Annotation Placement – How to Highlight Only the Target Element?

[smlee0521]

I am currently working on creating annotations in my drawing.

When I move the mouse, I would like it to show only the annotations related to the Equipment Category.
However, right now it displays annotations from all categories, which makes it very difficult to select the correct one.

In addition, when dealing with compound families, I want to select only the main object, but every single sub-object is selectable instead.

Is there a way to highlight only the target element when I choose an annotation, so that I can place the annotation more accurately?

[iainsavage]

Are you talking about tags or do you just mean dumb text?

Tags will only attach to objects of the correct category (unless you are using a multi-category tag family).

[smlee0521]

I’m using Tag by Category with a nested (composite) family where the host and all nested parts are the same category. As a result, Revit lets me tag any nested component. Is there a way to make only the host/main element taggable?

[iainsavage]

I don't think its due to the category of the nested families, to host vs nested families, as far as I know the tag just finds the overall extents of the family as highlighted below.

This sample Mechanical Equipment family has one of the nested families as Generic Model but the tag still finds the overall extents of the composite family.

If you want more accurate placement I would change the leader attachment from "Attached End" to "Free End".

[smlee0521]

I also tested this with a new Revit file and was able to confirm the same behavior you described. However, in my project, Revit somehow recognizes each sub-element individually and allows me to place tags on them. Has there been a known issue related to this?

I would like to provide images or objects for a clearer explanation, but unfortunately, due to project security restrictions, I’m not able to share them. I hope you understand.

[iainsavage]

"Revit somehow recognizes each sub-element individually and allows me to place tags on them. Has there been a known issue related to this?"

I don't know.

What version are you using?

Is there anything in the "What's new..." help for your version?

You can tag nested elements if you tab-select whilst placing the tag but I've never seen it just doing that on its own without tabbing.

[GaryOrrMBI]

You have two different questions here.

In response to the first question: I would like to show only annotations related to...

Isolate the specific category that you would like to tag in the view, either via temporary Hide/Isolate (the glasses icon at the bottom of the view window) or via a view filter (this has the advantage of being expandable to target specific families and/or family types in addition to the category, but can get confusing for those not familiar with the process).

Question two: compound families and sub-objects...

Families have a property called "Shared". This property sets the family up as being a separate entity in a Revit Project model for tagging and scheduling purposes, even if it is contained within another family.

Those sub-objects (nested families) probably have the "Shared" property checked in their family definition (within the containing definition).

In the following image, the door families have nested door panel families, the one on the left has the door panel family set to shared which allows the door panel to be tagged separately from the door itself, while the one on the right has the door panel family NOT set to shared which makes the door panel NOT separately taggable:

If you do not need the ability to schedule and/or tag the nested entities independently from the containing family then edit the upper level family, edit the nested family(ies) within that family, uncheck the Shared property and reload into the containing family, then reload that family into your project.

Hope this helps,

-G