Is there a "draworder" in REVIT?

[tedg]

Can't seem to find this information through "help" or searching AUGI,
Does anyone know if it's possible to graphically send a linked revit model "to the back"?

I have an architectural model linked, which I've set to halftone and some of my work exists in the same place (below or real close).

I want to make sure that the structural work shows up, instead of the linked model hovering above it or overlapping it.

Thanks

[m20roxxers]

You don't have control over this.

Is this for printing or visibility??

[tedg]

You don't have control over this.

Is this for printing or visibility??
I thought it was for both, but I guess it was for visibility becase it seems to print ok.

The "half tone" arch line work is showing up over the structural lines on the screen, so I assumed it was going to print that way, but all seems ok.

So I guess I really don't have a problem after all.

Thanks

[bellz]

We have had this problem for a while now. It is fine on the screen, but when we print, we tend to see the arch model lines instead of our own structural lines. I have set the arch link to halftone, I have changed all line weights to the thinnest, nothing seems to work. I have tried printing with raster settings, which sort of works, but then the print quality is not as good; the line work is just not crisp. I'd love some insight to this.

Thanks in advance.

[cdatechguy]

I'll ask our structural gal what she does with our architectural models this weekend....as she overlays our models using filters....they tend to look pretty nice...;)

[david_peterson]

I usually show the curtain wall and such for cladding back-up elevations. I then modify the setting in the linked model VG display to be Transparent so my steel behind shows up.
Only problem is that you'll have to unload the arch link if you want select anything behind the curtain wall.

[trialbyfire]

Is there Draw Order? Yes...BUT it's very limited to detail lines, etc. and is almost useless in Revit.

There's several tricks - no real catch-all solution. Overriding the VG to use half-tone and transparency, changing line weights to thin, adjusting the displayed displine and weeding out un-needed elements all help.

Even with the linked lines set to be transparent, they still show up on top of the model content. One thing I read on another post here that finally fixed it for me was to change the COLOR of the linked lines to match my model line color (if you use different colors). Even though it all turns black when it prints, for some reason it fixes the problem - a half-toned, transparent green line on top of a green model line will wash out and plot all black when a similar grey line on top of a green line won't.

[Craig_L]

Actually there is a draw order for linked files (as well as for detail items, and detail lines)
For the lines/items you need to select them, one at a time, and a "send to back" "send to front" option will appear in your ribbon.

For the views, select the linked in plan/model/whatevs and under properties there is a drop down box foreground/background.

[trialbyfire]

For the properties of the view itself (not the link properties) there is a Foreground/Background Color Scheme setting. To be honest, I have no idea what it does as I've never seen it make any difference on my projects. When the linked Revit file is selected, I have no foreground/background options available in the properties.

I don't link in CAD very often so correct me if I'm wrong here, but I believe there is a draw order (or foreground/background) control for linked in CAD files (so long as it's inserted into the specific view, and not the whole project), perhaps that's what you are referring to?

[m20roxxers]

Colour schemes are an Architectural feature for room drawings that need color schemes, also MEP uses them for spaces, pipes & ducts.

The background/foreground is for that tool only.
They have no bearing on linked files.

Linked files have no option for background forground, only linked 2D/CAD files have this option, and then only if they have been linked in as a 2D element.
Linked files are best managed with custom VG settings I find, but that is just me, as for placement it really depends on where the geometry sits, what it is etc...

[scowsert]

Like everyone has posted. There really isn't any draworder in Revit. If you have a cad file linked in to a view then you can send it to the foreground/background. That doesn't exist if you have a Arch model. So what do I do? The same as been noted above.

1) I turn off the arch stuff that I don't want to see.
2) I set all of their stuff to transparent
3) I set their lineweights to 80 80 80. This gives a nice grey tone on our printers.
4) I set their lineweights to 1.

At that point their lines are thin and bomb right through our lines (lame!) but there is enough black squishing out from under it that our stuff appears fine.

I'd really like to see a lines Merge options. Black is darker then grey, black wins. Just like if you took a pen on paper. I can draw a fat grey line then draw a black thin line over it you'd grey with a black line in it. If I took a fat black marker then drew a thin grey line over it you wouldn't see it. Really I'm quite surprised that this issues has been around as long as it has. Next version? Nah... you've got to be kidding me.

[trialbyfire]

I agree, it's quite lame. Why a "line merge" printing option hasn't been delevoped is beyond me.

Try making the arch's line the same color as whatever it's sitting on top of. Even though it's halftoned/transparent, and still doesn't always look right on screen, it seems to have fixed the 'grey on black' problem for me.

[scowsert]

I agree, it's quite lame. Why a "line merge" printing option hasn't been delevoped is beyond me.

Try making the arch's line the same color as whatever it's sitting on top of. Even though it's halftoned/transparent, and still doesn't always look right on screen, it seems to have fixed the 'grey on black' problem for me.

The catch for me is that I want to show all of the archs walls even if they aren't structural and I want to show them as though they aren't mine. Half tone/thin grey whatever.

So yes your method works but then it means that they are black in the middle of the drawing where they are just architectural walls and not structural walls.

So its 'kinda' a fix I suppose, but then again all of the examples are 'kinda' fixes. Hopefully the factory can address this maybe... please? :)

[david_peterson]

You can always set the link to 1/2 tone. But I'm guessing that doesn't get at the root of the problem and just creates more.

[trialbyfire]

We like to show all the arch walls too. In my drawings, with my plotter, at least (individual results may vary), if I make the arch's lines half-tone and transparent there is still a noticible difference on screen (so I can differentiate the link from my model) and they plot lighter like autoCAD screened lines would. So where my linework doesn't exist they look light and screened, but where I have a line (usually thicker since I've dropped all arch'l lines to "1" width) they wash out into mine.

Takes a little playing around with colors to get it all jiving - but what else is new in Revit?

This is a very frustrating issue in Revit, and I burned a lot of time getting it to work right for us - good luck!

[floorline.187438]

I am working on structural framing plan with beams drawn already. After I added the floor construction the beams disappeared but when I hover, you will see that they are there but are not visible. I didnt change anything on visibility. The draw order does not appear on the tab after i select all the beams, as what's mentioned on the other post..

[david_peterson]

If you are using RS, depending on view usage, you'll get different results. If view usage is set to "Arch", you'll have to turn your floor slab "transparent" in the VG setting.
If you set the view usage to Structural (Depending on what package you are using) I believe you should be able to see through the floor slab.

Hope this helps.

[floorline.187438]

You're heaven sent. I knew it was something that simple. But being a new Revit user it will take time to know all these tricks. Thanks!!!!

[david_peterson]

You're heaven sent. I knew it was something that simple. But being a new Revit user it will take time to know all these tricks. Thanks!!!!
Well I would be of the opinion that Revit has more work-arounds and tricks than bullet proof fundamentals of "A always = A" More like "If you want A to always = A, you need to do B, then C then D, then add B to C and divide by D"
But that's just my thought.

[blewis.225458]

The work around that i use is by duplicating the view and have only the linked model turned on in that view.
Put the linked model view on the sheet first, then add in your original view (obviously with the linked model turned off)