Keep unused styles in color schemes

[eric.anastas]

Colors schemes only include values that are currently being used in the model. If a value is no longer used it is immediately removed from the color scheme, along with the assigned color and pattern. Later if the same value is used again it is assigned a new random color. 

This makes it impossible to setup template colors schemes by office standards in empty files. One work around to this is creating placeholder rooms/areas, but this is far from an ideal solution.

It would be much better if values entered into color schemes remained even if they are not used by the current model.

[eric.anastas]

 On the same note, it should be a possible to add styles for values that are not actually in use in the project. This would allow template schemes to be setup based on office standards with-out having to create a number of placeholder objects for each possible value. The table could also show which values/colors are actually in use in the current file.

[phyllisr]

Is this an incorrect assumption?  Revit already does this.  We create color schemes for areas and rooms in projects that have no rooms or areas. We have been doing it for years. What am I missing?

[eric.anastas]

No looks like your assumption is correct, that is how it already works, to a point. I can't believe I missed that!

However, it looks like there is a difference between a color scheme entry that has been added manually in the "Edit Color Scheme" dialog, and an entry that has been created automatically from an existing value. Entries that are added manually appear to remain and keep their style independent of whether or not the value is used in the project. However, entries that were automatically created will also be automatically removed if the value is no longer used. If later the same value is used again a new entry with a random color will be generated again.

There does not appear to be any way to tell which entries are manual and which are automatically generated. 

The problem we run into is the values, colors, or even the decision to create a color plan often come after the model is well underway and values are already being entered. So any color scheme will be populated with the automatic entry types that are rather fragile. 

It is also not possible to make a "manual" entry when an automatic entry already exists for the same value.

Now I'm thinking that a better solution to this problem would be if Revit would just treat automatic entries that have been modified as a manual entry. Keep the existing default behavior where entries are automatically added with random colors and removed as new values are entered and removed from the model. But once any entry is modified by changing the visibility, color, or fill pattern then that entry should remain unless it is explicitly deleted.

[sasha.crotty]

Thanks for taking the time to submit your idea. Unfortunately, this idea did not get the support of the community over the last 6 months and as such we will not be pursuing it at this time. Please feel free to rework (titles and clear descriptions are really important) and resubmit this one down the road.