Naming Conventions

Here are some typical naming conventions our office currently uses.  We try to follow this as much as possible.  The first letter of each word is generally capitalized.

Project Files:
Project Name - Current Phase - Central
Project Name - Current Phase - Central - User
Example: West Elem - WD - Central
Phases are as follows:

·         SD - Schematic Design

·         DD - Design Development

·         WD - Working Drawings

·         BN - Bidding and Negotiations

·         CA - Construction Administration

Families
Family Name - Manufacturer - Model
Sizes & Materials should only be used for the types
Example: Desk - KI - Intellect

Materials
Material - Type of Material - Description - Manufacturer - Model
Example: Masonry - Brick - Running Bond - Glen Gery - Economy

Parameters
Short informational descriptions are best.
Do not put symbols in names (Such as - or /)

Working with Consultants Revit Files

Step 1.  Open their files with the "detach from central" option checked.

Step 2.  File save as and place the file in the consultants folder on the project server.

Step 3.  Close out of everything

Step 4.  I recommend creating an additional workset and setting it to not visible in every view.

Step 5.  Open your Revit project and select "Link Revit" under the "Insert Tab"

Step 6.   Select the Revit file to be linked in.

Additional Notes:

1.       If shared coordinates is being used, be sure to select Auto - By Shared Coordinates.  Otherwise I recommend Manual - Base Point.  Manual - Base Point will require one additional step to actually place the model.

2.       If you only need to load specific worksets from the linked model, select the down arrow to the right of the Open button.  And then specify which worksets should be loaded. 

3.       Be sure to insert the link on the proper workset.  If you get a warning about it not being visible, be sure to check your VG settings and turn on that workset. 

4.       Keep in mind that you if want to see the consultant's model in any other view; you will have to turn on that workset within your current view.

5.       Warning!  Setting up the consultant's model as a central file on your server will allow users the ability to access/change things in that model.  I recommend NEVER syncing and always relinquish when you close out.  This is only in regards to the consultant's model and should not be confused with the model being linked into the Architectural model.  The linked model inside the architectural model cannot be changed. 

Revit Wall Assemblies

Inevitability when a new user first learns Revit, one of the first challenges they will face is creating a wall type.  In most cases a good Revit template file will have all the wall types you should need, but when drawing an existing model, you're bound to run into some different ones.  Creating these different wall types can be a little challenging, but most seem to do quite will.  The one part that I think gets overlooked when creating new walls types is the fact that the top is Exterior and the bottom is Interior.
This is critical to pay attention too.

There's also is some confusion on which "Function" to use.  The following table describes each function.

Function/Priority	Description
Structure (priority 1)	Supports the remainder of the wall, floor, or roof.
Substrate (priority 2)	Consists of materials such as plywood or gypsum board, which act as a foundation for another layer.
Thermal/Air layer (priority 3)	Provides insulation and prevents air penetration.
Membrane Layer	Prevents water vapor penetration.  The membrane layer should have zero thickness.
Finish 1 (priority 4)	Used as the exterior layer.
Finish 2 (priority 5)	Used as the interior layer.

Copied from Learning Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010

Following these simples rules should help anyone create new wall types with ease. 

Phases

Filter Name	New	Existing	Demolished	Temporary
Show All	By Category	Overridden	Overridden	Overridden
Show Complete	By Category	By Category	Not Displayed	Not Displayed
Show Demo + New	By Category	Not Displayed	Overridden	Overridden
Show New	By Category	Not Displayed	Not Displayed	Not Displayed
Show Previous + Demo	Not Displayed	Overridden	Overridden	Not Displayed
Show Previous + New	By Category	Overridden	Not Displayed	Not Displayed
Show Previous Phase	Not Displayed	Overridden	Not Displayed	Not Displayed

Generally it's not a good idea to mess around with these.  Set them for the view and then leave them alone.  If you need to adjust your Filter Name you would be better off creating a separate view.  Ideally there would be first floor plan (set to Show Previous + New).  If you would need to switch the filter, then it would be best to create another view, such as first floor demo plan (set to Show Previous + Demo).  Or First Floor Plan - Existing (set to Show Previous Phase).  Changing the phasing on the fly back and forth usually ends up with someone leaving something set wrong.  My recommendation is to setup separate views in the beginning and then never mess with them. 

Duplicating Views

Options for Duplicating View

Duplicate	Creates a view that is a copy of the primary view.  A duplicate view displays model elements but not annotation elements from the original view.
Duplicate with Detailing	Create a view that inherits all details of the primary view.  A duplicate with detailing view displays both model and annotation elements from the original view.
Duplicate as a Dependent	Creates a view that inherits view properties and view-specific elements from the primary view.  In a dependent view, you should only show a specific area of the view.  You can insert Matchlines to indicate where the view is split, and view references to link views.  This option helps to create views that show portions of a plan when the entire plan is too large to fit on a drawing sheet.

 Chart copied from "Learning Revit Architecture 2010"

Creating separate views (Duplicate or Duplicate with Detailing) for a different area of a view is not recommended.  Please use the Duplicate as a Dependent for all views that will be broken out with match lines.

General naming conventions are:
                FIRST FLOOR PLAN
                                FIRST FLOOR PLAN - AREA A
                                FIRST FLOOR PLAN - AREA B
                                FIRST FLOOR PLAN - AREA C

View Templates

Simple put a collection of visual settings for a specific view.  For instance, if you have several section views that need changes done to the view scale, discipline, detail level, specific filter applied and/or visibility settings, a view template will be very handy.  Simply go into one section, change the scale, update the detail level and turn on/off whatever you want.  You can now create a view template with all of those settings preset.  Then apply that view template to your other sections and everything will update at once.  This will help with overall consistency throughout your project.  View templates work very well for all views.  If you spend a lot of time in "Visibility Graphics" adjusting things, you may want to consider view templates. 
                View templates are available as a split-button under the "View Tab", "Graphics" panel.  There are four options here.  "Apply View Template", "Apply Default Template to Current View", "Create View Template from View" and "View Template Settings".  I think the first three options are self explanatory.  The last option "View Template Settings" is for making changes to existing view templates or manually creating new ones without being in an actual view.  For whatever reason, it seems that making changes to an existing view template does not update any view that has already had that template applied.  In this case you will need to reapply that view template to all of the views again, even though it is still listed as the default view template. 

Quick and easy reception desks!

Creating reception desks have proven to be quite time consuming.  More recently I have found that creating a couple different profiles of some standard desks has been very handy.  Simply starting an in place family and creating a couple sweep extrusions, will help you build a reception desk in a few minutes.  Straight and even curved countertops can be created with one simple sweep.  You can also get creative with void forms and cut in some reveals or even an ADA counter approach.