Forums >> Revit Building >> Technical Support >> Draw order within a family

Studioe

active

Joined: Mon, Dec 8, 2008
54 Posts
No Rating

I have a complex 3D column in my model, which works great in 3D, but ius clunky in elevation drawings.

My solution was to edit the family and add line drawings with the correct detailing visivle only in elevation views using the visiblity settings.

This works great with one exception - the columns are see through. I drew in masking regions but since the linework for both the front/back and left/right views interseact at the centerline of the column, the lines get wiped out on one side and not the other.

Should I move all the linework away from the center? Also, for some reason after reading the help menu, I can't seem to locate the display order function or the "Options" toolbar with the icons indicated.

Suggestions? Thanks!

Attached Images

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

You can set view specific visibility of individual model components in the family.  So if you want some model elements to show in elevation, keep those turned on but if you want to represent other portions with masking regions and detail lines, then turn off the model elements.

BTW, when using masking regions and symbollic lines in the same location, draw the masking region first then place the symbollic linework overtop the masking region.  Also note that the perimeter of the masking region can be your linework and no need to add lines there - just choose the right linework for the mask sketch.  These lines can be mixed including invisible perimeter lines.

This user is offline

Studioe

active

Joined: Mon, Dec 8, 2008
54 Posts
No Rating

Upon further research, and testing, I now see the options bar appear when I create a masking resion within my model, but I cannot see to get that functionality within my family, even though it's supposed to be there according to the help (see attachment).

Suggestions?

Attached Images

This user is offline

Studioe

active

Joined: Mon, Dec 8, 2008
54 Posts
No Rating

WWhub:

Thanks for responding. Yes, I did everything you mentioned including the visibility settings for each view.

The last image indicated the masking region on the left with the 3D column temporarily moved to the right. I did the linework forst however, and created the masking region second. So I need to move the linework to the front in the left view as well as the front on the right view with the masking region in between if that makes sense so it wipes out everything behind it from all sides.

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

This user is offline

Studioe

active

Joined: Mon, Dec 8, 2008
54 Posts
No Rating

I thought I was doing a detail in a family - must be the wrong terminology.

The linework was already drawn, so I did not have the option of doing it second.

However I did what you suggeste - make a new family - cut the lines - paste them into the new family.

NO DICE. 

I cannot draw any type of line over the masking region. I even set the work plane to the back side of the column, redrew the masking region, then set the work plane for the front side of the columnpasted my lines - nothing. Drew new lines - nothing. Everything goes behind the masking region.....EXCEPT I just discoverd Symbolic lines.

New question - can I change my model lines to symbolic lines?

This user is offline

Studioe

active

Joined: Mon, Dec 8, 2008
54 Posts
No Rating

I have been trying for about an hour to try various cut and paste options to get the linework I spent a long time creating to go in front of a filled region.

I even tried putting a solid in my family and couldn't get the linework to paste to the face....tiring - very tiring.

Masking regings in the elevation views block out everything except detail lines...which I can't bring from a family to a model.

My last attempt is to create a solid of a miniscule thickness set behind the linework in the model.

If drawing the masking region was so critical for the first step of this I would think common tool, why wouldn't the help menu stress this?

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

This user is offline

Studioe

active

Joined: Mon, Dec 8, 2008
54 Posts
No Rating

Hey WWHub

All the drawing happened in 2D views, which is proving difficult since I cannot tell what plane the masking region is on (maybe that doesn't matter).

In the attached image, you can see the masking region, the 3D column, and the 2D linework.

Of course, once I get the linework to work on the east/west face, I'll have to copy it and rotate it 90 degrees to represent the north/south views.

This worked great (you can see in the econd image), but they have no masking region behind them.

I used model lines in other families for more details, and they worked fine (see image).

Attached Images

This user is offline

Draw Order in Family Editor

1

draw order

3

draw order in revit 2010

7

Draw order furniture/walls

2

Draw order of linked DWGs

2