StudentInstructions IntroRevit
StudentInstructions IntroRevit
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Introductory Notes
This Autodesk® Revit® Getting Started Guide was written using the 2015 version of this product and uses screen
captures from the full Revit application that includes all disciplines (Architecture, Structure, and MEP). Please
note that this tutorial may also be used with dedicated versions of Autodesk® Revit® Architecture or earlier
versions of Revit going back to release 2012.
Getting Started 4
Understanding the Revit User Interface 8
Creating a Project Steps 01 - 05 15
Creating Walls Step 06 17
Creating Terrain Step 07 19
Adding Exterior Walls Step 08 22
Adding a Roof Step 09 24
Adding Floors Step 10 26
Adding Interior Walls Step 11 29
Adding Doors Step 12 32
The Revit platform for building information modeling is a design and documentation system that
supports the design, drawings, and schedules required for a building project. Building information
modeling (BIM) delivers information about project design, scope, quantities, and phases when you
need it.
In the Revit model, every dra\J\ling sheet, 20 and 30 view, and schedule is a presentation of
information from the same underlying building model database. As you work in dra\J\ling and schedule
views, Revit collects information about the building project and coordinates this information across all
other representations of the project. The Revit parametric change engine automatically coordinates
changes made anywhere-in model views, dra\J\ling sheets, schedules, sections, and plans.
• The outside of a door frame is a fixed dimension on the hinge side from a perpendicular
partition. If you move the partition, the door retains this relationship to the partition.
• Windows or pilasters are spaced equally across a given elevation. If the length of the
elevation is changed, the relationship of equal spacing is maintained. In this case, the
parameter is not a number but a proportional characteristic.
• The edge of a floor or roof is related to the exterior wall such that when the exterior wall is
moved, the floor or roof remains connected. In this case, the parameter is one of association
or connection.
Revit uses 2 key concepts that make it especially powerful and easy to use. The first is the capturing
of relationships \J\lhile the designer works. The second is its approach to propagating building
changes. The result of these concepts is software that works like you do, without requiring entry of
data that is unimportant to your design.
• Datum elements help to define project context. For example, grids, levels, and reference
planes are datum elements.
• View-specific elements display only in the views in \J\lhich they are placed. They help to
describe or document the model. For example, dimensions, tags, and 20 detail components
are view specific elements.
Revit e lements
Beams
Structural
Struct columns
Isolated footings Elements
30 rebar
Pipes Mechanical,
Ducts Electrical,
Sprinklers Plumbing
Air terminals Elements
• Hosts (or host elements) are generally built in place at the construction site. For example,
walls and roofs are hosts.
• Model components are all the other types of elements in the building model. For example,
windows, doors, and cabinets are model components.
• Annotation elements are 20 components that document the model and maintain scale on
paper. For example, dimensions, tags, and keynotes are annotation elements.
• Details are 20 items that provide details about the building model in a particular view.
Examples include detail lines, filled regions, and 20 detail components.
This implementation provides flexibility for designers. Revit elements are designed to be
created and modified by you directly; programming is not required. If you can draw, you can define
new parametric elements in Revit.
In Revit, the elements determine their behavior largely from their context in the building. The context
is determined by how you draw the component and the constraint relationships that are established
with other components. Often, you do nothing to establish these relationships; they are implied by
what you do and how you draw. In other cases, you can explicitly control them, by locking a
dimension or aligning 2 walls, for example.
Most of the terms used to identify objects in Revit are common, industry-standard terms familiar to
most architects. However, some terms are unique to Revit. Understanding the following terms is
crucial to understanding the software.
Project: In Revit, the project is the single database of information for your design-the building
information model. The project file contains all information for the building design, from geometry to
construction data. This information includes components used to design the model, views of the
project, and drawings of the design. By using a single project file, Revit makes it easy for you to alter
the design and have changes reflected in all associated areas (plan views, elevation views, section
views, schedules, and so forth). Having only one file to track also makes it easier to manage the
project.
Level: Levels are infinite horizontal planes that act as a reference for level-hosted elements, such as
roofs, floors, and ceilings. Most often, you use levels to define a vertical height or story within a
building. You create a level for each known story or other needed reference of the building; for
example, first floor, top of wall, or bottom of foundation. To place levels, you must be in a section or
elevation view.
Level 2 work plane cutting through the 30 view with the corresponding floor plan next to it
Key points to know
Element: When creating a project, you add Revit parametric building elements to the design. Revit
classifies elements by categories, families, and types.
Category: A category is a group of elements that you use to model or document a building design.
For example, categories of model elements include walls and beams. Categories of annotation
elements include tags and text notes.
Family: Families are classes of elements in a category. A family groups elements with a common set
of parameters (properties), identical use, and similar graphical representation. Different elements in a
family may have different values for some or all properties, but the set of properties-their names and
meaning-- is the same. For example, 6-panel colonial doors could be considered one family,
although the doors that compose the family come in different sizes and materials.
Category
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Family
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Type • • • •
• Loadable families can be loaded into a project and created from family templates. You can
determine the set of properties and the graphical representation of the family.
• System families include walls, dimensions, ceilings, roofs, floors, and levels. They are not
available for loading or creating as separate files.
• You can use the predefined types to generate new types that belong to this family within
the project. For example, the behavior of a wall is predefined in the system. However,
you can create different types of walls with different compositions.
• In-place families are custom families that you create in the context of a project. Create an in-place
family when your project needs unique geometry that you do not expect to reuse or
geometry that mu st maintain one of more relationships to other project geometry.
• Because in-place families are intended for limited use in a project, each in-place family
contains only a single type. You can create multiple in-place families in your projects,
and you can place copies of the same in-place family element in your projects. Unlike
system and standard component families, you cannot duplicate in-place family types to
create multiple types.
Type: Each family can have several types. A type can be a specific size of a family, such as a 30" X
42" title block or a 32" x 84" door. A type can also be a style, such as default aligned or default
angular style for dimensions.
Instance: Instances are the actual items (individual elements) that are placed in the project and have
specific locations in the building (model instances) or on a drawing sheet (annotation instances).
In the Revit interface, many of the components (such as walls, beams, and columns) are
available at the click ofa button. You can place these components in the drawing and immediately
determine whether they meet your design requirements.
The Revit interface is designed to simplify your workflow. With a few clicks, you can change the
interface to better support the way that you work. For example, you can set the ribbon to one
of the three display settings for optimum use of the interface. You can also display several project
views at one time, or layer the views to see only the one on top.
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Project Browser. Select Views label at top of Project Browser window and right click to access
Properties to change View Filters.
Options Bar. The features sho\J\111 in this area are tool dependent. See the Wall Tool example
below.
M odify I Place Wall Heigh • Unco n • 20" o· Location Line: Wall Centerlin • D Chain Offset: o· o· ;:] Radius: r o·
Modify Wall Door Window Component Column Roof Ceiling Floor Curtain Curtain Mullion Railing Ramp Stair
System Grid
Select • Build Circulation
Structure Ribbon
Column Floor Truss Brace Beam Isolated Wall Slab Rebar Area Path Fabric Fabric Cover
System Area Sheet
Select • Structure Foundation Reinforcement •
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Component Model Model Model By Shaft Wall Vertical Dormer Grid Set Show Ref Viewer
Text line Group Face Plane
Model Opening Datum Work Plane
Systems Ribbon
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Architecture Structu Insert & Site Collaborate View Mana e Add· lns Modi
ClJ Pi pe Fining
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uct
Duct Accessory
Flex Air Mechanical Pipe Pipe Parallel .'lit Pipe Accessory Plumbing Sprinkler I
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Select •
Placeholder ] ) Conven to Flex Duct
HVAC
Duct Terminal
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Equipment
Mechanical :w
Placeholder Pipes Flex Pipe
Plumbing & Piping
Fixture
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Wire Device Component
Tray Conduits Equipment Fixture ~
Electrical Model Work Plane
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Revit IFC CAO Markup
Point Manage Import Import
Cloud links I
CAO gbXML
Insert • Image Manage
from file Images
Select • Link Import
Annotate Ribbon
ff Arc Length .,..., Spot Slope ~ Component • ~ Insulation o;~ Find/ Replace
Select • Dimension • Detail Text
Analyze Ribbon
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S ems Insert Annotate Analyze Massi Site Collaborate View Mana e Add-Ins
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Analytical Analytical Ched< Consistency Space Space Space Zone
Combinations Conditions Adj ust Reset Supports Checks Separator Tag
Select • Loads Boundary Conditions • Analytical Model Tools • Spaces & Zones •
IT] Lid ~ ~ e h
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Heating and Panel Schedule/ Duct Pressure Pipe Pressure Energ ...
Cooling Loads Schedules Quantities Loss Report Loss Report ~ ==
Reports & Schedules • Ched< Systems Color Fill
~ Type a keywor
Collaborate Ribbon
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Select • Manage Collaboration Synchronize •
View Ribbon
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Selection Inquiry Macros
Add-ins Ribbon
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Select •
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External. Glue
Tools
External
Mark 1: These are examples of free plug-ins that you may obtain from the Autodesk Exchange to
add additional productivity enhancements to Revit.
The Autodesk Exchange app link is located in the upper right hand corner of the user interface next to
the help button.
Modify Ribbon
A
Architecture Structure S ems lnsert Annotate Anal ze Massi� & Site Collaborate View _M._ana__,,
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Note: Context tabs only appear when an object of that type is selected in the canvas window.
Walls Windows
o. Pick
Edit Edit Pick
Family New Host amily New Host
Profile
Mode Host Mode
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Mode
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The Steering Wheel
Pressing and dragging on a wedge of a wheel is the primary mode of interaction. After a wheel is
displayed, click one of the wedges and hold down the button on the pointing device to activate the
navigation tool. Drag to reorient the current view. Releasing the button returns you to the wheel.
Navigation Bar
You can control which navigation tools are displayed on the navigation bar with the Customize menu.
The Customize menu is displayed by clicking the Customize button. From the Customize menu, you
click the navigation tools that you want displayed on the navigation bar. The position of the navigation
tools on the navigation bar is predefined and cannot be changed .
...
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A u t o d e s k ® R e v i t ® G e t t i n g S t a rt e d G u i d e 114
Step 5: Start with template file on our
public_html folder:
Lastname_Lab1_W20.rte.
Save file in your CCE 203 folder in YOUR Z drive. Do not save on
desktop.
2) Enter ZR, to zoom to a specific region. Note that the cursor changes to a magnifying
glass.
3) In the drawing area, move the cursor diagonally and click to draw a rectangle around the
level markers. The area within the rectangle is magnified to fill the drawing area so that
you can work with the level marker text.
___Le~el ~
10' - Q"\J
___Le~el 1 ~
O' - CT'\J
04 Rename levels
1) Double-click the Level 1 text, enter 00 Foundation, and press ENTER. Use a number as
a prefix to the name so the plans are sorted by level.
2) In the Alert dialog box, click YES to rename corresponding views. The floor and ceiling
plans for Level 1 are renamed 00 Foundation.
3) Using the same method, rename Level 2 and its corresponding views as
01 Lower Level.
.!-0 Level
2) Click Architecture tab ~ Datum panel ~ LEVEL.
Creating Walls
In this exercise, you work on different levels to add foundation walls to the project.
- .. .
- -·
I 1
I
1) In Project Browser, under Floor Plans, double-click 00 Foundation to open that view in
the drawing area.
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2) Click Architecture tab ~ Build panel ~ wan WALL.
3) In Properties palette ~ Change Element Type drop-down and select Basic Wall:
Retaining - 12" Concrete [Basic Wall: Retaining - 300mm Concrete].
• Beginning at the new endpoint, move the cursor up, enter 22' [6900 mm], and press
ENTER.
• Move the cursor to the right, enter 40' [12000 mm], and press ENTER.
6) On the Modify I Place Wall tab, click MODIFY to exit the command.
7) In Project Browser, under Floor Plans, double-click 01 Lower Level.
8) Click Architecture tab ~ Build panel ~WALL.
9) In Properties palette ~ Change Element Type drop-down and select Basic Wall:
Foundation- 12" Concrete [Basic Wall: Foundation - 300mm Concrete].
10) On the Options Bar, for Depth, select 00 Foundation and for Location Line, verify that
Wall Centerline is selected.
• In the drawing area, click the right endpoint of the south wall as the wall start point.
• Move the cursor to the right, enter 6' 6" [1950 mm], and press ENTER.
• Move the cursor up, enter 5' [1500 mm], and press ENTER.
• Move the cursor to the right, enter 10' 6" [3150 mm], and press ENTER.
• Move the cursor up, and select the intersection with the extension of the north wall.
• Select the right endpoint of the north wall to complete the chain and connect the
walls.
12) On the Place Wall panel, click MODIFY. Note: Use the 3D view (House Icon at top to
review what you modeled). Pretty neat.
13) Save the project file.
Creating Terrain
In this exercise, you create a 30 view and add a toposurface to the building site .
.. ,.·
·• .r---- -
07 Creating terrain
2) Create a 30 view:
• Click the View tab~ Create panel~ 30 View drop-down~ II @I camera CAMERA.
• Click in the upper-right comer of the drawing area to place the camera.
A 30 view is created. The view you create may differ slightly from the illustrations sho\J\111
in the exercises because of minor variations in camera placement. Drag the blue circular
controls that display on the crop region of the resulting view so that you can see the
building.
4) In the Rename View dialog box, enter To Building, and click OK.
~
• Click Massing & Site tab ~ Model Site panel ~ roposurtace TOPOSURFACE.
• On the Options Bar, for Elevation, enter -0' 6" [-150 mm].
• Add points to the left of the building, as shown. The order of the point selection is not
important.
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• Click Edit Surface tab ~ Surface panel ~ surtace FINISH SU RF ACE.
Note: to see contours - Massing&Site--Model Site--set 2'
6) Create a pad surface: contours.
Building
• Click Massing & Site tab ~ Model Site panel ~ Pad BUILDING PAD.
7) Open the To Building 3D view to see the results. Note: use the 3D View (house icon).
8) Save the project file. In this exercise, you created a simple toposurface in Autodesk Revit
by selecting points.
However, for most projects, complex site models created by civil engineering
professionals will be provided to you in DWG, DXF, DGN, or point files. You can import
these files into your Revit project where you can automatically generate a terrain using
the Toposurface tool.
• On the Options Bar: for Height, select 03 Roof, and for Location Line, select Core
Face: Interior.
The Height setting defines how tall the wall is and establishes a relationship between
the walls and the roof. After you draw the walls, if you change the roof height, the
height of the walls will also change.
• Beginning at the bottom right, trace the interior of the three existing retaining walls by
selecting endpoints.
• Open the 01 Lower Leve/floor plan. Notice that the foundation walls are now visible
at the right of the plan, so that you can trace them.
• In Properties palette ~ Change Element Type drop-down and select Basic Wall:
Generic - 6" [Basic Wall : Generic - 200mm].
~
===:::2·:J:I=:::'...i•
Adding a Roof
In this exercise, you create a roof using the footprint of the exterior walls. You specify an offset as you
create the roof so that the roof has an overhang.
09 Adding a roof
• In the drawing area, highlight the West wall; \J\lhen a dashed line is displayed on the
exterior of the wall, click to place the roof line. Repeat for the North and East walls.
If
4) Use the Trim/Extend tool to close the roof sketch:
I I
5) Modify the roof slope: Select Roof - Then select Edit Footprint, Seelct South roof line, in
the properites box- check slope box and neter 1"/12" - apply.
• Select the roof. Then select Green check to finish roof edit.
• In the Properties palette, under Dimensions, for Slope, enter 1"/12" [5°), and click
APPLY.
To create floors in Autodesk Revit, you must sketch them first in a sketch editor. You use
two different sketching options, Pick and Draw, to sketch the floors.
10 Adding floors
3) Enter ZR, and zoom in to the top-right corner of the model. If the floor lines do not create
a closed sketch, the sketch is invalid and you need to clean the lines up. To be valid, the
sketch must be a closed loop with no disconnected or crossing lines.
Best to zoom into areas to make sure all lines are closed and you dont have more than
one line for the sketch.
If you clicked Yes, the walls that finish on the lower level would be trimmed to the
underside of the floor.
Lower level floor highlighted in blue below. (shown for reference only)
\I
0
• Move the cursor to the right and enter 36' [10000 mm], and hit ENTER to accept.
This is kno\J\111 as the direct distance entry method.
• Move the cursor do\J\111 and enter 16' 6" [5300 mm] and hit ENTER to align with the
outside of the wall, and click to specify the point.
• Move the cursor to the right and enter 25' [9000 mm], and hit ENTER.
• Move the cursor do\J\111 and enter 4' 6' [1300 mm] and hit ENTER to align with the
inside of the wall, and click.
• Move the cursor to the left, enter SZ to find the loop endpoint, and select the
endpoint to complete the floor sketch.
J
• Click Modify I Create Floor Boundary tab~ Mode panel~ FINISH EDIT MODE.
Entry Level floor highlighted in blue below. (shoWTI for reference only)
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The completed exercise
5) Add walls:
• Zoom in to the West wall, move the cursor along the North wall centerline, enter 26'
[8000 mm], and press ENTER to specify the wall start point. Move the cursor down,
and click on the South wall centerline to complete wall 1.
.. •.
I II I
I
;
I
26'
• Click Modify tab ~ Edit panel ~ le!:> J SPLIT. Click on wall 1 in the area highlighted
below.
• Using the following illustration as a guide, place additional walls to create rooms as
highlighted in blue below. You are estimating wall dimensions.
I I
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9) On the Modify tab, click MODIFY. The walls defining the rooms on the lower level and the
entry level are complete.
12 Adding doors
• Place the door in the North wall 7' [2100 mm] from the end of the retaining wall, as
shown. Locate door approxiamtely.
• In Properties palette ..,.. Change Element Type drop-down and select Single-Glass 1:
36" x 84" [M_Single-Glass 1 : 0915 x 2134mm].
101 } (
II
• In Properties palette ..,.. Change Element Type drop-down and select Single-Flush:
32" x 84"[M_Single-Flush: 0813 x 2134mm], and add two doors, as shown.
. . .
• In Properties palette ..,.. Change Element Type drop-down and select Bifold-4 Panel:
72" x 84" [M_Bifold-4 Panel : 1830 x 2134mm], and place two doors, as shown.
. ..
If your pocket doors don't fit use single
flush door 30"x84"
I
7) For an unobstructed view of the doors, select a wall, and on the View Control Bar, click
Temporary Hide/Isolate ..,.. HIDE CATEGORY. All the walls in the view are hidden.
8) On the View Control Bar, click Temporary Hide/Isolate ..,.. RESET TEMPORARY
HI DE/ISOLATE.
13 Adding windows
li] 0 r<D
Load Model Tag on
Family In-place Placement
r Mode Tag
2) Open the 01 Lower Leve/floor plan. Because the windows are at the top of the wall, they
are above the current view range for the plan.
• In the Properties palette, under Extents, for View Range, click EDIT.
• In the View Range dialog box, for Cut plane Offset, enter 7' [2160 mm].
• Click OK. The windows are now visible in the South wall.
Window locations are
4) If necessary, move the windows to resolve the conflict with the wall:
approx.
• Select the right window, and drag it 2' 6" [200 mm] to the left side of the interior wall.
Select the window and edit the temporary dimensions, as needed.
• Select the left window, and drag it 9' 6" [2775 mm] to the right of the West wall.
• Open the South elevation view and select the window on the left.
~·
~ ....
~m r'~~· -
8) Add windows in plan view:
• Open the 02 Entry Leve/floor plan, and zoom in to the West side of the model.
• In the Properties palette, under Graphics, for Underlay, select NONE, and click
•
APPLY.
--
Click View tab~ Graphics panel ~ : .:: THIN LINES so that element lines maintain
there true thickness in the zoomed view.
• Click Architecture tab ~ Build panel ~Window. Use the 3'x3' window you
• On the Options Bar, verify that Tag on Placement is cleared. created.
• In Properties palette ~ Change Element Type drop-do\J\111 and select Casement 3x3
with Trim: 36" x 72"[M_Casement 3x3 with Trim: 0915 x 1830mm], and place three
windows on the outside edge of the west wall, as sho\J\111.
• Click ~ , and then press ESC twice. The windows are moved so that all of the
dimensions are equal.
• Select the interior wall that contains the doors; move it up or do\J\111 to see how the
design intent is maintained.
• Select the top wall, move it up 3' [1000 mm], and see how the walls resize and the
windows redistribute equally within the wall.
Use arrows on keyboard to move wall north/south & watch windows move.
• On the Quick Access toolbar, click ~ UN DO once to restore the top wall to the
original
dimension.
10) Select the dimension line, and press DELETE key. In the Warning dialog box, click OK to
delete the line but maintain the constraints.
11) Zoom as desired, and open various plan, elevation, and 3D views to display the model
results thus far.
• Click Modify tab ~ Edit panel ~ le!~ ISPLIT, and split the East wall just above the
door.
• In Properties palette ~ Change Element Type drop-down and select Curtain Wall:
Storefront. If a warning displays, click to close it.
Curtain Wall
~Curtain Wall l
Exterior Glazing
Storefront
Skip this section. Go to Page 73. This concludes Lab 1!! Great job!