11: Schedules and Tags


CHAPTER 11
Schedules and Tags


To begin, I want to clarify something specific for the people who have been using AutoCAD Architecture: you don’t need to tag an item in order for it to appear in a schedule in Revit Architecture. You can’t really just draft a schedule either. But this isn’t a bad situation to be in. Say, for example, that you have a typical door schedule. Wouldn’t it be nice to add a door to the model and have that door automatically show up in the schedule?



  • Creating schedules
  • Creating material takeoffs
  • Creating key legends and importing CAD legends
  • Adding tags
  • Creating custom tags
  • Keynoting

Creating Schedules


Revit allows you to instantly schedule an item based on a database. A door, for example, already has most of the information you need built into it. Didn’t it seem funny that when you placed a door in the model, it was automatically tagged with a sequential door number? This is the power of BIM. We’re now going beyond 3D.


Schedules don’t stop at doors and windows in Revit. You can schedule almost any item that goes into the model. Along with schedules comes the ability to quantify materials and areas. You can even create a schedule for the sole purpose of changing items in the model. In Revit, it’s always a two-way street.


The first topic we’ll tackle is creating the most common of the schedules in architecture: the door schedule. When you get this procedure down, you’ll be off and running.


The good news is, you have most of the information you need to create a multitude of schedules. The bad news is, the Revit-produced schedules aren’t going to look like your company’s schedules at all. Before we go further, it’s important to note that some of you will be able to get a perfect duplication of your companies’ standard schedules; some of you won’t. Those of you who don’t will have to get as close as possible to your standards and at that point know that sometimes the cost of doing BIM isn’t in the pocket but at the plotter.


Given that, let’s get started. I think you’ll find that creating and using schedules is a wonderful experience. You’re about to learn how to save hours upon hours of work, all the while maintaining 100 percent accuracy.


Adding Fields to a Schedule


To begin, open the file you’ve been following along with. If you didn’t complete the previous chapter, go to the book’s web page at www.sybex.com/go/revit2012ner. From there, you can browse to Chapter 11 and find the file called NER-22.rvt. The following procedure focuses on creating a door schedule. Grab a cup of coffee or a power drink, and follow along:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, go to the Level 1 floor plan.
  2. 2. On the Create panel of the View tab, click the Schedules images Schedule/Quantities button, as shown in Figure 11.1.
  3. 3. The next dialog box, as shown in Figure 11.2, allows you to choose which item you would like to schedule. Select Doors, and click OK.
    f1101.tif

    FIGURE 11.1 Click the Schedule/Quantities button on the View tab.

    f1102.tif

    FIGURE 11.2 Select Doors, and click OK.


  4. 4. The next dialog lets you add the fields (parameters) required for your schedule. The first field you’ll add is Mark. To do this, find Mark in the area to the left, and click the Add button in the middle of the dialog, as shown in Figure 11.3.
  5. 5. When this field is added, add the following fields using the same method (see Figure 11.3):

    • Height
    • Width
    • Level
    • Finish
    • Frame Material
    • Frame Type
    • Comments
    f1103.tif

    FIGURE 11.3 Adding the fields to produce a door schedule


  6. 6. Click OK. Your schedule should be similar to Figure 11.4.
f1104.tif

FIGURE 11.4 The door schedule up to this point


The next step is to start organizing your data in your preferred display format. You have a long way to go, but when you’re finished, you can use this schedule over and over again.


Sorting and Grouping


Because Revit is a database, let’s think of building a schedule as creating a query in a database, because that’s exactly what you’re doing. By creating a sort, you can start to see your doors in groups and have a tangible understating of where you are. Let’s get started:



  1. 1. Because you never use lowercase lettering, click into the header and title rows, and change the names to all capital letters, as shown in Figure 11.5.
    f1105.tif

    FIGURE 11.5 Edit all the field names.


  2. 2. In the Properties dialog is a category called Other. Here you can return to the Schedule Properties dialog. Click the Edit button in the Sorting/Grouping row, as shown in Figure 11.6.
  3. 3. On the Sorting/Grouping tab of the Schedule Properties dialog, set Sort By to Level.
  4. 4. Select the Header option.
  5. 5. Select the Footer option.
  6. 6. Select Title, Count, And Totals from the Sort By drop-down list (see Figure 11.7).
    f1106.tif

    FIGURE 11.6 Click the Edit button in the Sorting/Grouping row.

    f1107.tif

    FIGURE 11.7 Sorting the schedule by level


  7. 7. Click OK.
  8. 8. Save the model.

The next step is to group the header information the way you would like it. Most schedules include groups such as Frame Material and Frame Type. You’ll create similar groupings.


Controlling Headers


Although this step isn’t crucial to producing an accurate, readable schedule, it’s important in the attempt to get this Revit-produced schedule to look like the schedule you’ve been using for years in CAD. The objective of this procedure is to combine the header content into smaller groups under their own header, similar to what you can do in a spreadsheet.


To begin controlling the schedule headers, follow these steps:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, open DOOR SCHEDULE (if you don’t already have it open).

    At the top of the schedule are the title (DOOR SCHEDULE) and the headers (which include MARK, HEIGHT, WIDTH, and LEVEL, among others), as shown in Figure 11.8. Focus your attention here.

    f1108.eps

    FIGURE 11.8 Click and drag across the four cells to activate the Group button.


  2. 2. The goal is to combine MARK, HEIGHT, WIDTH, and LEVEL into a group under one header called DOOR INFORMATION. To do this, click the LEVEL cell, and drag your cursor to the left. You’re selecting all four cells.
  3. 3. When the cells are selected, click the Group button on the Headers panel.
  4. 4. Click into the new cell, and type DOOR INFORMATION.

It would be nice if the defaults in Revit were all caps, but they aren’t. The next procedure will rename some of the headers, but it won’t change any values:



  1. 1. Click in the MARK header, and change it to DOOR NUMBER (see Figure 11.9).
    f1109.tif

    FIGURE 11.9 Adding the new header and changing the descriptions


  2. 2. Change the LEVEL header to FLOOR.
  3. 3. Select the cells FRAME MATERIAL and FRAME TYPE.
  4. 4. On the Options bar, click Group in the Headers panel.
  5. 5. Call the new header FRAME INFORMATION (see Figure 11.10).
    f1110.tif

    FIGURE 11.10 The groups are complete.


Now it’s time to begin filling out some of the blank fields. This is where you can increase productivity by using schedules. Instead of going door by door in the model, you have a list of every door right in front of you!


Modifying Elements in a Schedule


In Revit, data flows in multiple directions. When you created a schedule, the data from the doors flowed into the schedule to populate it. Now, you’ll ask Revit to collect data that you input into the schedule to flow into the doors.


To learn how to populate the schedule, follow along with the procedure:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, open DOOR SCHEDULE (if it isn’t opened already).
  2. 2. Click into the FINISH cell for door number 101.
  3. 3. Type PT (for paint).
  4. 4. Click in the DOOR FINISH cell below the one you just changed.
  5. 5. Click the menu arrow, and notice that PT is in the list. Click PT (see Figure 11.11).
    f1111.tif

    FIGURE 11.11 When you start filling out the fields in a schedule, the items become available in the list for future use.


  6. 6. Save the model.

Let’s see how this affected the actual doors in the model, and perhaps find a door that needs to be tagged with a WD (wood) finish:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, open the Level 1 floor plan.
  2. 2. Zoom in on the door between the corridor and the east wing, as shown in Figure 11.12.
  3. 3. Select the door.
  4. 4. In the Properties dialog, scroll down to the Materials And Finishes category, and find Frame Material.
  5. 5. Click in the field and type WD, as shown in Figure 11.12.
  6. 6. Click the Apply button at the bottom of the Properties dialog.
    f1112.tif

    FIGURE 11.12 Changing the property of an element in the model does the same thing as changing the element in the schedule.


  7. 7. Open the door schedule. Notice that door number 100B has a WD finish.
  8. 8. Save the model.

In the interest of not getting carried away with the mundane process of filling out the entire schedule, note that this process is applicable for every field within this type of schedule. The main takeaway is that you can populate a schedule by either changing the data in the schedule itself or finding the scheduled component and changing it there.


The next step is to further modify the appearance of the schedule you’re working on. You can then begin using this schedule to focus in on a specific group of doors to change them based on a filter.


Modifying the Schedule’s Appearance


As it stands, not everyone uses the same fonts, headers, and linework around the border of the schedule. Although the usefulness of this next procedure won’t be evident until Chapter 14, “Creating Sheets and Printing,” it’s applicable at this point in the book.


The objective of this procedure is to examine what font this schedule is using as well as the line weights and spacing applied to the schedule. To learn how to adjust the appearance of a schedule, follow along:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, open DOOR SCHEDULE (if it isn’t opened already).
  2. 2. In the Properties dialog, click the Edit button for Appearance.
  3. 3. On the Appearance tab of the Schedule Properties dialog, you’ll see two categories: Graphics and Text. In the Graphics category, click Outline and select Medium Lines, as shown in Figure 11.13.
  4. 4. In the Text category, make sure Show Title and Show Headers are selected (see Figure 11.13).
  5. 5. Click OK.
f1113.tif

FIGURE 11.13 Configuring the schedule’s appearance


Your schedule doesn’t change one bit! You’ve simply created a situation where the appearance of the schedule won’t be apparent until you literally drag it onto a drawing sheet.


Adding a Schedule to a Sheet


Although adding a schedule to a sheet is a topic for Chapter 14, the process is so easy that you’ll go ahead and do it right now. Not to let the cat out of the bag or anything, but you’ll enjoy how sheets come together in Revit. Perform the following steps:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, find the Sheets (All) category, as shown in Figure 11.14. Coincidentally, it’s located directly below DOOR SCHEDULE.
  2. 2. Right-click Sheets.
  3. 3. Select New Sheet (see Figure 11.14).
    f1114.tif

    FIGURE 11.14 Creating a new sheet


  4. 4. Select E1 30 × 42 Horizontal, as shown in Figure 11.15, and click OK.
    f1115.tif

    FIGURE 11.15 Using a sample title block


  5. 5. You now have a new sheet containing a blank title block, as shown in Figure 11.16.
    f1116.tif

    FIGURE 11.16 A new sheet, ready to be populated


The next objective is to click and drag the schedule onto the sheet. If the schedule fits, this is literally the easiest thing to do in Revit:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, find DOOR SCHEDULE.
  2. 2. Click it, but don’t double-click it. You want to pick it and hold down the left mouse button.
  3. 3. With the left mouse button pressed, drag the schedule onto the sheet. You can place it anywhere you see fit (see Figure 11.17).
    f1117.eps

    FIGURE 11.17 Clicking and dragging the schedule onto the sheet


  4. 4. When you’ve moved your cursor to the correct position, release the mouse button. If the bottom hangs over the sheet, that’s okay—you’ll fix it in a minute.
  5. 5. Notice the blue break grip located halfway up the schedule. This is the same type of grip that is used in grids, levels, and sections. Pick it, as shown in Figure 11.18.
    f1118.tif

    FIGURE 11.18 You can split the schedule into two (or more) sections.


  6. 6. With the schedule split in two, you can see that it will fit onto the sheet quite nicely. With the schedule still selected, notice the blue grip at the lower left, as shown in Figure 11.19. Pick the grip and drag. You can slide the schedule so the length of each side adjusts up and down evenly.
    f1119.tif

    FIGURE 11.19 You can make further adjustments to the schedule by picking the round blue grip.


  7. 7. Zoom in on the top of the schedule, as shown in Figure 11.20, and select the schedule.
    f1120.tif

    FIGURE 11.20 Pick the triangle grip to give the COMMENTS field some more room.


  8. 8. There are blue triangle-shaped icons at each cell in the title and the header. Pick the one on the COMMENTS column, and drag it to the right. The COMMENTS header will now be readable.

You can make two more adjustments to the schedule after you place it onto a sheet. This involves rotating and joining the two columns back together:



  1. 1. Select the schedule (if it isn’t already selected).

    On the Modify | Schedule Graphics tab, there is a Rotation On Sheet menu on the Options bar, as shown at the upper left in Figure 11.21. You don’t need to change the rotation—just note that it’s there.


  2. 2. Also notice the blue move grips at the upper-left corners of the schedules. If you pick one and drag the column back over the top of the other, the columns automatically join back together (see Figure 11.21).
  3. 3. Save the model.

To nail down the concept, let’s create a window schedule. If you like, go ahead on your own and make one. You can then compare it to the one in the book when you’ve finished, to see if you got it right. If you would rather go step by step, that’s fine too! Just follow along:



  1. 1. On the View tab, click the Schedules images Schedule/Quantities button. Note that you can also right-click Schedules in the Project Browser to create a new schedule.
    f1121.eps

    FIGURE 11.21 You can rotate the schedule on the sheet, and you can also join the columns back together if you need to.


  2. 2. In the next dialog, select Windows, and click OK.
  3. 3. In the Schedule Properties dialog, add the following fields (see Figure 11.22):

    • Type Mark
    • Type
    • Width
    • Height
    • Sill Height
    • Level

  4. 4. Go to the Sorting/Grouping tab, as shown in Figure 11.23.
  5. 5. Sort by Type Mark.
  6. 6. Add a footer, with Title, Count, And Totals selected.
  7. 7. Choose Level from the Then By drop-down list.
    f1122.tif

    FIGURE 11.22 Adding fields to the schedule


  8. 8. Select the Grand Totals option.
  9. 9. Select Title, Count, And Totals.
  10. 10. Select the Itemize Every Instance option. (It should be checked by default; see Figure 11.23.)
  11. 11. Click OK to get to the schedule and see the results.
    f1123.tif

    FIGURE 11.23 Specifying the settings for your window schedule


Sometimes, you may want to sort items based on a field but not actually display that field. You can do this as follows:



  1. 1. Select a cell in the Level column, as shown in Figure 11.24.
    f1124.tif

    FIGURE 11.24 You can hide a column but still have Revit sort the schedule based on the hidden information.


  2. 2. Click the Hide button. This will hide the column.
  3. 3. Save the model.

Phew! I think you get the picture. If you like, feel free to create a bunch of schedules on your own. Practice does make perfect.


Let’s venture now into creating a material takeoff. It would be a shame to have all these computations go unused!


Creating Material Takeoffs


Creating a material takeoff is similar to creating a schedule. The only difference is that you’re breaking components down and scheduling the smaller pieces. For example, as you know, you can make a schedule of all the doors in the model—you just did that. But with a material takeoff, you can quantify the square footage of door panels or glass within the doors. To take it a step further, you can do material takeoffs of walls, floors, and any other building components you want to quantify.


The objective of this procedure is to create three different material takeoffs: one for the walls, one for the floors, and one for the roofs. Let’s get started:



  1. 1. On the View tab, click Schedules images Material Takeoff, as shown in Figure 11.25.
    f1125.tif

    FIGURE 11.25 To add a new material takeoff, you can go to the View tab.


  2. 2. In the New Material Takeoff dialog, select Walls, as shown in Figure 11.26.
    f1126.tif

    FIGURE 11.26 Select Walls in the New Material Takeoff dialog.


  3. 3. Click OK.
  4. 4. In the next dialog, add the following fields (see Figure 11.27).

    • Material: Area
    • Material: Name
    • Count
    f1127.tif

    FIGURE 11.27 Adding the materials


  5. 5. Select the Sorting/Grouping tab.
  6. 6. Sort by Material: Name.
  7. 7. Add a footer.
  8. 8. Choose Title, Count, And Totals from the menu, as shown in Figure 11.28.
  9. 9. Select the Blank Line option.
  10. 10. At the bottom of the dialog box, select Grand Totals.
  11. 11. Choose Title, Count, And Totals from the menu.
  12. 12. Select the option Itemize Every Instance (see Figure 11.28).
  13. 13. Click OK.

The next step is to begin taking some totals on your own. The first thing you can do is have Revit automatically format a column to produce an independent total; then, you can break out this takeoff and drill in to more specific line-item totals:



  1. 1. In the Properties dialog, click the Edit button next to the Formatting row to bring up the Material Takeoff Properties dialog, shown in Figure 11.29.
  2. 2. In the field to the left, select Material: Area (see Figure 11.29).
  3. 3. At right, select Calculate Totals (see Figure 11.29).
  4. 4. Click OK.
f1128.tif

FIGURE 11.28 Configuring the parameters for the schedule

f1129.tif

FIGURE 11.29 On the Formatting tab, you can specify Calculate Totals for the Material: Area option.


You now have a total area at the bottom of your takeoff groups, as shown in Figure 11.30.


The next step is to break this takeoff into smaller, more specific takeoffs. When you do this, you can provide your own calculations based on almost any formula you need.

f1130.tif

FIGURE 11.30 The total area is being calculated.


Creating a Calculated Value Field


The objective here is to create separate schedules for Plywood and Gypsum by adding a new variable to the schedule that contains a formula you create. Yes, it’s as hard as it sounds; but after you get used to this procedure, it won’t be so bad! Perform the following steps:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, right-click Wall Material Takeoff, and select Duplicate View images Duplicate, as shown in Figure 11.31.
  2. 2. Right-click the new view in the Project Browser, and select Rename.
  3. 3. Rename it Plywood Takeoff.
  4. 4. In the Properties dialog, click the Edit button in the Filter row.
  5. 5. For Filter By, choose Material: Name.
  6. 6. In the menu to the right, select Equals from the list.
  7. 7. In the field below Material: Name, select Wood – Sheathing – Plywood (see Figure 11.32).
  8. 8. Click OK.

Your takeoff should look like Figure 11.33.

f1131.tif

FIGURE 11.31 Duplicating the schedule

f1132.tif

FIGURE 11.32 Filtering based on material


The next step is to break down the plywood into 4×8 sheets. You’ll need to add a formula based on the square footage given by Revit divided by 32 square feet to come up with the plywood totals:



  1. 1. Open the Plywood Takeoff schedule in the Project Browser (if it isn’t already).
  2. 2. In the Properties dialog, click the Edit button in the Fields row.
  3. 3. On the Fields tab in the Material Takeoff Properties dialog, click the Calculated Value button, as shown in Figure 11.34.
  4. 4. For the name, enter Number of Sheets.
  5. 5. Make sure Discipline is set to Common.
  6. 6. Make sure Type is set to Number (see Figure 11.35).
    f1133.tif

    FIGURE 11.33 The takeoff is filtered based only on plywood.

    f1134.tif

    FIGURE 11.34 Click the Calculated Value button in the middle of the dialog.

    f1135.tif

    FIGURE 11.35 Changing the calculated values


  7. 7. Add the following formula: Material: Area / 32 (Material: Area / 2.88).
  8. 8. Click OK.
  9. 9. Click the Formatting tab, as shown in Figure 11.36.
  10. 10. Select the new field called Number of Sheets.
  11. 11. In the Field Formatting section, select Calculate Totals (see Figure 11.36).
    f1136.tif

    FIGURE 11.36 Selecting the Calculate Totals option


  12. 12. Click the Field Format button.
  13. 13. Deselect Use Default Settings, as shown in Figure 11.37.
  14. 14. Change Units to Fixed.
  15. 15. Make sure Rounding is set to 0 Decimal Places.
  16. 16. Select Use Digit Grouping (see Figure 11.37).
    f1137.tif

    FIGURE 11.37 Overriding the units to allow this field to round


  17. 17. Click OK.
  18. 18. Select the Sorting/Grouping tab.
  19. 19. At the bottom, deselect the Grand Totals option.
  20. 20. Click OK.

Your material takeoff should resemble Figure 11.38.

f1138.tif

FIGURE 11.38 The finished Plywood material takeoff


Wow! Not too bad for only drawing a bunch of walls. As you can see, using the scheduling/material takeoff feature of Revit adds value to this application. Well, the value doesn’t stop there. You can use the same functionality to create legends and drawing keys as well.


Creating Key Legends and Importing CAD Legends


Here’s the problem with Revit. At some point, you’ll need to add a component to the model that isn’t associated with anything. Say, for example, you have a door that you would like to elevate on a sheet with the door schedule. You sure don’t want that door included in the schedule, and you sure don’t want to have to draw a wall just to display it. This is where creating a key legend comes into play.


Adding Legend Components


The objective of the following procedure is to create a key legend, adding elevations of doors that are used in the model. As it stands, a legend can mean any number of things. It can be a list of abbreviations, it can be a comprehensive numbering system keyed off the model itself, or it can be a graphical representation of items that have already been placed into the model for further detailing and coordinating. Another special aspect of legends is that a single legend may need to be duplicated on multiple sheets within a drawing set. You don’t know it yet, but this is a problem for Revit. By creating a legend, however, you can get around this issue.


Follow these steps to create a door-type legend:



  1. 1. On the View tab, click the Legends images Legend button, as shown in Figure 11.39. You can also right-click Legends in the Project Browser and pick New Legend.
    f1139.tif

    FIGURE 11.39 Click the Legends images Legend button on the View tab.


  2. 2. The next dialog wants you to specify a scale. Choose 1/4˝ = 1´–0˝. This is fine for now (see Figure 11.40).
    f1140.tif

    FIGURE 11.40 Choose 1/4˝ = 1´–0˝.


  3. 3. Call the view Door Type Legend.
  4. 4. Click OK.

Congratulations! You now have a blank view. This is actually a good thing. Think of it as a clean slate where you can draft, add components, and throw together a legend.


The next step is to begin adding components. You’ll need to go to the Annotate tab for this:



  1. 1. Go to the Detail panel of the Annotate tab.
  2. 2. Click the Component images Legend Component button, as shown in Figure 11.41.
  3. 3. In the Options bar, choose Doors : Single – Raised Panel with Sidelights : 36˝×84˝, as shown in Figure 11.42.
  4. 4. Change the view to Elevation : Front.
    f1141.tif

    FIGURE 11.41 Clicking the Legend Component button

    f1142.tif

    FIGURE 11.42 Changing the options for the legend


  5. 5. Pick a point to place the elevation.
  6. 6. With the command still running, you can place another instance. Doing so changes the view to Floor Plan. Place another instance of the door just above the elevation, as shown in Figure 11.43. Revit provides a snap line on the left side for alignment.
  7. 7. In the Options bar, be sure Host Length is set to 6´–0˝ (see Figure 11.43).
  8. 8. With the command still running, place a Door : Double Flush : 72˝ × 84˝ to the right of the first door. Make sure View is set to Elevation : Front.
  9. 9. Place the corresponding plan view just above the door. Make sure Host Length is set to 6´–0˝.
f1143.tif

FIGURE 11.43 Placing two instances of the same door for the legend

f1144.tif

FIGURE 11.44 The two doors (two views each) in the legend


The next step is to add some text in an attempt to label the doors. These items can’t be labeled, which can be a disadvantage to breaking away from the model. This is basically a dumb sheet.



  1. 1. On the Text panel, click the Text button.
  2. 2. Make sure the text style is Text 3/32˝ Arial and that the leader is set to None, as shown in Figure 11.45.
  3. 3. Place some text centered under each door elevation, and label the doors Type A and Type B (see Figure 11.45).
  4. 4. Save the model.

It’s nice to have accurate blocks available based on what you’ve added to your model up to this point. By using the Revit method of building a legend like this, you’re removed from the horror of stealing old legends from other jobs. I think we all know what a nightmare this turns into when they aren’t accurate. Plus, in Revit, you have a library of the doors you’re using right at your fingertips. They don’t have to be managed or updated constantly. They will always be there, and they will always be accurate.

f1145.eps

FIGURE 11.45 Placing text underneath the doors


Next, you’ll create a symbol legend—that is, you need to make a sheet that contains all your typical symbols. This task will be carried out in a similar manner.


Adding Symbols to a Legend


As mentioned earlier, adding symbols to a legend is similar to creating a door legend. The only difference is that you’ll add your typical symbols as they appear on the sheets. Every company has a sheet like this. I’m sure yours does, too.


The first objective is to create this legend from scratch using the Revit tools. The second objective is to import your legend from CAD (which I’m sure you have). After you complete the two procedures, you can decide which approach is best for your firm.


Using the Revit Symbols


To use the Revit-provided symbols, you’ll create a new legend view, and you’ll use the Annotate tab to insert the typical components. If you’re feeling brave, go ahead and make a Symbol key on your own. You can follow the figures to make sure you’re adding the expected components. If you would rather follow along with the procedure, let’s get started:



  1. 1. On the View tab, click the Legends images Legend button.
  2. 2. Set the scale to 1/4˝ = 1´–0˝ (1:50).
  3. 3. Call the new legend Symbol Legend.
  4. 4. Click OK.
  5. 5. On the Symbol panel of the Annotate tab, click the Symbol button, as shown in Figure 11.46.
    f1146.tif

    FIGURE 11.46 Clicking the Symbol button on the Annotate tab


  6. 6. In the Type Selector, select Callout Head, as shown in Figure 11.47.
  7. 7. Place the callout head into the view, as shown in Figure 11.47.
  8. 8. With the Symbol command still running, place a door tag directly underneath the callout head, as shown in Figure 11.48.
  9. 9. Place a Room Tag With Area.
  10. 10. Place a View Title (see Figure 11.48).
f1147.tif

FIGURE 11.47 Placing the callout head

f1148.tif

FIGURE 11.48 Populating the legend


The next step is to add some notes to indicate what you just added to the legend. Again, you won’t be tagging the items—you’re merely placing text and leaders:



  1. 1. On the Text panel of the Annotate tab, click the Text button.
  2. 2. On the Modify | Place Text tab, click the One Segment button, as shown in Figure 11.49.
  3. 3. Pick two points for the leader, and type TYPICAL CALLOUT (see Figure 11.49).
    f1149.tif

    FIGURE 11.49 Adding the text to the legend


  4. 4. Add the following notes to the rest of the symbols (see Figure 11.50):
  5. TYPICAL DOOR TAG
  6. TYPICAL ROOM TAG
  7. TYPICAL VIEW TITLE
f1150.tif

FIGURE 11.50 Adding descriptive text


Now you’ll place a box around the items and draw three equal lines to make a grid. You do this by strictly drafting lines, as the following procedure shows:



  1. 1. On the Annotate tab, click the Detail Line button, as shown in Figure 11.51.
    f1151.tif

    FIGURE 11.51 Click the Detail Line button on the Annotate tab.


  2. 2. In the Properties dialog, be sure Thin Lines is selected, as shown in Figure 11.52.
  3. 3. On the Draw panel, click Rectangle (see Figure 11.52).
  4. 4. Draw a rectangle around the symbols and the text (see Figure 11.52).
  5. 5. On the Draw panel, click the Line button.
  6. 6. Draw three horizontal lines in the box. They don’t have to be equally spaced, but they should separate the symbols.
  7. 7. Place a dimension string starting at the top of the rectangle, to the second line, to the third, to the fourth, and then to the bottom of the rectangle.
  8. 8. Click the EQ button on the dimension string.
  9. 9. Move the symbols and the text to the proper positions (see Figure 11.53).
    f1152.tif

    FIGURE 11.52 Adding the linework around the symbols and text

    f1153.tif

    FIGURE 11.53 Draw the horizontal lines, and then equally constrain them using the Dimension command.


  10. 10. Delete the dimensions.
  11. 11. Click OK in the next dialog.
  12. 12. Save the model.

Now that you have experience with creating legends using strictly Revit components and lines, it’s time to investigate how you can use premade AutoCAD legends as an import.


Importing AutoCAD Legends


Just because you’ve switched to Revit doesn’t mean that you must throw away over a decade of work regarding typical details and legends. Revit accepts AutoCAD and MicroStation .dwg and .dgn files just fine. Of course, there will be some tweaking, but when you get the process down, I think you’ll rely heavily on this functionality.


The objective of the following procedure is to create a new legend view and then import an existing AutoCAD legend into the view. To get started, go to the book’s web page at www.sybex.com/go/revit2012ner. From there, you can browse to Chapter 11 and find the file called Interior Partition Legend.dwg. Place the drawing file on your system in a place where you can retrieve it later. Now, perform the following steps:



  1. 1. On the View tab, click the Legends images Legend button.
  2. 2. Call the new legend Interior Partition Legend.
  3. 3. Make the scale 1˝ – 1´–0˝ (one inch equals one foot) (1:10), and click OK.
  4. 4. On the Insert tab, click Import CAD, as shown in Figure 11.54.
    f1154.tif

    FIGURE 11.54 Importing CAD formats


  5. 5. Find the AutoCAD .dwg file called Interior Partition Legend.dwg.
  6. 6. At the bottom of the Import CAD Formats dialog, notice that you have a few choices (see Figure 11.55):
    f1155.tif

    FIGURE 11.55 The Import CAD Formats dialog. Be deliberate when importing a CAD file, by choosing the options at the bottom of the dialog.


  7. Colors Change Colors to Black and White.
  8. Layers Make sure Layers is set to All. You’ll be able to manipulate the AutoCAD layers after you bring the .dwg file into Revit.
  9. Import Units Import Units should be set to Auto-Detect. In Chapter 18, “Site and Topography,” you’ll import a site. At that point, you’ll have to modify this choice; but for now, leave it as Auto-Detect.
  10. Positioning Leave Positioning as Auto – Center To Center.
  11. 7. Click Open.

After you import the CAD file, it may be zoomed off the view so you can’t see it. Follow this procedure to zoom the CAD import into view and manipulate the data:



  1. 1. Type ZA (to zoom all).
  2. 2. You can now see the import. When the import is in view, select it.
  3. 3. On the Modify | Interior Partition Legend.dwg tab, in the Import Instance panel, click the Query button, as shown in Figure 11.56.
  4. 4. Select the line shown in Figure 11.56.
    f1156.eps

    FIGURE 11.56 Clicking the Query button in the Import Instance panel


  5. 5. After you select the line, Revit reports information to you about that line. You’re also given the chance to delete the layer. Click Delete, as shown in Figure 11.57.
    f1157.tif

    FIGURE 11.57 You can query items in the CAD import. You can also delete items.


  6. 6. Click OK. All of the lines on that layer are gone.
  7. 7. Press Esc twice.

The next step is to fix some of the text that didn’t quite wrap correctly. You need to explode the import so that it’s broken down into Revit lines and objects:



  1. 1. Select the import again.
  2. 2. On the Modify | Interior Partition Legend.dwg tab, click Explode images Full Explode, as shown in Figure 11.58.
    f1158.tif

    FIGURE 11.58 Click the Full Explode button on the Modify | Interior Partition Legend.dwg tab.


  3. 3. Select the text METAL STUDS AT 16˝ O.C. WITH TOP DEFLECTION TRACK for the ME- detail.
  4. 4. Pick the grip to the right, and drag the text box to the right until the text wraps into the correct position, as shown in Figure 11.59.
  5. 5. Do the same for the other details that have text improperly wrapped.
  6. 6. Save the model.
f1159.tif

FIGURE 11.59 Fixing the improperly wrapped text


Now that you have experience with keys, it’s time to move on to learn how tags work in Revit and why we address them along with schedules.


Adding Tags


You’re halfway through the book, and you’ve probably noticed that some subjects, such as tags, were brushed over in earlier chapters. Tags simply can’t be avoided because they come in automatically with many items. But a mystery surrounds them. Where do they come from, how does Revit know what tag to associate with what element, and how the heck do you make Revit’s tags look like your tags?


You can almost see a tag as a “window” looking into the item itself. A tag allows you to pull a parameter out of an item and put that parameter onto the drawing in a physical sense. Given that, tags are how you label things.


To start, let’s concentrate on the simple and then move to the more complex. First, you’ll learn how to add a tag that didn’t get added automatically.


Adding Tags Individually


As you may have noticed, not everything you placed in the model received a tag—especially many of the doors and windows that you copied to different floors. The objective of the following procedures is to add tags to individual objects. The first type of tag will be By Category.


Tagging by Category


Tagging an item by category means that when you start the Tag command, it looks for an entire object to tag with the loaded tag that was created specifically for that object:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, go to the Level 2 floor plan.
  2. 2. Zoom in on the area where the corridor meets the east wing, as shown in Figure 11.60.
    f1160.tif

    FIGURE 11.60 The area where the corridor meets the east wing


  3. 3. On the Tag panel of the Annotate tab, click the Tag By Category button, as shown in Figure 11.61.
    f1161.tif

    FIGURE 11.61 Click Tag By Category on the Annotate tab.


  4. 4. On the Options bar, deselect the Leader option, as shown at the upper left in Figure 11.62.
  5. 5. Pick the door shown in Figure 11.62. Your tag is added.
f1162.tif

FIGURE 11.62 Tagging the door. Be sure you deselect Leader on the Options bar.


Adding tags to doors is a straightforward concept. Keep in mind, however, that doors and windows are certainly not the only taggable items in Revit.


Tagging Walls


Tagging walls is almost as automatic as tagging doors and windows. The only difference is that when you tag a wall, the tag is initially blank.


To learn how to tag a wall, follow along with the procedure:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, go to the Level 2 floor plan if you aren’t there already.
  2. 2. Zoom in on the east wing.
  3. 3. Click the Tag By Category button.
  4. 4. Pick the wall indicated in Figure 11.63.
    f1163.tif

    FIGURE 11.63 Picking one of the corridor partitions to tag


  5. 5. Many times, you won’t have a tag loaded for this specific type of item. If that situation occurs, you’ll get the message shown in Figure 11.64. If you do, click Yes to load the tag. If you don’t, proceed to step 14.
    f1164.tif

    FIGURE 11.64 When you try to tag an item without a specific tag type loaded, this dialog prompts you to load the tag.


  6. 6. In the Load Family dialog, select Annotations images Architectural images Wall Tag.rfa.
  7. 7. Click Open.
  8. 8. On the Options bar, click the Leader option so that the tag is leadered into the wall.
  9. 9. On the Home tab, in the title bar of the Tag panel, you’ll see a pull-down arrow. Click the Loaded Tags button (see Figure 11.65).
    f1165.tif

    FIGURE 11.65 Click Loaded Tags.


  10. 10. In the Tags dialog, scroll down to Walls, as shown in Figure 11.66.
  11. 11. In the Loaded Tags cell for Walls, pick Wall Tag : 1/2˝.
  12. 12. Click OK.
  13. 13. Pick the wall again. You now have a wall tag.
  14. 14. Press Esc twice.
    f1166.tif

    FIGURE 11.66 Changing the default tag for walls to Wall Tag: 1/2˝


  15. 15. Select the new wall tag (it’s blank).
  16. 16. Notice the blue items. Click the blue question mark in the tag.
  17. 17. Call it MC-1, as shown in Figure 11.67.
    f1167.tif

    FIGURE 11.67 Adding the wall tag data


  18. 18. Click Yes in response to the warning that you’re changing a type parameter.
  19. 19. Press Esc.
  20. 20. Click Tag By Category on the Annotate tab.
  21. 21. Pick any other corridor partition in the floor. Notice that this time the tag is automatically placed with the appropriate MC-1 tag filled out.

Suppose you would like to tag a number of the same items in one shot. Revit lets you do this by using the Tag All command.


Using the Tag All Command


The Tag All command is a favorite among Revit users. One of the most common examples of using this command is when you Copy/Paste Aligned multiple items to higher-level floors. You’ll almost always miss a few tags, or even all of the tags. This is where Tag All comes into play.


The objective of this next procedure is to find the Tag All feature and tag many items in one shot:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, go to the Level 4 floor plan.
  2. 2. Notice that many doors and windows aren’t tagged. (If for some reason all of the doors and windows are tagged, select the tags and delete them for this procedure.)
  3. 3. On the Annotate tab, click the Tag All button, as shown in Figure 11.68.
    f1168.tif

    FIGURE 11.68 The Tag All button on the Annotate tab


  4. 4. In the Tag All Not Tagged dialog, click Door Tags.
  5. 5. Hold the Ctrl key, and select Window Tags. This specifies that every door and window in the view is about to receive a tag.
  6. 6. Make sure the All Objects In Current View radio button is selected (see Figure 11.69).
  7. 7. Click Apply.
  8. 8. Click OK.

It almost goes without saying that Tag All is quite a valuable tool. Another valuable tool is the ability to reach into a component and tag specific material within the component itself.

f1169.tif

FIGURE 11.69 Selecting door and window tags


Tagging by Material


Tagging By Material may be one of the most underused commands in all of Revit. The reason is that most people think of a tag as, well, a tag—a drawn box with some abbreviations or letters in it. That’s too bad, because you can also use tags as a means to place notes. Tagging an item’s material is one way of doing just that.


The objective of the following procedure is to create a material description and then place a tag pursuant to that note:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, go to the Level 1 floor plan.
  2. 2. Zoom in on the kitchen area in the east wing.
  3. 3. On the Tag panel of the Annotate tab, click the Material Tag button, as shown in Figure 11.70.
    f1170.tif

    FIGURE 11.70 The Material Tag button on the Tag panel


  4. 4. You may get the message stating that no material tag family is loaded into the model. If so, click the Yes button to load one.
  5. 5. Browse to Annotations images Architectural images Material Tag.rfa.
  6. 6. Click Open.
  7. 7. Place your cursor over the tile floor, as shown in Figure 11.71. Notice that the tag reads Interior Finish. This is the default description that you’ll change in just a moment. When you see this tag, pick a point on the tile floor, and then place the note to the right, as shown in the figure.
    f1171.tif

    FIGURE 11.71 Placing the Interior finish note


  8. 8. Press Esc twice, or click Modify.
  9. 9. Select the tag.
  10. 10. In the Properties dialog, click Edit Type.
  11. 11. Change Leader Arrowhead to Arrow Filled 15 Degree, as shown in Figure 11.72.
  12. 12. Click OK to reveal the leader. Yes, that looks much better.
f1172.tif

FIGURE 11.72 Changing the leader arrowhead is one of the first things you’ll probably have to do.


The next objective is to change what the tag says. Because you added that tag by specifying material, it’s time to check out the materials to see exactly where this note came from:



  1. 1. On the Manage tab, click the Materials button, as shown in Figure 11.73.
    f1173.tif

    FIGURE 11.73 Click the Materials button on the Manage tab.


  2. 2. Find the material called Ceramic Tile – 12˝ Beige, as shown in Figure 11.74, and select it. (You made it earlier when you were doing the floors in Chapter 6, “Floors.”)
  3. 3. To the right of the Materials dialog are four tabs: Graphics, Appearance, Identity, and Structure. Click the Identity tab, as shown in Figure 11.74.
  4. 4. In the Descriptive Information section, click the Description field and type CERAMIC TILE IN KITCHENS (see Figure 11.74). Click Apply, and the tooltip will display the new description.
    f1174.eps

    FIGURE 11.74 Changing the description of the material can result in automatic notation of your model.


  5. 5. Click OK. See Figure 11.75 to check the changed material tag.

Any time you use this material, it can be annotated with the same text. This procedure also works in sections, elevations, and enlarged plans. If you decide to change the note in the materials, it will update every occurrence in the entire model.


The next topic we’ll explore is where these tags come from and how you can create your own. Notations and symbols are the basis for maintaining CAD standards. If you simply use the examples given to you by Revit, you’ll have a set of drawings that look very generic and will immediately turn off your design team.

f1175.tif

FIGURE 11.75 The material is now tagged with a leadered note.


Creating Custom Tags


As mentioned before, templates very much drive how Revit works. Creating families is a prime example of this. To create a custom tag, you must first create a family and then load it into your drawing. The tag you’ll create is a casework tag. Revit does provide one, but yours needs to be smaller (based on scale), and it needs a box surrounding it.


To learn how to create a custom tag from scratch, follow along:



  1. 1. Click the Application button, and select New images Family.
  2. 2. Browse to the Annotations folder.
  3. 3. Select the file called Generic Tag.rft.
  4. 4. Click Open.

Welcome to the Family Editor! The first thing you may notice is the large block of text in the middle of the view that says, “Note: Use Settings | Family Categories to set the tag’s category. Insertion point is at intersection of ref planes. Delete this note before using.”


This is a great note, and you need to start by taking its advice:



  1. 1. Select the note, and click the Delete button (or press the Delete key on your keyboard).
  2. 2. Click the Family Category And Parameters button, as shown in Figure 11.76.
    f1176.tif

    FIGURE 11.76 The Family Category And Parameters button


  3. 3. In the Family Category And Parameters dialog, select Casework Tags, as shown in Figure 11.77.
    f1177.tif

    FIGURE 11.77 Selecting Casework Tags


  4. 4. Click OK.

Notice that the Ribbon has changed. The only items available are designed to aid you in the creation of a family. There are many buttons that we’ll get to in Chapter 17, “Creating Families,” but for now, you’re interested in the Label button:



  1. 1. In the Text panel on the Home tab, click the Label button, as shown in Figure 11.78.
    f1178.tif

    FIGURE 11.78 The Label button on the Home tab


  2. 2. Click the Type Properties button on the Properties panel, as shown in Figure 11.79.
    f1179.tif

    FIGURE 11.79 The Type Properties button


  3. 3. Click Duplicate.
  4. 4. Call the new label 1/16˝ (1.5mm).
  5. 5. Click OK.
  6. 6. In the Text category, change the Text Size to 1/16˝ (1.5mm).
  7. 7. Change the Width Factor to 0.8.
  8. 8. Click OK.
  9. 9. In the model, place the tag directly on the intersection of the reference planes, as shown in Figure 11.80.
  10. 10. In the Edit Label dialog, select Type Mark from the list to the left.
    f1180.tif

    FIGURE 11.80 Placing the tag onto the reference plane intersection


  11. 11. In the middle of the Edit Label dialog is an Add Parameter(s) To Label button. Click it. The Type Mark parameter should show up in the right field, as shown in Figure 11.81.
    f1181.tif

    FIGURE 11.81 Adding the Type Mark parameter


  12. 12. Click OK.
  13. 13. Press Esc twice.

The label has been added. It’s small, but it’s there. The next step is to draw a rectangle around this text. The following procedure describes how:



  1. 1. On the Home tab, click the Line button, as shown in Figure 11.82.
    f1182.tif

    FIGURE 11.82 Click the Line button to start sketching the box.


  2. 2. On the Draw panel, click the Pick Lines icon.
  3. 3. On the Options bar, change the Offset value to 1/16˝ (1.5mm).
  4. 4. Zoom into the label, and then offset the horizontal reference plane up 1/16˝(1.5mm) and down 1/16˝(1.5mm), as shown in Figure 11.83.
    f1183.tif

    FIGURE 11.83 Offsetting the horizontal reference plane up and down


  5. 5. In the Options bar, change the Offset value to 1/8˝ (3mm).
  6. 6. Offset the vertical reference plane to the left and to the right 1/8˝ (3mm), as shown in Figure 11.84.
  7. 7. On the Modify tab, click the Trim/Extend Single Element button.
  8. 8. Trim the four corners so your screen resembles Figure 11.84.
    f1184.tif

    FIGURE 11.84 Creating the box


  9. 9. Press Esc.
  10. 10. Save the file as Casework Tag.rfa. Make sure you save the file in a location where you can locate it later.
  11. 11. On the Family Editor panel, click the Load Into Project button, as shown in Figure 11.85.
    f1185.tif

    FIGURE 11.85 Loading the family into your project


With the new tag loaded into the project, you can now use it. Because it’s a casework tag, you need to find some casework to label, as follows:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, go to the Building Elevation called Kitchen North. You can also go to the Level 1 floor plan and zoom in on the kitchen. From there, double-click the elevation marker pointing at the north leg of the kitchen.
  2. 2. Zoom in on the cabinets, as shown in Figure 11.86.
  3. 3. On the Tag panel on the Annotate tab, click the Tag By Category button.
  4. 4. On the Options bar, deselect Leader.
  5. 5. Pick the base cabinet with two doors and one drawer (see Figure 11.86).
    f1186.tif

    FIGURE 11.86 Picking the base cabinet with two doors and one drawer


  6. 6. After you pick the cabinet, press Esc twice, and then move the tag underneath.
  7. 7. Select the tag, if it isn’t still selected.
  8. 8. Select the question mark within the tag.
  9. 9. Rename it B2D1D, as shown in Figure 11.87, and then click Yes.

Because this is an annotation family, the size will change with the fluctuation of the scale. If you change the scale from 1/8˝ (1:100) to 1/4˝ (1:50), the tag will shrink by half. To do this, follow along:



  1. 1. In the View Control toolbar, change the scale from 1/8˝ = 1´–0˝ (1:100) to 1/4˝ = 1´–0˝ (1:50), as shown in Figure 11.88.
  2. 2. Move the tag up so it’s closer to the cabinet.
  3. 3. Add another tag to the cabinet to the right.
  4. 4. Call it B1D1D (see Figure 11.88).
f1187.tif

FIGURE 11.87 Renaming the tag


As you can see, this is a huge step above inserting a block in a 2D drafting application and filling out an attribute that has nothing to do with the actual element it’s labeling. In addition, the scaling feature works wonders when it comes time to create elevations and enlarged views.


The next topic to explore is creating a tag that will work in any situation you need—sort of a multipurpose tag.


Using Multi-category Tags


If you think about it, you used a door tag for the doors, a window tag for the windows, and a wall tag for the walls. Jeepers! How many different tags do you need to complete a set of construction documents? Well, in Revit, you can create a multi-category tag. This will be the same tag (aesthetically) that identifies a common property in any element.

f1188.tif

FIGURE 11.88 Changing the scale and adding a second tag to the base cabinets


Unfortunately, Revit doesn’t provide a sample multi-category tag, so you’ll have to make one. The objective of the next set of procedures is to create a new multi-category tag and then use it on various furniture items.


As mentioned earlier, you should create any new family by using a template. Doing so will ensure that you’re using the correct data, so the family will behave as expected. This is what you’re doing right now:



  1. 1. Click the Application button, and then choose New images Family.
  2. 2. In the Annotations folder, locate the file called Multi-Category Tag.rft.
  3. 3. Open the Multi-Category Tag.rft template.
  4. 4. Because you’ve started the family by using a template, the Ribbon has changed. On the Home panel, click the Label button.
  5. 5. Pick the point at the intersection of the two reference planes.
  6. 6. In the Edit Label dialog, add the Family Name and Type Name parameters, as shown in Figure 11.89.
  7. 7. In the Family Name row, select the Break check box (see Figure 11.89).
    f1189.tif

    FIGURE 11.89 This time you’re actually adding two parameters. By selecting the Break check box, you tell Revit to stack the parameters.


  8. 8. Click OK.
  9. 9. Click the Application button, and select Save As images Family. Place the file somewhere you can find it later.
  10. 10. Call the new tag Multi-Category Tag.
  11. 11. On the Family Editor panel, click Load Into Project.
  12. 12. In the NER-22 project (or whatever project name you’re currently in), go to the Level 1 floor plan, and zoom in on the northeast office in the east wing.
  13. 13. On the Annotate tab, click the Multi-Category button on the Tag panel, as shown in Figure 11.90.
    f1190.tif

    FIGURE 11.90 The Multi-Category button on the Tag panel


  14. 14. On the Options bar, select the Leader option, as shown in Figure 11.91.
  15. 15. Hover your mouse over the furniture items in the room shown in Figure 11.91. Notice that the tag is reporting the information for any item you hover over. Pick the entertainment unit to the left of the room.
  16. 16. Click Modify. Select the tag you just placed into the model.
  17. 17. Click the Edit Type button.
  18. 18. For Leader Arrowhead, select Arrow Filled 15 Degree.
  19. 19. Click OK.
  20. 20. Using the grips on the tag, move it out of the way, and adjust the leader so it looks like the one in Figure 11.91.
  21. 21. Add another tag to the credenza located on the north wall. Adjust this tag as well (see Figure 11.91).
  22. 22. Add one more tag to the shelving on the south wall of the room, and adjust the leader so it looks acceptable (again, see Figure 11.91).
f1191.tif

FIGURE 11.91 Adding the multi-category tag to the entertainment unit. Make sure you adjust the tag to show the information unobscured.


Using multi-category tags is a great way to label a model. It’s nice because you don’t need specific tags for the various elements. These items could have been different types of furniture and casework. As long as they have a family name and a type name, the label tag will work.


Another way to record items in a model is by adding keynoting. This procedure is done in conjunction with a schedule. The last section of this chapter will focus on this procedure.


Keynoting


Keynoting has been used in construction documents dating back to the Pharaohs. Okay, maybe not that far back, but you get the point. Revit does a nice job in terms of tracking keynotes. The only issue is that nothing comes pre-keynoted in Revit. That is, a keynote value needs to be assigned to each item. If your company uses keynoting, you’ll have to assign a keynote to every item in Revit in your template.


That being said, let’s break down keynoting and start learning how to add keynotes to your model. You can add three different types of keynotes to a model: keynote by element, by material, and by user. The first type of keynote is keynoting by element, which we’ll jump right to.


Keynoting by Element


Keynoting by element means you select an object and place the keynoted text. This procedure is the same as when you tagged an object, except this time the information you’re reporting is actually a Construction Specifiers Institute (CSI) formatted keynote or a standard for your installation location.


Before you get started on this exercise, make sure there is a keynote.txt file that Revit is pointing to. Then follow along:



  1. 1. On the Annotate tab, click the small down arrow next to the word Tag, as shown in Figure 11.92.
  2. 2. Click Keynote Settings.
  3. 3. Make sure you’re mapped to C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RAC 2012\Libraries\US Imperial\RevitKeynotes_Imperial_2004.txt.

To use the keynoting by element function, follow this procedure:



  1. 1. In the Project Browser, go to the Level 1 floor plan.
  2. 2. Zoom in on a hallway sconce lighting fixture.
    f1192.tif

    FIGURE 11.92 Mapping the Keynote.txt file


  3. 3. On the Tag panel of the Annotate tab, select Keynote images Element Keynote, as shown in Figure 11.93.
    f1193.tif

    FIGURE 11.93 Select Keynote images Element Keynote.


  4. 4. In the Type Selector, click Keynote Tag images Keynote Text, as shown in Figure 11.94.
    f1194.tif

    FIGURE 11.94 Choosing Keynote Tag images Keynote Text


  5. 5. Pick the wall sconce shown in Figure 11.95.
    f1195.tif

    FIGURE 11.95 Placing the leadered keynote


  6. 6. Pick a second point for the leader line.
  7. 7. Pick a third point to place the keynote text (see Figure 11.95).
  8. 8. Click Modify. Select the tag.
  9. 9. In the Properties dialog, click Edit Type. Change Leader Arrowhead to Arrow Filled 15 Degree.
  10. 10. Click OK.

Because no keynote has been assigned to this family, it’s time to specify one now. Revit lets you specify keynoting information by either assigning the information through the Properties dialog or placing a keynote tag, after which Revit will prompt you to specify the missing information.


After you pick the third point, Revit will display the Keynotes menu shown in Figure 11.96. Follow these steps to place the keynote value into the sconce family:



  1. 1. Scroll to Division 26 Electrical.
  2. 2. Go to the group 26 51 00 Interior Lighting.
  3. 3. Go to group 26 51 00.B2 Wall Mounted Incandescent Fixture, as shown in Figure 11.96.
    f1196.tif

    FIGURE 11.96 Selecting the proper keynote value for the sconce


  4. 4. Click OK.
  5. 5. Drag the text to the right to see the arrow and the note clearly.
  6. 6. On the Tag panel of the Annotate tab, select Keynote images Element Keynote again.
  7. 7. Pick another wall sconce, and place the keynote. Notice that this tag is consistent throughout.

Now that you have experience keynoting by element, let’s reach into the materials and see how you can apply a keynote value in this capacity.


Keynoting by Material


Similar to keynoting by element, you can tag material with a keynote as well. It’s good practice to use the Material dialog to assign keynotes.


To assign keynotes to a material, follow these steps:



  1. 1. On the Manage tab, click the Materials button.
  2. 2. In the Materials dialog box, find Wood – Cherry, as shown in Figure 11.97.
  3. 3. To the right of the dialog box, click the Identity tab (see Figure 11.97).
    f1197.tif

    FIGURE 11.97 Browsing for a new keynote


  4. 4. At the bottom of the dialog, in the Annotation information group, click the […] button next to the Keynote field.
  5. 5. Go to Division 06 Wood, Plastics, and Composites.
  6. 6. Go to 06 40 00 Architectural Woodwork.
  7. 7. Select 06 40 00.A2 Wood Laminate (see Figure 11.98).
  8. 8. Click OK.
    f1198.tif

    FIGURE 11.98 Finding 06 40 00.A2 Wood Laminate


  9. 9. Click OK again.
  10. 10. Go to the Level 1 floor plan.
  11. 11. Zoom into the stairs in the west wing.
  12. 12. On the Tag panel of the Annotate tab, click Keynote images Material Keynote.
  13. 13. Pick the stair landing’s surface.
  14. 14. Place the keynote as shown in Figure 11.99.

You have experience adding a keynote value to material, so it’s time to buckle down and assign keynotes to all of your materials. It’s also important to note that, as your firm develops more materials, you need to be diligent in adding keynotes to the new materials as they’re created.


The next style of keynoting allows you to specify an alternate keynote to an element. To begin, you’ll physically open the keynote text file and add some custom notes.

f1199.tif

FIGURE 11.99 Placing the material keynote


Keynoting by User


Sometimes you’ll need a completely custom keynote. Although you should try to stick to the CSI formatting, there will always be reasons to add your own. The first thing we need to look at is how to customize the Keynote list:



  1. 1. Save your model, and close out of Revit Architecture completely.
  2. 2. Using a text editor, open the file C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RAC 2012\Libraries\US Imperial\RevitKeynotes_Imperial_2004.txt(RevitKeynotes_Metric.txt).

    Note that your path may be different, especially on a company network.


  3. 3. Scroll down the list until you find the note: 06 43 00.B1 3/4˝ Plywood Treads And Risers 06 43 00.
  4. 4. Click in the end of the note, press Enter to start a new line, and add the row 06 43 00.B2 Custom Hardwood Stairs 06 43 00 (see Figure 11.100).
    f11100.tif

    FIGURE 11.100 Adding the row 06 43 00.B2 Custom Hardwood Stairs 06 43 00


  5. 5. Save the file, and close the text editor.
  6. 6. Open Revit Architecture.
  7. 7. Open your project file.
  8. 8. In the Project Browser, go to the Level 1 floor plan.
  9. 9. On the Tag panel of the Annotate tab, click Keynote images User Keynote.
  10. 10. Pick the stairs, as shown in Figure 11.101.
    f11101.tif

    FIGURE 11.101 Picking the stairs to place the keynote


  11. 11. In the Keynotes dialog box, your new keynote will be at the top of the list, as shown in Figure 11.102.
    f11102.tif

    FIGURE 11.102 The new keynote


  12. 12. Pick the new keynote.
  13. 13. Click OK.

The stairs have a custom keynote.


Now that you have every kind of tag imaginable placed in your model, you need to create one more legend to close the chapter: a keynote legend.


Creating Keynote Legends


Creating keynote legends is similar to creating schedules. Sometimes there is a fine line between what a schedule is and what a legend is. Keynotes seem to almost fall between these two concepts. Either way, follow this procedure to create a keynote legend:



  1. 1. On the View tab, click Legends images Keynote Legend.
  2. 2. The name Keynote Legend is fine, so click OK in the dialog that appears.
  3. 3. In the Keynote Legend Properties dialog, only two fields are available, and they’re both added to the legend. All you need to do is click OK, and the legend is created (see Figure 11.103).
    f11103.tif

    FIGURE 11.103 The new keynote legend


Well, that was easy! As mentioned before, if the data is there, it isn’t hard to create a query such as this to display the information.


One more item to address is where Revit looks for information regarding keynotes: in the Settings listings.


Keynote Settings


To find the keynote settings, on the Annotate tab, click the drop-down arrow on the bottom of the Tag panel. This will allow you to click the Keynoting Settings button, as shown in Figure 11.104.

f11104.tif

FIGURE 11.104 Keynoting Settings displays where the keynotes are configured.


Although you aren’t going to change anything, it’s noteworthy that the default path is by library location. This is good, because when you upgrade Revit and you have a custom keynote file, you can move it to the same directory, and Revit will read it into the model.


By specifying by project, you’ll have only one keynote legend. If you specify by sheet, you can then drag the legend onto multiple sheets, and only the keynotes that are visible on that specific sheet will be included in the legend. We’ll cover this process in further detail in Chapter 14.


As you can see, many items can be tagged, keynoted, and scheduled. If you feel that you could use more practice, go ahead and create some more schedules, tags, and keynotes.


Are You Experienced?


Now you can…



  • create several different types of schedules
  • add custom fields to the schedules that calculate values
  • create material takeoffs that give you up-to-the-second information as you add items to the model
  • create legends by using a blank view and basically drafting items into the model
  • import AutoCAD-generated data to create a legend that looks exactly like your CAD
  • create drawing sheets, add a schedule, and manipulate a schedule to fit on the sheet
  • add tags to the model in addition to the tags that were automatically added when you placed the components
  • place tags that reach into a component and display different materials
  • create custom tags to display any information

Related posts:

  1. 19: Rendering and Presentation
  2. 17: Creating Families
  3. 6: Floors
  4. 7: Roofs
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Aug 3, 2021 | Posted by in Building and Construction | Comments Off on 11: Schedules and Tags
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