Forums >> Revit Building >> Tips & Tricks >> Show Hidden Lines Tool and Detail Elements

jche

active

Joined: Mon, Feb 4, 2008
22 Posts
No Rating

This user is offline

jche

active

Joined: Mon, Feb 4, 2008
22 Posts
No Rating

This user is offline

mccoolj

active

Joined: Wed, Dec 29, 2010
58 Posts

You say that you find the Show Hidden Lines tool useful? Is there some secret to using it? Every time I've tried using it, it never recognizes the object I'm wanting to be visible. It never works for me reagrdless of version (Revit Structure 2011-2014). I'm usually trying to have model elements show through other model elements, like a shear tab on the back side of a beam web, for instance, which is what I thought it was for, but no luck. Suggestions?

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

Showing hidden lines is not automatic.  Read this topic in your HELP:

This user is offline

mccoolj

active

Joined: Wed, Dec 29, 2010
58 Posts

That's about as helpful as all the other entries in the Autodesk help site that I've already looked at... The mention of hidden lines subcategory is a start, but I've come across that before, and tried adding that subcategory both in a family and in the project it was loaded in without any success. Revit still doesn't recognize the hidden object. I can pick the obscuring object, but nothing behind it registers. So is there some other secret to using that tool, or does it only recognize a very limited number of object types that I'm never working with in my (structural) projects?

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

This is a straight forward process - did you follow it? 

From the HELP:

To show hidden lines

1. Click View tabGraphics panelShow Hidden drop-down (Show Hidden Lines).
2. Place the cursor on an element that is hiding another element, and click to select it.

   For example, select a filled region that is overlapping a wall.

3. Place the cursor on the element with lines to be shown, and click to select it.

   The lines of this element display in a hidden line style through the overlapping element. To change the hidden line style of the element, use the Object Styles tool.

4. To reverse the effects of this tool, click View tabGraphics panelShow Hidden drop-down (Remove Hidden Lines).
5. Select the element that will hide the other element.
6. Select the other element to be hidden.

This user is offline

mccoolj

active

Joined: Wed, Dec 29, 2010
58 Posts

Yes, everything's straightforward according to the help site. The problem I run into is that 99% of the things I want to display as hidden lines aren't recognized by that tool... hence the question about whether there are only certain things that it works with. They like to use the example of a filled region and a wall. I've seen that several times. Can't think of any times in the last 3 years I've needed to use that, but there's been planty of times I would like a shear tab model element on the back side of a beam (model element) to show up as hidden lines in a section. Or a beam seat on the back side of a column, or a kicker brace behind a beam, etc. If someone knows how to make those show through instead of Autodesk's useless (to me) examples, I'd like to hear it. My problem isn't that Autodesk's help isn't straightforward or that I don't understand how to follow it. It's that the procedure doesn't do anything when I try it on the only stuff I would ever want to use it on. So either it only works on specific categories of objects, or there's some V/G setting or other obscure issue at work.

This user is offline

WWHub

site moderator|||

Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
13079 Posts

Now you have asked the right questions.  The hidden lines tool works for model elements.  Does it work for nested elements ? - not always (and I have not researched what the rules are here.) Shared family settings may affect this but I have not checked.

ALso, I don't believe it works for hidden model elements within a family.  You would have to build those lines in the family.  (That's why hidden lines are available in the family editor.)

Did you read this topic as well?  Using Hidden Lines   << This may be your solution.  This is the same basic though process as using an underlay to create "overhead" linework.  You can read about that in the help as well.

This topic  Show Hidden Lines  explains how to work with detail components.  

All of the help sections relating to hidden lines will help you understand the tools available.

This user is offline

Show Hidden Lines - Structural Foundations

1

Lines hidden with the line tool - how to see them again?

1

Hidden Lines disappeared from all my Elevations

4

show hidden lines

4

Hidden Line Tool not working through links.

1