complain. 

...BTW: if the car runs out of gas; is that the car's fault? 

[RobDraw]

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@Anonymous wrote:
If my car only gets me 85-90% of the way there it doesn't do me much good if I have to get out and push.

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Even a car requires you to put something in it, like fuel! SMH

[chrisplyler]

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@Anonymous wrote:
If my car only gets me 85-90% of the way there it doesn't do me much good if I have to get out and push.

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Compared to walking the whole way? I think 85% of the way is pretty good. And that last 15%? That's good exercise!

[ToanDN]

@Anonymous

Revit wasn't created to be a tool to produce pretty sheets of drawings for blueprints. It will never be.

Consider you get to the 90% in 1/2 or less the time to take the other guys, setup a road trap to block them, get a Uber to bring you the 100%. And you are still faster than them. What is the trap and what is the Uber are up to one's creativity. Some don't have any.

[Anonymous]

Guess what ? Those pretty sheets of drawings are what is used to actually build a building. We're not building a model we're building documents than can give direction to another entity to build a building. That is the goal, that is the destination. That's what this software should support first and foremost, at least for some of us.

[dgorsman]

You may be using the wrong tool for the job.  Revit is top-down, allowing management of vast amounts of data to support large projects.  It's not intended to work on nuts and bolts (figuratively or literally).  And those who are building the nuts-and-bolts end don't care about the entire project, just the boxes they are creating for it.

Going with the much-abused vehicle metaphor, you need both a screwdriver *and* a crane.  You're not going to use a crane to build a rooftop HVAC unit.  You need hand tools, welders, and possibly some programming for more modern units.  Once it gets to site, you need a different set of tools and a different set of workers.  It's a "box, HVAC, rooftop" with a couple of connections to bolt it down to the building plus utility connections - what type of screws it uses don't matter one whit.  That welder and screwdriver aren't going to get it onto the building, nor hook it up to the utilities.

Right tool, for the right job.

[barthbradley]

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@Anonymous wrote:
We're not building a model we're building documents than can give direction to another entity to build a building. 

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Doesn't sound like you are doing either. Sounds like you are whining. I wouldn't hire you. Sorry. 

P.S. Please feel free to mark this as the accepted solution. 

[RobDraw]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Guess what ? Those pretty sheets of drawings are what is used to actually build a building. We're not building a model we're building documents than can give direction to another entity to build a building. That is the goal, that is the destination. That's what this software should support first and foremost, at least for some of us.

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Revit is not a drafting program. If that is what your after, I doubt you could find one that OOTB would get you any closer than 85-90% there on your documentation standards. I think you are expecting WAY too much!

[Anonymous]

I am very much whining ! and thanks, I have a job.

[barthbradley]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I am very much whining ! and thanks, I have a job.

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...and how's that job working out for you? Just saying...

[chrisplyler]

If you'll describe that last ten to fifteen percent that you're missing - as regards producing documentation that gets the job done - we may be able to tell you how to keep the car running all the way to the destination.

I produce construction drawings for my company, and they get the job done quite well. I don't feel that Revit leaves me stranded on the side of the road.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate that. OK, here's one struggle. My gridlines bubbles periodically get all screwed up, don't know why. When I investigate the problematic ones, they seem to all have reverted back to 3D mode, even though I had explicitly went view by view, changing them all to 2D at both ends to maintain the specific view setup. I have made no modifications to gridines (that I was aware of) that should lead to this. It happens too often. Pinning and locking doesn't seem to make a difference. How can I keep the grids, alignment and bubles from changing once they have been set. I am the only one working on the project. I'd appreciate your opinion.

[ToanDN]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Guess what ? Those pretty sheets of drawings are what is used to actually build a building. We're not building a model we're building documents than can give direction to another entity to build a building. That is the goal, that is the destination. That's what this software should support first and foremost, at least for some of us.

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That is because there weren't any better means to instruct how to put together a building.  It's like if I got pulled over by a cop (because I decided to let her), I would need to show her pieces of paper.  Now I would just call up an app on the phone and be on my merry way.  I expect they won't even need to pull people over no more in the future.  Things change.