Showing a Fiber Optic Path with a Schedule for Horizontal Lengths

[morgan.dentonJJXCT]

Greetings Autodesk Community,

I have a Client that is requesting that we show the paths of some Fiber Optic Cables on our floorplans, and they want a Schedule with the Horizontal Lengths specified for each Path.

I am fairly new to Revit, and was wondering what the best way to show this would be?

They will only need the lines (paths) shown as a representation, and don't need Conduit called out or anything.

Also they would like the Fiber Lines to be a specific Dash-Dot-Dot-Dot style of line type.

I'm sure you might have questions before you can answer, but I'm not sure what else you might need.

Let me know your thoughts,

Morgan.

[iainsavage]

I think @hmunsell probably has a method for this, using some other linear component to represent the cable route.

Pipe, conduit, or railing?

You can create a custom line style but there are limitations on the length of the "dots" - something like 0.5mm long if I recall. Look under Manage>Additional Settings>Line Patterns to create the pattern, then apply that pattern to a line style under Manage>Additional Settings>Line Styles

[iainsavage]

Actually you can create dots, its the length of dashes and gaps which have minimum limitations. Been a while since I have had to create a new pattern.

[iainsavage]

[morgan.dentonJJXCT]

@iainsavage thank you for the replies.

I know that the client wants the linetype with a specific style, but first I will need something that I can add to the drawing that will allow me to change the linetype and pull the lengths into a Schedule.

I already have the appropriate Linetype in my drawing (was using it to show the Fiber Paths as a Detail Line), but I cannot pull that info into a Schedule.

[hmunsell]

LOL... sorry been busy helping setup a new Civil 3D client standard we received in my office 😁.    

for measuring total lengths of stuff like that, i usually like using a modified handrail. its one of the few object that will provide a total length and can be tagged that way. The issue with a handrail in your case though it the line style requirement. it can be done, i have done it for our Egress lines with dashes and arrows, but it would be a pain. 

since your doing fiber optic anyway, have you considered making a circuit? give it a starting device and and end connection. Circuits will provide an "estimated" distance. In theory, you can then use Edit Circuit Path tool to provide a more desired path and more accurate distance.  Use the Wire tool to display the connection between the devices. i think you can assign the "Wire" a line type and weight in the Object Styles or thru a Filter.  I have not tested that process yet, I'm busy loading 2024 on my laptop and its taking for ever LOL. but its something you can try 😊.

[iainsavage]

As I said, mimic the cable path using another linear object which you can name accordingly e.g. you could copy a generic pipe type and name it Fibre, or do the same for conduit or cable tray or similar.

In part 16 of this post @hmunsell suggests using railing.

[iainsavage]

You posted just as I was pressing the send button!

[hmunsell]

That happens to me all the time. I like to test things before I reply and in taking the time to verify something I end up posting seconds after someone else 😂 .

[morgan.dentonJJXCT]

@hmunsell thank you for the suggestion on using a Circuit to run the Fiber.

I am new the the Electrical side of Revit and do not know how to create a Circuit.

I found TONS of videos online and on Autodesk's horrible help pages explaining how to Edit a Circuit, but nothing on creating one.

Would we need to insert specific items at each end of the Circuit to create it?

Do you know of a good video or page that outlines how to do this?

Thank you,

Morgan.

[hmunsell · Accepted solution]

here is a quick video i threw together. I'm using Receptions and a panel, but you can use a Data connector and Ethernet switch tool or any number of other devices. once the circuit is made you should be able to label the circuit, may need a custom tag, to show the circuit length. it should also be able to show in a schedule if needed.