scalable leader lines in custom ramp symbols

[bheng]

Hi guys,

I'm trying to create a symbol which i can drop into revit to annotate ramps.
can i make the leader 'stretchable' so that i can scale the length of it after i drop the symbol on top of the ramp to cover its entire length?

thanks!

[Steve_Stafford]

If the parameter you use is attached to Strong Reference planes and if it is an instance parameter then you will get a grip to drag. You could also consider using the Generic Model Line Based.rft template which will let you define the start and end point of the annotation directly.

[bheng]

thanks!
also, what is a Strong Reference Plane?

cheers,

[Steve_Stafford]

Each reference plane has a parameter called IsReference. (http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2005/08/is-you-is-or-is-you-aint_03.html) This can be set to Not a Reference, Weak Reference, Strong or a pre-defined strong reference name like Front, Back, Top...etc from the list. Check out my blog article linked to the IsReference above and the help files for more detail.

[bheng]

thanks steve,

I managed to get what i want using the generic model line based template. However ,is there a way to always display the symbol "on top" of the geometry? the symbol i created with the generic model template gets hidden under some geometry.

I tried using an annotation symbol template but can't seem to get the grips to show up?
I have already locked and linked instance parameters to strong reference line.

thanks!

[dbaldacchino]

Click on the plane tool and use the Pick a Plane option.... pick the sloped surface of your ramp. Now when you draw your start and end point with your GM line based arrow, the resulting family will be on the face of the ramp and thus won't be hidden by the ramp geometry.

[Steve_Stafford]

Sorry, for annotation I should have said use Detail Component Line Based.rft. This one will behave more like annotation.

[dbaldacchino]

What I like about the GM is that it shows up everywhere, while the detail component has to be copied around. I've used model lines on the surface of the ramp before....it was fast and easy, just like painting stripes on the ramp itself.