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Revit 2020 for Architecture - No Experience Required

Eric Wing

triangle-upCreated by IcoMoonfrom the Noun Project
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Chapter 1: The Autodesk Revit World

The Revit Interface

The Revit Interface…

  • Does not have a command prompt
  • Designed intentionally for architects and engineers
  • Offers many choices and options behind each command

The Recent Files Window

  • User can choose to open a new model or work on a pre-existing model.
  • By selecting ‘New Project’ and choosing Architectural Template you can work on a pre-existing template file or create a new template file. 

The Revit Workflow

Some users find the Revit workflow easy others hard, but it is a simple concept.

It is a three-step process:

  1. Start the Command | At the top of the Revit window is the Ribbon with different tabs. Each tab has a panel.
  2. Choose an Option | After something from this panel is chosen, Revit adds an extra tab to the Ribbon with additional choices. It may also at times add more options below the Ribbon.
  3. Place item | After choices are made from the Ribbon and the Options bar, the object can then be placed into the View window. The View Window is the large area that takes up most of the Revit interface.

Using the Ribbon

The majority of the commands are executed through the Ribbon.

The Quick Access Toolbar is the the toolbar above the Ribbon.

  • It hold the most popular commands
  • You can add more commands to this toolbar:
    1. Right-click an icon
    2. Click Add To Quick Access Toolbar
  • To the left of the toolbar is the Revit Application Icon

There are 2: Instance Properties and Type Properties

  • Instance Properties – Are seen immediately in the Properties dialog when an item is placed or is selected
  • Type Properties – Alter every item of that type in the model

If an item is selected it shows the instance properties, if not the Properties Dialog shows the properties of the current view.

An Instance Property or parameter can be edited immediately and only changes the object selected in the model. This makes sense as not everything is built the same in the real world.

  • Changes every item of that type in the entire model
  • They are accessed by clicking on Edit Type in the Properties Dialog
  • Example: A new wall type can be created by clicking the Duplicate Button or a wall type properties can be edited. (Be careful editing a type property without duplicating the type!)

The View Window

The big white area where objects are placed is the view window!

Line weights in Revit are designated by the object not by layer.

In Revit there is no Ortho, it typically aligns in increments of 0, 90, 180, 270, and 45 degrees.

  • It provides temporary dimensions for users to use when placing items
  • Revit thinks in terms of feet or millimeters

Remember the 3 steps:

  1. Start a Command
  2. Select the Options
  3. Move to the view window and add the element to your model
  4.  

Object Selection

Revit offers object selection to execute a command similarly to AutoCad and MicroStation. Revit lets users first select an object and then execute the command or start the command and then select the object.

There are 2 ways to select an object:

  1. Using a Cross-Window
  2. Using a Box

A Crossing Window is used to select objects by placing a window that crosses through the objects that need to be selected. Crossing Windows start from the right and end on the left. A crossing window is represented by dashed-lines.

A Box is used to select all the objects that are inside the box. This selection method is useful when selecting items that pass through larger objects that you do not want to be selected. A Box starts from the left and ends on the right. A box is represented though a continuous line.

View Control and Object Display

The View Control Bar is located at the bottom left of the view window.

Scale – Allows you to change the scale of the view. Revit will scale annotations and symbols accordingly.

Detail – Allows you to view a model at different qualities:

  1. Coars
  2. Medium
  3. Fine

This allows you to control the amount of detail in a specific view. This isn’t temporary, this is how Revit will plot the view.

The View Tab

It is at the Upper Right corner of the window.

The Steering Wheel allows users to zoom, rewind, and pan on the drawing. It can be found within the Navigation Bar by clicking the 2D Wheel icon.

The Steering Wheel has a couple options:

Pan – Allows users to pan on their view

Zoom – Allows users to Zoom into the view

Rewind – Allows users to find older views

They are located within the Navigation Bar.

If you are working with a physical mouse with wheel you can zoom in and pan by holding down the wheel to pan or using the wheel button to scroll in and out.

Clicking on the Thin Lines icon lets users control the finer objects in a model. Since there are no layers in Revit, line weights end up being controlled by the objects they represent. 

Clicking the Thin Lines icon forces the view to display the thinnest lines possible for all the objects.

Before Clicking the Thin Lines Button

 

After Clicking the Thin Lines Button

 

Displays all objects in 3D. Be careful when turning on shadows as the model will be slowed down!

The Visual Style button in the View Control Bar allows users to view their model in color.

The ViewCube located at the top right corner of the view window allows users to switch between different perspectives of their model. 

A view can be locked by pressing lock icon at the bottom left corner in the View Control Bar. Afterwards, it will prompt users to name the view.

The Project Browser

Revit allows users to have a fully integrated model. All views, floor plan, elevations, details, or 3d views, are in the same model file. Revit uses the Project Browser to sort everything instead of the typical folder structure. If you delete a marker or call out you'll also be deleting the view associated with it, be careful!

The Project Browser is located on the left of the Revit interface. It is to the left of the view window.

They are elevation markers and are seen in plan views. They can be moved.

There are 2 parts.

  1. The triangle component is the elevation.
  2. The square box is the part of the marker that has the sheet number on which the elevation will be in. Make sure to move both together, not separately.

Windows

When you open different views it opens a different window not a file. These windows stay open unless they are closed by the user.

Close a view by clicking on the ‘X‘ by the window’s name.

Multiple inactive views can be deleted by hitting the Close Inactive button within the View Tab.

 

Clicking on the Tile Views icon in the View Tab will display the views side by side.

 

File Types and Families

Revit has its own way of saving files and using different file types to create a BIM model.

The number of backups can be changed within the File Save Options menu. 

This can be found within the Save As Dialog and clicking on the Options button. You can also change the view for the thumbnail preview.

 

Revit has this feature because every time you click on the Save Option, it duplicates the file. It then adds a number to the end of file name (ex: 0001).

The default amount of backups is 3 times. Once it has gone though the process 3 times it will start replacing the 0001, 0002, 0003, files with the most current files.

System and Hosted Families (.rfa)

Each component with a Revit file is a member of a family.

There are 2 types –

  1. System Families
  2. Hosted Families

A System Family is only found in a Revit model and can’t be stored in a separate location. They are inherent to the model and can be modified through its element properties. 

System Families are able to define a model.

They are:

  • Walls
  • Floors
  • Roofs
  • Ceilings
  • Stairs
  • Ramps
  • Shafts
  • Rooms
  • Schedules/Quantity Takeoffs
  • Text
  • Dimensions
  • Views

A Hosted Family is inserted into a block and can be stored in an external directory. The file extension for a hosted family is .rfa.

Hosted Families are hosted in a way by a system family.

To insert a Hosted Family into a model:

  1. Go to the view where the hosted family will be inserted.
  2. Use the Load Family button within the Modify tab to open the Load Family dialog.
  3. Browse to find the family you would like to insert into your model and choose your specific family.
  4. Insert the hosted family into the model accordingly.

After a Hosted Family is inserted into a model it becomes part of the model.

Using Revit Template Files (.rte)

An .rte extension refers to a Revit template file.

  • .rte files typically contains a firm/company’s standards built into it.
  • An .rte file is used when starting a project

Using Revit Family Files (.rtf)

An .rft is a template that only refers to a family.

  1. Click the File Tab, select New and then click on Family. This will open the browse dialog.
  2. Browse through the templates and choose the one you’d like.

Chapter 2: Creating a Model

Using Reference Planes

A Reference Plane helps layout a building. They are construction lines that users can place in their Revit model to establish centerlines and use as an aid for symmetrical geometry.

When a Reference Plane is added in one view it will also appear in other views

Adding More Walls

Try to add walls in a clockwise direction. This ensures your walls are facing the correct orientation.

Right-click on an existing wall and click on Create Similar.

It is within the Draw Panel in the Modify Place Wall Panel.

The Pick Lines command let’s you add a wall by using an offset from another object/wall.

Cleaning Up Using Trim

Use the Trim command to clean up overlapping corners and fill any gaps in the walls. Be sure to select the wall on the side you want to keep, not the side that is being trimmed away!

You can activate the Trim command by clicking on the Trim icon or using the (TR) shortcut! The Trim Icon appears in the Modify | Walls Panel after selecting a wall.

Adding Interior Walls

Creating Interior Walls is easier than creating Exterior Walls.

Use the Measure Icon and pick to points to Measure.

 

The Temporary Dimensions function allows your to control where Revit measures the temporary dimensions.

 

A Temporary Dimension in Revit appears when an object is selected. By clicking on the grips that appear after selecting an object you can control what a Temporary Dimension is measuring.

The actual increment of the temporary dimension appears in blue numbers, you can adjust this number and it will change the dimension by moving the selected object in accordance with the new increment.

When you are looking at a Temporary Dimension click on the icon that appears below it to make it a permanent dimension.

 

If you accidentally selected too many objects press the Shift Key and click on the items you want to deselect.

This will remove an item from your selection set.

To add objects to your selection press the CTRL key and click on the items you want to add to your selection. 

Your cursor will let you know if you are adding or subtracting items.

Editing Wall Joins

The Wall Joins function allows you to view how walls in a specific area are joined and edit them as well.

The Wall Join Display option is within the Properties panel.

 

Displaying Wall Joins

Typically in plan view there are no wall joins shown.

The Wall Join Display option is not selectable unless the model’s detail is set to Coarse.

Clean All Wall Joins

This joins the same material in each wall, regardless of the wall type.

Clean Same Type Wall Joins 

This joins clean joins only within walls of same type

Disallowing Wall Joins

Sometimes you may want to disallow a wall join. The ability to edit wall joins can be used with multiple projects.

Right-click on the blue grip that is next to the end of wall and click on Disallow Join. 

You can now drag the same blue grip to determine where you want to end the wall.

After you disallow a wall join, you can join it back up by clicking on the blue T-shaped icon.

How to Edit the Cut Profile

A plan view in Revit is taken automatically at 4′-0” (1200 mm) up the wall from the finish floor. You can manually edit the profile of a wall cut in plan.

To accomplish this:

  1. Go to the Graphics panel in the View Tab, and Select the Cut Profile Button
  2. Click the face of the material you’d like to be cut
  3. Draw a short line of where to cut the material, an arrow will then appear that points to the side of the material that will be kept. To switch the direction of the arrow click on it to flip the direction.
  4. The view that appears while you are performing these steps is called Sketch Mode. When you have finished click Finish Edit Mode and you will now see the final result.

Adding Doors and Windows

Adding Doors

  1. Make sure you are on Floor Plan Level 1
  2. In the Architecture Tab, click the Door Button
  3. Then click on the Load Family Button
  4. Go to Doors directory and select the type of door you’d like and click Open

When placing a door you can press the Spacebar to change its orientation and move the cursor up or down to flip the direction of the Door. 

Revit will not allow you to place a door into blank space as a door is considered a hosted family and needs a wall into which it must be embedded.

You can also select to place a door tag when adding a door.

  1. Select the wall where door is placed
  2. Within the properties panel, click on the Edit Type button
  3. A pop-up menu will appear.
  4. In the Wrapping at Inserts drop down menu within the Construction category select Both
  5. Click OK and your model will be updated.

Editing Door Tags

A door tag number is added automatically and contains a unique number. Revit will not duplicate this number anywhere else. The number of a door tag can be edited.

  1. Select the door or door tag
  2. Click on the number in the door tag
  3. Adjust the number to what you’d like

Door tags display an instance property and are assigned in sequential order

Placing Openings in Your Walls

Placing openings in Revit is similar to placing doors.

  1. Go to the Architecture tab and click on the Component button
  2. On the Modify | Place Component Tab, click on the Load Family Button
  3. Browse the Openings Directory and select your desired opening
  4. Click OK

Adding Windows

Adding windows follows the same process as adding Door or openings

  1. Go to the Architecture tab and click the Window button
  2. In the Type Selector, select the type of Window that will be added. At this time you can also select the Tag on Placement button if you’d like the Window to display a Tag.
  3. Add the Window to your model

  1. Select a window and go to the properties panel
  2. Click the Edit Type Button
  3. The Type Properties Menu will appear allowing you to make any changes

Window tags display the Type Mark property and will be assigned based on the type of window

Chapter 3: Creating Views

Creating Levels

Revit allows users to work with a single-model and create levels, thus creating various floor plans.

Adding Levels

Adding levels in Revit is simple process, but you need to be aware of the process and where you are clicking as the command will add a new level every time you click on the screen.

1. Go to the Architecture Tab and click on the Level Button.

2. In the Modify | Place Label Tab go to the Draw Panel where you can either choose to add a new level by picking a line or drawing a line. If you have other levels already set go to Pick Lines.

3. Within the Options Bar, select Make Plan View if you’d like a new floor plan to be created as well.

4. At the end of the Options Bar within the Offset Field enter the distance to offset the new level.

5. Hover your cursor over the level to offset and you will see a blue dotted line appear either over or under the existing level. Make sure to hover slightly above the existing level. 

6. Click to make your selection and continue to add more levels if needed.

7. Press ESC to exit the command when finished

Understanding the Composition of a Level

Levels have controls that let you change their appearance.

If a selected level has a bubble that turns blue when selected that means it has a plan associated with it, if it remains black there is not plan associated with it.

1.  Zoom in on the level and click the text field of the level which will enable it to be edited

2. Type the new name of the level and press Enter.

3. A pop up menu will appear asking if you’d like the rename any corresponding views with that level. Select Yes.

  1. Zoom on the level and click on the distance field.
  2. Type in the new distance for the level and press Enter.

 

1. Select the level to adjust.

2. Click on Add Elbow – this will bend the level.

3. You can now edit the level added by moving the blue grip at each bend point.

4. Adjust the position of the level through the grip points.

5. Hit ESC to deselect the level when you’re done.

Making Other Level Adjustments

1. Click on the Default 3D View icon within the Quick Access Toolbar.

2. Select the wall that should be extended up to the level.

 

3. Within the Properties Dialog, under the Constraints category change the Top Constraint to Up to Level: (Name of Level) and click Apply.

1. Zoom in to the level to adjust.

2. Click the lock icon to unlock it.

 

3. Drag the level to where it should be placed. 

4. You can also repeat this to the other side of the level.

5. Press ESC when finished.

1. Zoom into the side of level to hide and uncheck the Show Bubble check box to hide the bubble.


2. Display the bubble on the other side of the level by checking the Show Bubble check box.

Creating and Modifying Building Sections

Cutting a Section in Revit is useful to review the working model from any perspective. Users can also modify any items within the section. Using an entire building section can help break down the model into segments.

1. Go to Level 1 Floor Plan and zoom in the area to add the section.

2. Go to the View Tab, and within the Create Panel, choose the Section Button.

3. A section will need two points to be placed. First, select where to place the head of the section and then pick where the tail will be placed.

4. Click to place the first point and then click to choose the second point of the section.

5. When the section is placed a dashed line will form a box around a part of a model depicting the extents of the section. Any part of the model that is not in the box will not be shown.

Be sure to give a name to your Section to stay organized and not waste time later on trying to find the right section!

The Gaps in Segments Icon is the small blue break icon in the middle of the section.

Clicking on this icon will add a gap to the section and allow you to move the grips of the section.

 

With the Section selected, click on the symbol that is similar to the recycle icon, which will allow you to display a section head, tail, or nothing at all.

Making Building Modifications in a Section

Making modifications within a building section affects the entire model! Be careful with your adjustments.

  1. Select the wall and click on the Edit Profile button within the Modify | Walls tab
  2. A magenta outline will outline the wall. The magenta outline can be modified to change the profile of the wall.
  3. Within the Draw Panel of the Modify | Walls panel click on the button that will help you modify the profile of the wall such as the pick lines button.
  4. Click the lines to modify.
  5. Click on the Green checkmark once you are done completing your changes.

Entire building sections help break down a model into large segments. Wall sections help you break down the model into smaller sections for a detailed view.

Adding Wall Sections

The difference between a building section or wall section is not much. The only difference is that Revit holds the section extent to a smaller area.

1. Go to Level 1 within the Project Browser Panel.

2. Within the View Tab click the Section Button.

3. In the Properties Panel select Wall Section.

4. Add the Section within your model.

5. Rename your wall section within the Project Browser.

Creating Detail Sections

Apart from Building Sections and Wall Sections, the 3rd type of section is the Detail Section. Revit gives this type of section a detailed view.

  1. Open an existing Wall Section.
  2. Within the View Tab, click on the Section Button.
  3. Within the Properties Panel, select the type of section to be Detail View: Detail.

4. Place the section within your model.

5. Within the Project Browser Panel there is a new type of category of views named Detail Views (Detail). Rename the Detail View we have just added accordingly.

Using Crop Regions

A crop region is the border that surrounds the view of a detail. The crop region dictates the extents of the view you are in.

1. Select the window surrounding the detail.

2. Select the blue grips at each side and stretch them accordingly.

1. While the crop region is selected click on the Break Icon.

2. This breaks up the selected crop region into 2. 

1. You can move a Crop Region by clicking on the arrows and dragging the region to place it where desired.

 

Splitting a Section Segment

Splitting a section is sometimes needed to show items that are not necessarily in line with one another.

1. Click on the Level 1 Floor Plan

2. Within the View Tab, click on the Section Button.

3. In the type selector, click on Building Section

4. Place your building Section within the model

5. Select your Section and within the Modify | Views Tab, click on the Split Segment button.

6. Choose where in the Section you’d like to split it. 

 

Creating Callouts

Callouts are easy to add in Revit and directly link to the view to which they refer. Callouts can be added in different scales. Callouts are placed in the project browser panel within the category in which it was created.

1. Go to the View Tab within the Ribbon.

2. Click on the Callout button.

3. Create the Window of where you’d like your Callout to go.

4. The new Callout View will be placed within the Sections Category – you can rename it accordingly.

A Callout typically has blue grips that can be dragged to change the size of the callout.

You can also adjust the placement of the leader within the callout to create an elbow.

When you select a crop region you will see an additional region with a dotted line that is known as an annotation region. This annotation region gives you a gutter in which you can place text outside the area that is physically being cropped.

1. Right-click on the element to hide.

2. Select Hide in View and click on Elements.

Creating and Modifying a Camera View

Creating a camera views tells Revit to look at a certain area from a perspective vantage point. Camera views are ideal to see how your model is coming along and progressing.

1. Go to the View tab, click on the drop down menu of the 3D View button and click on Camera.

2. Add the camera in the model with the view you would like to create. The first point is where the camera will go and the second point designates how far the camera reaches.

3. You have now created a camera view. After your place your view Revit automatically opens it.

 

1. Click on the Detail Level and change it to Fine.

Modifying the Camera

  1. Go to the view Level 1 and in the Project Browser Panel right-click the name of the perspective view and click on Show Camera.

The camera will appear momentarily allowing you to edit it placement within the model.

1. After selecting the view of your camera, in the Properties Panel you can change the view settings of the camera.

Creating an Elevation

Elevations are essential for any project. Revit provides 4 elevation views even before a wall is placed within the model space.

Elevation Markers are represented by the icon that resembles a house. The square box of the icon represents the elevation while the triangle is the part of the marker that activates the view.

1. Move an elevation marker by first creating a window around the entire elevation marker. It is essential to select both the elevation and the view.

2. The cursor will then turn into a Move icon, allowing you to move the elevation marker where necessary. You can now move the elevation marker to your desired location.

1. Go to the View Tab and click on the Elevation Button.

2. Make sure that within the Properties Panel that Building Elevation is selected.

3. As you move your cursor around the building you will see elevation icon change and adjust itself to the building.

4. Click on the model space to place the Elevation Marker within the model. Once your are done press the ESC key to exit the command.

Interior Elevations

Adding an Interior Elevation follows the same process as adding an Exterior Elevation –

  1. Go to Level 1 Floor Plan.
  2. Within the View Tab click on the Elevation Button.
  3. In the Properties Panel in the type selector, click on Interior Elevation.
  4. Place the new elevation within your model. Press the ESC key to end the command. If the extents of the interior elevation fall outside the model drag them to be within the interior extents.

1. Click on the center of the Interior Elevation icon.

2. Use the checkboxes to decide which elevations should be turned on.

1. Select the Elevation you would like to view the properties and within the Properties Panel you will see a variety of options.

2. Under the Identity Data section you will be able to change the name of the elevation.

Elevation Properties

Each new view created in Revit comes with a new set of properties. Each view has a different set of properties.

Annotation Properties

All annotation have properties that you can change and adjust to fit your needs.

1. Go to the Manage Tab, select Additional Settings, and click on Elevation Tags.

2. Within the pop up panel you can go ahead and change the properties of the elevation tag.

3. Click OK when you are done making your changes

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