Creating walls between levels

[radu.grosu]

Has anybody experienced this? - I click on structural wall, choose properties and set the bottom constraint to, say, Level 1 and the top constraint to Level 2 (which is most certainly above Level 1) and click ok on the property sheet. The program prompts and error - "top constraint is invalid". I currently create my walls unconnected and then match properties with an existing one with constraints set OK, but I would like to skip these steps if possible. Does anybody have and idea? Thanks.

[David Harrington]

I've seen that error before as well. It seems to be that the changes set in the properties dialog are made sequentially to the object once the dialog is closed. So then the steps you pick and change will be applied in the same order. The best I can suggest is to make the top applied before changing the the bottom. This may even require a closing of the dialog and then reopen for the bottom change.

let me know if this does anything... ;)

-djh

[jenniferd]

This happened to me as well.
I don't understand the fix or the why's or even how not to duplicate this error in the future and for that matter that I really don't understand when the model decides to do it's own thing but try checking the element properties under Analytical Model. Sometimes auto detect is not correct and you need to adjust the top and bottom vertical projection. I don't quite understand any of that yet and am not sure why in my project that had hundreds of walls why I had to change this for 4 of my walls. Not sure if this will help but it is always nice when someone gets back to you sooner than later. Also not sure if it would matter if you placed the wall at a height or depth.
Jen

[jrichardson]

I don't necessarily have the answer but I think that it has something to do with the fact that RS likes to draw things down.

I can reproduce this error when in level one and change the properties to bottom constraint at Level 1 with zero offset and top constraint at Level 2 with zero offset prior to placing the wall. (we do not always want to draw our walls from the top down)

When placing the wall with the same methods in Level 2 it appears to work. Maybe someone from the factory can expain this in further depth.

thanks,
jamie

[radu.grosu]

Thanks for your answers..By the way, this happens in RB as well..I tried playing with the top and bottom constraints and found out that the error appeared only when the bottom constraint was the level with the lowest z ordinate of all. If I changed the bottom constraint to any level above(!) it worked..It is most likely a bug, and probably a fairy simple to correct one too, but it seems to stick version after version..

[kmarsh]

If you look in the options bar when you start the wall tool, there is a drop down which initially says "depth". To draw a wall that goes from Level 1 UP to level 2, you NEED to switch this dropdown from "Depth" to "Height". You can then simply choose "level 2" from the dropdown next to it, or you can go into your properties and reconfigure Base at Level 1 with 0 offset and Top at level 2 with 0 offset.

The "Height"/"Depth" parameter in the options bar is the key to this issue and is only available at creation time; after a wall is created, you can change the top/bottom constraints to be anything you want. (except putting the top below the base ;)

Basically, when the options bar is set to "depth" then Revit is expecting the wall to go below the level so Level 2 is not a valid "top" constraint. Whereas if you set the option to "Height" then level 2 is a valid "top" constraint.

Hope this affords some clarity.
-Ken

[jrichardson]

Great Ken !! That was the answer I think we all were looking for. After all this time I failed to click the arrow to see additional options. Thanks for the clarity.

jamie

[radu.grosu]

Yep, I get it. Thanks again. You're great!

[Mike Sealander]

This is a good thread, but in 2010 there doesn't appear to be a way to toggle the "Depth" versus "Height" parameter. It appears structural walls are locked into heading down, and non-structural walls are locked into heading up.

[m20roxxers]

Toggle is on the options bar, same place it has always been. Always works for structural walls.

Only Foundation wall type has depth locked in and it's always been this way.

[karalon10]

This is a good thread, but in 2010 there doesn't appear to be a way to toggle the "Depth" versus "Height" parameter. It appears structural walls are locked into heading down, and non-structural walls are locked into heading up.

Yeah this option is there - when you select your wall type to model and are ready to place, just look up at the ribbon, just underneath you will see the options pop up when you select "wall" and here you set depth or height you can also set the actual height etc as you do this..