REVIT ARCHITECTURE-STRUCTURE

LESSON 1 – INTRODUCTION TO REVIT ARCHITECTURE-STRUCTURE

Revit Architecture- 4
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Structure UI 1
13 Ribbon Tabs
1. App Menu
2. Quick Access 3
Toolbar (QAT)
3. Ribbon Panel 12 Options Bars
4. Tool
5. Info Center 11 Type Selector
6. Project Browser
7. Drawing Area 10
8. View Control Bar
9. Status Bar
10. Properties Palette
11. Type Selector
7 Drawing Area
12. Options Bar
13. Ribbon Tabs

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REVIT ARCHITECTURE-STRUCTURE
LESSON 1 – INTRODUCTION TO REVIT ARCHITECTURE-STRUCTURE

#1 Use the Properties Palette to See Dynamic Updates of Properties

The Properties palette is a floating palette that remains open while you work in the model. The palette dynamically
updates to show the properties of the element you have selected. If you have nothing selected, then the view’s
properties are displayed.

S1. Open any project/sample project.

S2. Click on any items in the drawing and observe how the properties’ tab – it changes with your selection.

#2 FOUR Ways to activate or disactivate the Properties Palette.

1. Go to the Modify tab of the ribbon, find the Properties panel on the far-left side of the ribbon, and click the Properties
button. This button will open or close the Properties palette.

2. Go to the View tab of the ribbon, find the Windows panel to the far right, click the User Interface button, and uncheck
or check the Properties option. This will also open or close the Properties palette.

3. Move your mouse into the drawing area, or canvas, and then right click with the mouse; this will bring up a context
menu. Click the word Properties near the bottom of the list.

4. You can also toggle the visibility of the Properties palette by pressing Ctrl+1 on your keyboard.

#3 Docking the Properties Palette

The palette can be docked on either side of your screen or left floating in your canvas. To move the palette, just click
the Properties palette header and drag it with your mouse. You will see an outline preview of the palette to aid you in
placement; release the mouse button to place the palette.

NB:

1.The Properties palette can be pulled outside the Revit application frame. This is especially helpful if you have a
second monitor. You can move the palette to a second screen for maximum Revit canvas space on the primary screen.

2.The Properties palette displays Element properties. Changes made in the Properties palette will affect only the
currently selected elements.

3.Changes made in the Type Properties dialog (found by clicking the Edit Type button, below the Type Selector) will
affect all elements of that particular type, whether they are selected or not. [Changes the text colour].

#4 Explore the Content of Your Project with the Project Browser

The Project Browser is a table of contents for your project. The structure of the browser is a tree consisting of all the
views, legends, schedules, renderings, sheets, families, groups, and links in your Revit Architecture-Structure project.

1. Much like the Properties palette, the Project Browser can be docked on either side of the Revit canvas.
2. The Project Browser is set up as a tree view with + and − icons to expand or collapse the tree structure.

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LESSON 1 – INTRODUCTION TO REVIT ARCHITECTURE-STRUCTURE
3. The Project Browser has a search utility as well. If you right-click any element in the Browser, you will see a Search
option at the bottom of the context menu. Click Search, and in the dialog that appears type Kitchen; then click the
Next button.

4. By default, the Project Browser displays all of your content; you can filter and customize what you see in the
Browser. Right-click Views (All) at the top of the Browser; then select Browser Organization.

#5 Use the View Control Bar to See Frequently Used View Properties

The View Control Bar is at the bottom-left corner of every view. It is a shortcut for frequently used view properties. In
most cases you can find the same parameter in the Properties palette for the current view. It is important to note that
these commands affect only the currently active view

1. Hover your mouse over the icons on the View Control Bar to see a tooltip, which displays the name of the specific
tool. The first icon is Scale, and the second is Detail Level.
2. The third icon is a cube called Visual Style; click this icon and choose Realistic from the list that pops up. Note that
you now see material textures on the walls and site if you zoom in closely. Also, the trees look more realistic.
3. Click the Visual Style icon again; this time click Hidden Line from the list. This is a more traditional black-and-white
style for viewing your 3D model.
4. The next icon on the View Control Bar is Sun Path; skip this one. The next icon is Shadows; click this icon and you
should see shadows render in your scene.
5. The next icon is a teapot, and it launches the Rendering dialog. Click the teapot icon again to close the Rendering
dialog.
6. The next icon is Crop View. This is a very important tool, so click it now. You should see parts of your model around
the corners disappear! The model is not deleted, just cropped.

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LESSON 1 – INTRODUCTION TO REVIT ARCHITECTURE-STRUCTURE
7. The next icon on the View Control Bar is Show Crop Region. Click this to see the crop box for the view. Now that
you see it, select it and use the blue grips that appear to adjust your crop as you desire. See Figure 1.5 for an
example. The next icon is Lock 3D View. This option is available only in 3D views. The command is helpful if you
ever add text to a 3D view and you don’t want the viewpoint to change.
8. The next icon looks like sunglasses. The Temporary Hide/Isolate tool is very useful as your project grows more
complex. Select the roof in your project, and then click the sunglasses. Choose the option Isolate Element from the
dialog. Notice that all other elements in the view are hidden so you can focus on the roof only. Click the sunglasses
again, and choose Reset Temporary Hide/Isolate. Now your view is back to normal.
9. The next icon in the View Control Bar is the light bulb, for Reveal Hidden Elements mode. Click the light bulb and a
magenta border surrounds your view. Any element that is hidden, or turned off, will also be displayed with magenta
lines. This viewing mode will prove very helpful in locating elements that appear in some views but not your current
view. Click the light bulb on the View Control Bar again to return to your normal working mode.

#6 Navigate with the ViewCube

As one of several navigation aids in Revit Architecture-Structure, the ViewCube is located in the
upper-right corner of 3D views. This is a familiar UI element that appears in many Autodesk
products.

1. Click the face of the ViewCube that is labeled Front. The view dynamically orbits to show a
straight-on, elevation-style view of your project — and it will automatically fit the view to the
entire model.

2. Move your mouse over the ViewCube. As you hover the mouse, arrows appear on each side of the Front face. Click
the arrow to the left of the Front face. The view will dynamically orbit to the Left elevation of your project.

3. Hover your mouse over the ViewCube again; this time click the arrow above the ViewCube. This will take you to a
Top view, or plan view orientation, of your project.

4. Hover your mouse over the lower-right corner of the ViewCube top. Click this corner and the view will dynamically
orbit back to a 3/4 corner view like you started out in.

5. Now click your mouse anywhere on the ViewCube and drag the mouse. This is a custom orbit, not a predefined angle
like Front, Left, or Top. Notice that a green Pivot icon appears at the center of the model. Release the mouse when you
like your camera angle. The model does not Zoom To Fit with this type of orbiting.

6. Select one of the trees in the model; then click and drag the ViewCube again. Notice that the green Pivot icon is now
in the middle of the selected element. This is a very useful technique for navigating large models if you’re editing a
specific element.

7. If you are using a mouse, then the scroll wheel is ideal for zooming in and out. If you don’t have a mouse, the Zoom
controls are all under the magnifying glass near the ViewCube.

8. Once you’ve navigated the view and you’re satisfied with the camera angle, it is important to save the current
viewpoint. Hover your mouse anywhere over the ViewCube and right-click. Select the Save View option from the
context menu. Name your view (preferably something specific), and click OK.

9. This will save the angle but not the zoom level. If you want to maintain a certain zoom level, use the View Crop
commands covered in steps 6 and 7 of the previous exercise to limit the view to what is most relevant.
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