Wiley Mastering Autodesk Revit MEP 2012
Contents
1. 21 The Graphics tab of the Options dialog box allows you to set the selection highlight and alert colors used in the drawing area The drawing area s background color can be inverted if you are more comfortable using a black background Settings for temporary dimensions are also avail able to make them more readable as shown in Figure 1 15 You can set the background for tem porary dimensions to transparent or opaque this setting is not shown in the figure FIGURE 1 15 Temporary dimen sion appearance settings Graphics Mode F Use Hardware Acceleration Direct30 F Use Ant Alasing for 3D views Colors F invert background Selection H Red T Semi transparent Pre selection Oo RGS 118 050 133 Alert Oo RGS 255 128 000 Temporary Dimension Text Appearance Settings for the appearance and behavior of the SteeringWheels and ViewCube can be found on their respective tabs in the Options dialog box Context Menus Though the ribbon interface is designed for efficient workflow context menus can be the easiest most effective way to access settings or make changes to components of your Revit projects A context menu is one that appears when you right click in open space on an item in the Project Browser or on an object in the drawing area Right clicking in open space in the drawing area activates a context menu that includes the Repeat and Recent Commands tools The last com mand used can be activated by using the En2. Celor Fill System Browser Energy Analyst THE RIBBON Architect Revit MEP 2012 is capable of modeling much more than just the components of an MEP engineering system The Architect tab contains tools that allow you to model architec tural components or to create conceptual mass objects The Room amp Area panel contains the Legend button which allows you to apply color fill to your views based on defined criteria v GGSIGS Shower In Piace Place Cutan by View Settings Mos Mis Sytem Concept Muss Model by Fase Omen Collaborate You need tools that allow you to keep your model coordinated with other disci plines and work within a multiuser environment These tools can be found on the Collaborate tab The Worksets panel has a drop down list for switching worksets and the Coordinate panel contains tools for copying and monitoring objects from linked files The Coordinate panel also has a tool for locating face hosted elements that have lost their association to their host You can check for clashes between model objects by using the Interference Check tool on the Coordinate tab The Editing Requests button on the Synchronize panel allows you to see any requests that have been made to modify elements you are borrowing or own Jea a eon HEA B gt 7 jectl Floor Plan 1 Mech B Tyee 0 keyword or qer BAA m Hh E Enlarged Mechanical Piping e fs E Modify Worksets a Show Restore Copy Coordination Coordination
3. E 7 8 CHAPTER1 EXPLORING THE USER INTERFACE Modify The Modify tab in the Family Editor environment is the same as the one found in the Project File environment This tab is also compact allowing for a contextual tab when objects within the family are selected The Load Into Project button is available on each tab in the Family Editor environment This allows you to load the family into another open file at any time Customizing the Ribbon You can customize the ribbon interface to better suit your workflow For example you can rear range the order of the tabs by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking a tab name to drag it toa new location You can move panels on a tab to different locations on the tab by clicking a panel name and dragging it to a new location Figure 1 2 shows the Mechanical panel being dragged from its location on the Home tab The panels to the right will slide over to fill in the space left by the moved panel FIGURE 1 2 CHEH amp S S HOA B OE B amp e Aut Moving a tab panel R Duct Duct Accessory Th Pipe Accessory Modify Duc N Flex Pipe Home gt E Duct Fitting ft oe F Pipe Fitting Air Flex Mechanica Equipment W Convert to Flex Duct Duct Terminal HVAC You cannot move a panel from one tab to another however If you attempt to drop a panel onto another tab it will return to its original location on its original tab You can remove panels from a tab and place them in ano
4. Sa Gee 20 CHAPTER1 EXPLORING THE USER INTERFACE SHORTCUT ACCESS You can access the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box by clicking the User Interface button on the View tab There is even a keyboard shortcut for the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box KS You can sort the list in ascending or descending alphabetical order by clicking the desired column Once you have located a command for which you want to create a keyboard shortcut you can select the command to activate the Press New Keys text box at the bottom of the dialog box Input the desired keys that will activate the command You can input up to five characters for a keyboard shortcut Reserved keys cannot be used for keyboard shortcuts you can find the reserved keys by using the filter in the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box Click the Assign button to apply the shortcut to the selected command You can create multiple shortcuts for a single tool and you can use the same shortcut keys for multiple tools When you create a shortcut that is used for multiple tools you must use the status bar to determine which tool to use when working in your project When you type the shortcut the first matching command will be displayed on the status bar You can use the up or down arrows to cycle through available commands for the shortcut Once the desired command is displayed on the status bar you can activate it by pressing the spacebar You can remove a keyboard shortcut from a comma
5. the properties of the current view in the drawing area You can select a view in the Project Browser to view its properties in the Properties palette The top section of the Properties palette acts as the Type Selector when an object is selected or a tool is chosen for placing an object When an object is selected you can switch to the prop erties of the current view by using the drop down list located just below the Type Selector as shown in Figure 1 6 12 CHAPTER1 EXPLORING THE USER INTERFACE FIGURE 1 6 a I Properties palette Sopp Osis Rectangular Face Round Neck i Type Selector 24x24 Face 8 Neck Hosted Air Terminals He Edit Type Floor Plan MH Level 1 Tne Drop down Elevation Fo O for changing Mechanical ale properties System Type i Supply Air s ANNS a 3 Supply Ait displayed Mechanical Airflow a Pressure Drop Flow en 180 CFM CEM Out of Range O J TTT Identity Data Properties help The properties shown in the Properties palette are instance properties You can click the Edit Type button to display the Type Properties dialog box for a selected item or view When view ing the instance properties of an object or view the scroll bar at the right side of the palette will hold its position when you move your mouse pointer away from the palette The scroll bar will remain in position even when other items are selected in the model When you make a change to a parameter in
6. 12 System Selector Training 1 Supply Air 7 Edit Select Disconnect System Equipment Equipment System Tools THE RIBBON Family Editor Tabs The tabs in the Family Editor environment differ from those in the Project File environment When you open a family file the tabs on the ribbon contain some familiar tools but many of them are specific to the creation and modification of family components The tabs available in the Family Editor environment are as follows Home The Home tab in the Family Editor environment contains tools for creating solid geometry and lines ae system connectors and creating and managing references TE OFARIN DATA APG Ma Fees w Dancen Blend Revolve Sweep Saepe Void Medai Conte Siecrical Dwet Pye Cale Tiny Condit Ratesnnce Reimane feed Fomm Line Grep Convector Conector Coasocier Connects Cormecter Uine Pare Project Medd Const Connectors Saturn Work Plane F Insert The Insert tab in the Family Editor environment contains tools for bringing other files into your family file The tools for linking are visible but disabled because importing is the only available method for bringing a CAD file into a Revit family file Insert E ra I ar A 8 Search Autoaesn Seer ca i legen Frage Manage impon Lead Leadat Find and download bwilding product models drawings and specs Load into CAD Images Family Types Family Group Project Link Import Loed frees Library Autodesk Seek Family Eter Anno
7. General Project Setup Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface Chapter 2 Creating an Effective Project Template Chapter 3 Worksets and Worksharing Chapter 4 Project Collaboration Chapter 5 Multiplatform Interoperability Working with 2D and 3D Data Chapter 6 Parameters Chapter 7 Schedules C E E E E E a Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface Autodesk Revit MEP 2012 utilizes a ribbon interface allowing for easy access to the tools needed for mechanical electrical and plumbing MEP design and modeling Having a good knowledge of where tools are located and how to access commands easily is the best way to be efficient in your use of Revit MEP 2012 Improvements and changes have been made to the user interface for this version through the addition of available tools in contextual tabs and improved tooltip func tionality for modeling pipes If you are transitioning to Revit MEP 2012 from a release prior to Revit MEP 2010 the ribbon style interface will be totally new to you The ribbon works well in Revit because it allows many of the tools to be organized in one area of the interface which gives you more screen real estate for viewing the model Although the user interface is customizable you are limited in the amount of customization and number of features that you can change At first this may seem a bit restrictive but like any software after you work with it enough it will become more familiar and your efficiency will inc
8. Keyboard Shortcuts Customize F Enable Recent Fies page at startup Tab Display Behavior After dearing a selection or after exiting from a tool In the project environment Stay on the Modify tab Return to the previous tab In the family editor Stay on the Modify tab Return to the previous tab V Display the contextual tab on selection Tooltips Tooltip assistance Normal zZ oc Ece Heo The Tab Display Behavior section in the center of the tab is where you define how the ribbon tabs will behave after an action is completed There are settings for the behavior in both the Project and Family Editor environments The check box for displaying a contextual tab on selec tion allows you to have the ribbon tab switch immediately to the contextual tab when an object is selected If that check box is not selected the contextual tab will still appear on the ribbon but it will not automatically become the active tab MENUS AND SETTINGS 19 In addition you can define the level of information provided by tooltips from the Tooltip Assistance drop down menu If you are still learning the function of different tools within Revit MEP 2012 you may want to set this option to High so that you will receive detailed descriptions of how tools work when you hover over them with your mouse pointer If you find that the toolt ips interfere with your workflow you can set this option to None Tooltps Tosto an fam
9. None Mnimal High WHAT DOI TYPE With Tooltip Assistance set to at least Minimal you can see the keyboard shortcut for a tool by hovering your mouse pointer over it The keyboard shortcut is shown in parentheses next to the name of the tool Keyboard Shortcuts On the User Interface tab of the Options dialog box is a button that enables you to customize your keyboard shortcuts Clicking this button activates the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box In this dialog box you can filter the commands to make the list easier to manage and edit You can even filter by specific tabs or menus as shown in Figure 1 14 FIGURE 1 14 Keyboard Shortcuts Filter options SEE Type a command name p for the Keyboard Shortcuts list 7 E A a Assignm Annotate Tab Comma Architect Tab Modify Collaborate Tab Contextual Tabs aths lome gt Select Insert gt Select Ann Model iome gt Model Home gt Detail Ho Family Editor Tab Place a Home Tab jome gt Model m Model insert Tab jome gt Model Annotate gt Detail Manage Tab Rhin ome gt Datum Home gt Draw Mo Referer Modify Tab ome gt Datum Home gt Draw Mo Aligned View Tab nnotate gt Dimension Modify gt M Text nnotate gt Text Home gt Text Quic Application Menu Finds Rd Context Menu nnotate gt Text Home gt Text Cont Help El fiew gt Graphics Visibality Do a ee O S m Press new keys P Remove a
10. Reconcile Interference History Backup Monitor Review Settings Hosting Check Select Worksets Synchronize Coordinate View You can use the tools on the View tab to create different types of views This tab also has tools for managing the views you have open in the drawing area On the Graphics panel there are tools for creating view templates and filters The Sheet Composition panel has tools for creating sheets as well as for adding match lines or revisions The User Interface button allows you to toggle the visibility of key user interface features including the Properties pal ette System Browser and Project Browser 099006 eck B B hore JO etn Pn Dung Dorion Cna Okie Uggi Sadis toope ja for Oee Manage On the Manage tab you can find the tools needed to establish project settings The Inquiry panel has tools that can be used to locate specific objects in your project model and to display any warnings associated with your project Along with the settings that can be accessed from the tools on the Settings panel the Additional Settings button is a drop down list of even more options The MEP Settings button is located on the Settings panel This is where you can establish settings related to MEP components and system behavior Modify The Modify tab is located at the end of the tabs so that it is closer to the center of the user interface for easy access The Modify tab has the tools needed to make changes to compo
11. User Interface Features The Revit MEP 2012 user interface is full of features designed to help you design and model efficiently Some items are new some have been modified and some are the same as they have always been The title bar at the top of the screen will still inform you of what file you are in and what view is currently active in the drawing area Options Bar Despite the functionality of the ribbon with its contextual tabs the Options Bar is still an important part of the user interface This should be the first place you look when a tool or object in the project is selected Though the number of options that appear may be limited for each command you use they are important to the task in which you are engaging When placing Space objects for example pay close attention to the Upper Limit and Offset options to ensure proper space height Modify Place Space Upper Limit SECONDFL Offset 0 le Horizontal v Leader Space New X USER INTERFACE FEATURES 11 You can dock the Options Bar at the top of the screen below the ribbon which is the default location or at the bottom of the screen just above the status bar Right click on the Options Bar to change its docked position Properties Palette The Properties palette is a modeless dialog box that allows you to access the properties of items in your project This feature reduces the number of mouse clicks necessary to access the proper ties of a model object or project
12. View Section v Thin Lines v Close Hidden Windows V Switch Windows Customize Quick Access Toolbar Show Above the Ribbon 10 CHAPTER1 EXPLORING THE USER INTERFACE The option at the bottom of the list allows you to set the location of the QAT either above or below the ribbon Setting it below the ribbon moves it closer to the drawing area for easier access Moving it to this location does not take the place of the Options Bar however If you add several buttons to the QAT you may want to move it below the ribbon so that it does not crowd out the filename on the title bar Clicking the Customize Quick Access Toolbar option in the drop down menu opens the dia log box shown in Figure 1 4 In this dialog box you can change the order of the buttons as they appear from left to right create separator lines or delete buttons FIGURE 1 4 Customize Quick Access Toolbar G E3 Customize Quick E o A Access Toolbar B se dialog box i Q syndronize and Modify Settings Spit Button A undo F Redo e MENN tet Measure Between Two References Split Button H Unear Dimension Tag by Category A Text ne Defaut D View Spit Button ID Section en Ek Close Hidden Windows 3 E Show Quick Access Toolbar below Ribbon B You can also right click a button on the QAT for quick options such as removing the button adding a separator line or accessing the customization dialog box
13. You can establish the switching behavior of the tabs on the ribbon to determine which tab is displayed when you exit a tool or command When you click a tool the contextual Modify tab for that tool appears The interface will stay on the Modify tab when you exit the tool or you can set it to return to the previous tab These settings are located on the User Interface tab of the Options dialog box which is discussed later in this chapter Quick Access Toolbar As you are working you may find yourself taking extra steps to switch tabs in order to access the desired tools The Quick Access toolbar QAT is a place where you can put frequently used tools for instant access o et Insert Annotate Analyze Architect Collaborate View M You can add tools from any of the standard tabs to the QAT simply by right clicking that tool s button or drop down and selecting the Add To Quick Access Toolbar option The tool will be placed at the end of the QAT To manage the tools available on the QAT you can click the small arrow button at the far right of the QAT as shown in Figure 1 3 Each button on the QAT is listed and removing the check mark next to it will turn off its visibility in the QAT FIGURE 1 3 ree Quick Access ustomize Quick Access Toolbar vo toolbar custom PA A v Save ization menu v Synchronize with Central Y Undo v Redo v Measure Linear Dimension v Tag by Category v Text v Default 3D
14. and Press And Drag check boxes are located on the status bar The Editable Only check box is for filtering a selection by only those objects that are editable in a worksharing environment and the Press And Drag check box allows you to drag objects in the model without having to select them first So you can click an object and immediately drag it when the box is selected When the check box is deselected you must first click to select the object release your mouse button and then click the object again to drag it In some cases you may want to deselect this box to avoid moving objects inadvertently when working in a crowded area of the model 16 CHAPTER1 EXPLORING THE USER INTERFACE You can access any editing requests by clicking the small button next to the active workset indicator This will open the Editing Request dialog box which displays any pending requests by others to borrow elements This dialog box also displays any requests made by you to other users Next to the button is an indicator that shows the number of requests that are currently pending iy HVAC Not Editable cae BA Main When a user places a request to edit an element that you own or are borrowing you will receive a notification dialog box of the request The request will remain in the list of pending requests until action is taken Info Center The Info Center is the portion of the title bar that gives you quick access to the Help menu or information about Revi
15. aphic Display Options dialog box you can now add shadows to a view that is set to Consistent Colors The Realistic setting allows the rendering materials of objects to be displayed in an editable view This setting works only if you have Hardware Acceleration turned on Graphic Display Options E Wirefrome Hidden Line E Shaded m Consistent Colors F Realistic Take some time to explore the new visual styles by completing the following exercise If you do not have Hardware Acceleration turned on you can do so by clicking the Options button on the Application menu and going to the Graphics tab You must do this prior to opening the USER INTERFACE FEATURES 15 file If activating Hardware Acceleration causes problems because of your video driver you can choose not to activate it and skip step 5 1 Open the Ch1_Project rvt file found at ww sybex com go masteringrevitmep2012 2 Click the Visual Styles button on the View Control Bar Set Visual Style to Shaded Zoom pan and orbit the view and make note of the variations in color based on the model orientation 3 Click the Visual Styles button and select Graphic Display Options In the dialog box select the Show Edges and Ghost Surfaces check boxes and then click Apply Notice the change to the view Deselect the Ghost Surfaces check box and click OK 4 Click the Visual Styles button and change the style to Consistent Colors Notice that the colors remain a co
16. component You can dock the Properties palette to the sides of the screen or it can float If you dock the Properties palette to the same side of the screen as the Project Browser the two features will split the docked space as shown in Figure 1 5 FIGURE 1 5 Properties E Project Browser al Floor Plan and Properties palette docked Floor Plan 1 Mech x BB Edit Type together Graphics amp a View Seale Scale Value tee Display Model Normal Detail Level Medium Parts Visibility H Show Original Visibility Graphics Overri aa 77 e Graphic Display Options Edit Underlay None i Underlay Orientation Plan Orientation H Project North Wall Inin Nicnian Clean all wall ining Properties help Apply Projectl Project Browser B a 0 Views Discipline Mechanical HVAC Floor Plans 1 Mech 2 Mech G Ceiling Plans 1 Ceiling Mech 2 Ceiling Mech amp 3D Views 3D Elevations Building Elevation East Mech North Mech South Mech West Mech Plumbing 2 Flange Plans If you do not have the Properties palette turned on you can access it by clicking the Properties button located on the Modify tab or the contextual Modify tab of a selected object or you can right click anywhere in the drawing area The Properties palette will remain on until you close it When no object is selected in the model or in a drafting view the Properties palette will dis play
17. d are identified by their green color and a name that applies to the selected object A contextual tab for a selected object is an extension of the Modify tab which is why the base Modify tab is so compact compared to the other tabs This allows for the selection specific tools to appear on the right side of the Modify tab The top of Figure 1 1 shows the contextual tab for an air terminal selected in the model of a project The standard tools on the Modify tab are available at the left but not shown in this figure for clarity When you select an object in the model that is part of a system an additional contextual tab appears with tools for editing the system These tabs are completely separate from the standard Modify tab and contain only tools for system editing If you select an object on a system the sys tem tab will appear along with the contextual Modify tab as shown at the bottom of Figure 1 1 However if you select an actual system only the system tab appears The panels and buttons on contextual tabs cannot be removed or rearranged on the ribbon The buttons cannot be added to the Quick Access toolbar FIGURE 1 1 Modify Air Terminals Contextualtabfor 2 Hi e B hoo E an air terminal A S FYE Edit Connect Edit Pick 5 Duct d Ge Family Into WorkPlane New top and contex Measure Create Mode Layout Work Plane Placement Create Sater tual tab for a duct system bottom a 12 x
18. ech Piping Panels Plumbing Level 1 a i Plumbing Level Power Shared Levels and Grids Site oc cancel _acety_ ree _ When you choose an option for worksharing display a box will appear in the upper left corner of the drawing area indicating the option being displayed as shown in Figure 1 9 These 14 CHAPTER1 EXPLORING THE USER INTERFACE settings take precedence over any view filters that may be applied to the view If you override the graphics of a category in the view only the changes to line weight will be applied color overrides will not display FIGURE 1 9 3D view with worksharing display activated To turn the Sun Path on or off in a view you use the Sun Settings button You can access the Sun Path settings by clicking the Edit button in the Graphic Display Options parameter of a view s properties or from the Visual Styles button menu Visibility Graphics Overrides Edit 7 n Visual Style Hidden Line Sun Settings Graphic Display Options Se Sun Path Off Underlay None AR Fae an ae A ma C ke Prenemies hele sa ye 10 Dg GK Ready In the Visual Styles button menu the Consistent Colors setting enables colors of objects to appear in a shaded view with the same consistency regardless of the objects orientation to a light source So when you are viewing the model in a 3D view the color of all sides of an object looks the same With the new Gr
19. ect A12 Save Sites Moke Element Editable RVT Links 2 C Delete Constraints X _Room Bounding Copy to Clipboard said EA H Select All Instances Pet a fe Create Instance Reference Type ea Phase Mapping Type Properties The Bottom Line Navigate the ribbon interface The ribbon is an efficient user interface style that works well in Revit The ability to house numerous tools in a single area of the interface allows for maxi mum screen real estate for the drawing area Master It Along with the standard tabs available on the ribbon interface contextual tabs also are available while you re working on a project Explain what a contextual tab is and how it may differ throughout your workflow 23 24 CHAPTER1 EXPLORING THE USER INTERFACE Utilize user interface features Many features are available in the Revit MEP 2012 user interface that allow for quick access to tools and settings The use of keyboard shortcuts can also improve workflow efficiency Master It To enhance workflow efficiency it is important to know how to access fea tures of the user interface What tool can be used to activate or remove user interface features Use settings and menus Establishing settings for your user interface is another way to create a working environment that is the most efficient and effective for you to use Revit MEP 2012 Master It The use of keyboard shortcuts has been part of design and drafting software for a long time The ability to custom
20. els may become compressed to fit on your screen The panels and tools for each tab are described here not all panels are shown for each tab Home The Home tab is the main tab for MEP modeling tools This tab is divided into pan els that are specific to each of the main disciplines This tab is where you will find the tools to build an MEP model Each of the discipline panels has a small arrow in the lower right cor ner that ee quick access to the MEP settings dialog box for that discipline D bJ e ana Seea wae Mechanical gt Phortong t Peng Becca Mest Wo Plane Insert The Insert tab contains the tools for bringing other files into your Revit projects The tab is organized by panels for linking and importing files and it also contains tools for load ing Revit families The small arrow at the lower right of the Import panel is for accessing the Import Line Weights dialog box where you can associate imported computer aided design CAD color numbers to a Revit line weight The Insert tab also contains the Autodesk Seek panel which ee a search window for content available on the Autodesk Seek website Ib tyve o keyword or phraie aban Oe ET iM oaan Q 2o ie OWE Decal Point Menage Import impot inset _ Image Manage Load aia Find ond dowriosd building product modek drawings end specs Clewd Reit CAD Markup 7 Leks CAD BML from File Images Fandy G Select Link Import Tat ay Autodesk Seek Annotate On the Annotate tab you will f
21. ind the tools needed to add annotations to your model views along with drafting tools for creating details The Dimension and Tag panels can be extended by clicking the arrow next to the panel name which reveals the tools for establishing dimension settings and determining the default tags to be used upon initial placement The Symbol button is used for placing annotation families onto views or sheets The small arrow at the lower right corner of the Text panel provides access to the Type Properties dialog box for creating or modifying text styles ap c O Mat Conegery 9 3 1 SWEATS LLa Re a BD seve tag notat P uren 0 Pm P Ratt Diremiion Types fF Spot Sepe Types E Dareroen Analyze Tools for model analysis and systems checking are located on the Analyze tab Other tools on this tab allow you to add color to your ductwork and piping based on defined criteria The Spaces amp Zones panel contains the tools for placing Space objects and Space Separator lines The Check Systems panel contains tools for checking MEP systems to ensure proper connectivity and valid system assignments of components EEEE BAE B E Space Space Space Zone Hestingand Panel Schedule Check Duct CheckPipe Check Show Duct Pipe Colorfill System tnergy Rests amp Sepamtor Tag Cooling Loads Schedules Quartier Systeme Systeme Circuit Disceemects Legend Legend Legend Browser Settings Compare Spaces amp Zones Report amp Schedules gt Check Systems
22. ize the shortcuts to best suit your workflow is key to improved efficiency How can the settings for keyboard shortcuts be accessed How can the settings be shared among users
23. nces Visible in View Delete In Entire Project Find Referring Views Zoom In Region Zoom Out 2x Zoom To Fit Previous Pan Zoom Next Pan Zoom Make Worksets Editable Make Elements Editable vV Properties There is no longer a View Properties or Element Properties option in the context menus as in versions prior to 2011 because of the addition of the Properties palette The Properties option at the bottom of a context menu allows you to toggle the Properties palette on or off You can also right click an element in the Project Browser to access a context menu Right clicking a view will activate a menu with options for applying or creating a view template from that view You can also save the view to a new file as shown in Figure 1 18 FIGURE 1 18 l SampleProject MEPL GMbnt Project Browser al Context menu for b Bact Fire Alarm a view selected E Lighting in the Project B Floor Plans Browser EL Open B Ceiling Close E Find Referring Views E G Power Make Workset Editable amp Hagel Apply View Template EP Apply Default View Template EP Create View Template From View S Detail z Rist Duplicate View gt Site Convert to independent view S Mechanical Apply Dependent Views Fire Protect HVAC G Floor P Copy to Clipboard Rename Select All Instances gt Save to Project as Image Delete v Properties Save to New File THE BOTTOM LINE When you
24. nd by selecting the specific shortcut and clicking the Remove button Copy cc Modify gt Modify Camis te Ciinhosed lt Ctrl C gt Madihin PV bam nok Press new keys Remove Import Export OK Cance You can export your keyboard shortcut settings by clicking the Export button at the bottom of the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box This will save your settings as an XML file that can be edited in a spreadsheet program Using a spreadsheet is another way to manage and share your keyboard shortcuts The XML file can then be imported into Revit by using the Import button allowing you to set a standard for keyboard shortcuts in a multiuser work environment E Real World Scenario COMMON SHORTCUTS Clark is responsible for teaching a Revit MEP 2012 class He has established keyboard shortcuts that fit his workflow best and allow for efficient use of the software Because he is so familiar with these shortcuts he wants to share them with his students so that they will all be using the same ones during class Clark exports his shortcut settings to a file which he imports into Revit MEP 2012 on the computers in the classroom Prior to importing the custom settings he exported the default settings so that they can be used later if necessary During class he notes that the settings provided are preferred but each student can further customize them if doing so results in improved efficiency Graphics MENUS AND SETTINGS
25. nents or line work in your project views The tools on the Modify panel have been arranged with the more commonly used tools having larger buttons Some of the tools that have multiple use ve MEP Pond Schatle gt Masta e Wilhearbaos ages hne amp Dewsetsh rd 18 sanss viw lags fe Wg ey a 6 CHAPTER1 EXPLORING THE USER INTERFACE options have a separate button for each use such as the Mirror Split and Trim Extend tools The tools for creating groups assemblies or parts are located on the Create panel 2EAGQ S 2 2 HOA 8 92 B Ar __Projectt Floor Plan 1 ou SS Ba ADDY Se I A 2 ee BES a eo y Pry eh SO CO aa xs aE Select Properties Clipboard Modify View Measure Creste If you are running any external applications or macros the Add Ins tab will appear on your ribbon as the next to last tab The buttons or other features provided by the external application will appear on the tab as configured The Modify button appears in the Select panel on every tab This button allows you to exit from any active command giving you an alternative to using the Esc key multiple times or selecting another tool Contextual Tabs In addition to the tabs provided by default on the ribbon other tabs appear when you select objects in your project These contextual tabs contain tools specific to modifying the selected object Contextual tabs appear in the location of the Modify tab an
26. nsistent shade when you zoom pan and orbit the view 5 Click the Visual Styles button and change the style to Realistic Notice that the render material defined for the objects is now displayed 6 Click any object in the model If you do not already have the Properties palette active click the Properties button on the Properties panel of the contextual tab Take some time to become familiar with the behavior of the Properties palette Status Bar Improvements have been made to the status bar for Revit MEP 2012 The status bar not only reports information about a selected item and prompts with instructions for multilevel com mands but it also has an active workset indicator and design options indicator The workset name is now displayed in front of its editable status Workset indicator Design Options indicator TRAD TGP R fi HVAC Not Editable 7 BA You can access the Worksets dialog box by clicking the Worksets button next to the active workset window You can switch between active worksets by clicking the window and selecting the desired workset These are the same tools as found on the Collaborate tab but having them on the status bar eliminates the need to switch tabs on the ribbon to access them This also elim inates the need to add the tools to the Quick Access toolbar QAT The Design Options window displays the active design option and you can access the Design Options dialog box by clicking the button The Editable Only
27. on and Lock View rey Restore Orientation and Lock View A Unlock View 1e 1 0 EI k RE The button menu has options for unlocking the view to allow orbiting and for returning to the saved orientation When you unlock a view any tags applied in the view will not be dis played until it is returned to its saved orientation Another new button is for worksharing display options This button contains a menu for con trolling the display of worksets based on the settings defined in your project Settings amp Display Ownership Status 28 Display Individual Owners Display Model Updates amp Display Workset Assignment amp Worksharing Display Off ys 10 E O amp amp ORES 0 The Settings option on this button menu takes you to the Worksharing Display Settings dia log box where you can establish the colors used for the various options of worksharing display You can apply colors to worksets based on who owns them whether they are up to date or simply by their name Figure 1 8 shows the dialog box and settings for worksets colored by their name Notice that in the Apply Colors column you can choose to show a workset s color in the view by selecting its check box FIGURE 1 8 Worksharing Ownership Status Individual Owners Updates Worksets Display Settings dialog box Apply Colors ____ Workset Line Color vi Enlarged Mechanical Piping 3 Fire Alarm Lighting M
28. rease Some features have been added to improve workflow and efficiency and typical workflow features that were previously accessed through buttons in the interface are now available as part of the interface itself Knowing your way around the Revit MEP 2012 user interface is the first step to reaping the benefits of utilizing a building information modeling BIM solution for your building projects In this chapter you will learn to do the following Navigate the ribbon interface Utilize user interface features Use settings and menus The Ribbon If you are familiar with the Revit MEP user interface prior to the 2010 version transitioning to the ribbon style interface may indeed take some getting used to Once you understand the way that the ribbon is set up and how you can customize it to better suit your workflow though you will see that it is an optimal interface for a BIM and design application Tabs The ribbon portion of the user interface consists of several tabs each organized by panels that relate to the topic of the tab Each panel contains one or more buttons for the relevant features available in Revit MEP 2012 You can access a tab by simply clicking the name at the top of the ribbon Although each tab is designed to provide a unique set of tools some of the features of 4 CHAPTER1 EXPLORING THE USER INTERFACE Revit are repeated on different tabs Depending on your screen resolution some of the buttons on pan
29. right click a family in the Project Browser you get a context menu with options to edit rename or reload the family You can right click a family type in the Project Browser to access its type properties or to select the instances in the project without having to locate one of the instances in the model as shown in Figure 1 19 FIGURE 1 19 Families Context menu S Air Terminals fora selected dMb_Curved Linear Supply Diff Face Hosted p 2ftx 10 2 Slot family type 6ft x 10 2 Slo Duplicate Return Grille Recta Make Element Editable Supply Diffuser Rec Annotation Symbols Delete Copy to Clipboard amp Cable Tray Fittings Cable Trays Rename Ceilings Select All Instances Visible in View Communication Devices Create Instance In Entire Project Curtain Panels Curtain Systems Curtain Wall Mullions Matail Hamer E Match CE g Type Properties You can also use a right click context menu to manage linked files through the Project Browser Figure 1 20 shows the options available on a context menu when a linked Revit file is selected in the Project Browser FIGURE 1 20 Q Groups 4 B s Revit Links Context menu for A Sample Project C1 ae Reload a linked file in the SampleProject S12 vt Unload Project Browser Open and Unload Properties Reload From N Linked Revit Model Manage Worksets Sample Proj
30. t MEP 2012 The search window allows you to search for information about a topic Type a keyword or phrase BSS S x A signin Search Displays the search results You can easily access the Subscription Center by clicking the button with a key on it Any topics found in the search window or listed in the Subscription Center panel can be added to your Favorites list by clicking the star icon to the right of the topic Clicking the star button on the Info Center will list all your favorite topics The Help menu is displayed by clicking the question mark button Revit MEP 2012 has a web based Help menu You can access additional information by clicking the arrow next to the Help button as shown in Figure 1 10 FIGURE 1 10 H ieaoo oronase ABS SS yO Signin OGL ax Additional Help Saas options What s New Community Electrical 5 Additional Resources Customer Involvement Program About The Communication Center button is the one with the radar device on it The Communication Center provides information about product updates and announcements User Interface Control Many components of the Revit MEP 2012 user interface can be turned on or off for workflow efficiency or to maximize screen real estate The User Interface button located at the far right of the View tab allows you to select which user interface components are visible as shown in Figure 1 11 FIGURE 1 11 wif Replicate User Interface B Cascade b
31. t ba 4 Save As d SampieProjectMEP12 rvt a SampiePrejectC12rvt ba 3 Export gt SampieProjectAl2 nt Revit Template 1 Mecnanical Di tte il w RER N Mecnanical Defaultte Revit Family 1 a CN Exhaust Diffusers Round Neck pa Print FaceHostedrta Licensing ro Options Exit Revit 17 18 CHAPTER1 EXPLORING THE USER INTERFACE Clicking the Options button opens the Options dialog box which has several tabs for dif ferent settings within Revit MEP 2012 The General tab now contains a slider that allows you to control how frequently your file will update when working in a worksharing environment and utilizing the Model Updates option of the new worksharing display features Worksharing Update Frequency Less Frequent More Frequent Every 23 seconds The General tab is also where you define your username for Revit MEP 2012 This is impor tant for worksharing because Revit uses this name to identify you for editing requests workset ownership and element borrowing The User Interface tab shown in Figure 1 13 is where you can set some general behavior for the interface For example you can choose between a light gray or dark gray theme for the inter face from the Active Theme drop down list FIGURE 1 13 ST User Interface Rendering Speling Steerngwihees _viewCube Macros tab of the Options a or terface action piaiocatom dialog box oare Active theme Dark aa
32. tate On the Annotate tab within the Family Editor environment you will find the types of annotation tools that can be used in a family file The Dimension panel can be expanded to establish dimension styles within the family file NAC D a TEIE Modify Aligned Angular Radial Arc A Detail Detail Symbol Masking Text Spelling Find Length Line Component Group Region Replace Project Select Dimension Detail Tot u Family Editor View The View tab in the Family Editor environment is limited to tools for managing the family views Section views can be created and camera positions can also be established for 3D views S B STER IPN Cascad Visibility Thin Default Section Camera Switch Close Cascade User Load into Graphics ve 3D Re Windows Hidden 8 Tile Interface Project Graphics Create Windows Family Editor Manage In the Family Editor environment the Manage tab is populated with tools for establishing settings within the family file The MEP Settings button allows you to establish load classifications and demand factors while the Additional Settings button drops down for access to general se Materials Object Snaps Project Shared Trans Additional Manage Decal Select Macro Macro Load into Settings Styles Units Porammeters Project Stan ied Unum Settings images Types byD Manager Secwrity Project Select Settings Manage Project Inquiry Macros Family Eter MODNA a a A A Renae ae al
33. ter key or by clicking the Repeat option on the context menu The Recent Commands option displays a list of recently used commands for easy access during repetitive work Figure 1 16 shows a context menu and the recent commands used during a working session The Recent Commands list displays the last five commands used FIGURE 1 16 Context menu showing recent commands Cancel Repeat Trim Extend to Corner Recent Commands N Trim Extend to Corner TR Select Previous Copy CO Move MV Find Referring Views Recent Files Zoom In Region Visibility Graphics VG Zoom Out 2x Zoom To Fit Previous Pan Zoom Next Pan Zoom vV Properties 22 CHAPTER1 EXPLORING THE USER INTERFACE The options displayed on a context menu depend on the object selected when the menu is accessed One nice feature of Revit MEP 2012 is the ability to define the selection set when the Select All Instances option is chosen Figure 1 17 shows that you have the option to select only the objects in the active view or to select them throughout the entire project This makes the Select All Instances feature much more useful as you don t have to worry about objects that should not be selected being inadvertently included in the selection set FIGURE 1 17 Cancel Selection set Repeat Trim Extend to Corner options Recent Commands Hide in View K Override Graphics in View gt Create Similar Edit Family Select Previous Select All Insta
34. the Properties palette you can click the Apply button at the bottom right corner of the palette to set the change Alternatively you can simply move your mouse pointer away from the palette and the change will be applied View Control Bar The View Control Bar is often overlooked but it contains tools that are important to the display of the contents in the drawing area There are a few changes to the View Control Bar in the Revit MEP 2012 release The Visual Styles button now provides access to the Graphic Display Options dialog box This dialog box has been updated with settings to control the visual display of the view One of the new settings allows you to apply a transparency to surfaces in 3D views by selecting the Ghost Surfaces check box as shown in Figure 1 7 The Shaded With Edges style is no longer available in the Visual Styles menu The option to show the edges of objects is now a check box in the Graphic Display Options dialog box FIGURE 1 7 Graphic Display Options Graphic Display Model Display Options dialog box Surfaces Shaded Show Edges Ghost Surfaces Cast Shadows Show Ambient Shadows oo USER INTERFACE FEATURES 13 A new button has been added to the View Control Bar that enables you to save and lock the orientation of a 3D view When a 3D view is locked you can tag items in the view You can zoom and pan in a locked view but you cannot orbit the model 8 Save Orientati
35. ther location on your screen You can dock floating panels together by dragging one panel over the other and you can move the docked panels as a group by clicking and dragging the gray grip that appears when you hover your mouse pointer over a floating panel If you use dual monitors you can even drag a panel to the second monitor The panel s new position is maintained when you restart the software but the panel will not appear until a file is opened Keep in mind that moving tools to another screen may actually hinder your workflow efficiency BACK TO NORMAL You can return a floating panel to its default location by clicking the small button in the upper right corner of the panel EJ Component Model Return Panels to Ribbon lf you want to return the entire ribbon interface to its default settings you can do so by locating and deleting the UIState dat file and then reopening the application Deleting this file will also remove any customization done to the Quick Access toolbar QUICK ACCESS TOOLBAR 9 You can control the visibility of the ribbon tabs by clicking the small button to the right of the tabs This button will cycle through the different display options You can also click the small arrow next to the button to display and select a specific option T D Pipe Flex Accessory Pipe Plumbing amp Pij Cycle through All Minimize to Tabs Minimize to Panel Titles Minimize to Panel Buttons
36. utton options B Tile MENUS AND SETTINGS M F ViewCube 18 Nevigation Bar System Browser Project Browser SSG Properties E Status Bar Status Bar Worksets EE Status Bar Design Options E Recent Files e Browser Organization ey Keyboard Shortcuts The User Interface button provides not only a way to display or remove interface compo nents for more screen real estate but also a way to access the Recent Files screen which can not be accessed from the Switch Windows drop down button until it has been activated by using this button Menus and Settings The menus within Revit MEP 2012 offer access to many tools for user interface settings Right click context menus also contain various tools based on the selected item The Application menu includes options for exporting printing opening and saving files This menu also has an Options button for accessing settings that establish the behavior of the inter face as well as the location of directories and files used for working on projects You access the Application menu by clicking the Revit logo button in the upper left corner of the user interface The Options button is located in the lower right corner of the menu as shown in Figure 1 12 FIGURE 1 12 Application menu ES E Recent Documents Eere i New Revit Project 8 A ProjectSi2evt ba aay Oven k ProjectMEPL2 vt Projectc12rvt ba H Projector SampleProjectSi2v
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