Revit Architecture Training Notes

6.0 Viewing the Building Model

6.1 Explore Views and Modify View Properties Types of 2D views:
Floor Plan Views:- The floor plan view is the default view in a new project.

Reflected Ceiling Plan View

Elevation Views

Section Views:- Sections views cut through the model.

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Callout Views:- A callout shows part of another view at a larger scale.

Duplicating Views
Duplicate: Create a view that is a copy of the primary view. A duplicate view displays model elements but
not annotation elements from the original view.
Dependent with Detailing: Creates a view that inherits all the details of the primary view, it displays both
model and annotation elements from the original view.
Duplicate as a Dependent: You can create multiple copies of a view that are dependent on the primary
view. All copies, known as dependent views, remain synchronous with the primary view and all other
dependent views, so that when view-specific changes (such as view scale and annotations) are made in one
view, they are reflected in all views.

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View Properties

View Template

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6.1.1 Exercise: Explore Views Displayed in the Project Browser

1. Open .\S3\Managing_Views.rvt. The building model opens in the 3D view of the

almost complete project.
2. Open the Main Floor plan view.
3. Zoom in to the lower building.
4. Open the Section 1 view.
5. Verify that the callout symbol on the right of the building is named Callout of Section
1.
6. In the view window, right-click the callout. Click Go to View to make Callout of
Section 1 the active view.

7. In the Project Browser, right-click Main Floor. Click Duplicate View > Duplicate to
create a duplicate copy of the Main Floor view. Duplicating a view will retain the
original view settings for the new view.
8. Right-click the Copy of Main Floor view and Rename as Main Floor -Furniture Plan.
9. Create a duplicate with detailing copy of the Main Floor view. And rename the Copy
of Main Floor view as Main Floor - Annotated.
10. Compare Main Floor - Furniture Plan with Main Floor - Annotated. Notice that the
door, window, and room tags are visible in Main Floor - Annotated but not in Main
Floor - Furniture Plan.
11. Type WT to tile all the opened views.
12. Maximize Main Floor - Furniture Plan.
13. On the Instance Properties dialog box, notice the parameters you can set for this
view. For the Visibility/Graphics Overrides parameter, click Edit to open the
Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog box for this view.
a. On the Model Categories tab, clear the Furniture check box.
b. Click OK to close the dialog box and return to the view to observe the
changes.

6.1.2 Exercise: Change Element Display in a View

14. Open the Main Floor view.

15. Enter ZF to fit the view in the view window.
16. Select one of the exterior walls of the administrative building.
17. On the View Control Bar, click Temporary Hide/Isolate > Isolate Category (IC) to
observe the changes.

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18. On the View Control Bar, click Temporary Hide/Isolate > Reset Temporary
Hide/Isolate (HR) to return to the previous state.
19. Select the exterior wall of the administrative building again.
20. On the View Control Bar, click Temporary Hide/Isolate > Isolate Element (HI) to
isolate the wall.
21. Reset the view.
22. Zoom in to the lavatory room in the upper-left corner of the lower building.
23. On the View Control Bar, click Model Graphics Style > Shading with Edges. The
walls in the drawing appear shaded.

24. On the View Control Bar, click Scale > 1: 100. This drawing scale applies when the
view is placed on a sheet.
25. Zoom in to the lavatories. Notice that the size of the labels and tags changed relative
to the scale of the building model view.

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6.2 Control Object Visibility

Visibility / Graphic Overrides Dialog Box

Overriding Visibility and Graphic Display of Individual Elements

User-Defined Filters

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6.2.1 Exercise: Control Object Visibility

1. Open .\S3\Visibility.rvt. Ensure that the Ground Floor view is displayed.

2. On the Instance Properties dialog box, for Visibility/Graphic Overrides under Graphics,
click edit to open the dialog box.
3. On the Model Categories tab, under Visibility:
a. Clear the Furniture check box.
b. Click OK.
4. To create a plan view to emphasize the furniture, duplicate with detailing the Ground
Floor view as Ground Floor-Furniture Plan and make it the active view.
5. Click anywhere inside the view window. Enter VG.
6. Make the furniture elements visible.
7. Under Halftone, select the check boxes for the following:
Curtain Panels
Curtain Systems
Curtain Wall Mullions
Doors
Floors
Railings
Specialty Equipment
Stairs
Structural Columns
Walls
Windows
8. Click the Annotation Categories tab.
9. Clear the Show Annotation Categories in this View check box.
10. Click OK to close the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog box. The modified view shows
the background architecture in halftone and the furniture in dark lines.

6.2.2 Exercise Create and Apply a View Template

1. Click View tab > Graphics panel > View Templates drop-down > Create Template from
Current View.
2. In the New View Template dialog box.
a. For name, enter Furniture Layout.
b. Click OK.
3. In the View Templates dialog box, under View Properties, for V/G Overrides Model, click
Edit in the value field. The Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog box opens showing the
halftone changes you made.
4. Close all the dialog boxes.
5. Duplicate with detailing the Main Floor view as Main Floor-Furniture Plan and make it the
active view.
6. On the View Templates drop-down, click Apply Template to Current View.

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7. In the Apply View Template dialog box:

a. Select Furniture Layout to apply the view template to the view.
b. Click OK.
8. The view is updated with furniture in dark lines, no annotations, and background in
halftone.

6.3 Create and Modify Section and Elevation Views

6.3.1 Exercise: Create and Modify Section and Elevation Views

1. Open .\S3\Sections_Elevations.rvt. Ensure that the file is open in the Ground Floor
view.
2. View tab > Create panel > Section. Notice the information on the Options Bar.
3. In the view window:
a. Position the cursor to the left of the main entrance in the lower building.
b. Click to place the section head.
4. Drag the cursor straight up past the north wall of the building and click to place the
section tail. The new section view named Section 4 is created in the Project Browser.
5. Open the Section 4 view. The crop boundary is selected.
6. With the crop boundary selected, drag its control arrows closer to the building to resize
the view area.
7. Return to the Ground Floor view. The section line is still selected.
8. In the view window:
a. Place the cursor over the section line.
b. When the cursor changes to a double-headed arrow, drag the section line toward
the right in the lower building to the room on the left of the right-side staircase.
9. In the view window, click the flip control arrows that are displayed close to the section
head to change the direction of the section symbol.
10. Modify| Views tab > Section panel > Split Segment to split the section view.

6.3.2 Exercise: Create and Modify an Elevation View

1. Open the Main Floor view.

2. Zoom in to the toilet rooms in the upper-left corner of the lower building.
3. View tab > Create panel > Elevation. The cursor displays a square elevation tag. The
point of the tag orients towards the nearest wall.

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4. In the view window:

a. Position the cursor in the Women's Toilet Room so that the view arrow points to
the southern wall to which the sink is attached as shown above.
b. Click to place the elevation.
c. Exit the Elevation tool.
5. In the view window:
a. Select the elevation.
b. Select all check boxes around the elevation to create additional elevations.

6.4 Create 3D Perspective and 3D Orthographic Views

6.4.1 Exercise: Create a 3D Perspective View

1. Open .\S3\3D_Views.rvt. The file opens in the Ground Floor view.

2. Zoom in to the lower part of the building model.
3. View tab > Create panel > 3D View drop-down > Camera.
4. In the view window:
a. Position the cursor to the left of the entrance below the south wall of the lower
building.
b. Click to place the camera, as shown.

5. Move the cursor inside the entrance passage to place the camera target point, as shown.
6. Modify Cameras tab > Crop panel > Size Crop. In the Crop Region Size dialog box:
a. For Width, enter 250 mm.
b. Click OK.

6.4.2 Exercise: Create 3D Orthographic Views

7. Open the default 3D view.

8. In the view window:
a. Right-click the view cube. Click Orient to a Direction > Southwest Isometric.
b. Right-click the view cube. Click Save View.
c. In the dialog box: For Name, enter Southwest Aerial.
d. Click OK.

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9. In the Project Browser, right-click the Southwest Aerial view. Click Duplicate View >
Duplicate.
10. Activate the Copy of Southwest Aerial view. In the view window:
a. Right-click the view cube. Click Orient to view > Sections > Section: Section1.
b. Right-click the view cube. Click Save View.
c. Rename the view as 3D Section1.
d. Click OK.

7.0 Using Dimensions and Constraints

7.1 Work with Dimensions
Dimensions are view-specific elements that show sizes and distances in a project. There
are 2 types of dimensions: temporary and permanent. Revit Architecture places
temporary dimensions as you place components. You create permanent dimensions to
define a particular size or distance. Each dimension type can be modified, and the
component that is dimensioned updates accordingly.

7.1.1 Exercise: Work with Dimensions

1. Open .\S3\Dimensions.rvt. The file opens in the Main Floor Admin Wing view.
2. In the view window, select the interior wall as shown below. The temporary
dimensions are displayed.

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3. Click the dimension symbol to make the dimensions permanent.

4. Click away from the selected dimension to clear the selection and display the
permanent dimension.
5. Click the dimension line to select it.
6. To modify the selected dimension:
a. Move the cursor over the dimension line so that it changes to a double arrow.
b. Drag it up away from the wall.
c. Position the dimension line at about the middle of the vertical wall. The exact
position is not critical.
7. To shift the position of the left witness line, click on the square symbol - Move
Witness Line control of the left witness line.
8. Select the same interior wall again. Notice that the temporary dimensions display in
addition to the permanent dimensions.
9. To move the wall:
a. Click the left dimension value of the temporary dimension.
b. Enter 2400 mm.
10. To place another wall of the same type, click Modify| Walls tab > Create panel >
Create Similar.
11. Move the cursor along the corridor wall to the left of the door as shown below.

12. Enter 300 mm. Press ENTER.

13. To draw a wall:
a. Move the cursor upward to connect with the wall above.
b. Click to place the wall.
14. You now place dimensions around the exterior of the building to show the locations
of the wall and the window. Annotate tab > Dimension panel > Aligned.
15. On the Options Bar, verify that Wall Faces is selected in the Place Dimensions list.
16. To place a dimension from the exterior face of the left exterior wall to the interior face
of the same wall:
a. Zoom in to the lower-left corner of the model.
b. Click the exterior face of the vertical wall on the left.

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c. Click the interior face of the wall.

17. Move from the left to the right to add dimensions for the remaining three walls to the
entryway by clicking the wall faces, as shown below.

18. When you reach the right face of the interior wall at the left side of the entry, move
the cursor to a blank area of the view window below the horizontal wall so that no
wall reference is highlighted. Click to place the dimension string.
19. You now add dimensions for the windows in the exterior wall. On the Options Bar:
a. Select Entire Walls from the Pick list.
b. Click Options next to the Pick list to specify the dimension options.
20. In the Auto Dimension Options dialog box:
a. Select the Openings check box.
b. Click Widths.
c. Click OK.

21. In the view window, to place dimensions for the openings in the entire wall:
a. Select the same horizontal wall for which you placed the dimensions.
b. Drag the cursor above the first dimension line and click to place another
dimension line.

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22. The witness lines extend from the dimension strings to the wall. To change the
length of the witness lines, select the dimension strings and click Edit Type to open
the Type Properties dialog box.
23. In the Type Properties dialog box:
a. Under Graphics, for Witness Line Control, click the value field.
b. Select Fixed to Dimension Line from the list.
c. Click OK.

7.2 Apply Constraints

Constraints are non-view specific elements that can function independently of dimensions.
Constraint elements appear in all views in which their references are visible; dimensions are
view-specific. You can modify and delete constraints independently of dimensions or remove
them when you delete dimensions. You create constraints by placing dimensions and locking
them or by creating equality constraints. Constraints appear as blue dashed lines in project
views.

Types of Constraints:
- Length Constraints
- Equality Constraints
- Alignment Constraints
- Pinning Constraints
- Lock Constraints

7.2.1 Exercise: Apply Constraints

1. Open .\S3\Constraints.rvt. The file opens in the Main Floor Admin Wing view.
2. Zoom in to the left door at the end of the central corridor.
3. You now make this door the alignment control for another door. Click Modify tab >
Modify panel > Align to activate the Align tool.
4. In the view window:
a. Place the cursor on the door to display the centerline as shown below.

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b. Click to select the centerline of the door.

5. Scroll to the right and select the centerline of the door at the opposite end of the
corridor. The door aligns.
6. Click the padlock to lock the alignment constraint. The padlock symbol changes from
unlocked to locked.
7. Exit the Align tool.
8. Try to move one of the doors, another one also moves.
9. Zoom in to the left door of the corridor again.
10. Annotate tab > Dimension panel > Aligned.
11. On the Options Bar:
a. Ensure that Wall Faces is selected from the Place Dimensions list.
b. Ensure that Individual References is selected from the Pick list.
12. In the view window, select the lower face of the corridor wall as shown below.
13. Select the wall opening for the door on the swing side as shown below.

14. Move the cursor to the right of the door and click to place the dimension.
15. Press ESC two times to clear the selection and exit the Aligned tool.
16. In the view window:
a. Select the door.
b. Click the text field of the dimension you just placed and enter 200 mm.
c. Press ENTER.
17. Zoom out so that you can see both ends of the corridor. Notice that the right door
has also moved.
18. In the view window:
a. Select the dimension (not the dimension text) on the left door.
b. Click the open padlock so that it closes to constrain this dimension.
19. Press DELETE to delete the dimension.
20. In the warning dialog box, click OK to delete the dimension but leave the elements
constrained.
21. Select the left door to see the constraints.
22. In the view window:
a. Zoom out so that you can view the hallway in the upper palart of the plan.
b. Activate the Aligned dimension tool.
c. Click the upper face of the lower wall, the window centerlines, and the lower
face of the upper wall, as shown.

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23. In the view window:

a. Click to the right of the wall to place the dimension.
b. Click the EQ symbol to center the windows between the walls.
24. Exit the Aligned tool.
25. You now view another level of the building and align walls in the current view with
walls of the other level.
26. In the Instance Properties dialog box:
a. Under Graphics, for Underlay, click the value field.
b. Select Ground Floor from the list.
c. Click Apply.
27. In the view window, in the upper-left corner of the lower building:
a. Select the interior wall to the right of the toilet rooms.
b. Drag the interior wall to the right so that the ground floor wall beneath it is
displayed.

28. Click the Align tool.

29. On the Options Bar, select Wall Centerlines from the Prefer list.
30. In the view window, select the ground floor wall.
31. Select the main floor wall.
32. Exit the Align tool.

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7.2.2 Exercise – Apply and Remove a Pinning Constraint

33. Select the short vertical wall as shown. The temporary dimensions of the wall are
displayed.

34. Click Modify| Walls tab > Modify panel > Pin to constrain the wall. A pin icon appears,
and the temporary dimensions disappear.
35. On the Modify panel, click Move.
36. In the view window, to move the pinned wall:
a. Click anywhere to establish a start point.
b. Drag the cursor left or right and click anywhere to establish an end point. An
error message appears.
37. In the error dialog box, click Cancel.
38. In the view window, to remove the pinning constraint:
a. Select the wall again.
b. Click the pin icon. Notice that a cross is displayed close to the pin, and the
temporary dimensions of the wall appear.

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