Forums >> Revit Building >> Technical Support >> Revit general questions

diesellam

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I finally had the chance started using Revit 2009 Architecture in a regular basis.

I still think FormZ is more "flexible" in terms of the kind of geometry that you can create, but I'm starting to believe Revit is going to replace AutoCAD eventually.

These are some of my general questions I have: (I'm still a Revit beginner)

1.  When you import a .dwg file into Revit by check the link option, if I update the dwg file in AutoCAD, would the Revit instally reflect the new changes (sort of like Xref)?  If so, what's the command to refresh it?

2.  How come you make elements selected (highlighed) while switching between different views?

3.  How can you change the height of all of the wall at once (select all instances)?  Can the element properties control it?

4.  How do you drag an element to a specific distance (like typing in a specific distance)?

5.  After I update the Hotkeys, what's the command to refresh it so that I can use the new Hotkeys instantly?  (like the command "Reinit" in AutoCAD)

6.  In the section view, how come I can drag or move the elements up and down?

7.  I don't have the Revit MEP, only 2009 Architecture.  What's the best way to model the ducts, pipes, (mech. equipment)?

Thank you very much in advance.

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tim123

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 You can find out quite a lot about Revit by trial and error and using the help and I would suggest that you do this to learn Revit, but as a start:

1.  You need to close and reopen the project to refresh the dwg.

2.  Don't quite understand this question - if you select an oblect it will stay highlighted as you switch through views.  This is usefull if you need to do something in a view but cannot see it in that view.

3.  Right click and select all instances.  Adjust the height in the element properties.

4.  Highlight the element and click on the move tool (or type mv), click a starting point and type in the required distance, like in AutoCAD.

5.  You need to open and close revit to update the keyboard shortcuts.

6.  You may need the element to be higher or lower.

7.  You can model these if you are doing the service engineering, but this should rather be done in Revit MEP.  If your engineer does not use Revit I would suggest adding these as 2D details rather than trying to model them.

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diesellam

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Thanks for the input.

1.  OK, I guess I will have to close and refresh the drawing everytime to refresh the link then.

2.  I don't think this works, see the attached pdf file:  I had this wall (red color) selected in this 3d view, when I switched to level 1, it remained selected; but after I switched back to the 3d view, it's no longer selected, why?

3.  OK, this works, thanks.

4.  I don't mean by "move", I mean by drag "like stretch in AutoCAD".  Please see the attached pdf file for my question, thanks.

5.  OK, I guess I have to close and reopen the Revit to update the hotkeys then.

6.  OK, this works, thanks.

7.  I think there's a need to model these ducts so that we can see there's a conflict in the ceiling space.  I'm curious if it's better for me to build this in FormZ and import back to Revit as "mass elements".  Would this be a good idea?  It won't take me long to build this in Z but would take me a while to build in Revit.

Thanks in advance.

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coreed

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-----------------------------------

best regards,

coreed,aia

bmpArchitects,Inc.

"Revit has to be implemented, Not installed." 

Long Live Revit

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tim123

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Yes Coreed I agree.  I think that it would be much easier to do this in Revit, rather than importing it and:

1. It would seem that you are drafting your plans in AutoCAD and using Revit to model, thus you need to constantly refresh your drawing.  Revit is much better for this.  Once you see the functionality in Revit you won't want to look at AutoCAD again.

2.  It seems to work in my Revit.

4.  Go to element properties and fill in the required height for the wall.

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diesellam

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Thanks again for all of the input. 

OK, let me play around the sweep and extrusion tool.

2.  Yes, it works now.  Don't know why it didn't work before.

4.  I understand the element properties part, what I meant is by "dragging in to a new position" by clicking on the arrow key at the top of the wall.  How can I drag it by typing a distance instead of just simply eyeballing it?

Thanks in advance.

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tim123

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diesellam

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OK, will follow.

Where's the solid sweep icon?  Isn't it under the Family editior > Solid sweep?  I don't seem to be able to find it?

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WWHub

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I agree - model it but ... if you have very much of these, don't do them as in-place mass or families.  Create a simple parametric duct family.  One that has type parameters for width and height and an instance parameter for length.  Now when you place this family, you can change it's elevation, drag its ends to where you want them.  If you need transitions or radius corners, you could add them as 2d linework (or build a family if you must).

As seperate family elements, only the elements cut or in view will show ... and you could even make them tagable.  

Of course I think these are already available in MEP....

post edited - Look in the dowload area -  families already there that may work

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emgeeo

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To adress a couple of things:

1.  You do not need to close your Revit project in order for the CAD imports to show recent changes.  Simply go to the link manager and reload drawings as desired.  'File-->Manage Links...'  Select the drawings in the dialogue box (hold CTRL to add to selection) and hit reload.

2.  If I read your question right it is asking a conceptual question, and is also relevant to question number 6.  When you are working in Revit, you are working in a 3D model.  Each view (section/detail/floorplan) you create is a slice through that 3D model.  The wall you see in section is the exact same wall you see in plan.

To answer question #2, it's nice to be able to select an element in one view and quickly identify it in another view.  If something isn't modelled correctly- it can be a lot easier to fix it in section, or in a 3D view.  If you have a building section cutting through 25 walls, it might be easier to locate a mismodelled wall in section, but modify it in plan or 3D.

3.  If you have one wall height that is correct, you can use 'Match Properties' in a 3D view.  This will work about 80% of the time.  Sometimes you'll just have to modify walls through the 'Element Properties,' but I recommend trying match properties in 3D view first.  Match properties will change family types as well, so be aware.

5.  On a side note, if you're a hardcore AutoCAD user, and like the idea of 'entering' your commands, you can add a space to the end of your keyboard shortcuts so that commands execute more like AutoCAD.  This is what I've done because I like the feeling of executing a command.

7.  In-place-families.  They are executed through your 'Modelling' tab on the toolbar.  Right-click on your toolbar if you do not see a 'Modelling' tab.  Select 'Create...' down at the bottom.  Choose a family type - I would use generic models.  Name it something identifiable.  Select 'Solid Form-Extrusion' from your toolbar.  The rest you can figure out by playing with the tool.  You are basically giving it a horizontal profile and then selecting the depth of the profile.  So, to draw a duct, you would use a closed-loop (must be closed-loop) rectangle.  Drawing a round duct will require you to use 'Solid Form-Sweep' in which you draw a path which a closed-loop profile will follow.

Just play around with these a little and you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

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diesellam

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Cool.  The suggestons are very helpful.  Yes, I do like the idea of "entering" the command.

Can you show me how to do that soffit ceiling with the layout of those 2'x4'?  (In the PDF file of my earlier post.)

Thanks in advance.

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