Using Revit® Structure to Document the

Structural Model
Nick Hugley – McComas Engineering

SE114-1 You’ve completed the structural model and now you have to document it with 2D drawings.
You want your documents to look like they were produced from your office -- not from a box. In this session,
you’ll learn how Revit Structure can help you get dimensions and spot elevations to look the way you want.
You’ll see how to create additional annotations; create 2D model views and organize them in the browser;
add to Revit’s 2D component library and use type catalogs for additional content you can add to live views;
and create standard details. You probably have hundreds of standard details that you can link in as AutoCAD
files but you really want them to be Revit drafting views. This class will show you how to leverage your
AutoCAD library to create a Revit library of standard details.

About the Speaker:

Nick works for McComas Engineering, a structural engineering firm in Carmel, Indiana. He has 22 years of
experience in producing construction documents for a wide variety of projects and clients. An avid user,
trainer, and supporter of AutoCAD, Nick has also added Revit Structure to his “must have” software list. Nick
has an Associate’s degree in Architectural Engineering Technology from ITT and is also a Microsoft Certified
Systems Engineer.
[email protected]
 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

No, Not the Box!

Every office produces their construction documents with certain characteristics. Several of
Revit’s system families are some of these office characteristics. If I can edit or create a system
family to look like the way we’ve been producing our drawings for the last x number of years I’m
going to do it. If I can’t get a system family to look like I want it to then I will concede and edit
that families properties the best I can.

Tweaking System Families

There are several system families that I’ve tweaked so they look like I want them to and also so
I have more control when documenting the model.

• Grid Head
• Dimensions
• Spot Dimensions
• Level Head
• View Title
• Section Head
• Elevation Tag

Each is hardwired to Revit and you must use the provided annotation template to create your
own of edit the shipped system family. I try to keep this simple, a couple of choices for different
scenarios that will come up while documenting the model.

TIP: You won’t find a template for the Elevation Tag. Your choices are a box or circle and
whatever else you can tweak in its properties dialog box.

Typically after I’ve created a new

annotation family, I’ll make it part of my
template and also save it in the
Imperial Library\Annotation folder.

TIP:

Whenever I create a new family I

always end the family name with MEI.
This differentiates out of the box
content to McComas Engineering Inc
created content.

Grid Head MEI.rfa

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

Grid Head
I tweaked the typical bubble grid head by tightening it up, making the circle heavier, tuned the
font and added addition types. I have also added a polygon grid to represent existing
construction grids.

Shown below is:

• A type for up to three characters.

• A type with four characters or more using the opaque property option.
• A type without a bubble.
• A type for existing construction.

Remember these are hardwired so

there is a path to follow so you can
use the new grid head.

1. Create the grid head from a

template or edit an existing
grid head.
2. Save the family using the
correct Family Category.
3. Load the family into the
project.
4. Select the Grid command.
5. Now before placing the
newly created grid you need
to wire it in. Select the
Element Properties button.
6. Edit
7. Duplicate, giving it a name.
8. Now select the Type
Parameter, Symbol and
from the drop down menu
select the new grid head you
just made.

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

While you’re in the Type Parameters dialog box you might want to change some of the
properties to get the grids to look like you want. I have also created a new Line Pattern to use
for grids and changed the Line Weight.

TIP: You’ll want to make a generic annotation symbol of the grid head that matches
your system family grid head so that you’ll have it to use in your standard details.

Level Head
I tweaked the level head by making it smaller and added additional types for different scenarios.
There are not very many property choices for level heads.

Shown below are the six types I’ve created and have in our template.

Again, these are hardwired so there is a path to follow. You can follow the same eight steps
used for making Grid Heads.

TIP: Again you’ll want to make a generic annotation symbol of the level head that
matches your system family level head so that you’ll have it to use in your
standard details.

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

View Title
Create this starting it from the view title template. You’ll add Labels and select parameters from
one of the six available which will populate your view title when you place the view on a sheet.

Additional text and lines can be added as desired.

Shown below is a view title using 4 the 6 available view parameters. I’ve added some detail
lines and “Scale:” was added as text.

The path to follow in making additional view titles available for use is a little different than what’s
done for grids and levels.

1. Create the view title from a template.

2. Save the family. Using the correct Family Category.
3. Load the family into the project.
4. Now place the view on a sheet.
5. After the placing the view, select the view and from the shortcut menu select Element Properties.
6. Edit
7. Duplicate, giving it a name. Now select the Type Parameter, Title and from the drop down menu
select the new view title you just made.
8. You’re not done yet…………….

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

There are still a couple of

parameters that need to be
adjusted and these will
depend on how you created
your view title. Show
Extension Line, if checked
it will draw a line using the
Line Weight, Color and
Pattern values shown. If
you use this Extension
Line you can move and
adjust the length after the
view has been placed.

TIPS:

• You’ll want to make a type that has no title. Pretty simple duplicate any view and change the
Show Title to No

• If you place a section or detail on a sheet that has a plan view and you don’t use a detail or sheet
number in the title for your plan views you’ll have to change the plan views detail number to 0
(zero).

• To adjust the extension line you must select the view it’s self, not the title, for the grips to
highlight.

• You’ll also want a type that is NTS, Not to Scale.

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

ELEVATION TAG
We’re back to hardwired. The only
options for the elevation tag are
provided in its property dialog box and
you can get to this from going to the
pull down menu Setting -> View Tags
-> Elevation Tags.

Dimensions
Similar to the Elevation tag, dimension options are limited to what’s available in their properties
dialog box. The best thing to do is create as many types as you need to cover the different
dimensioning scenarios that you’ll typically come across. I have several types that include both
arrows and ticks, both opaque and transparent text.

FAQ’s about Dimensions

• Revit wants to dimension something or it

won’t place a dimension. You cannot just
place a dimension in a blank sheet.
• You can put a prefix or a suffix.
• You can’t over write a dimension.
• You can’t put text below the dimension as
part of the dimension.
• You can’t place a blank dimension.
• You can’t place just a leader.

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

A must have item is

some way to place a
blank dimension. The
best way to do this is
create a dimension type
and for the font use a
true type (TT) font that
doesn’t have numbers.

One thing to keep in mind whatever TT font you choose, when you export to AutoCAD
you may get some garbled characters in the blank text’s place.

SPOT DIMENSIONS
The spot elevation tool can help document the model in
lot of different ways. I’ve made several different types to
follow along with the different callouts made though out
the documents. The standard abbreviations list shows
our typical “top and bottom of” callouts.

I’ve matched the spot elevation symbol with the same

symbol used for the level head.

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

The symbol can be tweaked or you can make a new one. The spot elevation is hardwired so
again there is a path to follow similar to editing grid and level head.

1. Create the spot elevation symbol from

a template or edit an existing spot
elevation symbol.
2. Save the family. Using the correct
Family Category.
3. Load the family into the project.
4. Select the Spot Dimension command.
5. Now before placing the newly created
symbol you need to wire it in. Select
the Element Properties button.
6. Edit
7. Duplicate, giving it a name.
8. Now select the Type Parameter,
Symbol and from the drop down menu
select the new spot elevation symbol
you just made.

Once you get the symbol in you can begin to create the different types of callouts you want to
use. I wanted four different callouts that use an Elevation Indicator as a Prefix to match my
abbreviations list.

TIPS:

• When selecting the object that you want to use for spot dimensions you may have to
change the detail level to fine.

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

• If you are trying to select the top of wall and the top is above the cutting plane you can
adjust the cutting plane in the view range, place the spot dimension, and return the
cutting plane back, the spot dimension will remain.
• If you don’t already know this the spot dimension can only be placed horizontal. Yes
that’s correct. It’s on the factory wish list!

TAGS
Tags are also hardwired and you’ll need to use the correct template or start from an existing tag.
For most structural tags you’ll select an existing tag to start from. The category you select
determines the parameters that are available.

• Leader or no leader, better under release 2008.

• You can add text as prefixes and suffixes. C= for camber or EX for Existing
• You can add line work.
• Use invisible lines as boundaries in tags to center the leader line.
• You cannot nest a tag into a “Detail Component line based” family and expect it to stretch (flex).
• I have made a tag at 45 degree angle and use horiz and vert to flip to opposite side.
• A beams start and end offset values are relative to the level it is placed on. I would be great if
this could be adjusted to also be from the project, similar to the spot elevation.
• After using an analysis program, beam reactions are populated in the beam properties. You can
pull reactions but which end is which?

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

MOMENT SYMBOLS
You can have whatever symbol you want. But you can only use two at a time, moment frame or
cantilever moment. Remember these are hardwired so there is a path to follow

1. Create the moment symbol from

a template or edit an existing
moment symbol.
2. Save the family using the correct
Family Category and
Connection Type.
3. Load the family into the project.
4. From the Settings pull down
select Structural Settings.
5. Under Moment Symbols you
can select the symbol you want
from the drop down box.

What you set here is what populates

the framing members properties
dialog box.

TIP: If you need more than the two

provided moment symbols you can
nest a symbol into the framing
members family and with a visibility
setting turn on and off at which ever
end.

Also for the moment symbol to appear at the end of a

framing member the Symbolic Representation parameter
in the family needs to be set to From Project Settings.

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

ANNOTATIONS AND NESTING ANNOTATIONS

Every office has a need for different
kinds of annotations. Not everything
can be Revit tagged in the model and
standard details (drafting views) can’t
be Revit tagged because they are not
part of the model.

You’ll need to make additional drafting

view annotations that match your
system families and I’m sure there are
plenty of annotations that you’ll need to
make to document your plans.

To the right you can see several

annotations. None of these came out of
the box.

Things you want to keep in mind when creating annotations:

• Use flip controls when you can.

• Use types.
• Use visibilities.
• Use a label so you can edit text.
• Nesting an annotation into a “Detail Component line based” family will allow you to
stretch (flex) the annotation after its inserted.
• You can’t nest label into a detail component and be able to edit the text.
• When you use a detail component with a nested annotation it will show up under details
in the browser, in lieu of under annotation.

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

ORGANIZE THE BROWSER

When I mean organize the browser I don’t just mean filtering its contents and looking at it
different, I want to add content.

Why organize the browser?

• To find things!
• So someone has a clue to what you’re doing.
• Model life cycle.
• Control your section cut reference label.

By adding types you can:

• Separate the views that you are placing on sheets from what you’re using for modeling.
• Categorize your Sections. Foundation, Roof, Exterior, Interior etc……..
• Categorize your drafting views for standard details. Steel, Joist, CFS etc….

A project or shared parameter can be added for addition filtering/sorting.

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

You can edit the views type and add types by right clicking
on a view and selecting its properties.

You can change the type by selecting the pull down and
highlighting a new type.

To add a new type:

1. Select Edit/New
2. Duplicate
3. Give it a name

This is also where you’ll decide what callout tag you’re going to use.

Let’s digress for a moment and look at callout tags.

How did the SIM appear?

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

Callout Head
I tweaked the typical callout and section heads by tightening it up, making the circle heavier and
tuned the font.

We’re back to hardwired for callout and section tags so follow the path:

1. Create the section head from a

template or edit an existing
section head.
2. Save the family using the correct
Family Category.
3. Load the family into the project.
4. From the Settings pull down,
select View Tags, then Section
Tags.
5. In the properties dialog box
highlight the type and in the Type
Parameters and from the drop
down menu select the new
Section Head you just created.
Close the dialog box.
6. Now you need to wire this
Section Tag to the Section View
Type of your choice. So in the
browser highlight a Section View.
Right click and select properties.
7. In the Element Properties dialog
box select the type from the drop
down menu.
8. To edit the type and change the
Section Tag, select the Edit/New
button and change the Section
Tag parameter value from the
drop down menu.
This is also where you would populate the
Reference Label value with a blank, SIM,
TYP, OPP HAND etc…………

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

HOW DID SIM APPEAR?

SIM, TYP, OPP HAND etc appear whenever:

1. The value is populated.

2. By placing the section cut as a “Reference other view”.

Things to keep in mind with placing section cuts:

• Revit will not place a reference label for live sections.

• Revit will not “Reference other view” with different reference labels. This is a type
value not an instance value. Create a separate view type for each label.

In the words of HOK’s Revit blog “Revit behavior is based on clear logic and traditional practice
is sort of fuzzy.”

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

BACK TO THE BROWSER

You will want to organize the
browsers sheet views. Using
traditional thinking I wanted to
organize the sheet views using SD,
DD, and CD and post CD
documents for us that are ESI’s.
This is where I added a shared
parameter “Phase” to help organize
the browsers sheet views.

After adding the “Phase” parameter

I created the rules to view the
sheets in Phases.

Let’s go thru adding the “Phase”

shared parameter.

1. From the File pull down, select

Share Parameters and open
the file.
2. I’ve created a “Title
Information” group and added
a new parameter “Phase” with
the Type of Parameter as
Text. Close the dialog box.
3. From the Settings pull down
select the Project
Parameters. Select Add. Now
the Parameters Properties
dialog will open.
4. Select Shared Parameter.
5. Select Select. Now the
Shared Parameters dialog
box opens.
6. From the Parameter group
drop down box, select “Title
Information”
7. Select the “Phase” parameter.
8. Select OK to exit this dialog
box.

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

You’re not done yet.

You’ve returned to the
Parameter Properties
dialog box and you
have a few items to set.

9. In Categories,
select Drawing
Sheets.
10. In the Group
parameter under
drop down, select
Other.

11. Select Instance.

These last items will make the “Phase”

parameter show up in the Element properties
dialog box for the Sheet.

After all of that now you can filter the sheets

using the Browser Organization dialog box.

1. From the Settings pull down select

Browser Organization.
2. Select the Sheets tab.
3. Select New, give it a name.
4. From the Folders tab set the Group by to
Phase , Then by to Family and Type and
last Sort by to View Name
5. OK.

The sheets will now be sorted by Phase.

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

DETAIL COMPONENTS
Revit comes with a much larger selection of 2D detail
components to add to live sections or create standard
details.

Sometimes the out of the box details are just like you
want but sometimes they’re not. The box might not
even come with a particular component.

Take some time and go thru the folders opening the

components and see what items will work for you.
You can adjust items or plan to make new ones.

Revit uses type

catalogs for creating
families that have
the same shape but
at different sizes.

Examples of this is
steel framing, wood
member, CFS
members etc

Type catalogs are

.txt files which the
file names match
exactly except for
the extensions.

You can re-use a

Revit type catalog.

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

To the right you see a live section of a

beam but I need to change this beam to a
moment end condition.

I’ve created a 2d component detail of a

beam moment end condition and created a
type catalog from Revit’s wide flange
catalog.

This is where I’m going to refer you to

Revit’s help menu for the type catalog
rules.

Ok know that you’ve reviewed the rules

let’s get started.

1. Find the type catalog file you want to

copy and rename the file to match the
detail family but with a .txt extension.
2. Edit the .txt file leaving only the
columns with the parameters you are
using.

TIP
You can use Excel to edit the .txt file and
save the file as a .csv file then cut and
paste into the .txt file
I’ve pulled the text apart so you
can see how the header line
matches up with the property
values and also you can see
these values being pulled into
the detail so it can adjust
accordingly.

Keep the rules in mind….

Always starts with a , (comma)

d = parameter to be populated

## length = For length

##inches = Units

, (comma) to separate columns

d##length##inches

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

I have another example using a type

catalog to change the geometry for a
thickened slab profile that I will then
use to create a type for the Slab Edge
tool.

RANDOM THOUGHT ON TYPE CATALOGS

• Column and wall footings, using shared parameters to populate typical reinforcing.

• Bearing plates, base plates, headed studs just about anything that the shape doesn’t
change.

• You could use them on a per project basis

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

STANDARD DETAILS LIBRARY PROJECT

Every firm has a zillion standard details. I’m never going to disagree that starting your Revit
library is a large task but you will have to start it. So how are you going to do this and what do
you need to think about before your begin.

• Standard details will be drafting views in their own project file.

• You pull drafting views into your building projects these standard detail projects.

• Worksets should be turned on so several people can add to the library.

• Drafting views should be sorted by the type of detail and there should be a view naming
system.

• What about your 2d components?

o Have you looked at the out of the box components?

o Do you need to make addition components, do they flex or can they have type
catalogs.

• Make sure before you start your standard details you have enough annotation
components …..

o Match your system families, spot dimensions, grid bubbles, leaders etc

o Have several dimension types and a way to override dimensions with

annotations.

• Are you going to use AutoCAD details as linked files, if so then…….

o How are you going to handle fractions? %% fraction come in as %%

o Line weights, have you created your Import/Export file.

o Have you edited your font mapping file

• More things to consider

o What are you doing for filled regions?

o Do you need more line types?

o What is going to be your process for inserting general notes?

o What about static schedules?

o I don’t want all of the loose types created when I bring in an AutoCAD detail !!!!!!

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 Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

CREATING A STANDARD DETAIL

• Use as many components as possible in lieu of detail lines.

• Link in an AutoCAD detail to trace with the pick tool.

• I use a reference box to keep my details close to the same limits.

INSERTING VIEWS FROM THE STANDARD DETAILS PROJECT

It doesn’t get much easier than this.

1. From File pull down select Insert

from File.
2. Browse to the standard detail
central file and select.
3. Start checking the details you
want to insert and when you done
select OK.

TIP

I typically save my project prior to

importing details, just in case.

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Using Revit® Structure to Document the Structural Model

A nice feature in selecting

details is that you get a
preview of detail.

The inserted details will

be sorted in the current
building project.

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