Wish List items

[The Monk]

The following items should be a part of the basic program:

1) Custom Label or Attribute creation; specifically for title border sheets. The current label list is too limited and ought to be customizable

2) A physical manual for the program

3) Video tutorials of some of the custom features

4) Better documentation on the items such as Parameters, examples of family creation types, massing elements, etc. The online manual is hard to follow and read

5) Walls and other objects made capable to be drawn along and ellipse

Thanks,

John

[Scott D Davis]

1) Custom Label or Attribute creation; specifically for title border sheets. The current label list is too limited and ought to be customizable.
Labels are customizable using shared parameters. You can make any parameter you'd like, and use it in 'custom labels' for your titleblocks, or anywhere else for that matter.

[mlgatzke]

3) Video tutorials of some of the custom features
What subjects are you looking for video tutorials for? I do some of this for my class. I might have one or more that fit your need.

[Martin P]

Labels are customizable using shared parameters. You can make any parameter you'd like, and use it in 'custom labels' for your titleblocks, or anywhere else for that matter.

That is true Scott - but shared paramaters are a pretty advanced feature to learn to use, the very first thing almost every new Revit user is going to want do is create their own titleblocks - it is probably the very first family that everyone will create. Shared paramaters to make a custom label in a titleblock to a new user will seem like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut! - most will struggle with concept of families, labels, parameters etc - never mind shared paramaters.... - maybe there should be a tutorial aimed at new users on EXACTLY how to do your titleblock including custom labels, but without going into detail on shared paramaters - just "this is what you do". In over 3 years of using Revit I havent looked at using shared paramaters yet, and I have made a lot of families.

[zanzibarbob7]

Martin,

I agree with you that the Titleblock is one of the first things out the gate and that shared parameters can be difficult to get your head around. It would be nice if there were more optiions available in the Project Information.

Having said that, I am going to open up shared parameters in the help files and buckle down and do my homework. Guys like Scott and Beegee, who seem to have grown up with Revit in their cribs, make it clear that you will only become a Jedi Master through dedication and hard work. Then you see some of the rendering Chris Zoog turns out and you realize that you are still in the crawling stage.

Patience and hard work, Grasshoppa'. And come to the well (AUGI) when you need it, AND to attempt to help others.

[Scott D Davis]

Martin! I'm in disbelief that you have yet to create shared parameters! You have been using Revit for quite awhile now!

Ok, Shared Parameters...sounds intimidating, but really fairly simple. It's really only a couple more steps that creating a 'normal' parameter. Shared Parameters reside in a file "Shared parameters.txt". Here's the help file for creating the Shared Parameter: (Once you create the Shared Parameters in the file, they can be loaded into any family, including Titleblocks)




NOTE This procedure is for creating a new shared parameter file. If a file already exists, you can browse to that file and modify it as needed.

From the File menu, choose Shared Parameters. The Edit Shared Parameters dialog box appears.
Click Create to begin creating an external parameter file. Type a file name and save it to the desired location.
After creating the file, you create parameter groups. In the Groups box, click New. Type the name of a new parameter group and click OK. Parameter groups help you to categorize your parameters. For example, you might create a group called electrical for specific electrical parameters or a hardware group for specific hardware parameters. You can create as many parameter groups as desired.
You can now create parameters that are part of the group. From the Parameter group drop-down menu, select a group to which you want to add parameters.
In the Parameters group box, click New. Type a name for the parameter, specify its value type (types include text, integer, number, and length). Create as many parameters as desired. NOTE You do not specify the parameter to be instance or type. You decide that later when you add the parameter to a family or a project. See Instance and Type Properties (http://mk:@msitstore:C:Program%20FilesAutodesk%20Revit%20Building%208ProgramRevitENU.chm::/WS46b90c3cb2c58caddf503fc9951c5a8-7f9c.html).
When finished creating parameters, click OK.

[Martin P]

Martin! I'm in disbelief that you have yet to create shared parameters! You have been using Revit for quite awhile now!



I am a bit ashamed to admit it too!! just never had a need yet. Must get round to looking at all the bits I havent tried yet!! Just too busy churning out house drawings...

[aaronrumple]

The thing to remember about shared parameters is that they are just a way the programmers came up with to get annotations, projects and families to all have the same data field. Nothing more.

Once the shared parameter and it's associated families and tags are loaded, the shared param. file isn't used further.

Also just because you put the parameters in nice neat categories - it doesn't really mean much. It might help you get the correct param. used in a door associated with a tag, but it doesn't prohibit that param from being use for something completely unrelated. (Messy technology in my opinion...)

A good example might be "Instance Width". Doors and windows are set for "type width" out of the box. Maybe you do width by instance like our office does - not type. There isn't really any need to have an "door instance width" param. and a "window instance width" param. You could have simply one instance with param. and use it in both your door and windows.

Personally I'd like to see these go away.

If I'm making a door - any parameter I add to that door should be automatically usable in tags, projects, schedules and ODBC.

[The Monk]

Labels are customizable using shared parameters. You can make any parameter you'd like, and use it in 'custom labels' for your titleblocks, or anywhere else for that matter.

Scott,

I am a new user to Revit and I am using Series 7 ( I have not migrated to 8 yet). Where do I find the "custom label" tool or setting. When I place a label I have noticed a greyed out "modify" box. Is that where you are suggesting I make the changes? Is there a tutorial I can follow?

Thanks,

John

[aaronrumple]

Hit the select button.

Run through the help files/tutorial fist...

[hon.90086]

Does anyone have a Title Block for DoD project?
Mainly NAVFAC Title block in Revit.
Hon

[The Monk]

Martin! I'm in disbelief that you have yet to create shared parameters! You have been using Revit for quite awhile now!

Ok, Shared Parameters...sounds intimidating, but really fairly simple. It's really only a couple more steps that creating a 'normal' parameter. Shared Parameters reside in a file "Shared parameters.txt". Here's the help file for creating the Shared Parameter: (Once you create the Shared Parameters in the file, they can be loaded into any family, including Titleblocks)

I created a "shared parameter.txt" file since none existed. In there I created new a new parameter called "Q&A Review Date". I opened my title block sheet to add a label. When I did that I selected the add parameter option and selected my new shared parameter noted above. I placed it and then opened my drawing file with the title block currently residing in the drawing file. I reloaded the revised title block to update the curent one. The new label I placed in the family title block file does not show! When I highlght the title block I get a question mark where the new label is located! When I view the properties of the title block the new label is not listed nor any of the other placed labels ( those that are part of the original program list for doing a label). For labels, unlike dimension labels, there is not the option to define the instance!

I look through the tutorial section and there is nothing that addresses this issue. It seems in the "catagories" section labels are not part of the shared parameter process. If that is not true how do you create a new label with shared parameters that are not part of the original program? I need specific steps please.

John

[LRaiz]

John,

You are on the right track but there is one more step that you need to do.

While in your project press Settings | Project Parameters... and observe resulting dialog. If your "Q&A Review Date" parameter is not listed then press ADD... and proceed selecting your parameter from shared parameters.txt.

You will need to apply this parameter to a correct category. If parameter value to be the same for all sheets in your project then checkmark "Project Information" category. In order to have the parameter vary from sheet to sheet checkmark "Drawing Sheets" category.

Once this is done new parameter should become available either in Settings | Project Information or in sheet properties depending on checkmark that you previously chosen. At this point you should also be able to include your parameter into drawing list schedule and once you assign parameter value you will see it in your titleblock.

HTH

[The Monk]

John,

You are on the right track but there is one more step that you need to do.

While in your project press Settings | Project Parameters... and observe resulting dialog. If your "Q&A Review Date" parameter is not listed then press ADD... and proceed selecting your parameter from shared parameters.txt.

You will need to apply this parameter to a correct category. If parameter value to be the same for all sheets in your project then checkmark "Project Information" category. In order to have the parameter vary from sheet to sheet checkmark "Drawing Sheets" category.

Once this is done new parameter should become available either in Settings | Project Information or in sheet properties depending on checkmark that you previously chosen. At this point you should also be able to include your parameter into drawing list schedule and once you assign parameter value you will see it in your titleblock.

HTH

Thank you for the information. I have done what you noted. I can see the new parameters in the project information pulldown. I have placed some text in the "value" sections for each. However, those values are not visible in the titleblock. And when I highlight the title block I get the question mark where information should be showing. Do I need to re-insert the labels again on my master title block?

Thanks again,

John

[jbalding48677]

John -

When you pick on the titleblock, what color is the question mark. If it is blue you can enter the value right there (or in the properties dialog). If it is red something is not quite right.

HTH -

[The Monk]

John -

When you pick on the titleblock, what color is the question mark. If it is blue you can enter the value right there (or in the properties dialog). If it is red something is not quite right.

HTH -

Jim,

The question mark is red as well as all the text; even the text that is not a label. What do you suggest? What does the error represent or where should I look for a correction?

Thanks,

John

[jbalding48677]

It may be too late as we have already submitted to the publisher, but I put in a request to add shared parameters to our custom titleblock exercise in the updated version of our book.

That being said, if you have the current edition, shared parameters (in sheets no less) is covered on pages 71-72, 74, 77 and creating your own custom title block is covered on pages 255-261.

HTH -

[jbalding48677]

One of two things off the top of my head...

1. The parameters are not loaded into the project via shared parameters
2. The parameters are not loaded into the proper categories
3. ???

- JB

[The Monk]

One of two things off the top of my head...

1. The parameters are not loaded into the project via shared parameters
2. The parameters are not loaded into the proper categories
3. ???

- JB
The catagory I selected was "project information" and I made it a type. Does the "shared parameters.txt" file load into a project when you open it each time? Or do you do that a the "parameters setting" dialogue?

What book? Where does one obtain a copy??

John

[Scott D Davis]

What book? Where does one obtain a copy??
At Amazon.com (or some other online retailers...)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1418020567/qid=1120858361/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_ur_3/002-9969442-6090418?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[LRaiz]

john.87347,

It seems clear that you are lost but it is difficult to give you the right advice without seeing any of your data. I suggest that you give a call either to your reseller or to Autodesk. Subscription price that you paid includes support, use it. I suspect the problem is something simple and they may be able to diagnose it remotely.

[Mr Spot]

The catagory I selected was "project information" and I made it a type. Does the "shared parameters.txt" file load into a project when you open it each time? Or do you do that a the "parameters setting" dialogue?

What book? Where does one obtain a copy??

John


If you are applying to project information use instance as opposed to type. Project information is already type based in a sense.

[DanielleAnderson]

The catagory I selected was "project information" and I made it a type. Does the "shared parameters.txt" file load into a project when you open it each time? Or do you do that a the "parameters setting" dialogue?


Maybe I am jumping in late here, but to get even slightly more specific than Mr. Spot before me:
When you go into project parameters and add new parameters, say, for a titleblock, the information that you only want to fill in once and be proejct-wide, works well if it is in project info as a type, then the specific things that are sheet-specific should be part of the "drawing sheets" category and instance based...and from this example you can get the idea of hwo to organize shared parameters for other families. Once you get the hang of them, they are really nice because you can really customize a project to fit your own unique purposes. I love subcategories for the same reason. :)

[The Monk]

Well I got the thing to work!! Here is what I did (and I am the first to admit this many not have been the best way to do things):

1) I made sure in my basic project template all my shared parameters were present that I created ... I saved the file

2) I opened my master titleblock file and removed all the shared parameters I created. I saved it and closed it.

3) I went to the project file and removed all the shared parameters I placed via the "parameter setting" function. I saved and closed the file.

4) I opened the prokect file to verify the shared parameters were present in the Project Information function. They were not, so I reloaded them via the Parameter Setting function

5) I opened my master titleblock and re-inserted the labels and shared parameters. I saved and closed the file

6) I reloaded the master titleblock and the default values for the shared parameters are clear and present!

I have changed values a few times just to see if they work; and they do. I called my dad to make sure I was awake as well!

I want to thank everyone for all their help. I truly appreciate it. If I can buy you a vertial coffee let me know. As one of you suggested, I will take advantage of my subscription for help in the future. I will look to you all as well if that is OK too. Your insites are invaluable.

Ever so humble,

John