Faced Based Model Text - Component

I have added my "face based model text" component that I talked about before, in the content download area on the left.  Enjoy!

Content

I have added a new gadget on the left side of my blog called Content.  I thought it might be handy to post some of my handouts and/or training materials.  I'm starting off with a list of all the standard keyboard shortcuts available in Revit Architecture 2011.  I recommend printing this out and posting it in your cubical or office for quick reference.

Keynoting

It's been a few weeks since my last post.  I have been pretty busy with a really large remodeling project.  Today I would like to briefly talk about keynoting.  Up to this point it has been something we have always been meaning to look into, just never have.  On this remodeling project we decided to look into keynoting for our finish plans.  I closely worked with our interiors department to find out all materials they were planning to use on the project.  I setup all the materials and started applying them to everything.  I then setup all the materials in the keynote text files and then linked them to the materials library.  This allowed us to keynote tag everything in the interior elevations and the floor finish plans.  Later we created a materials schedule to define all the materials.  Long story short, this took a little bit to setup, but proved to be a time saver.  If we saved this much time just on keynoting materials, keynoting by elements can only help to speed things up.  There is tons of information available everywhere about keynoting, too much information for me to even try and list here.  I did find the information available from Matt Dillon at the Autodesk University website and the chapter on keynoting in the "Mastering Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011" book to be the most helpful.  That's all for now.

Face Based Model Text Component

Trying to place model text on a curved wall has always been something that has bothered me.  The idea of creating multiple reference planes and trying to make sense out off all of it when placing text is a real pain.  Awhile back I created a face based model component and then placed model text in that component.  I then tied all the parameters of the model text to type parameters within the component.  I can then just drop one letter on my wall and then polar array the rest.  I did make the letter an instance parameter to help save some time.  This seems to work very well for us. 

Partial Demolition

It seems to never fail that in our remodeling projects we need to demolish part of an existing building.  Be it walls or roofs, part of something always needs to be demolished.  In the past we have just copied and split the roof or wall apart.  Today I built a Generic Model - Face Based component that is strictly a void.  I can then just snap this to the face of my object that I want to remove.  I can phase it then and everything appears or does not, as is should. 

Key Plans

When trying to create key plans I find it extremely handy to reference a blog by Doug Bowers.  Here is a link to the article.  He provides step by step instructions on how to create a parametric key plan.  There is also an article by Paul Aubin in the summer 2010 issue of AEC EDGE, which can be found here on page 45.  Both are well written and easy to follow, but are slightly different from one another. 

Component Library Searching

As our content library continues to grow at an astonishing rate, finding components seems to be getting more and more difficult.  Very rarely do I use the "Load Family" button anymore.  I have found it much simpler to use windows explorer and use "The search box."

Just navigate to the content root directory and type what you're looking for.  Windows will then search the entire folder structure for anything containing that name.  Then just simply drag and drop the components from the explorer window into Revit.  This will automatically load it in and you will be ready to place it.  You can also select multiple components and bring those in all at once.