Model Lines vs. Detail Lines Interesting

[davidcobi]

If I draw a Thin Model line and a Thin Detail line and select them both the Filter Selection Tool doesn't differentiate between them. I also can't seem to differentiate between them in Visibility/Graphics so I couldn't turn just one off. I guess the answer is don't use the same Line Style Subcategory for your model lines that you would use for your detail lines.

[aaronrumple]

I tend to have model lines as "things" and drafting lines as "pens". So I might have linework for expansion joints as a category. Where drafting lines are simply Pen01, Pen02 etc...

[ian.117632]

I am also having a problem with this. I am trying to draw over some model lines with detail lines and then delete the model lines. Problem is most posts I have seen say to separate the model and detail lines with a filter. Well no filter I have seen can do this. Does anyone have a solution? I am in desparate need of an answer.

[dbaldacchino]

One interesting thing I realized recently (I guess I was making a gross assumption beforehand!) is that both model lines and detail lines use model lineweights, which vary by scale. I would have sworn that detail lines were controlled by annotation lineweights, but they're not. It seems quite odd to me and I still find it hard to digest.

[truevis]

I am also having a problem with this. I am trying to draw over some model lines with detail lines and then delete the model lines. Problem is most posts I have seen say to separate the model and detail lines with a filter. Well no filter I have seen can do this. Does anyone have a solution? I am in desperate need of an answer."Select all instances" works for line types and may be helpful. Be careful because it selects all in the project.

[aaronrumple]

"Select all instances" works for line types and may be helpful. Be careful because it selects all in the project.
For one view:
Select all instances. <all in project area selected>
Isolate Object <everything else is hidden>
Deselect objects.
Window linework in current view.

[Melarch]

Ian,

If your model line and detail line, Line Style names are not the same you can differentiate in the Filter button display between the two objects. Otherwise you have to uncheck one or the other and see what happens.

But observation by drawing a model line first and detail on top of the model line versus drawing the detail line first and model line on top of the detail line lists the two objects with the model line object first in the Filter dialog box for both instances. Conclusion, Model lines are listed first in the displayed order in the Filter tool regardless of which one is drawn on top or first.

[irwin]

One interesting thing I realized recently (I guess I was making a gross assumption beforehand!) is that both model lines and detail lines use model lineweights, which vary by scale. I would have sworn that detail lines were controlled by annotation lineweights, but they're not. It seems quite odd to me and I still find it hard to digest.
Objects in Revit can be classified into model, detail, and annotation. Although detail objects and annotation objects are both view-specific they are intended for different purposes and behave differently.

Detail objects are generally intended to provide a 2D representation of a real physical object. For example, a detail component representing flashing is just a simplified 2D representation of a 3D physical object. That means that detail items scale like 3D objects when you change the view scale.

Annotation objects are intended for annotating drawings. They don't represent real 3D objects and they don't scale the same way when you change the view scale -- instead they maintain a fixed size on the printed page.

You generally have a choice of how to represent things -- for example, place a 3D structural column or a 2D detail component to represent the same thing, or draw it with detail lines. The different ways to represent the object should look the same when you print so detail objects need to be drawn with the same lineweights as model objects.

[mmodernc]

I think maybe detail lines should be used as little as possible in the project model and as much as possible inside families.

[dbaldacchino]

Irwin, thanks for the explanation. The way you put it makes sense to me. But sometimes I wish I can place detail lines as annotation objects (knowing exactly what the finished line weight is going to be, regardless of scale).

My biggest problem is finding "the right balance" between all the objects in Revit, all the line styles at all scales and all the dwg links. Everything is so interconnected that to get a system in place that you can map out is difficult, as changing one particular setting for one object at one scale might be affecting one or more things at one or more scales. That becomes hard to manage. I feel like I still can't get my arms around this entire concept and know how to manipulate it, knowing confidently that I'm not adversely affecting something else when I'm "fixing" another.

If someone has a rational process by which they go to set up their templates in their office, I would really appreciate to hear about them. One can use a basic rule to make Line type 1 light and progressively add weight up to Line weight 16. But what happens when you start varying scale? Do you progressively interpolate so that linetype 1 at the finest scale is never heavier than linetype 2 at the coarsest scale? Scale is in essence increasing all your possible combinations (16 lineweights at 6 scales = 96 possible combinations). There are instances were I want to set a lineweight to be, say, 0.02 for any scale. I know I can do that by assigning that value for all scales. I might have to reserve the first 10 lineweights for variable scales and the last 6 (11 to 16) to be fixed at all scales.

I'm waiting for the light bulb on my head to turn itself on! :idea:

[BWG]

So what is the purpose of a model line other than being a line that is not view specific? And the fact that it is workplane based.

[Joef]

Sometimes you need a line drawn directly on a wall or a roof or some other 3d element, and you do not want to have it view based because you need to see the line in a perspective view or you are linking the file. There are lots of uses, though to be honest I don't use them very often.

Joe

[BWG]

That is what I use them for. So they show up in all views, live. I was just wondering if there was a special use for them other than that.

[mmodernc]

Why can't you differentiate between deatil lines and model lines in line styles? or have I missed something

[sbrown]

Another benifit of model lines is you can draw on your elevations before you build any geometry. They are very helpful when studying window trims or other elevations features which you don't want to spend the time modelling until you know what you want them to look like. Whats really cool is you can draw trim around your window on the building model itself, then open the window family and copy/paste the lines into it and place them around the window, then reload the window and now all your windows have trim and if you flex the window the trim flexes too. NO parameters needed. Very nice for designers who's eyes glaze over if you mention parameters.

[sonya]

model lines are for when you want that line to turn up in every view of that plan level - eg. for things you haven't quite got around to drawing properly yet. if the model lines represent something eg. parking layout then it can be more useful to use model linework in an inplace family, in which case the lines take on object styles.

detail lines are for when you want that line to turn up in a single view only.

[dbaldacchino]

Detail objects are generally intended to provide a 2D representation of a real physical object. For example, a detail component representing flashing is just a simplified 2D representation of a 3D physical object. That means that detail items scale like 3D objects when you change the view scale.

Annotation objects are intended for annotating drawings. They don't represent real 3D objects and they don't scale the same way when you change the view scale -- instead they maintain a fixed size on the printed page.
.

I know, I'm resurrecting an ancient thread. However I think it's relevant.

Fast forward to Revit 2010....where are detail lines found now? Under the Annotate Tab. Ironic huh? My original hunch back when I started using Revit was that Detail lines were annotative elements, but Irwin's explanation made sense. So, what do you guys think about this tool's new location? Confusing?

[gbrowne]

Yea, explain to me again why we can't have a "drafting" tab? I missed that one...