Forums >> Revit Building >> Technical Support >> area tag visibility without linked view

KYLIEBRAITHWAITE

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Hi,

I'm having a really frustrating time with Revit at the moment. I have been reading through some forums, but I’m still stuck for answers.

I have a large project that had to be split into 4 blocks (a,b,c,d) and a master model (5 models in total). I want to set up the sheets/views in the master model and link the other 4 blocks into this master model for issue. I want to be able to control the views/sheets from the master model. 

I want to see the total unit areas (e.g. apt type 01 70m2) as well as the room areas (bedroom 11m2). I'm aware that you cannot view area tags in floor plans, only area plans, but you can view room tags in area plans. So I thought the solution would be to use area plans as your floor plans, and set them up to look like floor plans with an assigned view template.

I thought I had solved the problem until I realised, that I cannot see the area tags of the linked models in my master model area plans. I am aware that you can set up a view template for each level and set the 4 individual blocks 'by linked view'.

However, I have a building with 28 floors which means 28 view templates created for each floor and the 4 other models set 'by linked view', and by level. Essentially you will have to manage 28 view templates in the master model.  For example, at a later date if we decide to change the walls from black fill hatch to grey fill hatch, you could be talking about changing it in every view template 28 times.

This is not manageable. It also creates a problem when we duplicate our 1:200 plans to create 1:100 plans which creates another 28 view templates. The view templates in block A will also have to be managed to match block B, C and D and vice versa.

I could simply annotate each unit with text, but I think we want to step away from that in Revit. Adding an area with text requires constant monitoring when areas change/walls move etc. This project has 257 units. Manually checking the text and updating the area text is not ideal either. We are issuing area schedules to the client, set up with the area plans but they will also be referring the plans for areas. They will need to match.

I also considered using a room tag in a floor plan to calculate the unit areas, but it will only calculate the total unit area if I turn off 'boundary' in the internal wall types. I can't do this without losing my room tags in the unit types.

Can anyone shed some light on how I can get around this?

(I am using Revit 2016)

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WWHub

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Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
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I think you got the cart before the horse.   You are trying to make Revit fit your idea of how to use Revit rather than learning how to use Revit and work accordingly.

Sorry - I don't have any suggestions for how to make your approach work. 

Good luck.

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KYLIEBRAITHWAITE

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It amazes me that including an area tag on a floor plan cannot be done in something as intelligent as Revit! 

I tried tagging areas in the area plans 'by host view', but you can only do it when the linked models are set to 'by linked view'.

I also  considered keeping my area plans/ tag in the master model. You loose the snapping/automatic element o the area boundary lines to the walls. If the wall moves in the linked file, the area boundary that are aligned and locked to that wall in the master file, don't move with it. this worries me as my area schedules would not be automatically updated with area changes.

You can create a view template for the area plans at each level, which has EVERYTHING turned off bar the 'area tags'. Then you can place the area plan over the top of the floor plan in your sheet view. Not ideal, but it's maybe a way of getting what I want.

I will keep my colour schemes in the master model and remove them in the block models a,b,c,d. This will aso help reduce my view templates set to 'by linked view'.

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WWHub

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I'm confused as to why you are doing what you are doing.   If these 'blocks' (multiple possible meanings) are all part of one building then this should be one model.

Why a view template for every floor plan???? Did you know that a view template does NOT have to control everything?  If your concern is the linked view, then uncheck this control in your template and control that independently.

I do not understand your area rant.  Attached is a floor plan with area and room tags.  Linked models do have limitations as far as rooms and areas go.   But the information is still there.   Please review this help.

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KYLIEBRAITHWAITE

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The project is too large to continue in one project. We have split the scheme into 4 blocks and linked them together in a master model where the sheet views etc. are set up. We have been advised to do this on a project of this scale.

We have to use linked models and therefore, to see the area tags you must use 'by linked view'. With room tags you can 'tag all untagged'. Revit doesn't have this feature for area tags. You need a view template set up to see the area tags 'by linked view'. 

...Another idea would be to give up on area plans and area tags, and have area schedules for each level/floor plan placed on the sheet.

We would need to add annotation text to each unit to clarify the unit number that would relate to the area schedule. 

With a project of 257 units we can't include the whole area schedule on each sheet. I will look into a way of duplicating the area schedules and manipulating these to show only units on that level. Hopefully this works!

I think I will proceed with this method! 

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WWHub

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I have never seen a Revit project that is too large!  There are built in methods to help you if your system is slowing down because of size.

How large is your project - file size - no building?   Maybe building too.

Do you understand the power of worksets?  Back when we used to have to run the 8 gigabit switch in order to work with larger projects, we also learned how to use worksets to allow us to do large projects on small systems. 

The secret is using reduced workset loads.  You can place areas of your buildings, linked models, linked CAD, etc  on different worksets.   When you load a file, you can specify what worksets to load then while working, you can load and unload other worksets. 

We always have the full exterior of the building in a shell workset and that is typically on in every view.  But in exterior views, that may be the only workset on.   We keep our site in a linked model loaded into a workset that is normally off in all views and only loaded when we need to see or print it.

You don't want to break your model up into a ton of worksets but on a multi-story, mixed use structure, you might place interior elements on seperate worksets in a logical seperatrion.   Like Commercial - Offices - Residential or Floors 1-20, 21-40 etc.

As far as physical size x-y and sheet size, Revit has a very good Match Line system that allows you to split up a single overall floor plan with all annotations into seperate views that are all linked with the Match Line callout.  You can work in each section and adjust annotations that might cross the line and need to be adjusted in that portion.

All schedules can be filtgered so that you can place prtions on multiple sheets.   A very easy process.   Fo rinstance, say your project has too many doors to fit on one schedule sheet.   Fine, lets just filter to schedule foor doors < 100, then duplicate the schedule and filter that one for doors >99.   Now you have two schedules for two sheets.

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