Chapter 2 • Creating a Model 94 2. In the Properties dialog, click the Edit Type button, as shown in Figure 2.80. FIGURE 2.80 The Edit Type button in the Properties dialog 3. The contents of the Properties dialog that appears first contain the instance parameters. Anything you change here applies to only the one window you have selected. Click the Edit Type button. TIP If you know that you want to change an instance parameter (such as sill height) for every window in the model, you can. Knowing that an instance parameter only applies to one item, instead of picking just one window, you can pick a window, right-click, and choose Select All Instances. From there you can change every window’s parameters in the Properties panel because you had every window selected. 4. Scroll down until you see Type Mark. Notice this value is set to A. This is the property you changed by typing the value into the tag in the model. Revit works both ways. If you change a symbol in the model, it will change the parameter value within the family (see Figure 2.81). Windows are among the most difficult items in Revit to use out of the box without any real customization. In Chapter 17, we will dive into creating some custom Revit windows. For now, however, remember the lessons learned in this chapter. They will go a long way. Are You Experienced? 95 FIGURE 2.81 Changing a type parameter changes every window of that type. Are You Experienced? Now you can… place exterior walls place interior walls add reference planes join walls use the Split command edit a cut profile add doors add openings add windows CHAPTER 3 Creating Views One of Revit Architecture’s strongest points is the fact that it is one sin- gle model. This single model, however, has to be broken down into a tangible format that allows the user to navigate through a project. Chapters 1 and 2 featured the Project Browser (and it will be featured in this chapter as well), but what is the Project Browser managing? Well, it’s simply managing views of the model. Here’s an example: in the Project Browser, under Floor Plans you usually see Level 1. This is a view of the model that just so happens to be a floor plan. Under Elevations (Building Elevations), you see East Elevation, North Elevation, South Elevation, and West Elevation. These are exactly the same as the floor plans in the sense that they are simply views of the model. Creating and managing levels  Adding sectional and elevation views  Controlling your views for aesthetic values  Chapter 3 • Creating Views 98 Creating Levels This chapter focuses on the creation of views and their relationship to the model. We will start with possibly the most important function in Revit: creating levels. The power of Revit comes with the single-model concept. By being able to add levels to a model, you are also adding floor plans. This two-way interaction is what makes Revit the BIM choice for many users. As you wander through the floor plans in the Project Browser, you will see Level 1 and Level 2. Not every job you will work on will have only a Level 1 and a Level 2. Our task in this section is to create new levels that are appended to floor plans. To follow along, open the model you have been working on, or go to www.sybex .com/go/revit2011ner, and browse to the Chapter 3 folder. Open the file called NER-05.rvt. If you wish, you can use an actual project you are working on. You will just have to replace any names and specific dimensions with ones that are applicable to your project. Perform these steps: 1. In the Project Browser, double-click on the South elevation. It is located under Elevations (Building Elevations), as shown in Figure 3.1. Notice at the right side of the building there are two symbols with a datum at the end. These are elevation markers. Unfortunately, right now they are somewhat obscured by the exterior wall. Zoom in to this area, as shown in Figure 3.2. FIGURE 3.1 Finding an elevation in the Project Browser TIP If, as you progress through the next few steps, you don’t see what is shown in the next two figures, try zooming in more and repeating the instructions. Creating Levels 99 FIGURE 3.2 When dealing with levels, it is a good idea to zoom in close so you can manipulate them. 2. Select (left-click) Level 1. Notice you will get several blue icons, dimensions, and a lock. Where the actual level line intersects the datum bubble, there is a hollow blue circle (grip), as shown in Figure 3.3, except that your view will be slightly obscured by the wall. Move the bubble so that you can see the grip clearly. 3. Left-click (pick) and hold the pick button on the mouse. You can now drag the bubble to the right. FIGURE 3.3 Picking the grip to drag the level out of the way Chapter 3 • Creating Views 100 4. When you get to a point where the Level marker is outside the build- ing, pick a spot to place the bubble and the annotation. 5. Press Esc. Now that the levels are physically in a position where you can work on them, you can start building on them. Adding Levels Adding an entirely new level in Revit Architecture is quite simple. But you need to adhere to certain procedures in order to ensure you add the levels correctly. When you use the Level feature in Revit, two procedural aspects stand out. The first is to look at your Options bar after you start the command. The second is to click the Modify button when you have finished. It is easy to get confused as to how Revit wants you to proceed with adding a level, and it is also easy to inadver- tently create multiple levels. Remember, in Revit you are always in a command. To add a level, follow along: 1. On the Datum panel of the Home tab, click the Level button, as shown in Figure 3.4. FIGURE 3.4 Adding a level from the Datum panel on the Home tab  If you hover over any item in Revit Architecture and pause for a second, you will see what is called a tooltip. This will help you verify you are selecting the correct item. Creating Levels 101 2. On the Draw panel on the Modify | Place Level tab, you will see that you can either draw a line or pick a line, as shown in Figure 3.5. Make sure Pick Lines is selected. 3. Also, on the Options bar, you will see the Make Plan View option. Make sure it’s checked. 4. At the end of the Options bar, you will see a field for an offset. Type 10 and press Enter. Basically the approach here is to pick Level 2 and create a new level that is offset 10 ′–0″ above (see Figure 3.5). FIGURE 3.5 Choosing the options for the Level command 5. With the options set, hover your cursor over Level 2. Notice that when you come into contact with Level 2, a blue dot- ted line appears. If you move your cursor slightly above the Level 2 line, the blue alignment line appears above Level 2. If you inch your cursor slightly below Level 2, the blue alignment line appears below Level 2. 6. When you see the blue line appear above Level 2, pick the Level 2 line, as shown in Figure 3.6. FIGURE 3.6 Waiting for the alignment to appear Chapter 3 • Creating Views 102 TIP You may notice that speeding through the commands as you may have done in AutoCAD is not helping you any in Revit. In Revit you may need to slow down a bit, and let Revit “do its thing.” After you get the hang of Revit’s behavior, you can speed up again. 7. You should now have a Level 3 at 20′–0″ (see Figure 3.7). WARNING Just because you have created a new level, this does not tell Revit to shut down the command. Notice the Options bar is still active and the Pick Lines icon still has the focus. If you start clicking around in the view area, you will start creating levels. Every time you pick a point on the screen, a new level will show up. Also, Revit does not care if you have a level on top of another level. This situation can get ugly fast. FIGURE 3.7 The completed Level 3. Remember, you are still in the Level command until you tell Revit to stop. 8. With the Level command still running, create Levels 4, 5, 6, and 7. Your elevation should now look like Figure 3.8. Also, look at your Project Browser. It should not have any additional levels. You may also notice that you have new levels under the Ceiling plans category as well. 9. On the Select tab of the Ribbon, click the Modify button. You have now safely terminated the Level command. (You can also press the Esc key on your keyboard.) Now that you have some experience adding levels, it is time to investigate the physical level to see how it can be manipulated and modified. Creating Levels 103 FIGURE 3.8 Levels 1 through 7 are now complete. The Composition of a Level Levels have controls that allow the user to adjust their appearance. As stated throughout the book, when you select a family you will see that multiple items turn blue. The blue color indicates that these items can be modified. When you select a level, a few additional items will appear. To investigate further, follow along: 1. Zoom in on Level 7. 2. Select Level 7 by picking (left-clicking) on either the text or the actual level line itself. This will put the focus on the level line. Notice the text that turns blue. We know that any blue item can be modified (see Figure 3.9). FIGURE 3.9 The selected level . Views 102 TIP You may notice that speeding through the commands as you may have done in AutoCAD is not helping you any in Revit. In Revit you may need to slow down a bit, and let Revit “do its thing.”. get to a point where the Level marker is outside the build- ing, pick a spot to place the bubble and the annotation. 5. Press Esc. Now that the levels are physically in a position where you. important function in Revit: creating levels. The power of Revit comes with the single-model concept. By being able to add levels to a model, you are also adding floor plans. This two-way interaction