+ sign for positive numbers in tags for Area value

[ebu]

Hello,

Is it possible to show a + sign for positive area values in roomtags? I can see the option in the edit label-->edit unit format menu but it is grayed out for Area values

Kind regards,

[Alfredo Medina]

Can an area be a negative value?

[ebu]

Can you subtract a large area from a small area?

[Alfredo Medina]

I don't know why, but yes, you could. In that case, the result will give you a result with negative sign. So...?

[ebu]

Indeed a negative sign and it shows in tag, but now the reverse case, if I subtract a small area from a large area I want to see a + sign in the tag. And like I wrote in the beginning the option is there, which is great, however it is not selectable

[Alfredo Medina]

Yes, the option is there, but it applies to other data types, not area. I suppose the programmers assumed that it was not necessary. You could probably create that kind of representation in a schedule, using a calculated value, but not in tags, because tags don't accept calculated values.

[patricks]

I'm not understanding why a + or - sign would be needed for an area, since Area by definition is always a positive number.

[LP Design]

Negative values can be used for Program analysis. You compare the POR space to the actual and have it spit out the difference. We use Revit schedulesfor this purpose (calculated values, as mentioned above) but I have never tried to use room tags that way. Ebu, is this an old CAD standard you are trying to match? Or do you have a more specific purpose in mind?

-LP

[ebu]

We do a lot of government buildings with lots of different user groups with very specific room area demands which have to be convinced they are getting the right amount of space as stated in the program of demands. The schedule method is how we do it now, but graphically it's better to put the real area in a tag followed by the difference between real and the demanded area. (and off course seeing a lot of pluses (+) makes the users happy and us also)

and btw i tried to adjust the show plus setting on all the parameter types in the roomtag label and the only type it seems to work on is the perimeter parameter

anyway thx for your time and answers

[LP Design]

There is a relatively easy workaround, although it is not quite automatic. I use this for life safety plans.

Set up a shared parameter for "Area Difference" or something. Make the parameter a text value. Assign that to rooms in your project, and to a label in your room tag. Now in your schedule, include "Area Difference" right next to your calculated area value. You get something that looks a bit like this:

86414

In this example, I formatted the columns so the user has to input values in the blue fields, and the white fields are calculated values.

The room tag reads the text parameter, which you match to the schedule calculation. You do have to do a bit more quality control by periodically going through the schedule to make sure that your text fields match the calculated value. On the other hand, this still gives you the benefits of Revit's scheduling abilities, and you can add pluses and minuses to your heart's content.

Hope this helps,
-LP