In short, use this add-in to:
Now, replace the word “wall” in the sentences above with: floor, roof, ceiling, pad or structural foundation slab.
Engipedia Structural Layers application is Revit® Add-in with purpose to extract structural layers from layered structures in Revit®: Walls, Floors and Structural Foundation Slabs.
It’s unique workflow gives you ability to get structure from Revit® Walls and Floors. Once the structure is extracted, the model can be used as structural model, or as a reference for formwork plans in architectural model.
Update 2023-05-11: New version (v1.1.23.0501) is available, it now supports Revit 2016 to Revit 2024. Minor bug fixes. Minor UI improvements.
Add-in works in several stages:
Tool will select only the types which have one structural layer in core. Structural layer is the one which has “Structural Material” checkbox checked.
Types with structural layer will be shown in table on the right. By the default, all the types will be selected in column “Selected”.
Selecting a type in any of tables will show their layer composition in the table on the bottom.
Bottom table also has feature to set core layer as structural material and apply it to the type without leaving the tool. Such changed types will automatically appear in the table on the right.
Selecting the types in the right table and running “Change Selected Types” command will change selected types in a way that they will end with only one (structural) layer. Tool will also impact instances of each type in a way that structural layer will stay in the same place as it was when it had other layers in type.
This way the end result will be model with only structural layers.
Warning: this will change the model drastically. To avoid loss of work, or unwanted results, preferred workflow is as follows:
Other features:
Tool add each type change as separate Undo command so everything can be undone type-by-type.
Tool can automatically set every instance as “Structural”. This can be switched off in Settings.
If needed, tool can also change types with 0 instances (change setting to show types with 0 instances).
Use “Update Structural Checkboxes” to update any Walls/Floors instances with structural material to have Structural instance parameter checked (this can be used later for filtering).
Main purpose of the tool is to shape topography instance with help of model lines. Tool adds additional topography points along selected model lines. Line division can be per number of points or per distance between points. If there are more than one topography instance, tool will prompt to select only one. Read More
Creation of Revit® family instances with Python code in Dynamo is easy to do if you have the right code snippet. So I am sharing it here.
Code snippet shows how to do few useful tasks:
If you have many coordinates in Excel spreadsheet or in other table format, it’s easy to use the power of Dynamo to get those coordinates into Revit®.
In our example, we will use x, y, z coordinates to create model lines within Revit® project.
There are two ways to approach this problem:
When modeling elements, Revit will suggest and put temporary dimension lines with which elements can be places precisely.
If Temporary Dimension lines in Revit are snapping to references that you think are wrong, you can always check the settings and set up prefer referenced to which temporary dimensions will snap.
When linking IFC to Revit, two things happen:
Linked IFC (it’s actually Revit model file described earlier) can be found in Manage Links dialog on IFC tab where it can be reloaded if newer IFC file (under the same name) is saved into the IFC folder. Reloading means creating linked Revit file again.
To minimize IFC file size and load time, it is recommended to create separate Revit IFC template, which contains essential settings, such as line weights, line patterns, object styles and one level. This templeate should be first on the template list in Revit so it’s used every time IFC is loaded into project.
It’s a big deal if you have whole systems modeled in Revit just to realize that they need to be on another level. For point elements (such as ligthing or electrical fixtures) it’s not a big deal, but if you have pipes or other listed above, which are linear elements, and they also have slopes, you are in a lot of trouble. Revit will allow you to change the level for those elements but it will then put them on new level and keep the offset RELATIVE to that new level.
To change levels of elements in Revit but keep them in the same ABSOLUTE place, use free Dynamo script I created for this purpose:
Kako promijeniti referencu Revit familije bez pomicanja elementa
Multi-category schedule will not schedule system families.
To schedule system families, use multi-category material takeoff schedule in Revit. Next picture shows such example from Revit sample architectural project model (sorted by Category, Show all instances set to false):
But what if we just need want Ceilings, Floors, Roofs and Walls?
Well, the trick is to add unique shared parameter only to those categories you want to have together in a schedule and then filter by “parameter exists” schedule rule.
Let’s add shared parameter called “Layered”, of yes/no (Boolean) type. It will be added only to Categories mentioned above (you need to create it in your shared parameter file first):
Finally, if we add that parameter to the schedule and filter by rule “Parameter exists”, our table will have only wanted categories:
There are two tricks here that are not obvious:
Finding duplicate layered types in Revit is not easy since layers in layered types are defined with multiple different settings:
Additionally, Walls have options Wrapping at inserts and wrapping at ends.
If we ignore all of the other type parameters which can make a difference between one type and another, we can compare layered instances using Engipedia Layers Manager (since version 1.1.) and Multi-category Material Takeoff table from previous trick.
For example, if we set up add-in options like this:
Add-in will create comparison string containing only function of each layered type. The same principle can be used to find elements with the same materials with the same thickness or regardless of thickness and other layer properties.
Revit® uses the following file name extensions:
You can save from Revit® to all of the file extension types except the rft extension. To get file as rft, you need to save it as Revit® family (.rfa), and just change the extension to .rft
Why is this useful? Well, you can set up a family with your parameters, line weights, lines patterns, fill patterns, materials, object styles, subcategories and other, save it as family and use it as a template for future families.
If you save it to default path for family template files (set under File > Options > File Locations), for example:
C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RVT 20xx\Family Templates\English\
it will be available every time you go to create a new family. (change RVT version number and language appropriately)
The trick to create family parameter which value cannot be changed by user in Revit® project environment, set it by formula of the following syntax:
IF((1 = 1), “Fixed value”, “any value”)
In Revit® family, if you want to test if a number n is even or odd, you can use the following formula:
if(roundup(n/2) = rounddown(n/2), “even”, “odd”)
The trick is that roundup and rounddown function will round number differently when number is different from integer.
for example, for n=3
for example, for n = 4:
You can also use even/odd mathematical functions to find out if an number is even, odd, integer or exactly half.
In Revit®, for example, cosine function can do the trick of determining if a number is even or odd (since cosine is even function itself):
if (cos(n * pi (or 180°)) = 1, “even”, “odd”)
Both cosine and sine can be used to tell you if something is exactly half or an integer, for example:
if (cos(n * pi (or 180°)) = 0, “exactly half”, “not half”)
if (sin(n * pi (or 180°)) = 0, “whole number / integer”, “not an integer”)
* pi or 180° depends on your angle settings in Project Units dialog.
Do you know that you have View Range dialog available in Revit® family editor as well.
The trick is that you need to click on the view name, not on the empty space inside of view. That way, when view name is selected, you will get all associated view properties in the properties panel, see image for instructions:
You have also crop box in family editor available on 3D view, but it mostly don’t work as expected.
In Revit® family there is an issue when you try to move family objects up/down, or any direction which includes up/down movement, regardless of Constrain checkbox status.
For example, family on the image below cannot be moved up, even if Constrain is unchecked and mouse is pointing up. Revit® only allows left/right movement in the Front view.
But, if select family objects, do Cut and Paste to Same Place and then try Move command again:
Now family is detached from anything it was attached to and can be moved to any direction.
Use this trick carefully considering your parameters and dimension lines sets.
Hope you learned something new, if yes, please comment in the comments section below!
If you have not already, read Engipedia Revit Tips & Tricks #1 blog as well.
Disallowing joins on Beam (Structural Framing elements) in Revit® is tedious job.
Good thing is that it can be solved easily with a little help of Dynamo.
If you are like me, than you don’t like depending on Read More
Disallowing joins on Curtain Walls in Revit® is tedious job.
Good thing is that it can be solved easily with a little help of Dynamo.
If you are like me, than you don’t like depending on Read More
Revit® got you frustrated? Try healing power of Revit® / BIM humor!
Disclaimer: the whole point of this page is to blow off some steam, not to offend or discredit anyone nor anything.
If just one of the memes make you smile than our goal here is achieved! 🙂
We will add more memes over time, so make sure to check it again from time to time.
engipedia team
Read More
In 3D Revit® view, it’s possible to do zoom-to-selection without additional add-in application. Just click on an object instance and then onto Revit® View Cube – Revit® will zoom to that selected object.
To change door or window wall host without modeling or placing door/window again (and keeping it at the same place and of the same type) is easy:
This is useful in situations when we have, for example, a wall running across several stories and we want to divide it into pieces (walls per story) but, at the same time, we do not want to lose and model doors/windows (or other wall hosted elements) again.
Revit® Section tool does not snap to objects in general. This is quite a problem when you do not have orthogonal project and you need angled section aligned with something that is not perfectly horizontal or vertical. Section tool does, however, snap to Reference Planes (and special kind of Reference Plances: Grids and Levels).
To make perfectly aligned angled section, first create Reference Plane (which can snap, be parallel or ortogonal to object/s). Then run Revit® Section tool and snap it to that Reference Plane.
In Revit® 3D View, it’s easy to check what particular 2D view shows, for example, floor plan or section. To make the check, in 3D view you need to right-click on the “View Cube”, go to “Orient to View” and in the drop-down menu navigate to the 2D view (Floor Plan, Section, Elevation or 3D View).
If you, for example, select one of the sections, Revit® will turn on “Section Box” and adjust its limits to match the section span.
If you choose one of the existing 3D views, Revit® will orient current 3D view the same way as the chosen 3D view. This is practical if we are combining several 3D views on the sheet as some kind of composition. In such case have in mind that all 3D Revit® views on the sheet must have the same scale to be the same size on a sheet.
Revit® model views are aligned towards the “paper north” according to Revit® Project North setting. Sometimes this can be an issue during documentation preparation phase when some or all views need to be orientated differently. Changing Revit® Project North property later, when most of the model and documentation is developed, will lead to unwanted results (model corruption and deletion of many elements and annotations).
The most easiest solution is to rotate “Crop Region”. In a view, turn on “Crop View” property and “Crop Region Visible” property. Select Crop Region boundary and use Rotate tool to rotate view, it will rotate it on the sheet.
It’s possible to do it on the Sheet, but you need to double-click on a view to open it on the sheet.
When pulling Revit® model into Navisworks, there is a feature (option) in Navisworks® (N > Options > File Readers > Revit) called “Navisworks view”. “Navisworks view” is a 3D view from Revit® which name begins with “Navis” (without the quotes).
This is practical and important because we can easily adjust the view in Revit®, such as turning visibility of elements on and off, so only elements in this set view can be pulled into Navisworks instead of all objects we have in Revit® model.
If you have Parts visibility turned on in Revit® view, it is important to turn on option to “Convert construction parts” in Navisworks®, as it is shown in the image above.
If you are creating or adjusting Revit® family, one of the most important things to know, regarding Reference Planes in Revit® families, is setting them as “Not a Reference”. It is recommended to run the Reference Plane command in Revit® family editor, and then set Is Reference parameter to “Not a Reference” before you draw the reference plane. Then draw the reference plane. When you do it like this, set option “Not a Reference” will be automatically set when you run the Reference Plane command again.
Why is this important?
When reference plane is set as “Not a Reference”, then dimension lines in project environment will not snap to such reference (for example, imagine a door family with many references planes to which your dimension lines snap, instead of only two or three – middle and both ends).
When reference plane is set as “Not a Reference”, and in Revit® family editor you place dimension line with instance parameter on it, in project environment, you will not get those little double triangles with which is possible to change a dimension on-the-fly (stretching). The only way to change such parameter is to input value into parameter in the properties panel. Sometimes we want those triangle stretching widgets, in which case reference plane should be set to anything but “Not a Reference” (and needs to have dimension line with instance parameter attached to it, of course).
Every body (object) in Revit® family, made with one of the tools (Sweep, Extrusion, Revolve etc.) can have it’s own subcategory. Default subcategory is actually category of the family. For example, if we are creating reinforced concrete structural column family, that column will probably be in “Structural Columns” category, and all elements that make the column will be in that category by default. However, if you select one of the elements in family, you can assigned custom (made-up) subcategory of Structural Columns category, such as “Concrete” or “Concrete Columns”. This approach allows us to set additional settings only to the elements of that subcategory regarding their graphical appearance in the “Object Styles” and/or “Visibility/Graphic Overrides” dialogs in Revit project environment. For example, we can set that all columns have thin lines in section but all columns of “Concrete Columns” subcategory have wide lines in section. Setting it such way in Object Styles saves time and improves model and documentation consistency.
Image below: selected family element in Revit® family editor with Subcategory property set to “None” by the default.
Figure below: in the “Object Styles” dialog in Revit® family editor, click on the “New” button to create additional custom subcategories under the family category.
Figure below: setting custom subcategory to selected family element in Revit® family editor allows us to set subcategory graphic properties in family, or later in Revit® project environment. Settings in Revit® project environment are “stronger” than settings in Revit® family editor.
One of the ways to save time and polygon count is using Split Face and Paint tools in family editor. You can find them on Modify tab, under Geometry group.
“Split Face” tool in Revit® allows us to split 2D face into two or more custom shaped areas. Then, it is possible to add different face material to any of such areas. With “Paint” tool you can add different materials to object faces in Revit®, no matter if the face is split with “Split Face” tool or not. Drop-down menu under the “Paint” tool has also “Remove Paint” tool with which you can remove painted materials.
Good thing is that all three tools also exist in Revit® family editor, so if we want to add another material, we do not need to model extra bodies for it, we can just paint it and save on polygon count.
If you need repeating 2D elements in Revit® family, for example lines, grids, angled lines etc., instead of using Array command which is relatively complicated and kills family performance, better alternative is to use nested 2D Detail Item family with Model Fill Pattern.
Similar as in the example of closet floor plan symbol made with two model fill patterns in nested detail item family (stretching the closet will add as many symbolic lines as needed without worry about breaking the family): https://www.engipedia.com/warehouse/revit/revit-2015/simplified-closet-box/
