setting up revit templates

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Setting Up Revit TemplatesAutodesk® Revit® Architecture 2012, Autodesk® Revit® Strcuture 2012, Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2012

What are Templates?

Templates are defined as ‘a standardized non-executable file type used by computer software as a pre-formatted example on which to base other files, especially documents’. Templates contain a set of repeated elements and are created to standardise visibility setting across the final documents.

Why set up Templates?

Using a template to work from and to layout elements, allows for less time with background work and more time on individual projects. Templates also provide a level of consistency across all projects, this is essential from a marketing perspective.

Revit Templates

Revit Templates, as with most drafting templates, is a default document used for creating new documents. A good Revit Template is essential in improving efficiency, quality, clarity and consistency in your projects. As with Templates for other drafting programs they should be set up to match the office standards and should be understood by all involved. Templates are a set of standard elements and settings, it is up to the Revit user to know the company standards and implement these in their project. When Revit is installed it comes with a set of standard templates which can be leveraged. These templates can be built upon to create your own office standards or you can start from scratch. When a new document is created the settings from the template are copied to the new document. Revit Templates will continually evolve and with this the office drafting standards and Revit standards should continually be updated to reflect the Templates.

What are Templates?

Why set up Templates?

Revit Templates

Creating Templates

Setting the default project template file location

Creating a project template file

Adjust Settings

Creating a Title Block

Adding a Revision Schedule

Load a Title Block into a Project Template

Set new Template as Default Template

Overview

• Setting Up Revit Templates

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Creating a Revit Template

Setting the default project template file location

To set the default project template file and file location, click the Application Menu and navigate to the Options dialogue box. Click on the tab File Locations and notice where the current ‘Default template file:’ is located. Click on Browse… and select the Default template file location.

Application Menu Options Dialogue Box

Creating a Project Template FileThere are two methods to creating a Template File; Building on an existing File which Revit comes loaded or Creating a New Template from scratch. To save time, you can build on the existing file which has some basic information, views and other settings already stored.

1. Navigate to the Application Menu, expand New and click on Project.

2. In the New Project dialog box, under Template file, select either ‘None’ for a blank project file or the Template File location which you can build upon.

3. In the Create new dialog box, select Project template (Note: Selecting Project will create a new Project from the Template selected).

4. Click OK to create template.

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5. If you chose to create a Template file from None, a dialog box will ask you, ‘Which system of measurement do you want to use in your project?’ Select either Imperial or Metric. (This can be changed at a later point)

6. Now create Views, adjust settings and add families as needed to the new Project template as desired. (The process of creating content and adding families will continually evolve. Having a set of basic walls, doors, windows which are commonly used in the office will help with efficiency. This list of elements will grow over time and so should the Template file.)

7. Save the Project Template File to the network which can be accessed by all who will need to use it. Label it a name which references what the Template is to be used for. Template files have the extension .rte

Adjust Settings 1. Continue working in the same Template file as created before.

2. Select the Manage Tab on the Ribbon and observe the Settings Panel and the Tabs located above it. These settings will need to be adjusted to suit your templates

a. Materials (Specifies the materials which will be applied to elements in the building model. Create new materials or adjust existing materials to match current visibility settings used.)

Materials

b. Object Styles (Specifies the line weights, colours, patterns and materials for model objects, annotation objects and imported objects. Adjust these to match the drafting standards set.)

Object Styles

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c. Snaps (Specifies the snap increments and adjust object snap points. Modify these to suit.)

Snaps

d. Project Units (UN) (Specifies the display format for units of measure. Adjust the specific format and options of all units in the project, decimal places, rounding to, specific units etc.)

Project Units

3. Keyboard Shortcuts are a quick and efficient way of navigating around Revit. Current keyboard shortcuts which are used in existing Computer Drafting programs can be used and linked to tools in Revit to leverage the current standards. In the View tab>Windows Panel, expand Users Interface and click Keyboard Shortcuts (Alternatively click Options in the Application Menu and under the User Interface tab, Configure area and click Customize.

User Interface Keyboard Shortcuts

4. Text, Dimensions and Arrowheads are all system families and all can be modified and saved as a type. Callouts (Section/Plan Details), Sections and Elevations Tags can also be modified within Revit and Saved in the Template File. Modifying all these and saving as a template creates a standard which can be kept across all drawings.

a. To create a text type start the Text command (Annotate>Text>Text) or Model text (Home>Model>Model Text). Once inside either in Properties click on Edit Type. Duplicate the existing Type, rename the new text type and modify the Type Parameters to suit. Click Apply and OK.

Text Model Text

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b. To modify Dimensions to match the current standard, on the Ribbon Click Annotate>Dimensions and click on the drop down arrow on Dimensions. Under the drop down arrow click on each of the Dimensions Type. Duplicate the existing Type, rename the new dimension style then modify. Click Apply and OK.

Dimension Types (Attributes)

c. Existing arrowheads can be duplicated in Revit and modified to create custom styles. In the Manage Tab>Settings Panel, expand Additional Setting and click Arrowheads. Duplicate the existing Type, rename the new Arrow Type and modify to suit. Click Apply and OK.

Additional Settings Arrowheads

d. Existing Callouts (Section/ Plan Details), Elevations or Section markers can be duplicated and modified to suit the office standard. In the Manage Tab>Settings Panel, expand Additional Settings and click Callouts, Elevations or Section. Duplicate the existing Type, rename the new marker and modify. Click Apply and OK.

Callouts Tags Elevation Tags Section Tags

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e. Other Setting which can be adjusted to match current office standards are:

- Fill Pattern - Line Styles - Line Patterns - Halftone/ Underlay - Temporary Dimensions - Detail Level

These Settings are located in the Manage Tab>Settings Panel, and expand Additional Settings.

Fill Patterns Line Styles Line Patterns

Halftone/ Underlay Temporary Dimensions Detail Level

5. Tags for items such as Doors, Windows, Structural Items etc. can be loaded into a project template. Having these stored in the template allows for quick access and synchronicity across all projects. Tags are created as a separate file (Family File .rfa) and are typically stored in the library. Open the tag you wish to use and ‘save as’. Modify the tag to suit and then save. In the Annotate tab>Tag panel, click on the drop down arrow and click Loaded Tags. Load in the required tags to the categories you wish to tag. Once all tags are loaded in for a typical project click OK.

Loaded Tags


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Creating a Title Block

Title blocks are used to store information about the company and consultants involved in the project, project information and sheet specific data. Some of these parameters never change, some are project specific and some are sheet specific. When setting up a title block knowing which information is required to be modified in project and on each sheet is necessary.

1. In the Application Menu expand New and Click Title Block.

Title Block

2. In the New Title Block – Select Template File select an existing size Title Block or select a new size metric to create a custom size, and click Open.

3. In the Home tab> Detail panel click Line and create lines on the inside of the rectangle to start setting up your Title Block.

Line

4. In the Home tab>Text panel click Text and in Properties adjust the text type to match the Office Standards. Use the Text command to create text which will not be modified.

5. In the Home tab>Text panel click Label and in Properties adjust the text type to match the Office Standards. Use the Label command to create text which can change for each family type or instance.

6. To add a graphic to the Title Block you could either draw one in with lines and add a Fill Region(Located Home Tab >Detail Panel) or Insert a graphic via Insert>Image. (Note: If linking in an image beware of breaking the link by moving the file or folder where image is located.)

Filled Region Image

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7. Save the Title Block to the network which can be accessed by all who will need to use it. Label it a name which references what the Title Block is to be used for. Template files have the extension .rfa

Adding a Revision Schedule

A table for Revisions is typically included on a title block to keep track of revisions during the project. In Autodesk Revit, Revision Schedules can be created which can be linked to a Revision Table in the project.

1. Open the previous Title Block if it has been closed.

2. In the View tab>Create panel click Revision Schedule.

Revision Schedule

3. In the Revision Properties dialog box, select the Fields in ‘Available fields:’ and ‘Scheduled fields (in order):’, you wish to add or remove to Revision Schedule.

Revision Properties Dialog Box

4. Modify the Sorting/Grouping, Formatting and Appearance as desired (Adjust Height: from Variable to User defined to create extra rows in Revision Schedule).

5. Click OK and the new Revision Schedule is displayed.

6. In the Project Browser, Navigate to ‘Sheets(all)’ and click on the dash(the new Sheet doesn’t have a name.

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7. Drag the Revision Schedule in the Project Browser onto the new sheet and resize it to suit.

8. Save and close the Title Block.

Load a Title Block into a Project Template

The final step to setting a Project Template is adding a Title Block and making it the Default template file. This creates a starting point all employees can access and leverage the office standards.

1. Open the Project Template created previously.

2. In the Insert tab>Load from Library panel select Load Family. Browse to the previously created Title Block and select.

Load Family

3. The Title Block has been added to the Project. In the Project Browser, right click on Sheets (all) and select New Sheet… and select the new Title Block created.

Set new Template as Default Template

To set the new default project template file, click the Application Menu and navigate to the Options dialogue box. Click on the tab File Locations and notice where the current Default template file is located. Click on Browse… and select the new template file location.

References

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/enu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Autodesk® Revit® 2012 – BIM Management for Architecture, Structure, and MEP – Student Guide (rev.1.0), Ascent Center for Technical Knowledge®

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http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/enu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

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