Architects detail lines not visible

We, the architects, are not lazy. We use detail lines sometimes to avoid modeling. This does not sound good. However, the mantra we have, is that if the objects is not visible in multiple views, and is not scheduled, tagged, used for cost estimating, etc., and IF it saves time (now and over the course of the project), then “detail line” it. (Sorry! This still sounds bad!)

When the engineers link the architect’s model, these detail lines are not visible in their model by default. For eg. the roof plan done by architects with some detail lines will not look complete without gutters; etc. To make these detail lines visible:

Go to VG > Revit links tab and click on “By Host View” (which is the default option)

Select the “By Linked View” option and then select the Architect’s view in which they have drawn the detail lines.

Now you can see all our detail lines. We typically create a separate view for consultants for this purpose to make things easier.

This change affects only the current view. You cannot hide individual objects from the architects model in this view. For more info you can check here and here.

Show Meters in Level Dimensions

If the project is in MM and you want to show the dimensions in M in certain views, you can create a new dimension type that has its units set as M.

However, to change the Level dimensions in Elevation views to show in Meters, you have to edit the Level head family (look for it in the Project Browser > Families > Annotation Symbols > Level Head…).

In the family editor, select the ‘Elevation’ label and select in the ‘Edit Label’ button in the option bar.

Select the Elevation parameter in the RIGHT side of the Edit Label dialog box. (If you select the label in the LEFT side, the “Edit parameters Unit format” button - small hand like thing at the bottom – won’t become available.

In the format dialog box, you can uncheck the ‘Use project settings’ and change the units.

Copy values from one Revit schedule to another

Here is a script I wrote in Autohotkey that copies values from one Revit schedule to another. This is not done through Revit API. Instead this uses the crude Windows copy/paste commands.

It expects the cells to be contiguous. The cell values need to be instance driven (as opposed to type driven). Trying to copy similar “Mark” values for different instances might trip an “Elements have duplicate 'Number' values” error in Revit.

The executable file + the code + readme file is available as a zip file here for Revit 2009. I have also posted the file at augi (login required.)

Script to copy values from Excel to Revit Schedule

Update:
The evaluation copy of the updated script for Revit 2011 is available at:
http://bim.nichitecture.com/copyexcel.html

Here is a script I wrote using Autohotkey to copy cell values from Microsoft Excel or Open Office.org Calc into a Revit Schedule. You can download the zip file here for Revit 2009 and here for Revit 2010. I have also posted the zip file at augi (login required)
The script copies a bunch of cells (rows x columns) and pastes them into a revit schedule (contiguous rows x columns).

1. he script works well if all the fields in Revit schedule are EDITABLE. (A normal schedule has lots of ‘read-only’ fields like Family name, Area, etc where this script will fail.)
2. The script does not create blank rows for data in Revit (yet). You need to create as many rows as you might need using this button in the Revit option bar before running the script.
   

Enjoy!