How to display hidden walls below floors in plan view?

[Mrogers344]

Hi, I am currently working on a structural model, in Revit '19, for a theater that contains a linked architectural model. All of the walls and floors are contained within the linked model. My structural model contains only structural elements.

I need to be able to see the walls below the upper level floors in plan view, preferably in a 'hidden' linetype, while also displaying the walls above/not obscured by floors as usual.

My plan view visual style is currently set to 'hidden lines' and the arch. linked model is set to 'underlay'.

I've attached a couple of screenshots for example. As they show, if I set the floor transparency to zero the walls below the floors are obscured, as expected. If I set the floor transparency to 100, the walls display but are solid lines that are not distinguishable from the walls that are not under floors. If I set floors to 50% transparency, all of the walls below my view range cut plane changing to a light gray.

What I need to see is basically exactly what the zero transparency screenshot shows, except instead of Revit making the wall lines under the floor invisible, I need it to make them hidden.

On previous projects the only real options that sorta work are using the linework tool to force each and every wall line to display the way I want (waaaaay too tedious for dozens of walls in dozens of plans), or simply changing the visual style to wireframe (lots of extraneous lines to clean up and hide). Other tools such as the 'show hidden lines' function don't appear to apply to elements in linked models.

Is Revit capable of doing what I am asking? Can anyone enlighten me?

[karibal]

have you tried the view range?

A detailed explanation how to use it:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2019/ENU/?guid=GUID-58711292-AB78-4C8F-BAA1-0855DDB518BF

[Jason.P]

Have you tried setting up a filter? 

What I have done in the past is copy monitor the walls, and give them a specific name like "ARCH UNDER FLOOR" and then create a filter for that framing plan to have them show up light an hidden. We do this a lot when we have hollowcore and we want to show line loads of masonry partition walls. 

Let me know if that helps. 

[michael.coviello]

Hello @Mrogers344 , I'm checking in to ask if certain posts have helped you with your problem. Please add a post with how you decide to proceed and your results so other Community members may benefit.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts solves your issue or answers your question.

[Mrogers344]

I appreciate the replies and input, guys. 

Yes, I have experimented extensively with the view range, as well as the <BEYOND> line type and cut line overrides.  If my building was just two levels, I think I could make it display most of the walls below by just adjusting the cut plane to the appropriate elevation.  The problem is that I have stadium seating slabs at multiple different elevations.  Please see the attached screenshots. So without having a view range and cut plane for each and every floor slab, this method doesn't really seem to be an option. 

My initial approach was very similar to what Jason suggested, where I attempted to create a filter for those particular walls.  Being a linked model, I would either need to depend on the architect to correctly specify the wall type, or copy monitor those walls into my project then hide them in the arch link.  We have alot of trouble with architects deleting and replacing walls rather than modifying them, which sort of defeats the copy monitor function and seems like it would require me to constantly be on the lookout for new walls to copy.  There are dozens of these walls shown in numerous plan views, so I'm reluctant to start down that rabbit hole. 

One other suggestion was to create 3 separate plans (lower floor plan, upper floor plan, and upper framing plan), modify each the way we need to see them, then stack all 3 on top of each other in a sheet view.  I think this would require the plan views to be set to wireframe though, which wouldn't really be much better than just setting my current, single plan view to wireframe.  Lots of extraneous slab edge linework to manually hide.

I was really hoping there was some sort of standard visual setting that I had overlooked.  I think I'm starting to understand why other firms' framing plans do not show any walls at all (and are almost impossible to follow in the field). 

[Jason.P]

If you are getting success by adjusting the view range, have you thought about using PLAN REGION at each change in elevation. You can then adjust your view range per PLAN REGION and get the results that you want.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2015/EN...

This might be a good option.

Oh and do not forget to name the plan region. 

FYI...

I have learnt over the last few years, is just don't give up on finding an answer. Do not except what Revit does right out of the box as the only way it can do it.

[Anonymous]

You'll probably just have to use the linework tool and call it a day.

[ToanDN]

Edit: Never mind.  You said it didn't work on linked models.

[Mrogers344]

Yeah, I have considered doing a plan region for each seating platform, but like the other options so far, this would take quite a bit of extra time to accomplish.  There's something like 50 different platforms in this building that I would need to create views for.  I think I'll experiment with it a little bit, though.

And I agree about Revit in it's stock form; it seems like I spend a lot of my time searching for work arounds.

[Mrogers344]

ToanDN, I do not believe the "show hidden lines" button works for linked models.  Am I missing something?

[Jason.P]

You could always not worry about naming them all, and once you have one set up for the certain elevation just copy it along and go in and change the associated plan. That might save you some time.

Good Luck.

And no, I am pretty sure the show hidden lines function does not work with linked walls. 

[Mrogers344]

Thanks, Jason.  I think I'll do a test plan with individual plan regions and see how well that works.  I have multiple overall plans that are duplicated as dependents and cut into enlarged pieces.  If I can put the plan regions on one overall plan, and they will automatically display on the dependent views, this approach might be workable.

[ToanDN]

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@Mrogers344 wrote:

ToanDN, I do not believe the "show hidden lines" button works for linked models.  Am I missing something?

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No.  I edited my post to acknowledge that.

By the way, you could duplicate the view, keep only your floors/platforms and the linked model visible, then change the view's Show Hidden Lines to All.  Place that view over the main view (where the link is invisible and the floor is either invisible or transparent, Show Hidden lines = by Discipline) on sheet.

[Mrogers344]

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@ToanDN wrote:

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@Mrogers344 wrote:

ToanDN, I do not believe the "show hidden lines" button works for linked models.  Am I missing something?

---

No.  I edited my post to acknowledge that.

By the way, you could duplicate the view, keep only your floors/platforms and the linked model visible, then change the view's Show Hidden Lines to All.  Place that view over the main view (where the link is invisible and the floor is either invisible or transparent, Show Hidden lines = by Discipline) on sheet.

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I'm not sure I am understanding completely.  Please let me know if this makes sense:

The linked model contains all walls and all floors, and is set to "underlay" in my plan view.  My own model contains only structural framing elements, no walls or floors.  "Show hidden lines" is already set to "all", and I set hidden wall lines to display the linetype I want in the object styles menu. 

But the walls under the floors are still completely invisible.  If I'm understanding your post correctly, it sounds like you are saying the hidden walls should already be visible in my current view. 

I also don't understand the part about stacking the plans, unless you are thinking some of the walls are in my model and need to display differently than the others.  This isn't the case, though.

[ToanDN]

If that is the case then you should be able to see the walls under the floors (both are linked elements) as hidden lines without any extra work.

[Mrogers344]

That's what I thought to begin with, but that's not yet the case.  Are all of your elements drawn in the same linked model? 

 

^No hidden walls shown at all when visual style set to hidden line.

^You can see where hidden walls below should be when I switch it to wireframe.

[Mrogers344 · Accepted solution]

I started a new test project to try to mimic what ToanDN has suggested, and realized the "underlay" setting on the linked model appears to be causing the hidden walls not to display.  When the linked model is not set to underlay, it displays exactly the way I need it to.  However, the linked model in my actual project must be set to underlay, or else it will obscure the framing info in my structural plan.

Please see screenshots below.  Does anyone have any idea if there's a work around for this?

Linked model NOT set to underlayLinked model set to underlay

[michael.coviello · Accepted solution]

Hello @Mrogers344 ,

The problem you are describing may relate to a limitation of underlay on linked files.   To be certain, Can you upload your test host and link.rvt models?  I'll be happy to review the condition and verify the workaround below.

There is a Revit idea posted here:

Underlay Capabilities for Linked Revit Files - Autodesk Community

I urge you to mention the business impact that this missing functionality has as it can increase the chances of the functionality being integrated in the future.

You can also vote on ideas others have posted, so be sure to let us know if an idea you see there is important to you.

As a way to work past this problem,  Have you tried to set up a view in the linked model as you would like it to display? 

• Open the host file and link the structural model.
• Open the “Visibility and graphic overrides” dialog box and go the “Revit links” tab.
• In the “Display settings” click “By host view”.
• Select “By linked view” and select the view to display.

[Mrogers344]

Thanks, Michael.  I have attached the basic test model and link for your review.

I will look into your suggestion to create a view in the linked model in the morning, though I would rather stay completely out of the clients' models. 

[michael.coviello · Accepted solution]

Hi @Mrogers344 

Thank you for the files,   The steps above to use 'By Linked View' will allow you to get the desired results but you will need to use "Halftone" rather than underlay in Visibility Graphics>Revit Links tab

I recommend voting and commenting on this Revit Idea.

Underlay Capabilities for Linked Revit Files - Autodesk Community

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts solves your issue or answers your question.