Issue Date vs Revisions for architectural project template frustration!

[jokermtb]

Hello everyone, I've started the process of developing a 100% Revit Architectural Project template (no autocad bits therein), one that includes all the usual drawing sheets (Title Sheet, Demo sheets, New work sheets, Elevation Sheets, Detail sheets, schedule sheets, etc.) one finds in a typical project. I'm currently still using for my main Architectural drawing production, Autocad Architecture 2013, but want to jump across the fence to Revit for our next Project. My newly created Revit Architectural Project multi sheet template, ended up looking very much like the one I've used for the last 9-10 years (Autocad), except for one glaringly frustrating issue - ISSUE DATES!


I find it incredibly irritating that when I finally jump onto the Revit bandwagon (I bought the 2013 Revit package), that having an issue date that resides in every sheet would be a simple task for Revit. One edits this issue date "block" and it updates globally across all sheets - simple, you say?! NOT! Most of you will agree, issue dates are a traditional method of quickly determining what sheets have been issued for what purpose (Permit Set, Construction Docs, Addendums, etc.). In addition, we often get Project Sheet Templates from client/customers (usually autocad) that have almost identical issue date block requirements, so I would like to also make a Revit Project Sheet Template that would preserve this global issue date update efficiency.


Here's what my issue date 'block' looks like in Autocad. The text is an autocad block, so when I typed in ACB #1 CD 07.26.13, it showed up in all my sheets. It's a time saver - I don't have to manually enter in that data in every sheet.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NKnrQ26TQ7I/Uh-iPsGBWxI/AAAAAAAABRk/l5HsSTrTztk/w385-h335-no/Autocad+Architecture+Issue+Date.png


Double clicked, gets one the Edit Block autocad doo-hicky....

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3djSjwvcnw4/Uh-iwDxMttI/AAAAAAAABR4/5AXvfoHqIGU/w542-h357-no/Autocad+Architecture+Issue+Date+Edit+Mode.png

Something like this is what I want to create in Revit, but it seems there are no bits in Revit that I can use to recreate this for my template drawing sheets. I've tinkered around with adding parameters to my title block, trying to "trick" Revit's automated revisions add-ins, to perform the same function as my multi-line issue date autocad block, but I've failed. Having to plop a cloud whenever I want to add a new issue in Revit is maddening. Ideate has devised a solution - maybe - but, this is only for Revit 2014. Too bad, because I'd prefer not to spend a few thousand dollars to 'update' my brand new Revit 2013, just so I can have a functional autocad style issue date block.



Also, I'm not buying the whole "just do it the Revit way". Clients, Building dept's., Bidders, Contractors, etc. expect to see issue date information on a drawing, not an informationally opaque "revised on X date".....


Anyone ever find a work-around for this? Should I keep turning the dials until the magic happens, or is this something that is completely beyond the scope of my expectations for Revit?

[dcretsinger]

I might be getting the basis of your question wrong but have you tried using the default Revision Schedule that comes with Revit (it is in any default Titleblock template)? We typically do almost exactly what you are describing above with the default schedule and have never had an problem (we tinkered with the format of it on our sheet but that was simple to do). With the click of a button we can tell any individual sheet if we want it to show any particular revision (Rev. 1 & rev. 2 but not Rev. 3 or simply check mark all of the revisions and they will all appear.
See the attachment for what I am describing. I am assuming that you have already created the Revisions using the Revision command (on the View tab) and then it is simply a matter of checking the sheet to make sure you have the right (or all of them) selected.

Not sure if that helps..




Hello everyone, I've started the process of developing a 100% Revit Architectural Project template (no autocad bits therein), one that includes all the usual drawing sheets (Title Sheet, Demo sheets, New work sheets, Elevation Sheets, Detail sheets, schedule sheets, etc.) one finds in a typical project. I'm currently still using for my main Architectural drawing production, Autocad Architecture 2013, but want to jump across the fence to Revit for our next Project. My newly created Revit Architectural Project multi sheet template, ended up looking very much like the one I've used for the last 9-10 years (Autocad), except for one glaringly frustrating issue - ISSUE DATES!


I find it incredibly irritating that when I finally jump onto the Revit bandwagon (I bought the 2013 Revit package), that having an issue date that resides in every sheet would be a simple task for Revit. One edits this issue date "block" and it updates globally across all sheets - simple, you say?! NOT! Most of you will agree, issue dates are a traditional method of quickly determining what sheets have been issued for what purpose (Permit Set, Construction Docs, Addendums, etc.). In addition, we often get Project Sheet Templates from client/customers (usually autocad) that have almost identical issue date block requirements, so I would like to also make a Revit Project Sheet Template that would preserve this global issue date update efficiency.


Here's what my issue date 'block' looks like in Autocad. The text is an autocad block, so when I typed in ACB #1 CD 07.26.13, it showed up in all my sheets. It's a time saver - I don't have to manually enter in that data in every sheet.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NKnrQ26TQ7I/Uh-iPsGBWxI/AAAAAAAABRk/l5HsSTrTztk/w385-h335-no/Autocad+Architecture+Issue+Date.png


Double clicked, gets one the Edit Block autocad doo-hicky....

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3djSjwvcnw4/Uh-iwDxMttI/AAAAAAAABR4/5AXvfoHqIGU/w542-h357-no/Autocad+Architecture+Issue+Date+Edit+Mode.png

Something like this is what I want to create in Revit, but it seems there are no bits in Revit that I can use to recreate this for my template drawing sheets. I've tinkered around with adding parameters to my title block, trying to "trick" Revit's automated revisions add-ins, to perform the same function as my multi-line issue date autocad block, but I've failed. Having to plop a cloud whenever I want to add a new issue in Revit is maddening. Ideate has devised a solution - maybe - but, this is only for Revit 2014. Too bad, because I'd prefer not to spend a few thousand dollars to 'update' my brand new Revit 2013, just so I can have a functional autocad style issue date block.



Also, I'm not buying the whole "just do it the Revit way". Clients, Building dept's., Bidders, Contractors, etc. expect to see issue date information on a drawing, not an informationally opaque "revised on X date".....


Anyone ever find a work-around for this? Should I keep turning the dials until the magic happens, or is this something that is completely beyond the scope of my expectations for Revit?

[MikeJarosz]

I have discussed this issue multiple times on this forum. Each time, I have made the case that over the life of a project, each sheet will take on a unique history. My usual example is the addition of a new sheet to the set, six months after 100% completion. What date do you put on this new sheet? Certainly not the block you show above. The new sheet didn't exist on any of those dates! Also, what if the project has long lead items like elevators and escalators, and the owner wants to bid them before 100% completion to place an early order. Just six sheets of the set will be dated and issued. No other sheets get that issue date. Therefore, their issue history will differ from all the others. Then there are the corrections that result from RFIs that only apply to a few sheets and so on......

To accommodate this process, Revit has developed a method that I believe works well. A database of all issues is created, just like your block. BUT IT IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED TO EVERY SHEET, as you wish it would. This is because logically, every issue does not apply to every sheet. A second step is necessary. You must visit each sheet, and select from the master set of issues those that apply to this sheet in particular, creating a subset of the issues unique to the history of this one sheet.

From the context of your post, you are a residential designer. Your approach may work for your practice, but it will not work for most commercial construction, especially big projects where the stakes are high. Revit must be all things to all people. How many drawings do you have in a typical set? I bet following the Revit issue procedure would not take all that much extra time on your part. Besides, if you have not already discovered this, Revit is a huge timesaver. You may complain that the revision/issue process takes more time than you are used to, but the time you save on major tasks like drawing sections, more than makes up for the little bit of extra work required to issue revisions. In my practice, a project could have a thousand sheets or more and last for years. The Revit issue procedure is a major improvement in my opinion and I am glad to have it.