Layer Structure

[vramsey]

Question:
Is there a quick way to set up a layer structure. I have to create our current layer structure from Autocad into Revit? I have been experimenting with importing an existing drawing from acad into Revit selecting all under layers then trying to see if I can save the layers on that import to Revit without physically having to assign each one.

[ws]

Revit does not AFAIK have the means to enable a Layer structure (one of the reasons I like it).

You can play about with visibility of layers of imported DWGs I believe but beyond that I'm not sure what you have been asked to do.

[vramsey]

I was afraid of that, I have been asked to input our standard everything, line weights, layers, naming convention, in all disciplines! Even when I attempt to edit what is currently available I can't even come close to all of the different categories we have.

[bob.parker]

LOL... obviously whomever has asked you to do such a thing doesn't understand Revit. The next question you'll be asked is how do you override a dimension.

No offense at all, but if you had to ask that question here you'll probably benefit from some training yourself. I would recommend going to the education section of AUGI and work on some tutorials. Revit's tutorials are also really nice... some of he best.

I would also recommend doing exactly what you have done. Ask a lot of questions here. I am sure most of your questions have been asked before. Good luck and be assured once you get over the initial learning curve, which isn't bad at all, you'll love working again.

[dgreen.49364]

No layers in Revit and that's nothing to be afraid of. It's the beauty of the program. Everything is object oriented. You can match up your pen weights by object, but I can assure you that it will take a bit of time to get it dialed in. When switching from Acad to Revit, it isn't a matter of importing your standards. Forget the Autocad standards, learn Revit and once you are getting comfortable, then start setting up standards and templates within Revit that work.

One of the things that I believe is critical, is convincing the higher-ups, who are NOT using Revit, that trying to make Revit look and work like Autocad is defeating the purpose. Revit is Revit, it ain't Autocad and please don't waste time trying to make it like Autocad.

And have fun, Revit is great.

[ws]

If it's any help there is an Autodesk posted article on 'working without layers' which is very good and shows how Revit works without Layers...
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=3190965&linkID=9243097

[vramsey]

No offence taken I know Revit pretty well. Well enough to Know that we should use it out of the box, however the powers (that be that didn't want Revit in the first place) want cooperate standards. I have been using Revit now for about 3yrs or better and I have no complaints. I one of only a few in a Bentley world. Our current way of doing things seems to be still set up from the days of cartoon sets and scum bags. I started on a drafting board so I don't have a problem with it. However Revit has caused quite a shake-up.

[nancy.mcclure]

Key to your mission is understanding the difference in how AutoCAD and Revit categorize elements. AutoCAD is layer-centric - each line is attributed characteristics (color, lineweight, name association) through a layer designation, where in Revit elements are categorized by Family/Type, and visibility settings are controlled through various view representations (cut lines, projection lines, etc). Accept that your end goal is more to achieve the visual continuity of your current drawing standards, not to "duplicate the layer system", as that is just not possible.

You will need to get familiar with the Object Styles dialogue box to understand what of your elements you can visually control and Revit's 16 lineweights. Print yourself a Revit line weight legend, and sit down with a CAD plot that has a good representation of your company's lineweight standards (and do so with various scales, to make adjustments in the Line Weights settings).

Hope that helps!

[vramsey]

That's that issue I don't know AUTOCAD am a Bentley convert who learned REVIT while working in research/design in school hired to do 3D where they not only didn't use REVIT but didn't even recognize it as a design tool. Now due to customer demands we've got to come up to speed pronto! I originally tried to convert the script file so I could import it into REVIT. I can modify my lines G-ANNO'S and save them out to txt to be used later in future projects. It's just not going to be what the boss ordered. Thanks for all the help.

[Justin Marchiel]

i see lots of posts from newbies asking how to make revit more like there old drafting software. I think the solution is to understand this is a completely different tool, and should be used as designed. since it was not trying to be your old software it porbably won't be the same in the end.

My methodology is that you should maximize the software and get the most out of it. if that means dropping old cadd standard in favor of new, then the new should be looked at. the time it takes to set up in the beginning will be worth it in the end.

Justin

[dgreen.49364]

Go the other way. Change your Autocad standards to match Revit. It's what we did. We had a loose layering system in AutoCAD and changed our Autocad layers to match the standard export layers from Revit, which are all pretty much AIA layering standards. Then we went through our pen colors in Autocad and changed them to mesh with the export layers and so on and so forth. Now when we export from Revit to Autocad, it is seemless and everything matches.

[mccurdyks]

When collaborating with outside CAD users on a phased project, does that require a separate export for existing, demo, and complete?

I'm trying to export with my view on "show all, new construction" but the output is crunchy - hit and miss objects showing up. I can see them in mine, but they don't show up in the export. Seems Revit has trouble in the conversion with things on top of each other??? I've had to revert to exporting the three different views, but hoping there's a one-shot way I'm missing.

Thanks in advance.

[Steve_Stafford]

Hold on folks...first they aren't using AutoCAD, he said they are using Bentley Microstation (I assume since he doesn't say which flavor of Bentley). He also hasn't quite explained what he is trying to accomplish exactly, importing dgn files to model over or exporting from Revit to dgn or just trying to transition from using "that" to Revit.

The first thing you need to work out is what release of Bentley Microstation are you using? V8 or newer? Revit doesn't support dgn newer than Microstation/J (release 7). To work with newer dgn you must export the dgn to dwg and then import that into Revit. To do the reverse you must export to either dgn or dwg and then import those into Microstation. If you use dgn v7 format then you'll have to go through an upgrade in Microstation and with dwg you have to deal with conversion. Either way I have no idea how seemlessly this will go.

If you are working on transition from Microstation to Revit and matching documentation standards then you'll need to worry more about the plotted output and compare that than comparing the tools each software uses to generate the printed page. In Revit you work with object styles, lineweights, linepatterns and linestyles.

[dgreen.49364]

Steve, I think he is talking about Autocad in his initial post.



Question:
Is there a quick way to set up a layer structure. I have to create our current layer structure from Autocad into Revit? I have been experimenting with importing an existing drawing from acad into Revit selecting all under layers then trying to see if I can save the layers on that import to Revit without physically having to assign each one.

[Steve_Stafford]

Well he clearly says later that he is using Bentley...so maybe he's just baiting us :smile:

[vramsey]

Hey:
The issue was simply this, we start out with Tri-forma, create an extraction for 2D convert both the model and the plans to ACad because that's what the client will review the files in. What the boss wanted to know is if we print will it match our current, or do we set a new standard that everyone can follow. As far as I am concern out of the box is great with a few modifications to match line weights which I have managed to accomplish. The concern was communication with the printers # ONE! and number 2 multi disciplines on multiple projects with multiple standards, at each location. So in setting project templates the hope was to have all of this set in place from the getti-up so it will not be an issue later on. Printing and how a drawing shows up is going to be the number one complaint... I mean concern so as much as I can do to make it look as if we haven't changed anything the better. It was simply a matter of what was common is no longer with Revit. So I don't fault anyone for being a bit concern about how that is going to effect our current work flow.