1. 1. Make sure you’re still in the detail called Roof Taper Section.
   
2. 2. On the Detail panel of the Annotate tab, click Component Detail Component, and then click the Load Family button as shown in Figure 12.4.

   

   
   
3. 3. Browse to the Detail Components directory. (It’s located in the US Imperial Library directory.)
   
4. 4. Open the Div 01-General folder.
   
5. 5. Click the file called Break Line.rfa.
   
6. 6. Click Open.
   
7. 7. In the Type Selector of the Properties dialog, be sure Break Line is selected, as shown in Figure 12.5.
   
8. 8. Press the spacebar twice. (This flips the break line into the correct orientation.)
   
9. 9. Pick a point similar to the one shown in Figure 12.5.

The next step is to simply start drafting. As mentioned earlier, you’re only going to get so far with 3D modeling before you have to take matters into your own hands and draft. The way you can approach this in Revit is to take the parts of the detail you want to keep and hide the rest. After you hide portions of the detail, it’s time to begin adding your own ingredients such as detail components and lines.

Masking Regions

To let you hide portions of the detail, Revit has added a nice feature called a masking region. Instead of wrestling around with items you ultimately have little or no control over, you can hide these items to make way for your detailing.

To learn how to apply a masking region, follow these steps:

1. 1. Make sure you’re still in the detail called Roof Taper Section.
   
2. 2. On the Detail panel of the Annotate tab, click Region Masking Region, as shown in Figure 12.6.

   

   
   
3. 3. In the Line Style panel, you’ll see some choices in the Subcategory. Choose <Invisible Lines>, as shown in Figure 12.7.
   
4. 4. Again on the Draw panel, click the Rectangle button.
   
5. 5. Draw a rectangle at the approximate points shown in Figure 12.7.
   
6. 6. After you place the rectangle, click the Finish Edit Mode button on the Mode panel.

The area is now masked. The problem is, though, that some areas such as the break may be a little too masked. The next procedure steps through changing the display order of a detail’s objects:

1. 1. If the break line is behind the masking region, select the break line, as shown in Figure 12.8.
   
2. 2. On the Modify | Detail Items tab, click the Bring To Front button (see Figure 12.8).

Your detail should now look like Figure 12.9.

The next step is to add a brick face. Yes, Revit showed the brick before you masked it, but you need to show coursing, as well as how the façade is tied back to the wall. To do this, you’ll use a function called a repeating detail.

Repeating Details

Revit has a technique that allows you to add a detail component as a group. You do this by basically drawing a line; Revit then adds the detail in an array based on the points you pick.

To learn how to add a repeating detail, follow this procedure:

1. 1. On the Detail panel of the Annotate tab, select Component Repeating Detail Component, as shown in Figure 12.10.

   

   
   
2. 2. In the Properties dialog, choose Repeating Detail : Brick from the Type Selector, as shown in Figure 12.11.
   
3. 3. Pick the point labeled 1 in Figure 12.11.
   
4. 4. After you pick the first point, move your cursor down the view.
   
5. 5. The brick is facing the wrong side. Press the spacebar to flip the brick into the wall (see Figure 12.11).
   
6. 6. Pick the point labeled 2 in the figure so that three copies of the brick section are placed.

Your detail should look like Figure 12.12.

Next, you’ll keep going with the repeating detail. The problem you’re faced with is that you need to deal with the soldier course in the exterior wall. You can add that in a moment. Right now, complete the brick down past the break line.

If you feel like you’re getting the hang of adding the repeating brick detail, go ahead and add the second repeating detail. If you would like some instruction, follow along:

1. 1. Click the Component Repeating Detail Component button on the Detail panel on the Annotate tab.
   
2. 2. Pick point 1, as shown in Figure 12.13.
   
3. 3. Press the spacebar.
   
4. 4. Pull the cursor straight down and pick point 2 (see Figure 12.13). Make sure you pick the second point well past the break line, or the brick will stop short.

   

   
   
5. 5. Press Esc twice. Look at Figure 12.14. Does your detail look the same?

   

   
   
6. 6. If the repeating detail is obscuring the break line, select the break line.
   
7. 7. On the Arrange panel, click the Bring To Front button. The repeating detail is now behind the break line.

The next step is to add the soldier course. You’ll do this the same way you added the break line. In this respect, Revit offers a good library broken down into the CSI format.

To add the soldier course, follow along with the procedure:

1. 1. On the Detail panel on the Annotate tab, click the Component Detail Component button.
   
2. 2. In the Type Selector in the Properties dialog, select Brick Standard : Soldier & Plan.
   
3. 3. Place it into the model as shown in Figure 12.15. Eyeball the gap at the bottom.

Well, the soldier course is in place, but that fat line weight is horrendous. It would be nice if everything that came out of the Revit box looked nice and met your specifications; but alas, that isn’t the case. It’s time to modify this component to make it look presentable.

Modifying a Detail Component

Right about now is when every CAD/BIM manager around the globe raises an eyebrow—for good reason. Revit allows you to modify a component by actually opening the file! But don’t worry; you have to issue a Save As to save the detail.

The objective of the following procedure is to create a texture on the brick detail and to use a line weight that the user can control in the model:

1. 1. If you still have a command running, click the Modify button to the left of the Ribbon, or press the Esc key.
   
2. 2. Select the Bricks – Standard Soldier & Plan family that you just placed.
   
3. 3. On the Modify | Detail Items tab, click the Edit Family button, as shown near the top of Figure 12.16.

   

   
   
4. 4. The next dialog may ask you if you want to open this file to edit it. Click Yes if you get the message.

The detail component family is now open. It’s time to operate, Doctor. The next set of procedures will focus on modifying the linework of the brick and adding what is called a filled region.

Modifying Filled Regions

A filled region is similar in nature to a masking region in that you apply both in the same manner. A filled region, however, contains a hatch pattern that is visible when the region is completed. This is how you hatch in Revit. It takes the place of the conventional hatch command found in AutoCAD and MicroStation.

The objective of the next procedure is to modify the filled region that makes up the brick. You’ll also use the region’s outline to define the perimeter and the texture of the brick itself:

1. 1. Go the Revit program button (The purple R in the upper-left corner), and Select Save As Family.
   
2. 2. Call the new family Brick – Soldier.
   
3. 3. Click the Family Types button, as shown in Figure 12.17.
   
4. 4. In the Name menu, make sure Running Section is selected.
   
5. 5. Click the Delete button to the right of the dialog.
   
6. 6. Select Rowlock from the list, and delete that type as well.
   
7. 7. Click OK.

   

   
   
8. 8. Select the line that is hovering over the top of the brick, and mirror it to the bottom so you have a line above and a line below the brick, as shown in Figure 12.18.
   
9. 9. Select one of the heavy lines that forms the outline of the brick (see Figure 12.18). Revit indicates that this is a filled region, as revealed in the tooltip that appears when you hover your pointer over one of the boundaries.
   
10. 10. On the Mode panel of the Modify | Detail Items tab, click the Edit Boundary button (see Figure 12.18).
    
11. 11. Delete the two thick, vertical lines.
    
12. 12. On the Draw panel, select the Line button, as shown near the top of Figure 12.19.
    
13. 13. In the Line Style panel that appears, select Detail Items.
    
14. 14. Draw a series of jagged lines on the right and left of the brick, as shown in Figure 12.19.

    

    
    
15. 15. After you finish sketching the texture, click Edit Type.
    
16. 16. Change the background from Opaque to Transparent, as shown in Figure 12.20.
    
17. 17. Click OK.
    
18. 18. Click Finish Edit Mode. Your brick should resemble Figure 12.21.

Now it’s time to add a mortar joint to the bottom of the brick. You simply add drafting lines:

1. 1. On the Home tab, click the Line button.
   
2. 2. On the Draw panel, click the Start – End – Radius Arc button.
   
3. 3. Draw two arcs to the left and right of the bottom of the brick, as shown in Figure 12.22.

The next step is to add shading underneath the brick pattern. To do this, you’ll create an entirely new filled region and add it to the brick by tracing over the existing filled region:

1. 1. On the Detail panel of the Home tab, click the Filled Region button, as shown in Figure 12.23.

   

   
   
2. 2. In the Properties dialog, click the Edit Type button, and make sure Type is Solid Fill – Black, as shown in Figure 12.24.

   

   
   
3. 3. Click Duplicate.
   
4. 4. Call the new region Light Shade.
   
5. 5. Click OK.
   
6. 6. In the Fill Pattern row, click into the Solid Fill [Drafting] field. You’ll see a […] button in the right corner. Click it.
   
7. 7. You can select any hatch pattern you wish. Make sure Solid Fill is selected, as shown in Figure 12.25, and click OK.

   

   
   
8. 8. In the Color row is a button labeled Black. It includes a little black box icon. Pick the black box.
   
9. 9. In the Color dialog, click the Gray tile, as shown in Figure 12.26. (The color is actually RGB 192-192-192.)

   

   
   
10. 10. Click OK twice.
    
11. 11. On the Draw panel, click the Pick Lines button, as shown in Figure 12.27.
    
12. 12. Hover your cursor over one of the jagged lines of the brick face, and press the Tab key. All the lines you’re trying to trace are highlighted.
    
13. 13. Pick any one of the lines, as shown in Figure 12.27. Revit will draw the region based on these points.

    

    
    
14. 14. On the Mode panel, click Finish Edit Mode, and then press Esc. Your brick should look like Figure 12.28.

    

    
    
15. 15. When the Filled Region is in place, select it by clicking the boundary.
    
16. 16. On the Arrange panel, click the Send To Back button, as shown near the top of Figure 12.29.
    
17. 17. Press Esc. Your brick should now look like Figure 12.30.

    

    
    
18. 18. Click the Save icon.
    
19. 19. On the Family Editor panel on the Create tab, click the Load Into Project button, as shown in Figure 12.31.
    
20. 20. Place the new soldier to the left of the wall.

    

    

    
    
21. 21. Select the smooth, boring existing soldier.
    
22. 22. In the Type Selector, change it to Brick – Soldier: Soldier & Plan.
    
23. 23. Delete the extra brick. Your wall should look like Figure 12.32.

    

    
    
24. 24. Save the model.

The next group of procedures focuses on editing the bricks used in the repeating detail. You certainly want the same face texture, and it would be nice if there was a mortar joint between them.

Before you modify the bricks, let’s explore how a repeating detail is created. The objective of the next procedure is to discover how a repeating detail works and how you can create a new one:

1. 1. Make sure you’re in the detail called Roof Taper Section.
   
2. 2. Select one of the repeating details, as shown in Figure 12.33.
   
3. 3. In the Properties dialog, click Edit Type, as shown at upper left in Figure 12.33.

   

   
   
4. 4. Click into the detail Value list. Notice that every detail component listed in your model is available. The detail component being used here is Brick Standard : Running Section.
   

   You can change the spacing and the patterns of how the repeating detail will perform.

   
   
5. 5. Click Cancel.

The next objective is to modify the specific detail component that the repeating detail is using. To do so, you must add an instance of the detail component (in this case, it’s Brick Standard : Running Section) and then edit the family. After you load it back into the model, the repeating detail will be up to date.

If you would like to give it a shot and do it on your own, go ahead. If you would rather have some guidance, follow along:

1. 1. On the Detail panel of the Annotate tab, click the Component Detail Component button.
   
2. 2. In the Type Selector on the Properties dialog, pick the Brick Standard : Running Section detail component. (Remember, this was the component that you discovered the repeating detail was using.)
   
3. 3. Place the detail component off to the side of the wall, as shown in Figure 12.34.

   

   
   
4. 4. Press Esc twice, or click Modify.
   
5. 5. Select the Brick Standard : Running Section that you just inserted.
   
6. 6. On the Mode panel, click the Edit Family button.
   
7. 7. Select the filled region.
   
8. 8. On the Mode panel, click Edit Boundary.
   
9. 9. Delete the right and left thick lines.
   
10. 10. On the Draw panel, click the Line button.
    
11. 11. In the Type Selector menu in the Properties dialog, click Detail Items.
    
12. 12. Draw the jagged lines on both sides, as shown in Figure 12.35.

    

    
    
13. 13. Click Finish Edit Mode on the Mode panel.
    
14. 14. On the Home tab, click the Line button.
    
15. 15. On the Draw panel, click the Start-End-Radius Arc button.
    
16. 16. On the Subcategory panel, be sure Detail Items is chosen from the Type Selector list.
    
17. 17. Draw an arc on both sides of the brick, as shown in Figure 12.35.
    
18. 18. When you’re finished, save the new brick. You can also find this brick at the book’s web page in Chapter 12; it’s called Brick Standard.rfa.
    
19. 19. On the Family Editor panel, click Load Into Project.
    
20. 20. In the project, click to overwrite the family.
    
21. 21. Delete the stray detail component you placed. (You were only using it for access to the family.)

Compare your detail to the detail in Figure 12.36.

Next, you’ll anchor this façade back to the wall. Two things need to be added: a structural relief angle above the soldier course, and a brick tieback to a lower course. Follow along:

1. 1. On the Annotate tab, click the Component Detail Component button.
   
2. 2. On the Mode panel, click the Load Family button.
   
3. 3. Open the Detail Components folder.
   
4. 4. Go to Div 05-Metals.
   
5. 5. Go to 051200-Structural Steel Framing.
   
6. 6. Double-click the file AISC Angle Shapes-Section.rfa.
   
7. 7. In the Type list, select L6X4X5/16.
   
8. 8. Click OK. You’ll have to use the spacebar to flip the instance.
   
9. 9. Place it into the model, as shown in Figure 12.37.

   

   
   
10. 10. Press Esc twice, or click Modify.

Of course, the line weight is basically a blob, so you must modify the family in order for it to look accurate. The next procedure is almost a review of what you had to do to the bricks:

1. 1. Select the angle.
   
2. 2. On the Mode panel, click Edit Family.
   
3. 3. In the Family Editor, select the filled region (it’s the entire angle), and click Edit Boundary on the Mode panel.
   
4. 4. Select all the lines that form the perimeter of the angle.
   
5. 5. In the Type Selector menu in the Properties dialog, select Detail Items. (You’re switching from Heavy Lines to Detail Items.)
   
6. 6. On the Mode panel, click Finish Edit Mode.
   
7. 7. On the Family Editor panel, click Load Into Project.
   
8. 8. Click Overwrite The Existing Version.
   
9. 9. Adjust the angle so it looks like Figure 12.38.

The next step is to find a fastener to anchor the angle back to the wall’s substrate. There is a problem, however. The type of bolt you need is a lag bolt that is power-driven from the exterior into the wall. Revit doesn’t provide one out of the box. Luckily, the book you bought does! To find the lag bolt provided with the book, go to the book’s web page, browse to Chapter 12, and find the file A307 Lag_Bolt-Side.rfa. Then, follow along:

1. 1. To load the lag bolt into your model, go to the Insert tab and click the Load Family button. Browse to the directory where you put the A307 Lag_Bolt-Side.rfa file. Find the file and click Open.
   
2. 2. With the lag bolt loaded, click the Component Detail Component button on the Annotate tab.
   
3. 3. Select A307 Lag_Bolt-Side : 3/4˝ from the Type Selector.
   
4. 4. Insert the lag bolt into the angle, as shown in Figure 12.39

   

   .
   
5. 5. Press Esc twice.

Next, you’ll add a corrugated wall tie to the brick below the soldier course. Because the brick is a pretty good distance away from the wall, you first need to add some wood blocking to the model:

1. 1. On the Insert tab, click the Load Family button.
   
2. 2. Go to the Detail Components folder.
   
3. 3. Go to Div 06-Wood And Plastic.
   
4. 4. Go to 061100-Wood Framing.
   
5. 5. Click the file called Nominal Cut Lumber-Section.rfa.
   
6. 6. Select the 2×6 type, and click OK.
   
7. 7. Go to the Annotate tab, click the Component Detail Component button, and place the 2×6 into the wall, as shown in Figure 12.40.

   

   
   
8. 8. Press Esc twice.
   
9. 9. Select the blocking you just added, and right-click it.
   
10. 10. Select Override Graphics In View By Element.
    
11. 11. In the Projection Lines category, change the weight to 2.
    
12. 12. Click OK. Your blocking should look like Figure 12.40.

The next step is to add the corrugated wall tie. You’ll do this in the same manner, except that it’s located in a different directory:

1. 1. On the Insert tab, click the Load Family button.
   
2. 2. Go to the Detail Components folder.
   
3. 3. Go to Div 04-Masonry.
   
4. 4. Go to 040500-Common Work Results For Masonry.
   
5. 5. Go to 040519-Masonry Anchorage And Reinforcing.
   
6. 6. Select the file called Corrugated Wall Tie-Section.rfa.
   
7. 7. Use the Detail Component button to place the wall tie into your model, as shown in Figure 12.41.

   

   
   
8. 8. Press Esc twice, or click Modify.

Now you’ll add some blocking along the concrete parapet cap. You also need additional blocking along the lag bolts. If you would like, go ahead and copy the 2×6 blocking around the model to mimic the figure at the end of this series of steps. Or you can follow along:

1. 1. Select the 2×6 blocking.
   
2. 2. On the Modify | Detail Items tab, click the Copy command.
   
3. 3. Pick the base point of the upper-right corner, as shown in Figure 12.42.
   
4. 4. Copy the blocking to the point shown in Figure 12.42.
   
5. 5. Select the new blocking and rotate it into position, as shown in Figure 12.42. (You’ll also have to nudge the blocking, using the arrow keys to center it into the wall.)

   

   
   
6. 6. Copy the blocking down to double it, as shown in Figure 12.43.
   
7. 7. Copy and rotate blocking to the positions shown in Figure 12.43, to allow for support of the lag bolt.
   
8. 8. Select all the blocking that has the heavy line weight, right-click, and choose Override Graphics In View By Element. Change the projection line weight to 2.
   
9. 9. Compare your detail to Figure 12.43.

When you’re drafting over a true section of your model, it’s always good to try to use as much of the graphical information from the actual model as possible. For example, the 3/4˝ void you see the bolt going through is actually 3/4˝ plywood sheathing. For some reason, the default plywood material has its cut pattern set to None. Let’s fix this:

1. 1. Select the wall.
   
2. 2. Click Edit Type.
   
3. 3. Click the Edit button in the Structure row.

   

   
   
4. 4. Click into the Material column in row 5. It’s the substrate row, and the material is Wood – Sheathing – Plywood.
   
5. 5. When you click Wood – Sheathing – Plywood, you see a tiny, tiny […] button. Click it.
   
6. 6. In the Materials dialog, click the Graphics tab at the top of the right panel, as shown in Figure 12.44.
   
7. 7. Set Cut Pattern to Plywood.
   
8. 8. To the right of the Plywood pattern is another […] button. This one’s nice and big! Go ahead and click it, as shown in Figure 12.44.
   
9. 9. In the Fill Patterns dialog, click the Edit button (see Figure 12.44).
   
10. 10. Select Align With Element for the Orientation In Host Layers field.
    
11. 11. Click OK five times to get back to the model.

Now that you have a good grasp of adding detail components, you need to learn how to control the line weight so the outlines of the bricks look a little bolder.

If you remember, some of the detail components were modified based on the line weight of the filled region perimeter. This thickness was changed from Heavy Lines to Detail Items. You need to set Detail Items to a thickness you can live with:

1. 1. On the Manage tab, click the Object Styles button.
   
2. 2. Scroll down the list until you see Detail Items.
   
3. 3. Change the Projection line weight to 2, as shown in Figure 12.45.
   
4. 4. Click OK. Your detail now has a bolder perimeter.

   

Another item left to explore in terms of adding detail to a view is the simple concept of drawing lines.

Drawing Detail Lines

As mentioned before, in Revit you can simply draw lines. You can only get so far with detail components, and then you need to pick up the pencil and add your lines.

The next set of procedures will focus on adding lines to your model. Then, we’ll look deeper into how these lines are created and modified:

1. 1. In the Project Browser, make sure you’re in Sections (Building Sections : Roof Taper Section).
   
2. 2. On the Detail panel of the Annotate tab, click the Detail Line button, as shown in Figure 12.46.

   

   
   
3. 3. In the Line Style menu, select Medium Lines, as shown in Figure 12.47.
   
4. 4. On the Options bar, deselect the Chain option.

   

   
   
5. 5. Draw a line, as shown in Figure 12.48. Be sure to use your endpoint and perpendicular snaps.

   

   
   
6. 6. With the Line command still running, click the Pick Lines icon on the Draw panel.
   
7. 7. Change the Offset to 1 1/2˝, as shown in Figure 12.49.
   
8. 8. Offset the line you just drew down 1 1/2˝ (see Figure 12.49).
   
9. 9. With the Line command still running, change to Thin Lines in the Line Style panel.
   
10. 10. In the Draw panel, click the Line button.
    
11. 11. Change the offset to 0.
    
12. 12. Draw the X for the blocking, as shown in Figure 12.50.
    
13. 13. Copy the blocking down to form a double plate (see Figure 12.50).
    
14. 14. Draw another X below the plates to indicate a stud (again, see Figure 12.50).

So, what makes a Medium Line medium and a Thin Line thin? This is a part of Revit that you need to have full control over. After all, your biggest challenge will be getting your plotted sheets to match your old CAD plotted sheets. Specifying line weights is crucial.

Specifying Drafting Line Weights

Just as in CAD, you wouldn’t dare to draw even a single line if you didn’t know the proper layer it was being drafted on, right? Why should Revit be any different?

The objective of the next procedure is to investigate where the line weights are stored and how they relate to the lines you’re drawing:

1. 1. On the Manage tab, choose Additional Settings Line Styles.
   
2. 2. In the Line Styles dialog, expand the Lines category by clicking the plus sign next to Lines.
   

   Some of the line styles were generated in AutoCAD. These line styles were imported when you brought in the legend back in Chapter 11, “Schedules and Tags.”

   

   
   
3. 3. Click into the Wide Lines category, and change the value from 5 to 4, as shown in Figure 12.51.
   
4. 4. Click OK. Wide Lines in all project views will now show the new line weight.

The next item to tackle is the fact that this detail looks naked without any text or dimensions added to it. Although you’ve applied both of these items in past chapters, you need to use them as they’re relevant to detailing.

Adding Notes by Material

Because you have some experience adding information to materials, let’s use that experience here. The next procedure will involve going to the material settings and adding a description to the brick that reads BRICK FACADE. Then, you’ll add that tag in the section.

If you’re confident, you can do this on your own. Your finished detail should look like the Figure 12.54. If you would like some instruction, follow along:

1. 1. On the Manage tab, click the Materials button on the Settings panel.
   
2. 2. Select Masonry – Brick in the list to the left, as shown in Figure 12.52.
   
3. 3. On the right side of the dialog, go to the Identity tab (see Figure 12.52).

   

   
   
4. 4. In the Description, type BRICK FACADE.
   
5. 5. Click OK.
   
6. 6. In the Project Browser, make sure you’re in the section Roof Taper Section.
   
7. 7. On the Annotate tab, click the Material Tag button on the Tag panel, as shown in Figure 12.53.

   

   
   
8. 8. When you place your cursor over the brick, the tag fills in. Place the tag as shown in Figure 12.54.

   

Another method of applying a description to a material is to tag the item first and then fill out the tag. If you do so, the material will automatically be identified, and the tag will be filled out the next time you tag the same material:

1. 1. On the Annotate tab, click the Material Tag button on the Tag panel.
   
2. 2. Place a tag, as shown in Figure 12.55, on the tapered roof insulation. There is nothing but a question mark—this means Revit doesn’t yet have a description for the material.

   

   
   
3. 3. Click the question mark, and type TAPERED INSULATION (see Figure 12.56).

Now it’s time to add some freeform notes. The great thing is, you’ve already done this, and you’ve gone as far as setting up your own leaders for that text.

Adding Textual Notation

We’re duplicating efforts with text to drive home the fact that Revit lets you add text indiscriminately of the view, and also indiscriminately of the scale. Text in a plan is the same as text in a detail. And we’ll prove it in the next procedure:

1. 1. On the Annotate tab, click the Text button.
   
2. 2. On the Modify | Place Text tab, click the Align Right button on the Format panel, as shown at the top of Figure 12.57.
   
3. 3. Again, on the Modify | Place Text tab, click the Two Segments leader (the uppercase A in the lower-left corner of the Format panel; see Figure 12.57).
   
4. 4. Also on the Format panel, click the Leader At Top Right button.
   
5. 5. In the section, pick the first point of the leader at the top of the brick tie detail (labeled 1 in Figure 12.57).
   
6. 6. Pick the second point above and to the left of the first point (labeled 2 in Figure 12.57).
   
7. 7. Pick the third point for the second segment, as shown in Figure 12.57.

   

   
   
8. 8. Type the note CORRUGATED BRICK TIE ON 2X6 BLOCKING.
   
9. 9. Click off the text into another part of the model, and your text justifies to the leader.
   
10. 10. Press Esc twice.
    
11. 11. Select the text.
    
12. 12. Pick the grip to the left, and drag the box to resemble Figure 12.58. The text will wrap.
    
13. 13. Save the model.

These steps are the most common procedure for adding detail to a model. In other words, take what you can from the model, and then add linework and detail components to the view. But eventually you’ll find yourself in a situation where you would rather draft your detail from scratch. You can do this as well, as you’ll see in the next section.

Creating a Detail Group

Groups can be extremely advantageous to the drafting process. Although I mentioned earlier that details and drafting views aren’t linked to the model, you can still provide some global control within the details themselves by creating a group. This will give you further control over every instance of this specific detail within the entire model.

The objective of the following procedure is to create a new group and add it to another view:

1. 1. Select everything in the view by picking a window.
   
2. 2. On the Create tab, click the Create Group button, as shown in Figure 12.72.

   

   
   
3. 3. In the Create Detail Group dialog, call the new group Typical Slip Track. Click OK.
   
4. 4. The group has been created. You see an icon similar to the UCS icon in AutoCAD: this is your origin. Pick the middle grip, and drag it to the left corner of the track (where it meets the floor), as shown in Figure 12.73.
   
5. 5. Save the model.

   

With the group created, it’s time to add it to another view. Because not every view shows exactly the same thing, you can alter the group’s instance to conform to the detail into which it’s being placed.

The objective of this next procedure is to physically add the new detail group to the Roof Taper Section:

1. 1. In the Project Browser, find the Sections (Building Section) called Roof Taper Section.
   
2. 2. On the Annotate tab, click Detail Group Place Detail Group, as shown in Figure 12.74.
   
3. 3. Move your cursor over the underside of the roof. You get a snap: this is the origin point of the detail.
   
4. 4. Pick a point along the bottom of the roof, similar to what is shown in Figure 12.75.
   
5. 5. When the group is placed, press Esc.

The next step is to remove some of the extraneous hatch and lines. You can do this within a group, but you must be careful not to edit the group in a way that affects all other instances.

The objective of the next procedure is to remove the extra lines and hatch from the group:

1. 1. Hover your cursor over the thick line representing the bottom of the floor in the group, as shown in Figure 12.76.
   
2. 2. Press the Tab key. This allows you to get to the second level of the group and highlight the single line.
   
3. 3. Pick the line, as shown in Figure 12.76.

   

   
   
4. 4. A small, blue group icon appears. When you hover your mouse over it, it says that you can exclude this member from the group. This is what you want to do, so click the button.
   
5. 5. Repeat the process for the top floor line.
   
6. 6. Repeat the process for the hatch.
   
7. 7. Save the model. Your detail should now look like Figure 12.77.

Now you’ll make modifications to the original group to see how each insertion of a group is influenced. This is where the advantage of using groups in a model comes into play.

The objective of the next procedure is to open the original group and modify it. When the modifications are completed, the other groups will be updated:

1. 1. In the Project Browser, find the TYPICAL WALL TERMINATION view under Drafting Views (Detail), and open it.
   
2. 2. Select the group.
   
3. 3. On the Modify | Detail Groups tab, click Edit Group. You see the Edit Group panel toward the right of the Ribbon.
   
4. 4. On the Detail panel of the Annotate tab, click the Insulation button, as shown in Figure 12.78.

   

   
   
5. 5. Place the insulation starting at the midpoint of the top of the stud, and terminate the insulation at the bottom of the stud, as shown in Figure 12.79. Note that you were lucky the width fit perfectly. If it hadn’t, you could have changed the width on the Options bar.
   
6. 6. Click the Finish button on the Edit Group toolbar, as shown in Figure 12.80.
   
7. 7. Open the Roof Taper Section, and observe that the insulation has been added.

You’re starting to get detailing pretty well. There are two issues left to discuss. First, it would be nice to reference these details from the plan, even knowing that they aren’t physically tied into the model. Second, you need to know how to import CAD into a detail.

Adding a Section to Another View

You already know how to add a section marker in plan. What you may not know is how to tell Revit that you would rather specify the reference.

The objective of the next procedure is to go to the Level 1 ceiling plan and add a section pointing to your drafting view:

1. 1. In the Project Browser, open the Level 1 floor plan.
   
2. 2. Zoom in on the area of the east wing, as shown in Figure 12.81.
   
3. 3. On the View tab, click the Section button. Pick Detail View in the Type Selector.
   
4. 4. Before you place the section, look up at the Options bar. There you see a Reference Other View button. Click it.
   
5. 5. In the menu to the right of the Reference Other View label, expand the drop-down, and select Drafting View: TYPICAL WALL TERMINATION.
   
6. 6. Place the section into the model, as shown in Figure 12.81.

   

   
   
7. 7. Press Esc.
   
8. 8. Double-click the section marker that you placed in the model. Doing so opens your drafting view.
   
9. 9. Save the model.

With creating a drafting view behind us, it’s time to look at our old friend CAD. (Some may say the new acronym is Ctrl Alt Delete.) Regardless of the existing sentiment toward CAD, it did get us this far. And we still need it—more so in the drafting capacity. Yes, you can import CAD into a detail.

Importing AutoCAD into a Drafting View

I’ll go out on a limb and venture to guess that you have a handful of CAD details that you use on a daily basis. The question always is, “What do I do with this pile of details I spent years, and thousands of dollars, to create?” Well, you can still use them.

The objective of the next procedure is to create a new drafting view and import an AutoCAD detail. If you would like, you can attempt to import your own detail, or you can use the file provided. Just go to the book’s web page at www.sybex.com/go/revit2012ner. From there, you can browse to Chapter 12 and find the file called base cabinet.dwg. You can then place it on your system for later retrieval.

The objective of this procedure is to import a CAD detail into a drafting view:

1. 1. In the View tab, click the Drafting View button.
   
2. 2. In the next dialog, name the new view TYPICAL BASE CABINET.
   
3. 3. Set Scale to 1 1/2˝ = 1´–0˝, and then click OK.
   
4. 4. On the Insert tab, click the Import CAD button.
   
5. 5. Browse to the location where you placed your CAD file.
   
6. 6. Select the file, but don’t click Open yet.
   
7. 7. At the bottom of the Import dialog, set Colors to Black And White.
   
8. 8. Set Layers to All.
   
9. 9. Set Import Units to Auto-Detect.
   
10. 10. Set Positioning to Auto – Center To Center.
    
11. 11. Click Open.
    
12. 12. Type ZA. The detail should now be in full view.
    
13. 13. Select the detail.
    
14. 14. On the Modify | Base cabinet.dwg tab, click Explode Full Explode.
    
15. 15. Select one of the filled regions.
    
16. 16. In the Properties dialog, click Edit Type.
    
17. 17. Change Fill Pattern to Sand – Dense, and select the Drafting radio button.
    
18. 18. Click OK.
    
19. 19. Click OK one more time to get back to the model.
    
20. 20. Make sure your cabinet is hatched properly.
    
21. 21. Save the model.

Up to this point, you’ve been using detail lines for your drafting. The one issue is that detail lines are visible only in the specific view you’re working in. Suppose you wanted linework to show up both in plan/elevation as well as a 3D view. In this situation, you should use the actual Lines tool.

Adding 2D and 3D Lines to the Model

Just because you’re drafting, that doesn’t mean you can’t create lines in all views such as in a 3D view in a 3D function. Revit has a tool that is simply called Lines, and you use it to project lines into multiple views. You apply the Lines tool just like a detail line, only it behaves the same as a Revit 3D family in that you can see it in every view (unless you turn it off).

The objective of the next procedure is to add detail lines to the west sloping roof. They’re nothing fancy, but you’ll quickly get the picture of how to use this feature:

1. 1. In the Project Browser, find the West Roof floor plan, and open it.
   
2. 2. On the Home tab, find the Work Plane panel to the right of the Ribbon and click the Set button, as shown in Figure 12.82.

   

   
   
3. 3. In the Work Plane dialog, select the Pick A Plane radio button.
   
4. 4. Click OK.
   
5. 5. Pick the roof, as shown in Figure 12.83.
   
6. 6. On the Model panel of the Home tab, click the Model Line button.
   
7. 7. In the Line Style menu, click Medium Lines, as shown in Figure 12.84.
   
8. 8. On the Draw panel, click the Start-End-Radius Arc button, as shown in Figure 12.85.

   

   

   
   
9. 9. Draw an arc from the two endpoints shown in Figure 12.86. Make the radius 80´–0˝. Simply enter the numbers at the keyboard, and they will fill in the radius field.
   
10. 10. Go to a 3D view. You can still see the arc.
    
11. 11. Save the model.

It’s a good idea to keep this feature in mind. This drafting tool will become useful when it comes to sketching in 3D. There will be many situations in which you’ll use this little nugget.