Finish Plans with Dynamo

Finish Plans with Dynamo

One of the most time consuming pieces of defining the finishes within our Construction Documents is filling in the finish tag for each room.  Under the current method, you must either edit the tag on a room by room basis, update in the room properties or update in a room schedule.  While each of these are valid methods, they are time consuming based on the functionality of Revit.

Fig-1:  A|E Standard Finish Tag (note the new order of finishes to follow a top to bottom progression)

Using a custom Dynamo script, we can now fill out our finish tags in plan via Excel.  The following is the process (assuming you already have installed Dynamo).

• Open your Finish Floor Plan and place your room tags in each of your rooms.  This task is still time consuming in Revit 2015.  (Sneak preview, this will be enhanced in the new 2016 version.

Fig-2:  Sample Floor Plan with Finish Tags Added

• Now that your finish tags are placed, we can launch Dynamo via the add-in tab in Revit.  (Note:  Finishes can be entered prior to placing the finish tags if desired).

Fig-3:  Dynamo Add-In

• Once clicked on, Dynamo will launch in a new window and you will be brought to the Dynamo splash screen.  From here, we will be able to use the Open command to load our custom script. 

Fig-4:  Dynamo Splash Screen

•  Click on the open command and browse to our library and the Dynamo folder.  The script we are utilizing today is named "Room Data Exporter.dyn".  This will open the script for us to use.

Fig-5:  Full View of Dynamo Script

• Once you have opened the script, focus your attention on the Browse node near the center of the screen (see red image above).  This is the only modification that a user needs to complete to use this script.  This Browse node needs to point to the location of your excel file.  Note:  You will need to create a blank Excel file within your project folder structure.  Once you select your file, the file path will be inserted below the Browse button (see Fig-6 below).

Fig-6:  Enlarged View of Browse Node

• Once you have pointed the script to your excel file, Click the Run button in the lower left hand corner.

Fig-7:  Run Button to activate the script

• After pressing the Run button, Excel will open and extract the Room Names and Room Numbers from your Revit File (see Fig-8).  Note:  After pressing run, you will see yellow text appear to the right of the Run button indicating "Run completed with warnings".  This is normal and will appear until all of the finishes have been filled out for ALL of your rooms, not just the rooms on your sheet.  This will also serve as a good way to check if you have rooms in your model that are not placed and possibly left over from earlier phases, designs, etc.

Fig-8:  Excel Initial Creation

• Once the initial excel file has been generated, you now will start to input the desired finishes into the excel file, so that they can be pushed back into Revit.  Your data will be input into columns C, D, E and F.  The order of the finishes follows the finish tag.  Column C = Ceiling Finish, Column D = Wall Finish, Column E = Base Finish, Column F = Floor Finish.  Once you have entered your finishes into Excel, save your Excel file.

Fig-9:  Completed Excel File

• After saving, go back into Dynamo and click Run again and the finishes will populate into your Revit finish plans.

Fig-10:  Complete Finish Tags via Dynamo

Fig-11:  Completed Exec Office Tag in Revit

Fig-12:  Corresponding Finish Information in Excel

Once the data is pushed back into Revit, you have the option of either editing within Revit individually, or re-running the Dynamo script and editing in Excel.  Hopefully this will help speed up the process of entering finishes into our Documents.

QUICK TIP - COMPONENT PLACEMENT

Quick Tip - Component Drop Down

Searching for a family to place into your model or detail that is loaded into the project and you don't want to scroll through the entire list or use the browser on the bottom left?

In 2015, you are in luck!  You can now search the component drop down list by typing the name of the family, or the specification number if you are using the new family naming conventions.

Looking for a CMU detail component?  Simply start to type 04 and the list is filtered with your search criteria highlighted in yellow.

Snap Override

Quick Tip - Snap Override

Whether you are sketching the outline of a model element (roof, floor, etc.) or trying to draw a detail line, it is inevitable that at some point you will encounter a situation where Revit does not let you draw the line at the angle you want (typically less than 2 degrees).  This can become very frustrating for many users.

Luckily, if you remember your days in AutoCAD (I know, I used the word AutoCAD in a Revit post), you can use a tool very similar to manual snap override in Revit and it is SIMPLE to  use.  Simply follow these steps:

• Sketch your line as you normally would.
• When you are unable to connect your line as you want to, Right Click in your space and click on the Snap Override text.  This will bring up a list of available snaps that you can select from (See Fig-1 below).  Click the snap you want and now you will only select that type of snap.

Fig-1:  Snap Overrides

This can also save you time if you are used to using your "TAB" key to cycle through all of your snap options.  Now, you can isolate the type of snap you are looking for.

Using the Toilet Partition Family

Railings - Instance Modification

The goal of this post is to walk you through how to use the toilet partition families that are standard within our library, as requested at a previous BIM Stand Up Meeting.

The first step would be to identify the correct family to use.  When browsing to folder 102113.17 Phenolic Core Toilet Compartments, you will notice 3 separate folders, indicating the 3 different configurations (Fig-1).

Fig-1:  Library Folders

Here is a graphic representation of the 3 different configurations (Fig-2, 3 and 4).

Fig-2:  Straight Run - No ADA

Fig-3:  Alcove ADA + Standard

Fig-4:  Straight Run ADA + Standard

Once you have identified the correct family to use and have loaded it into your file, you will notice a wide assortment of parameters within each family.  The following construction parameters can be controlled:

• Right Panel:  When checked, a panel will be visible at the rightmost end partition.  When unselected, no panel is visible and allows for a wall at the end.
• Left Panel:  Same as Right Panel only on left hand side.
• Standard Stalls:  Changes the number of standard stalls in a given layout.  The number includes an ambulatory stall when the AMB Stall parameter is selected (see below).
• Continuous Brackets:  When checked, full height continuous brackets appear in the family model.  When not checked, standard stirrup type brackets appear.
• AMB Stall:  When checked, a 36" clear ambulatory stall with an out-swing door appears adjacent to the ADA stall.  When not checked, a standard stall is utilized.
• Outswing Door ADA:  When selected, the alcove ADA door will swing outward.  When not selected, the door swings inward.
• Door Opening Angle:  Allows for revision of the door swing angle in the 3D elements.  All doors within the family will update.  This should be left at 0 degrees for a closed door.
• Outswing Door:  When selected, the standard doors will swing outward.  When not selected, the door(s) swing inward.  Inward swing is standard.

In addition to the construction parameters, the dimension parameters may be adjusted to facilitate specific sizes.  Stall width, depth and door width parameter values may all be adjusted.

Below is an example including a plan and the parameters used to obtain the plan.

Fig-5:  Alcove ADA + Ambulatory + 2 Standard Stall Sample

Fig-6:  Parameters for fig-5

The other families will work in a similar fashion.  Additional examples can be found in the library folder labeled README.

Once you have gotten the toilet partition loaded in, you are ready to begin adding fixtures and accessories from our library under folder 102800 - Toilet, Bath and Laundry Accessories.

Railings - Instance Modifications

Railings - Instance Modification

The previous post was intended to familiarize you modifying railings and handrail types at the Type level.  In this post, we will go through how to modify railing components at the instance level.  

• Hover over the railing of which you wish to make instanced based edits.  For this example, we will look at duplicating a support bracket on a wall mounted handrail.  Refer to Fig-1 for an elevation view of a wall mounted handrail with standard spacing as driven by our Handrail Type, prior to instance based editing.

Fig-1:  Elevation View Type Driven Support Spacing

• While hovering over the Railing Type, hit Tab to cycle through your selection options until you can select only the support bracket closest to the bottom of the stair run.  The support bracket will be selected and a pin icon will appear (Fig-2).  This is telling us that the position of this support bracket is driven by the Type Properties of the Handrail Type.  Also note that the properties of the support bracket, including the preview image, are grayed out (Fig-3).

Fig-2:  Support Bracket Selected

Fig-3:  Support Bracket Pinned

• If we wish to move the bracket or modify the support depth, click on the pin to allow instance based editing.  This will change the pin graphics to open as well as remove the grayed out tone from the Properties dialog box.

Fig-4:  Support Bracket Unpinned

• Once the support is unpinned, you are now able to edit the individual support on an instance basis.  Changes made to this support, be-it location, hand clearance, etc. will only apply to this one support bracket.  Brackets can be moved by entering a horizontal distance and the support will automatically move to remain attached to the rail.  If you move a support by mistake, clicking the pin will return the object to its original Type driven location.
• If you wish to copy a support, you do not need to unpin the original object.  Simply use your copy command and add a bracket at the desired location.  The newly copied support will be automatically unpinned because it not driven by the Type Properties of the Handrail Type (Fig-5).

Fig-5:  Copied Support vs Type Driven Support

• It is important to note that only Continuous Rails, top rails as defined by a Top Rail Type and handrails as defined by a Handrail Type, and their sub-elements, supports and terminations, can edited on an instance level.  Non-Continuous rails do not offer this ability.
• To edit that handrail itself, hover over the Railing Type and hit "Tab" until the handrail only is selected. Once selected, the new panel will appear in the Ribbon, labeled "Continuous Rail" (Fig-6).  By clicking on the Edit Rail button, we will be able to edit the handrail at the instance level.

Fig-7:  Continuous Rail Panel

• Within the edit rail command, we are able to edit the profile as well as the path of the railing, by clicking on the Edit Path button (Fig-8).

Fig-8:  Edit Path

• In addition to being able to edit the path of the rail from this dialog box, we also are given the option of editing the rail joins.  Once clicked, we will snap only to intersections of rail segments.  Once selected, the adjacent combo box will become activated and we can modify the join from by type to either Miter or Fillet.  If we chose fillet, we must specify a radius for the join.  A miter and fillet join are indicated below in Fig-9.1 and 9.2.

Fig-9.1:  Mitered Rail Joint

Fig-9.2:  Fillet Rail Joint

• Once you are happy with your edits, click the green check mark twice to complete your edits.
• Feel free to experiment with your railing edits on an instance level.  You always have the ability to go back to the Type driven properties by selecting the Railing Type and hitting the Reset Railing button (Fig-10).

Fig-10:  Reset Railing

Creating Railings

Creating Railings

The previous post was intended to familiarize you with the structure of the railing tool.  In this post, we will go through how to modify existing railings to create new railings specific for your projects.  

Please note that Amenta|Emma Standard guardrail/railing designs are pre-loaded into the large template file.  These standard model elements correspond with our standard railing details and should be used for egress stairs.

Decorative stairs will often necessitate the need for custom stairs and railings.  The following is an overview of how to modify rail structures and other components.  For complicated decorative stairs, please consult your project BIM Coordinator and/or the BIM Manager for assistance/recommendations.

• Select the railing you wish to duplicate and click the Edit Type (Fig-1) and select Duplicate (Fig-2).  This will prompt a Name box - enter the name for your new railing and hit ok.

Fig-1:  Select Edit Type

• Click on the Edit button next to the Rail Structure (Non-Continuous) to edit horizontal railing members, other than the handrail and top rail components (Fig-2).  These will be edited using the Top Rail and Handrail Types.  

Fig-2:  Duplicating Railings and Editing Non-Continuous Rail Structure

• Once inside the Edit Rails (Non-Continuous), insert horizontal railings as per your design intent, using the Insert Button (Fig-3).

Fig-3:  Insert Non-Continuous Horizontal Rails

• Once inserted the rail must be named, given a height and offset and a profile.  The material can be added at this point or later.  Profiles for the railing must be selected from a pull-down list of profiles loaded into the project, so any custom rails must be created before they will become available for selection (Fig-4).

Fig-4:  Completed Non-Continuous Rail

• Once you have created your first rail, you can duplicate the rail, and change the properties as necessary for your rail design.  After all non-continuous rails have been completed, use the OK button to save your updates and exit out of the Edit Rails dialog box.

Next, we will take a look at using the Continuous Rails, whether it be the Top Rail, Handrail 1 or Handrail 2.  Each of these continuous rails are driven by Handrail and Top Rail Types.  These can be found within the family browser under the Railing Heading (Fig-5).

Fig-5:  Handrail and Top Rail Types in Family Browser

• When expanded, all handrail/top rail types currently in the project will be visible.  These handrail/top rails are then able to be loaded into the Railing System Family.  To edit a handrail/top rail type, double-click on the type you wish to edit and the corresponding type properties dialog box will appear (Fig-6).

Fig-6:  Handrail Type  Type Properties Dialog

• Edits done within this dialog box will change all locations in which this handrail type is assigned (unless they have been edited on a instance base) - handrail types can be assigned to multiple railing types.  Individual handrail types can also be editing on an instance level once they are loaded into a railing type by "tabbing" the railing type until the handrail type is selected.
• One item to note is that there is a bug in Revit related to the Support Family.  if you change the support type and hit ok, nothing will happen to the model elements.  To make the changes execute, you must make a change to the position of the handrail type within the railing type it is loaded into.  This will update the support family, but likely put the support on the wrong side of the railing.  Change the side back after the model support has been updated.

• Once you have finished editing your handrail types, it is time to assign them to your railing type.  This is achieved through the Type Properties of the Railing System Family.  
• Select the model representing the railing you wish to modify and hit edit type.  This will bring us back to the Type Properties of the Railing System.
• Find the continuous rail you wish to assign, Top Rail for a top or guardrail and either Handrail 1 or Handrail 2 for a handrail element.
• Once you have found the correct rail, use the pull-down under type to select your crated handrail type.  Once changed, the lateral offset and height will be filled in, but grayed out.  These are grayed out because their values are driven by the type properties of the handrail type.  A position option becomes available to select where the handrail type will be placed relative to the Railing Type host, see Fig-7.

Fig-7:  Assigning Handrail Type to Railing Type

• Once you have assigned your handrail type, click OK and all Railing Types will be updated with your new handrail type.  See Fig-8.

Fig-8:  Updated Railing with Handrail Type

As mentioned above, handrail types as well as supports, can be edited on an instance basis, and allow fine-tuning of specific conditions. 

This will be covered in the next post, "Railings Instance Level".

Railing Overview

Railing Overview

As a follow-up to our recent in-house lunch and learn, the below is meant to document the items reviewed and be a future reference.

An overview of the components/organization of railings.

• Railings are comprised of both continuous and non-continuous horizontal members, vertical balusters, supports and terminations.  The newer system families are the top rail and handrails (see Fig-1 below) and the new user created families are supports and terminations.

Fig-1:  Railing Type Properties Dialog Box

• It is important to note, that there is no family template for the user created supports or terminations.  To create a new support or termination family, the recommended practice is to start with a generic model family (unhosted) and change the family category (Fig-2) to support or termination (Fig-3).

Fig-2:  Family Category

Fig-3:  Railing Categories

A graphical representation for the Railing Typology is included below (See Fig-4).

Fig-4:  Railing Typology

For information on creating/modifying railings, see the next post "Creating Railings"

Using the View Reference Tool

Using the View Reference Tool

It is very common for us to type view references into notes during the construction document process.  However, if the view that you are referencing is relocated, the text must be manually updated to reflect the new drawing location.  With a large project containing hundreds of sheets and views, back-checking this can be a very time consuming process.

To eliminate the need to back-check typed references, we can substitute the typed reference for a "smart" VIEW REFERENCE" which will link to a view the same way in which a section or other tag would.

Let's walk through how to place a view reference.

• Type your text note as you normally would.  When you get to the location you would manually type the reference, use leave a space of about 10 characters as a placeholder for where the view reference will be placed.  The exact space will need to be verified with the reference after placed.

• Browse to the View Tab of the ribbon, and select the View Reference option under Sheet Composition

• Once the View Reference command has been selected, a View Reference specific toolbar will appear in your ribbon.  Two pull-downs will appear, one for view type (Drafting View, Elevation, Detail, etc.) and a second for the Target View (the actual view name you want to reference.)

• Select the type of view you want to reference from the View Type pulldown and then the specific view that you want to reference from the Target View pulldown.  After the view has been selected, click once to place the view reference within the open space left inside the text note.

COMPLETED NOTE WITH VIEW REFERENCE PLACED

• With the View Reference placed, you now have a smart tag that will update if the target view is ever moved.  Additionally, double-clicking on the view reference will take you directly to the target view.

One thing to note:  The view reference in our current template is not correct.  It will be loaded into the new 2015 template once it is completed.  In the interim, if you want to use this command (highly recommended), you can load it from the library under annotations (select overwrite and parameter values).  When placing, use the 3/32" option for placement within typical notes.  Once loaded, it will automatically become an option under view reference