Revit 2020 Fundamentals For Structure
Revit 2020 Fundamentals For Structure
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Autodesk® Revit® 2020
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Learning Guide
Imperial Units - 1st Edition
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Cover Page
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Authorized Publisher
ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge®
Autodesk® Revit® 2020
Fundamentals for Structure
Imperial Units - 1st Edition
Prepared and produced by:
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ASCENT Center for Technical Knowledge
630 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 175
Charlottesville, VA 22911
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866-527-2368
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www.ASCENTed.com
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Lead Contributor: Martha Hollowell Orcutt
Copyright
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ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge is a division of Rand Worldwide, Inc., providing custom
developed knowledge products and services for leading engineering software applications. ASCENT is
focused on specializing in the creation of education programs that incorporate the best of classroom
learning and technology-based training offerings.
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We welcome any comments you may have regarding this guide, or any of our products. To contact us
please email: [email protected].
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© ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge, 2019
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All rights reserved. No part of this guide may be reproduced in any form by any photographic, electronic,
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permission of ASCENT, a division of Rand Worldwide, Inc.
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C o n t e n ts
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Preface ............................................................................................................ ix
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Practice Files ............................................................................................... xvii
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Chapter 1: Introduction to BIM and Autodesk Revit ................................. 1-1
e EN1.1 BIM and Autodesk Revit ................................................................. 1-2
Workflow and BIM ............................................................................. 1-3
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Revit Terms....................................................................................... 1-4
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Creating Linear and Radial Arrays .................................................. 2-28
Practice 2b Work with Basic Modify Tools ........................................ 2-32
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2.4 Working with Additional Modify Tools........................................ 2-39
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Aligning Elements ........................................................................... 2-39
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Splitting Linear Elements ................................................................ 2-40
Trimming and Extending ................................................................. 2-41
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Offsetting Elements......................................................................... 2-43
Practice 2c Work with Additional Modify Tools ................................ 2-45
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Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 2-48
Command Summary ............................................................................. 2-52
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Chapter 3: Starting Structural Projects ...................................................... 3-1
3.1 Linking and Importing CAD Files .................................................. 3-2
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Practice 3a Start a CAD-based Structural Project............................... 3-7
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Elevations........................................................................................ 4-29
Sections .......................................................................................... 4-31
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Modifying Elevations and Sections ................................................. 4-32
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3D Section Views ............................................................................ 4-36
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Practice 4c Create Elevations and Sections...................................... 4-40
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Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 4-47
Command Summary ............................................................................. 4-50
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Chapter 5: Structural Grids and Columns.................................................. 5-1
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5.1 Adding Structural Grids ................................................................. 5-2
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Modifying Grid Lines ......................................................................... 5-3
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Practice 5a Add Structural Grids .......................................................... 5-5
5.2 Placing Structural Columns ......................................................... 5-10
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Modifying Columns.......................................................................... 5-12
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Practice 7a Model Structural Framing................................................ 7-11
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7.2 Modifying Structural Framing ...................................................... 7-19
Sloping and Offsetting Beams......................................................... 7-21
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Adding Beam Cantilevers and Cutbacks......................................... 7-23
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Changing the Cutback..................................................................... 7-25
Changing Justifications ................................................................... 7-26
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Attaching a Column to a Beam ....................................................... 7-29
Applying Beam Coping.................................................................... 7-30
Editing Beam Joins ......................................................................... 7-31
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Practice 7b Modify Structural Framing .............................................. 7-33
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7.3 Adding Trusses ............................................................................. 7-37
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Setting Framing Types in Trusses .................................................. 7-39
Practice 7c Add Trusses...................................................................... 7-41
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Fabric Reinforcement...................................................................... 9-35
Modifying Area, Path, & Fabric Reinforcement ............................... 9-41
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Practice 9b Reinforce Structural Elements........................................ 9-44
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Chapter Review Questions................................................................... 9-53
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Command Summary ............................................................................. 9-56
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Chapter 10: Structural Analysis ................................................................ 10-1
10.1 Preparing Projects for Structural Analysis................................. 10-2
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Structural Settings........................................................................... 10-3
10.2 Viewing Analytical Models ......................................................... 10-13
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Graphic Overrides for Analytical Model Categories ...................... 10-16
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Practice 10a Analytical Settings and Views..................................... 10-19
10.3 Adjusting Analytical Models ...................................................... 10-24
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Analytical Justifications ................................................................. 10-25
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Practice 12a Work with Dimensions................................................. 12-15
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12.2 Working With Text....................................................................... 12-19
Editing Text ................................................................................... 12-22
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Spell Checking .............................................................................. 12-26
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Creating Text Types...................................................................... 12-26
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Practice 12b Work with Text.............................................................. 12-28
12.3 Adding Tags ................................................................................ 12-33
Tagging in 3D Views ..................................................................... 12-39
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Beam Annotations......................................................................... 12-40
12.4 Adding Detail Lines and Symbols ............................................. 12-43
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Using Symbols .............................................................................. 12-44
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Practice 12c Add Tags and Symbols................................................ 12-48
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12.5 Creating Legends........................................................................ 12-52
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Practice 14a Create a Graphical Column Schedule .......................... 14-7
14.3 Working with Schedules............................................................. 14-10
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Modifying Schedules ..................................................................... 14-11
Modifying a Schedule on a Sheet ................................................. 14-13
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Practice 14b Work with Schedules ................................................... 14-14
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Chapter Review Questions................................................................. 14-20
Command Summary ........................................................................... 14-21
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Appendix A: Introduction to Worksets .......................................................A-1
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A.1 Introduction to Worksets................................................................A-2
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Saving Workset- Related Files.......................................................... A-4
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Command Summary ...............................................................................A-7
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Appendix D: Autodesk Revit Structure Certification Exam Objectives...D-1
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Index ...................................................................................................... Index-1
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To take full advantage of Building Information Modeling, the Autodesk® Revit®
2020: Fundamentals for Structure guide has been designed to teach the concepts
and principles of creating 3D parametric models of structural buildings from
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engineering design through construction documentation.
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This guide is intended to introduce you to the user interface and the basic building
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components of the software that makes Autodesk® Revit® a powerful and flexible
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structural modeling tool. The goal is to familiarize you with the tools required to
create, modify, analyze, and document a parametric model. The examples and
practices are designed to take you through the basics of a full structural project,
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from linking in an architectural model, to construction documents.
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Topics Covered
• Structural reinforcement
• Beams, trusses, and framing systems
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Prerequisites
• Access to the 2020.0 version of the software (or later). The practices and files
included with this guide are not compatible with prior versions. Future software
updates that are released by Autodesk may include changes that will not be
reflected in this guide.
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• This guide introduces the fundamental skills in learning how to use the
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Autodesk Revit software, with a focus on the structural tools. It is highly
recommended that students have experience and knowledge in structural
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engineering and its terminology.
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Note on Software Setup
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This guide assumes a standard installation of the software using the default
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preferences during installation. Lectures and practices use the standard software
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templates and default options for the Content Libraries.
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Students and Educators can Access Free Autodesk Software and
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Resources
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Autodesk challenges you to get started with free educational licenses for
professional software and creativity apps used by millions of architects,
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engineers, designers, and hobbyists today. Bring Autodesk software into your
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Get started today - register at the Autodesk Education Community and download
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Visit www.autodesk.com/education/home/
Note: Free products are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user
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license and services agreement that accompanies the software. The software is
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for personal use for education purposes and is not intended for classroom or lab
use.
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Martha incorporates her passion for building design and education into all of her
projects, including the learning guides she creates on Autodesk® Revit for
Architecture, MEP, Structure, and Landscape Design, and on AutoCAD® Advance
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Steel. She started working with AutoCAD® in the early 1990’s, adding AutoCAD®
Architecture and Autodesk Revit as they came along.
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After receiving a B.Sc. in Architecture from the University of Virginia, she worked
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in the architectural department of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and later
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in private practice, consulting with firms setting up AutoCAD in their offices.
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Martha has over 20 years' experience as a trainer and instructional designer. She
is skilled in leading individuals and small groups to understand and build on their
potential. Martha is trained in Instructional Design and has achieved the Autodesk
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Certified Professional designation for Revit Architecture.
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Martha Hollowell Orcutt has been the Lead Contributor for Autodesk Revit:
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Fundamentals for Structure since 2008.
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The following images highlight some of the features that can be found in this
guide.
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Practice Files
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Chapters
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Instructional Content
Each chapter is split into a
series of sections of
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instructional content on specific
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topics. These lectures include
the descriptions, step-by-step
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Side notes procedures, figures, hints, and
Side notes are hints or information you need to achieve
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additional information for the chapter's Learning
the current topic. Objectives.
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Practice Objectives
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Practices
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Files page.
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Command Summary
The Command Summary is
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located at the end of each
chapter. It contains a list of the
software commands that are
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used throughout the chapter,
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and provides information on
where the command is found in
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the software.
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Appendix
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This appendix includes a list of
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Introduction to BIM and
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Autodesk Revit
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Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the Autodesk® Revit® software work
hand in hand to help you create smart, 3D models that are useful at all stages in
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the building process. Understanding the software interface and terminology
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enhances your ability to create powerful models and move around in the various
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• Describe the concept and workflow of Building Information Modeling in relation to the
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• Navigate the graphic user interface, including the ribbon (where most of the tools are found),
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the Properties palette (where you make modifications to element information), and the
Project Browser (where you can open various views of the model).
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coordinate, update, and share design data with team members
across disciplines.
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The Autodesk Revit software is a true BIM product. It enables
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you to create complete 3D building models (as shown on the left
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in Figure 1–1) that provide considerable information reported
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through construction documents, and enables you to share these
models with other programs for more extensive analysis.
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software includes tools
for architectural,
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mechanical, electrical,
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plumbing, and structural
design.
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Figure 1–1
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Modeler:
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highways.
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elevations, details, and notes. Sometimes, a separate 3D model
is created in addition to these documents. Changes made in one
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document, such as the addition of a light fixture in a plan, have to
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be coordinated with the rest of the documents and schedules in
the set, as shown in Figure 1–2.
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Figure 1–2
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associativity.
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Figure 1–3
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Model Model
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Element: Element:
Host Component
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e ENDatum
View
Element
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Plan View
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Figure 1–4
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Datum Define the project context such as the levels for the floors
Elements and other vertical distances, column grids, and reference
planes.
View-specific Only display in the view in which they are placed. The
Elements view scale controls their size. These include annotation
elements such as dimensions, text, tags, and symbols as
well as detail elements such as detail lines, filled regions,
and 2D detail components.
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• Autodesk Revit elements are “smart”: the software
recognizes them as walls, columns, plants, ducts, or lighting
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fixtures. This means that the information stored in their
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properties automatically updates in schedules, which ensures
that views and reports are coordinated across an entire
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project, and are generated from a single model.
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Revit and In the traditional workflow, the most time-consuming part of the
project is the construction documents. With BIM, the base views
Construction
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of those documents (i.e., plans, elevations, sections, and
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Documents schedules) are produced automatically and update as the model
is updated, saving hours of work. The views are then placed on
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sheets that form the construction document set.
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but the required categories of elements are hidden or set to
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halftone and annotations are added. The plan is then placed on
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Figure 1–5
• Work can continue on a view and is automatically updated on
the sheet.
• Annotating views in the preliminary design phase is often not
required. You might be able to wait until you are further along
in the project.
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common to most of the Autodesk® software. It also includes tools
that are specific to the Autodesk Revit software, including the
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Properties Palette, Project Browser, and View Control Bar. The
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interface is shown in Figure 1–6.
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1 8 5 4 9
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Figure 1–6
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When you first open the Autodesk Revit software, the Home
screen displays, showing recently used projects and families, as
well as links to BIM 360 files, as shown in Figure 1–7.
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Figure 1–7
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tools, including Measuring tools, Aligned Dimension, Tag by
Category, and Text. Viewing tools, including several different 3D
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Views and Sections, are also easily accessed here.
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Figure 1–8
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Right-click on the Quick Access Toolbar to change the docked
location of the toolbar to be above or below the ribbon, or to
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add, relocate, or remove tools on the toolbar. You can also
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Access Toolbar, as shown in Figure 1–9.
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Figure 1–9
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Figure 1–10
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2. Status Bar
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Figure 1–12
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• Other options in the Status Bar are related to Worksets and
Design Options (advanced tools) as well as selection methods
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and filters.
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Shortcut menus help you to work smoothly and efficiently by
enabling you to quickly access required commands. These
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menus provide access to basic viewing commands, recently
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Figure 1–13. Additional options vary depending on the element
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or command that you are using.
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Figure 1–13
3.File Tab
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If you click the primary
icon, rather than the
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arrow, it starts the
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default command.
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Figure 1–14
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it available.
Figure 1–15
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Documents list to
change between views.
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Figure 1–16
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• Click (Close) to close the current project.
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e EN • At the bottom of the menu, click Options to open the Options
dialog box or click Exit Revit to exit the software.
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4. Ribbon
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Figure 1–17
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Contextual tab
Figure 1–18
• When you hover over a tool on the ribbon, tooltips display the
tool’s name and a short description. If you continue hovering
over the tool, a graphic displays (and sometimes a video), as
shown in Figure 1–19.
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Figure 1–19
• Many commands have shortcut keys. For example, type AL
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for Align or MV for Move. They are listed next to the name of
the command in the tooltips. Do not press <Enter> when
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typing shortcuts.
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• Any panel can be dragged by its title into the view window to
become a floating panel. Click the Return Panels to Ribbon
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Figure 1–20
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• In any tab on the ribbon, click (Modify).
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• Press <Esc> once or twice to revert to Modify.
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• Right-click and select Cancel... once or twice.
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• Start another command.
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5. Options Bar
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The Options Bar displays options that are related to the selected
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command or element. For example, when the Rotate command
is active it displays options for rotating the selected elements, as
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shown at the top in Figure 1–21. When the Place Dimensions
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shown at the bottom in .
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Figure 1–21
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6. Properties Palette
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adding or modifying. The options available on the palette enable
you to make changes to information (parameters). There are two
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types of properties:
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• Instance Properties are set for the individual element(s) you
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are creating or modifying.
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• Type Properties control options for all elements of the same
type. If you modify these parameter values, all elements of
the selected type change.
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The Properties palette is
usually kept open while Type Selector
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working on a project to
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easily permit changes at
any time. If it does not
Filter drop-down
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display, in the Modify
tab>Properties panel,
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Access to Type
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Properties
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Figure 1–22
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• You can save the changes by either moving the cursor off of
the palette, or by pressing <Enter>, or by clicking Apply.
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shows in the drop-down Search Box
list by typing in the
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search box.
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• When multiple elements are selected, you can filter the type
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7. Project Browser
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The Project Browser lists all views of the model in which you can
work (as shown in Figure 1–26) and any additional views that
you create, such as floor plans, ceiling plans, 3D views,
elevations, sections, etc. It also includes schedules, legends,
sheets (for plotting), lists of families by category, groups, and
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Autodesk Revit Links.
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displays the name of the
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active project.
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Figure 1–26
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<F2>.
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Figure 1–27 Figure 1–28
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• If you no longer require a view, you can remove it. Right-click
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on its name in the Project Browser and select Delete.
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of the Properties palette, and customized.
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click Next.
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8. View Tabs
Each view of a project opens in its own tab. Each view displays a
Navigation Bar (for quick access to viewing tools) and the View
Control Bar, as shown in Figure 1–31. You can drag tabs to other
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monitors.
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Navigation Bar
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In 3D views you can
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also use the ViewCube
to rotate the view.
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Figure 1–31
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• Press <Ctrl>+<Tab>.
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the list.
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Figure 1–32
• To close a tab, press the X that displays when you hover over
the tab or the name in the list, as shown in Figure 1–32.
• To close all open views except the current view, in the Quick
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Inactive Views). If you have multiple projects open, one view
of each project remains open.
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• You can switch between tabbed and tiled views, as shown in
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Figure 1–33. In the View tab>Windows panel, click (Tab
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Views) or (Tile Views).
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Figure 1–33
• Drag the edge of tiled views to resize them. The other views
resize to match.
9. Navigation Bar
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Figure 1–34
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display parts of the view and hide or isolate elements in the view.
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Figure 1–35
• The number of options in the View Control Bar change when
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Figure 1–36
There are three main file formats:
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• Template files (.rte and .rft): These are the base files for
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Projects tab click (Open), or press <Ctrl>+<O>. The Open dialog box
opens (as shown in Figure 1–37), in which you can navigate to
the required folder and select a project file.
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Figure 1–37
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to previous versions.
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to open files created in versions newer than the one you are
using currently.
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Figure 1–38
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e EN Hint: Opening Workset-Related Files
Worksets are used when the project becomes large enough for
multiple people to work on it at the same time. At this point, the
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project manager creates a central file with multiple worksets
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When you open a workset related file it creates a new local file
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Figure 1–39
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Worksets.
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Starting New projects are based on a template file. The template file
includes preset levels, views, and some families, such as wall
New Projects styles and text styles. Check with your BIM Manager about which
template you need to use for your projects. Your company might
have more than one based on the types of building that you are
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designing.
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How To: Start a New Project
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1. In the File tab, expand (New) and click (Project) (as
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shown in Figure 1–40), or press <Ctrl>+<N>.
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Figure 1–40
2. In the New Project dialog box (shown in Figure 1–41), select
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company standards.
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Figure 1–41
• You can select from a list of templates if they have been set
up by your BIM Manager.
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Figure 1–42
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Saving Projects It is important to save your projects frequently. In the Quick
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Access Toolbar or File tab click (Save), or press <Ctrl>+<S>
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to save your project. If the project has not yet been saved, the
Save As dialog box opens, where you can specify a file location
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and name.
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• To save an existing project with a new name, in the File tab,
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expand (Save As) and click (Project).
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options.
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Figure 1–43
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Figure 1–44
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Saving Backup Copies
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By default, the software saves a backup copy of a project file
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incrementally (e.g., My Project.0001.rvt, My Project.0002.rvt,
etc.) and are saved in the same folder as the original file. In the
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Save As dialog box, click Options... to control how many backup
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exceed this number, the software deletes the oldest backup file.
If you use worksets in your project, you need to save the project
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local file frequently, just like any other file, and save to the
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At the end of the day, or when you are finished with the current
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controls to navigate in it. You can zoom in and out and pan in any
view. There are also special tools for viewing in 3D.
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Zooming and Using The Mouse to Zoom and Pan
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Panning Use the mouse wheel (shown in Figure 1–45) as the main
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method of moving around the models.
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Mouse
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Wheel
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Figure 1–45
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zoom out.
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view.
• In a 3D view, hold <Shift> and the mouse wheel and move
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• When you save a model and exit the software, the pan and
zoom location of each view is remembered. This is especially
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Zoom Controls
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• You can access the Zoom commands in the Navigation Bar
in the upper right corner of the view (as shown in
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Figure 1–46). You can also access them from most shortcut
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menus and by typing the shortcut commands.
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(2D Wheel)
provides cursor-specific
access to Zoom and
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Pan.
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Figure 1–46
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Zoom Commands
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Zoom In Region Zooms into a region that you define. Drag the
(ZR) cursor or select two points to define the
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Zoom All To Fit Zooms out so that the entire contents of the
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N/A Next Pan/Zoom Steps forward one Zoom command if you have
done a Previous Pan/Zoom.
Viewing in 3D Even if you started a project entirely in plan views, you can
quickly create 3D views of the model, as shown in Figure 1–47.
There are two types of 3D views: isometric views created by the
Default 3D View command and perspective views created by
the Camera command.
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Figure 1–47
e EN Working in 3D views helps you visualize the project and position
some of the elements correctly. You can create and modify
elements in both isometric and perspective 3D views, just as you
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can in plan views.
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• Once you have created a 3D view, you can save it and easily
return to it.
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middle button of a
three-button mouse.
Hold <Shift> as you
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Figure 1–48
2. Modify the view to display the building from other directions.
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Figure 1–49 Figure 1–50
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All types of views can • When changes to the default 3D view are saved and you start
be renamed. another default 3D view, it displays the Southeast isometric
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view once again. If you modified the default 3D view but did
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not save it to a new name, the Default 3D View command
opens the view in the last orientation you specified.
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e EN How To: Create a Perspective View
1. Switch to a Floor Plan view.
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2. In the Quick Access Toolbar or View tab>Create panel,
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Target
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Camera
Figure 1–51
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mouse wheel to change
the view.
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5. In the Properties palette scroll down and adjust the Eye
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Elevation and Target Elevation as required.
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Target).
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ViewCube
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Figure 1–53
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Move the cursor over any face of the ViewCube to highlight it.
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To change the Home view, set the view as you want it,
right-click on the ViewCube, and select Set Current View
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as Home.
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views.
Perspective or Orthographic.
Visual Styles Any view can have a visual style applied. The Visual Style
options found in the View Control Bar (as shown in Figure 1–54),
specify the shading of the building model. These options apply to
plan, elevation, section, and 3D views.
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Figure 1–54
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• (Wireframe) displays the lines and edges that make up
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elements, but hides the surfaces. This can be useful when
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Figure 1–55
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working.
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• (Ray Trace) is useful if you have created a 3D view that
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you want to render. It gradually moves from draft resolution to
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photorealistic. You can stop the process at any time.
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• Manipulate 2D and 3D views by zooming and panning.
• Create 3D Isometric and Perspective views.
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• Set the Visual Style of a view.
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In this practice, you will open a project file and view each of the
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various areas in the interface. You will investigate elements,
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commands, and their options. You will also open views through
the Project Browser and view the model in 3D, as shown in
Figure 1–56.
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Figure 1–56
• This is a version of the main project you will work on
throughout the learning guide.
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2. In the Open dialog box, navigate to the practice files folder
and select Syracuse-Suites.rvt.
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3. Click Open. The 3D view of the building opens in the view
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window.
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If the Project Browser 4. In the Project Browser, double-click on the Structural Plans:
and Properties palette 00 GROUND FLOOR view. It opens a plan with the Visual
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are docked over each Style set to Wireframe so that the footings and foundation
other, use the Project walls display, although there is a slab over them.
Browser tab at the
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bottom to display it. 5. In the View Control toolbar, change the Visual Style to
Hidden Line. The lines that are hidden in the view display as
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dashed, as shown in Figure 1–57.
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Figure 1–57
Figure 1–58
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Figure 1–59
e EN 8. Double-click the mouse wheel or type ZE to zoom to the
extents of the view. (ZA zooms to the extents of all of the
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opened view windows). Find the section marker that extends
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Figure 1–60
11. In the section view, zoom in on the area in which the callout
has been placed as shown in Figure 1–61. Double-click on
the callout-head to open the TYPICAL EDGE DETAIL view.
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Figure 1–61
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12. In the TYPICAL EDGE DETAIL view, select the floor, as
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shown in Figure 1–62.
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Figure 1–62
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13. This is a full 3D floor element. You can edit it using the
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Figure 1–63
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15. In Properties, click (Edit Type) to access the Type
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Figure 1–65.
Figure 1–65
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Figure 1–66
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Task 2 - Work with Multiple views and 3D views.
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1. At the top of the views, click each tab to switch between the
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Figure 1–67
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views return to the tabs and the 3D view is first in the group.
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7. Press and hold <Shift> and then press and hold the wheel on
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8. Expand the File tab and click (Close) to exit the project.
Do not save changes.
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(as shown on the right in Figure 1–68)?
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Figure 1–68
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b. You work in 3D almost all of the time, even when you are
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c. Options Bar
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d. Properties Palette
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4. The difference between Type Properties and Properties (the
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ribbon location is shown in Figure 1–69) is...
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Type Properties
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Properties
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Figure 1–69
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individual element(s). Type Properties stores parameters
that impact every element of the same type in the project.
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an element.
c. Properties only stores parameters of the view. Type
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5. When you start a new project, how do you specify the base
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b. Default 3D View creates a static image and a Camera
view is live and always updated.
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c. Default 3D View is isometric and a Camera view is
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perspective.
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d. Default 3D View is used for the overall building and a
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Camera view is used for looking in tight spaces.
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Command Summary
Button Command Location
General Tools
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Home • Quick Access Toolbar
• Shortcut: <Ctrl>+<D>
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Modify • Ribbon: All tabs>Select panel
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• Shortcut: MD
New •
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• File tab
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• Shortcut: <Ctrl>+<N>
Open • Quick Access Toolbar
• File tab
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• Shortcut: <Ctrl>+<O>
Open • File tab
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Documents
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• Shortcut: PP
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Recent • File tab
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Documents
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• Shortcut: <Ctrl>+<S>
Synchronize • Quick Access Toolbar
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and Modify
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Settings
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• Properties palette
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Viewing Tools
Camera • Quick Access Toolbar> Expand
Default 3D View
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Shadows • View Control Bar
On/Off
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Show • View Control Bar
Rendering
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• Ribbon: View tab>Graphics panel
Dialog/ Render
• Shortcut: RR
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Switch • Quick Access Toolbar
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Windows • Ribbon: View tab> Windows panel
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• Shortcut: TW
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Tile Views • Ribbon: View tab> Windows panel
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• Shortcut: WT
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• Shortcut: ZA
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Zoom in Region • Navigation Bar
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• Shortcut Menu
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• Shortcut: ZR
Zoom Out (2x) • Navigation Bar
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• Shortcut Menu
• Shortcut: ZO
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Size • Shortcut: ZS
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• Shortcut: ZF, ZE
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Visual Styles
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• Shortcut: HL
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