Understanding PAT Files
Filled regions are used on every Revit project that we do. While our library has a large number of standard materials created as filled regions, a specific design may require a new filled region to be created.
Complex filled regions are created using PAT files. If you are not familiar with PAT files, at first glance they can be somewhat confusing. The below is a summary of what each number in the pat file means, so you can be better equipped to create your own custom PAT files for your projects.
First, the default Revit .pat file is located here: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit Architecture 2016\Data. When making new patterns files, I often find the best way to do it is to start a new notepad file for your specific filled region. If you think your filled region should be incorporated into the office template file, please e-mail it to me and I will take a look and include in the next template update.
Here in an example of a new .pat file that was created for a project in the office last week, for a 24 x 36 cork wall tile, in a running bond pattern.
And now for the notepad file that was used to create this pattern.
*Cork Tile 36x24, 36 x 24 Tiles Stagger
;%TYPE=MODEL
0, 0, 0, 0, 24
90, 0, 0, 24, 18, 24, -24
The first row of numbers creates the horizontal lines for the pattern:
Angle = 0 --> lines are horizontal
x,y origin = 0, 0 --> defines the starting point of the lines
shift = 0 --> line pattern is not shifted
offset = 0 --> consecutive lines are 24 inches apart
no line pattern --> the line is solid
The second row of numbers creates the vertical lines for the pattern:
Angle = 90 --> lines are vertical
x,y origin = 0, 0 --> pattern begins at the same point as the horizontals
shift = 24 --> line pattern is shifted by 24 model units for consecutive lines
offset = 18 --> consecutive lines are 18 inches apart
dash = 24 --> each line is built of 24" dashes and 24" spaces
space =24 --> this pattern repeats until the face boundary
