Notes In Family

If you have created a Family and would like to inform users of any special conditions that they should be aware of when using or altering the Family. Then you could think about adding some notes in the family.

All you have to do is create a Text Parameter in the Family.

It is very important that you select the correct ‘Group parameter under’ this will ensure the parameter is grouped with the parameters that it is trying to highlight.

To insert your information text, just type it in the formula column, ensuring that you use “quotation marks” or it will give you an error.

Creating New Floor Plans

If you would like to create a new plan view of your model, you could duplicate an existing plan view, but this will bring with it all of its views properties. This could be acceptable for your requirements, but I always like to start fresh and then apply the view parameters I require.

The only trick is that when I go to the View ribbon, select the Plan Views tool, and then the Floor Plan tool, the resulting Dialogue box, usually does not show any of the levels, because they are already in use.

To show all of the available levels, just un-check the ‘Do not duplicate existing views’. This will bring up the available list of Levels. The select the Level and create the new view.

Nested 'If' Statement Generator

I have been using this excel formula generator for a while now and it has come in very handy from time to time. It originated from Chris Price (Cadway and Xrev) and was distributed at an RTC (Revit Technology Conference) a while ago.

When you are using formulas in you families and you have to produce an ‘if’ statement with many nested conditions then having to type all the information can take a while. This simple excel document can shortcut all of the manual input.

All you have to do is cut and paste the resulting formula (in Column E), into your formula parameter in your family…..

You can alter or build on the information in the excel table as required.

Nested If Generator

Views Not on Sheets

Whether you are cleaning up your Revit Project file or trying to find a view that you have just created. One of the Project Browsers Organisation settings can really help.

If you select the ‘Views (all)’ at the top of the Browser tree, and in the Properties ‘Type Selector’ select the option ‘not on sheets’.

This will change the Project Browser to only show the views that have not been placed on sheets yet. (Once you have finished, ensure that you change it back to show all views.)

(The first thing you should ensure is that you have this browser setting in your Project Browser! If not you will have to set one up!)

You can use this method to quickly access other Project Browser Options.

Tag Level Parameter

If you ever need to add a Level parameter to you tag, when you place your label you will notice that most of the Categories won’t have the Level Parameter in the ‘Select available fields from:’ list.

So you have to apply a little work around to gain access to this field.

• Firstly change the Category of the Tag to a ‘Ceiling Tag’. 

• Place a Label on the screen and select the Level parameter from the fields. 

• This will create a Level Parameter Label. 

• Select the Label on the screen and ‘Cut to Clipboard’. 

• Now you can change the Category of the Tag Family to the one you require. 

• Paste the Label back into the Tag family and you now have a Label reporting the Level parameter.

Formula Greater Than or Equal To

If you have a situation where you would like to control a parameter determined on whether another parameter is Greater Than or Equal to a third parameter. You might think that the formula should read….

Parameter A = Parameter B >= Parameter C

The only problem is that Revit won’t allow you to insert the condition >= in the Formula, and will return an error.

So if we think in reverse and work with a ‘not’ statement we can use Parameter B < Parameter C.

So the formula will read….

Parameter A = not(Parameter B < Parameter C)

Sometimes you have to think a little out of the box to bend Revit to your will!

Paste to Selected Levels

If you have a selection set you would like to copy to multiple levels in your project model, you can quickly and easily complete this process by using the Paste  ►Select Levels tool.

Firstly select the Elements you would like to copy.

Then using the Copy to Clipboard Tool in the ribbon above, or using the ‘Ctrl’ + ‘C’ on the keyboard.

Now click the ‘Paste’ drop down arrow, to bring up the extra ‘Paste’ options.

Click the ‘Aligned to Selected Levels’.

This will bring up the ‘Select Levels’ dialogue box where you can select the levels to paste the elements. You can select multiple Levels by holding down the ‘Ctrl’ or ‘Shift’ Keys. Once selected click the ‘OK’.