No Grips or Osnaps?

[wojocad]

I've been working on residence with opposing shed roofs... clerestory windows in between. I created the roofs first using Roof by Footprint over imported DWG linework for the roof edges. I unfortunately created them at an arbitrary elevation relative to the ground. Now I'd like to move the roofs upward into their correct positions. I've since created the sloped-top walls the shed roofs rest upon on using a reference line in a side view as my working plane. I plan to eventually constrain the tops of walls to the roofs after I get them into their correct positions, but can't figure out how to accurately "raise the roofs".

When I grab a roof and initiate the MOVE command, I see a digital readout of a "distance moved"... but since I don't have an accurate dimension to input... I need another way to specify the distance. It seems logical that I'd be able to move items around and connect them to other items in Revit using what I suppose I'd call Osnaps or Grips. Are they in Revit to be used and I just have them turned off? I don't see anything in the Help section.

[Scott D Davis]

Most things in Revit are level based. Roofs are one of theose objects. (You are thinking too much AutoCAD with the Move command...it doesn't work that way in Revit! )

So click on the roof, and look a the properties palette. The roof is probably based on Level 1. You have some options: leave it based on Level 1 and provide an Offset from Base in the Properties. Make the Roof have an offset of 10'-0" from the Base,and the springpoint of the roof will be 10'-0" off Level 1. Or in Properties, change the base level to something higher like Level 2, or Roof if you have created a level called Roof. This will re-position it higher. (notice I didn't say Move??)

And if I may suggest in the most positive way I can: you really should look into some more Revit training. I know you said in the other thread that you had some a long time ago, but a refresher would really help you! Your questions would easily be covered by a basics class. You can always come here and ask questions, but we (AUGI, collectively) may not always be able to respond so quickly!

Oh, and PS, yes, there are Grips and Snaps, but they just work differently in Revit. Create a simple Gable roof, and you will notice a grip at the top that you can use to change the slope...for example.

[wojocad]

Since my roof was created with it's lowest edge at Level 1... which is the edge of the lowest overhang, the spring point must now be mathematically calculated back up and away from this edge to know how much far to reposition it upward... a cumbersome step in the process if you don't happen to have an integer for your X to 12 slope.

Alternate: I suppose I can create another roof at the exterior wall core faces... but then I'd have to add overhangs later... which on this (and many other projects) might vary per side. Does Revit allow you to add overhangs individually to the sides of a sloped "no overhang roof".

Someone in the other string suggested I create the roof first and then create the walls and run them up to the existing roofs... instead of extending them up to a reference line. What if the wall core lines aren't there yet (except in my imported Cad drawing)? You know the roof I'm trying to build... Would you create the roof or the walls first?

[Scott D Davis]

Would you create the roof or the walls first?

Build the walls first. You can set the Location Line to Exterior Face of Core, even if your wall types are generic at the point. When you add more detail, more layers of construction to your walls, Revit will keep the location line consistent for you. You can add the overhangs in the original sketch when making the roof, or go back and edit the sketch of the roof later and add the overhangs. Overhangs can be any value you want for any side...although there is a tool called Align Eaves, which allows you to tell Revit if it should keep the eave heights the same, or adjust the overhangs for you.

Once you get the roof done (at the proper level) when you finish the sketch, Revit will ask you if you want to attach the walls to the roof. This creates the association between then and extends the walls to the roof. If you skip this step, you can always attach walls to roofs later using the Attach tool when a wall is selected.

Your springpoint should be your top-plate height, and that should be a level line.

I really think that you are over-thinking this . It's much easier than you make it sound in these posts.

[wojocad]

I really think you are underthinking this... Revit should strive to become a product with flexibility and not depend upon a new user knowing exactly where to look for the only correct next step. Right now, a new Revit user like myself... who is used to using a program designed with a lot of flexibility... AutoCAD... where you have multiple tools and options to create beautiful 3D architectural models and renderings very quickly gets frustrated taking a long time accomplishing something they can do in seconds. It's just a matter of learning what's in Revit and where the tools are.

I understand the value of BIM. I've tried in the past to create or purchase add-ons to make AutoCAD closer to an interactive tool that can produce multiple views of a 3D model for 2D construction documents. I want to be able to work this way. It's just that, so far, the Revit interface reminds me of the Monty Python "Ministry of Silly Walks" skit. The "next step" is not intuitively obvious at times... and it seems that there is only one possible next step at times.

Regarding your comment that I should take another class... I don't think it should be required to pay for another class after spending over $5,000 for Revit Architecture Suite, and not be able to get sufficient online help to learn how to use Revit in a manner my particular business requires. Agree?

[Scott D Davis]

Agree?

I never recommend someone learn from just the tutorials that come with Revit. I always say, "Start with the tutorials to learn the 'language' of Revit, and then take some classes." Being in a class, you can ask questions...you can't do that to a book or online tutorial. Additonally, I insist that people that do get classroom training must be involved in a Revit project immediately, or even as par tof the training. It doesn't make any sense to spend money on classroom training and then work back in AutoCAD for any period of time. Lastly, I tell all my students or potential students, that they must forget everything about AutoCAD when learning Revit. Those that have little to no AutoCAD knowledge pick it up the fastest and find it extremely intuitive. Those that have years of AutoCAD experience (and I'm one...started in AutoCAD r9) struggle the most, especially when they try to make Revit function anything like AutoCAD.

You spent $5000 on software. Invest some more to get the proper training. It's a drop in the bucket compared to the time you may waste spinning your wheels on your own.

At a minimum, order this book: Amazon Link Here. It's $38. This book is the OFFICIAL Training Guide for Revit Arch 2011. We (Autodesk and our resellers) will be using this book for our own training needs in our ATC's (Authorized Training Centers) This book is brand new and just became available.

I hope the tone of this isn't coming across to you in the wrong way...its so hard to convey that in written posts. I'm really giving you my advice from personal experience of doing this for over 10 years now, and I'm really trying to be as helpful as possible to you!

[Dimitri Harvalias]

Place your original roof as Scott suggested, paying attention to what level it is associated with.
Go to an elevation view. Select the roof. Use the move tool in the elevation or section view. You can get an exact 'readout' by entering a value while in the move command. Revit will 'snap' to the intersection of the wall and the roof. If need be you'll be able to snap to ref planes and grids as well. You'll also see a grip at the top of the roof that allows you to interactively modify the roof.

Give it time. Revit's approach becomes more obvious and the flexibility is inherent once you get to know how Revit elements relate to one another. As for additional training, did you never take an AutoCAD course or was it so intuitive and the help so complete that no other instruction was required? We tend to forget what a chore it was to re-learn old habits when first introduced to CAD.