Introducing Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2011

Book description

Revit all-stars present a fast, focused introduction to Revit functions, tools, and concepts

Hailed for its ease of use, power, and sophistication, Revit is the industry-leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) software package. Introducing Revit Architecture provides a thorough overview of Revit's concepts, interface conventions, tools, and tasks. In-depth discussions, reinforced by comprehensive step-by-step exercises, detail how to model, document, present, and share designs. Written by expert authors - all architects with years of Revit experience - Introducing Revit Architecture is the perfect resource for readers of all skill levels who want to quickly accomplish crucial Revit tasks.

  • Practical exercises on core Revit features enable new users to quickly get up to speed

  • A 16-page color insert focusing on real-world Revit uses drawn from the team's experience and industry contacts

  • Straightforward explanations, real-world examples, beautiful illustrations, and practical tutorials focus squarely on accomplishing vital Revit tasks

Introducing Revit Architecture helps professionals and students to easily and efficiently learn the basics of Revit and BIM.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Dear Reader,
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. About the Authors
  5. Introduction
    1. Who Should Read This Book
    2. What Is Covered in This Book
    3. How to Contact the Authors
  6. 1. The Revit Architecture User Interface
    1. 1.1. The Home Screen
    2. 1.2. The Main Screen
      1. 1.2.1. Menu and Toolbar
      2. 1.2.2. Ribbon
        1. 1.2.2.1. Ribbon Controls
        2. 1.2.2.2. Ribbon Clues
      3. 1.2.3. Options Bar
      4. 1.2.4. Properties Palette
      5. 1.2.5. Project Browser
      6. 1.2.6. Drawing Area
        1. 1.2.6.1. View Control Bar
        2. 1.2.6.2. Status Bar
  7. 2. Views
    1. 2.1. Zoom and Pan Tools
      1. 2.1.1. Zoom In Region
      2. 2.1.2. One-Click Zooms
      3. 2.1.3. View Cube
      4. 2.1.4. Steering Wheels
    2. 2.2. View Properties
      1. 2.2.1. Overriding Visibility/Graphics
      2. 2.2.2. Using Filters
    3. 2.3. Other View Controls
      1. 2.3.1. Changing Level of Detail by View Scale
      2. 2.3.2. Using Crop Regions
      3. 2.3.3. Using Temporary Hide/Isolate
    4. 2.4. Adding New Views
      1. 2.4.1. Creating Floor and Ceiling Plans
      2. 2.4.2. Creating Elevation Views
      3. 2.4.3. Creating Section Views
      4. 2.4.4. Creating Callout Views
      5. 2.4.5. Creating Drafting Views
      6. 2.4.6. Creating 3D Orthographic Views
      7. 2.4.7. Adding Legends
  8. 3. Modeling
    1. 3.1. Levels
      1. 3.1.1. Creating a Level
    2. 3.2. Basic Editing Tools
      1. 3.2.1. Selecting Objects
        1. 3.2.1.1. Filtering and Element Selection Count
      2. 3.2.2. Moving Objects
      3. 3.2.3. Copying Objects
      4. 3.2.4. Rotating Objects
      5. 3.2.5. Arraying Objects
      6. 3.2.6. Resizing Objects
      7. 3.2.7. Mirroring Objects
      8. 3.2.8. Aligning Objects
      9. 3.2.9. Trimming and Extending Objects
    3. 3.3. Creating and Modifying Column Grids
      1. 3.3.1. Adding Columns
    4. 3.4. Walls
      1. 3.4.1. Creating a Basic Wall
    5. 3.5. Modifying Wall Parameters
      1. 3.5.1. Instance Properties
        1. 3.5.1.1. Room Bounding
        2. 3.5.1.2. Structural Usage
      2. 3.5.2. Type Properties
    6. 3.6. Defining Wall Structure
      1. 3.6.1. Wall Joins
      2. 3.6.2. Modifying Wall Profiles and Adding an Opening to a Wall
      3. 3.6.3. Embedding Walls
      4. 3.6.4. Stacked Walls
    7. 3.7. Creating Doors and Windows
      1. 3.7.1. Editing Door and Window Properties
    8. 3.8. Creating Curtain Walls
      1. 3.8.1. Modifying Curtain Wall Grids
        1. 3.8.1.1. Modifying Automatic Curtain Grids
      2. 3.8.2. Modifying Manual Curtain Grids
      3. 3.8.3. Adding Mullions
      4. 3.8.4. Adding a Door to a Curtain Wall
      5. 3.8.5. Exterior Glazing and Storefront
    9. 3.9. Creating Floors
      1. 3.9.1. Creating a Sloped Floor
      2. 3.9.2. Creating a Tapered Floor
    10. 3.10. Creating Ceilings
      1. 3.10.1. Automatic Ceiling Creation
      2. 3.10.2. Manual Ceiling Creation
      3. 3.10.3. Placing Components in a Ceiling
    11. 3.11. Creating Stairs
      1. 3.11.1. Straight Run Stair
      2. 3.11.2. Stair with Landing
      3. 3.11.3. Spiral Staircase
    12. 3.12. Creating Roofs
      1. 3.12.1. Roof by Footprint
      2. 3.12.2. Roof by Extrusion
        1. 3.12.2.1. Attaching Walls to Roofs
      3. 3.12.3. Adding Roof Soffits
  9. 4. Constraints and Dimensions
    1. 4.1. Temporary Dimensions
      1. 4.1.1. Temporary Dimension Settings
      2. 4.1.2. Snap Increments
      3. 4.1.3. Converting Temporary Dimensions
    2. 4.2. Permanent Dimensions
      1. 4.2.1. Place Dimension Options
      2. 4.2.2. Pick Options
      3. 4.2.3. Dimension Styles
      4. 4.2.4. Baseline and Ordinate Dimensions
      5. 4.2.5. Dimension Text Overrides
    3. 4.3. Equality Constraint and Lock
    4. 4.4. Spot Dimensions
    5. 4.5. Units
  10. 5. Visibility Controls
    1. 5.1. Essential Concepts of Visibility
    2. 5.2. Object Styles
    3. 5.3. Properties Palette for Views
      1. 5.3.1. Graphics Group
      2. 5.3.2. Identity Data Group
      3. 5.3.3. Extents Group
      4. 5.3.4. Phasing and Camera Groups
    4. 5.4. Visibility/Graphics Overrides
    5. 5.5. View Range
    6. 5.6. Filters
    7. 5.7. View Templates
    8. 5.8. Linked Files
    9. 5.9. Worksets
  11. 6. Introduction to Families
    1. 6.1. Understanding Family Organization
      1. 6.1.1. Functions of Families
      2. 6.1.2. The Family Tree
      3. 6.1.3. Classifying Families
        1. 6.1.3.1. System Families
        2. 6.1.3.2. Loadable Families
        3. 6.1.3.3. In-Place Families
    2. 6.2. Working with Families
      1. 6.2.1. Finding and Loading a Family
      2. 6.2.2. Placing a Loadable Family
      3. 6.2.3. Replacing a Loadable Family
      4. 6.2.4. Adding More Information to a Family
      5. 6.2.5. Working with Hosted and Nonhosted Families
      6. 6.2.6. Creating a New Family Type
      7. 6.2.7. Updating the Family in Your Library
      8. 6.2.8. Placing Loadable Families That Use Type Catalogs
      9. 6.2.9. Encountering Advanced Features
        1. 6.2.9.1. Nested Families
        2. 6.2.9.2. Shared Families
        3. 6.2.9.3. Shared Parameters
  12. 7. Massing
    1. 7.1. Mass Objects
      1. 7.1.1. Visibility and Display
      2. 7.1.2. In-Place Mass
    2. 7.2. References and Work Planes
      1. 7.2.1. Reference Planes
      2. 7.2.2. Reference Lines
      3. 7.2.3. Reference Points
      4. 7.2.4. Setting and Showing the Active Work Plane
    3. 7.3. Preparing to Create Mass Forms
      1. 7.3.1. Building an Extrusion Form
      2. 7.3.2. Building a Loft Form
      3. 7.3.3. Building a Revolve Form
      4. 7.3.4. Building a Sweep Form
      5. 7.3.5. Building a Surface Form
      6. 7.3.6. Building Void Forms
        1. 7.3.6.1. Converting Solid Forms to Void Forms
        2. 7.3.6.2. Using the Cut and Join Geometry Tools
    4. 7.4. Editing Forms
      1. 7.4.1. Push/Pull Editing
      2. 7.4.2. Dimensional Editing
      3. 7.4.3. Parametric Controls: Dimensional Parameters
        1. 7.4.3.1. Creating Dimensional Parameters
        2. 7.4.3.2. Testing Dimensional Parameters
    5. 7.5. Loadable Mass Families
      1. 7.5.1. Creating a Loadable Family
      2. 7.5.2. Using a Loadable Family in a Project
      3. 7.5.3. Editing a Loadable Family
    6. 7.6. Face-Based Modeling
      1. 7.6.1. Adding Mass Floors
      2. 7.6.2. Modeling Tools
        1. 7.6.2.1. Floor
        2. 7.6.2.2. Walls
        3. 7.6.2.3. Curtain System
        4. 7.6.2.4. Roof
      3. 7.6.3. Updating Model Elements
    7. 7.7. Creating Mass Families from Imported Geometry
  13. 8. Groups
    1. 8.1. Group Organization
    2. 8.2. Creating and Editing a Group
    3. 8.3. Placing a Group
    4. 8.4. Special Changes to a Group
      1. 8.4.1. Using the Exclude Tool
      2. 8.4.2. Using Move to Project
      3. 8.4.3. Removing Elements
    5. 8.5. Saving, Loading, and Reloading Groups
    6. 8.6. Practical Considerations
      1. 8.6.1. Getting Rid of a Group
      2. 8.6.2. Complexity
      3. 8.6.3. Nesting
      4. 8.6.4. Mirroring
      5. 8.6.5. Worksharing
      6. 8.6.6. Level to Level
      7. 8.6.7. File Size
  14. 9. Rendering
    1. 9.1. Rendering Workflow
      1. 9.1.1. Exterior Rendering: Day
        1. 9.1.1.1. Render Quality Settings
      2. 9.1.2. Lighting
        1. 9.1.2.1. Grouping Lights
        2. 9.1.2.2. Editing Lights in Groups
        3. 9.1.2.3. Using Groups to Control Lights
    2. 9.2. Setting the Background
    3. 9.3. Adding and Adjusting Material
      1. 9.3.1. Assigning a Material to an Element
      2. 9.3.2. Applying a Material with the Paint Tool
    4. 9.4. Real-Time Rendering
  15. 10. Working with Other Files
    1. 10.1. Linking Revit Models
    2. 10.2. Controlling Display
      1. 10.2.1. Visibility/Graphic Overrides
        1. 10.2.1.1. Visibility/Graphics Basics Tab
          1. 10.2.1.1.1. BY HOST VIEW
          2. 10.2.1.1.2. BY LINKED VIEW
          3. 10.2.1.1.3. CUSTOM
        2. 10.2.1.2. Visibility/Graphics Categories Tabs
        3. 10.2.1.3. Worksets
      2. 10.2.2. Managing Links
        1. 10.2.2.1. Managing Revit Links
        2. 10.2.2.2. Managing CAD and DWF Links
      3. 10.2.3. Tagging Linked Revit Models
        1. 10.2.3.1. Reconcile Hosting Command
    3. 10.3. Working with CAD Files
      1. 10.3.1. DWG Files
        1. 10.3.1.1. Linking or Importing DWG
          1. 10.3.1.1.1. IMPORT SETTINGS: LINE WEIGHTS
          2. 10.3.1.1.2. FONTS
          3. 10.3.1.1.3. DISPLAY CONTROL
        2. 10.3.1.2. Exporting DWG
          1. 10.3.1.2.1. LINE WEIGHTS AND COLORS
          2. 10.3.1.2.2. 3D EXPORTING
      2. 10.3.2. Importing and Exporting DGN Files
    4. 10.4. Exporting DWF Files
      1. 10.4.1.
        1. 10.4.1.1. Saving DWF Settings
        2. 10.4.1.2. Linking DWF
    5. 10.5. Using Raster Files
  16. 11. Rooms and Areas
    1. 11.1. Rooms
      1. 11.1.1. Room Separation Lines
      2. 11.1.2. Room Schedules
        1. 11.1.2.1. Key Schedules for Rooms
    2. 11.2. Areas
      1. 11.2.1. Identifying Rentable Areas
  17. 12. Tags, Schedules, and Keynotes
    1. 12.1. Tags
      1. 12.1.1. Loading Tags
      2. 12.1.2. Using Tags
        1. 12.1.2.1. Tag by Category
        2. 12.1.2.2. Tag All (Tag All Not Tagged)
        3. 12.1.2.3. Material Tag
    2. 12.2. Schedules
      1. 12.2.1. Creating a Component Schedule
      2. 12.2.2. Modifying a Component Schedule
      3. 12.2.3. Exporting Schedules
      4. 12.2.4. Material Takeoff
    3. 12.3. Keynotes
      1. 12.3.1. Keynote Text File
      2. 12.3.2. Assigning Keynotes
      3. 12.3.3. Creating Keynotes
      4. 12.3.4. Keynoting Legend
      5. 12.3.5. Customizing the Keynote File
  18. 13. Detailing
    1. 13.1. Detail and Drafting Views
    2. 13.2. Component Symbol Fundamentals
      1. 13.2.1. Detail Components
      2. 13.2.2. Repeating Details
      3. 13.2.3. Legend Components
      4. 13.2.4. Embedding Detail Components in Modeling Families
    3. 13.3. Detailing Tools
      1. 13.3.1. Drawing Detail Lines
      2. 13.3.2. Editing Detail Lines
        1. 13.3.2.1. Line Weight Plotting
        2. 13.3.2.2. Line Patterns
      3. 13.3.3. Overriding Lines with the Linework Tool
      4. 13.3.4. Representing Insulation
      5. 13.3.5. Filled Regions
      6. 13.3.6. Masking Regions
      7. 13.3.7. Adding Text
        1. 13.3.7.1. Adding a Text Note to Your View
        2. 13.3.7.2. Creating and Editing Text Styles
        3. 13.3.7.3. Preparing General Notes
    4. 13.4. Creating and Managing Detail Libraries
      1. 13.4.1. Saving to a Library
      2. 13.4.2. Inserting from a File
  19. 14. Sheets
    1. 14.1. About Titleblocks and Sheets
      1. 14.1.1. Creating a Titleblock
        1. 14.1.1.1. Shared Parameters and Titleblocks
        2. 14.1.1.2. Loading and Testing a Titleblock
      2. 14.1.2. Placing a Revision Schedule
    2. 14.2. Setting Up Sheets
      1. 14.2.1. Creating New Sheets
      2. 14.2.2. Adding Views on the Sheets
      3. 14.2.3. Adjusting the Crop Region
      4. 14.2.4. Aligning Views on the Sheets
    3. 14.3. Organizing Sheets
      1. 14.3.1. Building a Sheet List
    4. 14.4. Exporting Sheets and DWF
  20. 15. Design Options
    1. 15.1. Design Options Terminology
    2. 15.2. Setting Up Design Options
    3. 15.3. Editing Design Options
    4. 15.4. Applying Design Options to Views and Accepting the Primary
    5. 15.5. Tags and Annotation in Design Options
  21. 16. Phases
    1. 16.1. Phasing Tools
    2. 16.2. Phases
      1. 16.2.1. Assigning a Phase to a View and Element
      2. 16.2.2. Phase Properties of Schedules
      3. 16.2.3. Phase-Specific Room Boundaries
    3. 16.3. Infill Elements
      1. 16.3.1. Infill Elements for Earlier Phases
    4. 16.4. Demolishing Elements
    5. 16.5. Rendering and Existing Phases
  22. 17. Creating Families
    1. 17.1. Preparing to Create a Family
      1. 17.1.1. Modify Existing or Start from Scratch
      2. 17.1.2. Choosing a Category
      3. 17.1.3. Are Hosted Families/Face-Based Required?
      4. 17.1.4. Choosing a Placement Technique
      5. 17.1.5. Level of Detail
        1. 17.1.5.1. Subcategories
      6. 17.1.6. Parametric vs. Nonparametric
    2. 17.2. Examining the Tool Chest
      1. 17.2.1. Reference Planes and Lines: The "Bones"
        1. 17.2.1.1. Reference Planes
        2. 17.2.1.2. Reference Lines
      2. 17.2.2. Defining Rules: The "Muscle"
        1. 17.2.2.1. Locks
        2. 17.2.2.2. Equality
        3. 17.2.2.3. Parameters
        4. 17.2.2.4. Dimensions
      3. 17.2.3. Creating What You See: The "Skin"
        1. 17.2.3.1. Geometry
        2. 17.2.3.2. Lines
      4. 17.2.4. Family Visibility Controls
      5. 17.2.5. Creating Forms (Solids/Voids)
        1. 17.2.5.1. Solid Extrusion
        2. 17.2.5.2. Blend
        3. 17.2.5.3. Revolve
        4. 17.2.5.4. Sweep
        5. 17.2.5.5. Swept Blend
        6. 17.2.5.6. Voids
        7. 17.2.5.7. Joining and Cutting Geometry
      6. 17.2.6. Assigning Materials to Families
      7. 17.2.7. Visibility and Yes/No Parameters
    3. 17.3. The Bigger Picture and Advanced Concepts
      1. 17.3.1. Types and Type Catalogs
      2. 17.3.2. Nested Families
      3. 17.3.3. Shared Families
      4. 17.3.4. Shared Parameters
      5. 17.3.5. Practical Matters
    4. 17.4. Dissecting Some Practical Examples
      1. 17.4.1. Exercise 1: Creating a Door with Variable Swing Angle
      2. 17.4.2. Exercise 2: Nesting a Variable 2D Swing
      3. 17.4.3. Exercise 3: Modifying a Room Tag and Shared Parameter
      4. 17.4.4. Exercise 4: Modifying the Existing Column Visibility and Material Settings
  23. 18. Revisions
    1. 18.1. Numbering Revisions
      1. 18.1.1. Numbering per Project
      2. 18.1.2. Numbering per Sheet
      3. 18.1.3. Options for Numbering
    2. 18.2. Drawing Revision Clouds
      1. 18.2.1. Tagging a Revision Cloud
    3. 18.3. Issuing a Revision
  24. 19. Collaboration
    1. 19.1. Coordinating Work Across Disciplines
      1. 19.1.1. The Copy/Monitor Tool
        1. 19.1.1.1. When to Use
        2. 19.1.1.2. How to Use
          1. 19.1.1.2.1. COPY/MONITOR OPTIONS
      2. 19.1.2. The Coordination Review Tool
      3. 19.1.3. The Interference Check Tool
    2. 19.2. Exporting to Non-Revit Formats
      1. 19.2.1. Exporting to ODBC
      2. 19.2.2. Exporting and Importing IFC
        1. 19.2.2.1. Exporting IFC
        2. 19.2.2.2. Importing IFC
        3. 19.2.2.3. A Final Note on IFC Files
      3. 19.2.3. Exporting and Managing DWF Files
        1. 19.2.3.1. Linking DWF Markup
      4. 19.2.4. Exporting 2D and 3D CAD
      5. 19.2.5. Exporting to gbXML
      6. 19.2.6. Exporting to 3ds Max (FBX)
      7. 19.2.7. Exporting Room and Area Report

Product information

  • Title: Introducing Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2011
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: October 2010
  • Publisher(s): Sybex
  • ISBN: 9780470649718