Forums >> Revit Building >> Technical Support >> Editing Model Patterns...

Studioe

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I would like to create a new model pattern using an existing pattern.

I have 12x24 granite blocks in a herringbone pattern - the same pattern as the generic Herringbone Model Pattern - just scaled up 6 times.

Seems simple, but I have two questions....

 1.  When I try and load a pattern, the only patterns I see in the Revit Folder are drafting patterns (i.e. no herringbone).

 2.  How can I scale up the exiting pattern, and the subquestion is how do I create a new custom pattern? The Revit help menu is VERY vague in regards to this.

Thanks for any help!

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WWHub

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Do a search of your Help using the term PAT and you will find the following:

Custom Pattern Files

Pattern File Format

Creating a Custom Pattern

That will eplain the file format and the kind of file you need and the additional line of text needed to make the file a model file (;%TYPE=MODEL).  Once a file is created, it can be loaded at different scales.

Google "Hatch files" and you will find more on the internet.  Created a complex pattern from scratch is complicated for the novice.  Some people use hatchkit in CAD to do it for them.

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Studioe

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I did that, and located only the following vague sentence in regards to modifying existing pat files.....

"A fill pattern is stored in the file in which it was created. To save the pattern to a template file, open the template file and create the pattern there."

Since model patterns are used to a specific scale (not changed based on view scale), it would stand to reason that getting the scale accurate....i.e. modifying it....would be as simple as slecting a scale.

Are you saying that I can't simply increase the scale of a model pattern?

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Studioe

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I just did a search through my revit directory to try and locate the herringbone pattern file, but these are the only PAT files in the entire directory (see attached image).

What am I missing?

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hugh

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You won't need HatchKit for this one. Search your filesystem for the file Revit.pat which contains a herringbone pattern. Then load the pattern scaling by 6 and renaming to suit.

Hugh Adamson

Cadro Pty Ltd

www.hatchkit.com.au

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WWHub

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Studioe wrote: "Are you saying that I can't simply increase the scale of a model pattern?"  Please note that I said - "Once a file is created, it can be loaded at different scales. "  Just follow the HELP for loading custom pattern files.

And I also pointed you to the Help were it tells you the difference between drafting and model hatches.  It is one line of text: (;%TYPE=MODEL)  If you open any Revit model hatch file, you will see that in the second line, right after the title.

In AutoCAD pattern files and I believe in the Revit program files, you will find combined pattern files with more than one file.  If your hatch file is in there, you will have to isolate it as a seperate file in order to load it at a different scale factor.  The main pattern files are loaded at 1=1 so go from there... and add your model text line if you want a model hatch.

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Studioe

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I tried this (see post #4), and I cannot locate the herringbone.PAT file. I know the system is looking for a pat file, and since it's already loaded at 1:1 scale, it seems I should be able to load it again with another scale, but again it doesn't seem to be in the only place where the PAT files exist on my system....IMPERIAL LIBRARY / HATCHES.

See my process in my image below.

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Studioe

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I tried every help I could locate with the exception of creating a new one from scratch with the notepad feature (seems an archaic method considering we have drawing tools, but this is another topic).

See my post above for my attempt to load a new pattern or edit an existing one. I followed the help (see attached image). and got nowhere since I cannot loacate the herringbone.PAT file as mentioned in the help.

WWHub said  ".....And I also pointed you to the Help were it tells you the difference between drafting and model hatches.  It is one line of text: (;%TYPE=MODEL)  If you open any Revit model hatch file, you will see that in the second line, right after the title."

I understand the difference between drafting and model hatches from a use standpoint, but what do you mean when you say "open any Revit model hatch file"? Do you mean open it with NotePad? I tried that with one of the rocks.PAT, and I can see the %type=model notation, but I cannot locate the herrringbone.PAT file

WWHub said "......In AutoCAD pattern files and I believe in the Revit program files, you will find combined pattern files with more than one file.  If your hatch file is in there, you will have to isolate it as a seperate file in order to load it at a different scale factor.  The main pattern files are loaded at 1=1 so go from there... and add your model text line if you want a model hatch."

Are you saying that the Herringbone.PAT file may be in the stone.pat file or another? Now I'm really confused.

Thought the new year might help clear up the cobwebs, but no. Revit is so intuitive in most aspects - why is this so cryptic?

 Thanks for any help.

e

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WWHub

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You seem to be making this a lot harder than it really is.

If you look in your c drive where your program is loaded, you will find a file called revit.pat. And yes... go ahead and open it with notepad.  In that file is a herringbone file.  If that is the file you want,copy (or otherwise isolate) that portion out to a new file (new name) and then load it at a new scale.

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Studioe

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Well, I just got it...For Revit it's amazingly unintuitive. Unlike the rest of revit, which has a right cligk or logical function for everything. It's confusing to actually see the pattern you want to use, yet have an option to scale it greyed out. Then have to find a hidden file and reload it. I guess this is the one time where AutoCAD makes more sense.

I didn't edit the pat file, however I did finally locate the Revit.Pat file by searching my hard drive for hidden files, and it came up!

For those viewing on a search after having this difficulty, here are the steps if you want to load an existing hatch at a different scale.......

1.  Settings / Fill Patterns

2.  New / Custom /Import

3.  Browse to Revit.Pat file (mine was in my Data directory of my Revit install loacation

4.  NOW all the model pattens will show up (finally), and you can create a new one at your scale after renaming it.

Thanks for the assitance everyone, and Happy New Year!

1. 

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Where do model patterns go?

8

Model Fill Patterns

2

Editing Hatch Patterns

3

Material cut patterns

2

Fill Patterns Drafting / Model

2