Title block visibility parameters in a schedule?

[patricks]

Is there not a way to get yes/no visibility parameters in a title block family to show up as a column in a sheet schedule in a project? I'd like to have certain parameters as instance parameters that can be changed per sheet, but it would be nice to have that parameter showing in a sheet schedule so I can quickly see what sheets have the parameter on and what sheets have it off.

Tried shared parameter but that doesn't appear to work. When I try to create a new parameter in the TB family, shared parameters is not an option. It seems that shared parameters are only available when creating label fields.

[DoTheBIM]

Could you just add a project parameter to the sheet category to do what you want?

[patricks]

The parameter is a yes/no parameter that I have controlling the visibility of some invisible line layout grids on the sheet (for layout out lines between views). If there is some way to tie a project parameter to the yes/no visibility parameter in the title block family, I'd like to know how.

[DoTheBIM]

... If there is some way to tie a project parameter to the yes/no visibility parameter in the title block family, I'd like to know how.Well we can all wish for that can't we. I had no clue what you were trying to schedule and why. Is the purpose of scheduling visibility of layout grids just for easier managing (turning on and off) depending on sheet type? Or some other reason... If not, Autodesk just needs to fix being able to select many sheets in the project browser and then using the properties pallet. I wonder if that's been fixed in 2012.

To answer you question... I think your SOL.

[DoTheBIM]

Can you make use of Guide Grids? They can be scheduled in your sheet schedule.

[patricks]

dangit I always forget about selecting all the sheets at once. Okay that pretty much accomplishes what I need. No need to schedule this grid yes/no parameter. :p I just click on the title block family and use Select All Instances.

A guide grid wouldn't do what I need the sheet grid for. The grid is laid out equally within the drawing area of the sheet, 5 boxes across and 4 high for 24x36 and 6 across and 5 high for 30x42 sheets. This is mainly for detail views and is really just a starting point, as we move around the lines between viewports to suit the size of each detail view.

We used to have a separate TB family with the grids, because I don't like the grids to be present all the time (others in the office do). But instead of that I just made the grid lines have an instance yes/no parameter in our standard TB so one can just toggle them on or off as needed. When I finish up a project I like to have the grids all off, which is why I was thinking of having it in a master sheet schedule. But using Select All works just as well if not better.

[DoTheBIM]

Awesome. Not quite what I was referring to, but that works too.

[patricks]

Yes I know what you were referring to about selecting multiple sheets in the PB. You can actually make that work in 2011 if you do it just right. For other TB parameters such as the Drawn By and Check By parameters, I have a "master" sheet list that never gets printed that has all those fields visible, so I can go through and check every sheet quickly without having to open each and every sheet view.

Now, if only we could select multiple items in a SCHEDULE and change a field for all those items at once... :roll:

[DoTheBIM]

Yes I know what you were referring to about selecting multiple sheets in the PB. You can actually make that work in 2011 if you do it just right. ...:How do I do it just right? I need to change the initials on a bunch of sheets.

[patricks]

Well I've read before that it can be kind of finicky when you select multiple views or sheets.

What I just did is select all the sheets with 2 clicks (select one, then shift-click to select all of them) or hold Ctrl and click each sheet you need to change, move the mouse over to your initials field in Properties (without going back into the work space), click in that field and type what you need.

I just tried it several times and it works fine for me.

[DoTheBIM]

... move the mouse over to your initials field in Properties (without going back into the work space), click in that field and type what you need.... Not working for me. might have something to do with arrangement of browser and properties pallet. I have both mine on a second monitor to the right. But I did figure out that you can still use the old properties dialog by Alt+Enter and that works to update many sheets at one time.

[Haden]

:p I just click on the title block family and use Select All Instances.

A guide grid wouldn't do what I need the sheet grid for. The grid is laid out equally within the drawing area of the sheet, 5 boxes across and 4 high for 24x36 and 6 across and 5 high for 30x42 sheets. This is mainly for detail views and is really just a starting point, as we move around the lines between viewports to suit the size of each detail view.

We used to have a separate TB family with the grids, because I don't like the grids to be present all the time (others in the office do). But instead of that I just made the grid lines have an instance yes/no parameter in our standard TB so one can just toggle them on or off as needed. When I finish up a project I like to have the grids all off, ...using Select All works just as well if not better.

That's exactly what I have been doing for years, and it works like a charm. Additionally, I am used to using the light purple that us old-timers remember from the days of the non-print pencils that did not reproduce on a diazo (blueline) machine back in the day. I make all of the "not to be printed" gridlines (that I turn off with a yes/no parameter in the titleblock TYPE) this light purple color, and it visually reminds me that they must be turned off before plotting. Then I do the "select all instances -- in project" and turn them all off before plotting.

I also make 3 different line patterns with that same color tied to the yes/no parameter, so my grid helps me not only divide up a sheet for all small details, but also to center a view on the sheet, or divide the sheet into halves, quarters, or thirds, horizontally and vertically. I am attaching a screenshot of my titleblock showing the grids. I hope someone might find this helpful, as it has made my sheet setup in Revit a breeze!

[patricks]

Hey you've got some nice ideas going there. But I'm not old enough to remember non-plotting purple pencils. :p

[nancy.mcclure]

I think this is when we should ask the factory for Grid Guides that have a different X and Y increment, so we can figure out the equal division of our office standard workspace in both directions, create multiple guides, and VOILA. (AND they are already in 'non-print' light blue, which I AM old enough to remember*!)






*started working in my dad's arch/eng office when knee-high to a grasshopper!

[Haden]

I think this is when we should ask the factory for Grid Guides that have a different X and Y increment, so we can figure out the equal division of our office standard workspace in both directions, create multiple guides, and VOILA. (AND they are already in 'non-print' light blue, which I AM old enough to remember*!)!

Okay, Nancy (and Patricks), I will concede my non-BLUEPRINT light purple and accept the non-PHOTOCOPY blue (reluctantly ;)), if we can convince the factory to just let us draw the lines (and use different line STYLES like I do) in the grid guides rather than only allowing them to be evenly spaced solid style lines.