Tag: filter

Using Phase Filters and Graphic Overrides When Nothing Else Works in Revit

Luke Johnson

I have recently developed a few Material and Object Procurement and Tracking solutions, primarily using Deep Space and Revizto together. These workflows also involved IFCs converted into Revit, so we could automatically set tracking parameters from Deep Space data back into Revit, and colourise the models. When converting Revit to IFC, I usually use IFC Link functionality, primarily for speed and geometric integrity.

 

However, some DirectShape objects created by IFC Link cannot be overridden in Revit using traditional methods. Even after setting Revit parameters from Deep Space, and using Visibility/Graphics Filters, the elements simply will not allow their colours to be overridden using a Shaded Surface pattern. So, we have to find another way…

 

It turns out that Phase Filters are really the only way to solve this problem, as they override the elements at the Material level. There are a few pieces to the puzzle:

  1. Set up the necessary Phase Filter, with each item set to Overridden (this allows for basically 4 status overrides in total)
  2. Set Graphic Overrides – Material definitions to have the colours you want (by changing Phase – Exist material etc to the desired colour / material)
  3. Set the Revit view to the correct Phase and Phase Filter, and Realistic view mode

Here are some screenshots of the above steps:

1 - Create Phase filter for visual Overrides
1 – Create Phase filter for visual Overrides

Next…

2 - Edit Revit Material to match desired visual Overrides
2 – Edit Revit Material to match desired visual Overrides

Then…

3 - Set the View Settings
3 – Set the View Settings

 

Also…

Keep in mind if you are using Container Files you will need to Transfer Project Settings and bring across your

 

Finally…

Make sure your View is set to Realistic in Revit, if you truly want to see the Material Phase override in the Revit view.

How Hide Parts when Parts Visibility is set to Show Parts

Luke Johnson

Ok, Parts are pretty cool, particularly when working with Linked Files. But there is a strange behaviour in Revit that exists between the Parts Visibility setting of a View, and the Parts category Visibility / Graphics.

Here’s what I’m talking about:

  1. In a 3D view, with a Linked Revit file, make some Parts from the linked elements. You could use something like this in Dynamo.
  2. Now, switch the Parts Visibility of the view to Show Parts. Revit is now hiding the linked elements you made the parts from originally, and showing you the parts in the host model.
  3. Let’s say you want to verify that the linked elements are really hidden… ok, let’s go into V/G and turn off Parts… drumroll please…
  4. Revit decides that this means you want the Parts Visibility setting of the view to be turned back to Show Original, and so it goes ahead and does that. Um, thanks, I guess? In essence, the Parts V/G is linked to the Parts Visibility switch for the view.

So, what is the workaround?

Just make a filter for the Parts category, and turn that off:

parts.png

Using this Filter, Revit does not switch the autopilot on, meaning you can have Show Parts turned on for the view, with the actual Part elements switched off.

How to Set Up a View Filter To Manage All Applicable Categories

Luke Johnson

When setting up View Filters in Revit, you can only select Filter parameters that are ‘common‘ among the Categories that you have ticked… If I haven’t lost you yet, here is a quick way to build a View Filter that uses a custom parameter (like a Shared Parameter) and works across all possible Categories.

  1. Firstly, add the Shared Parameter to all Categories using Manage – Project Parameters
  2. Create a new Filter
  3. Tick one of the top Categories in the list, and choose your desired Shared Parameter as a filter criteria
  4. Now, start ticking the categories to apply this to one by one…
  5. As you go down the list, Revit will occasionally give this prompt: “The selected set of categories requires that the filter criteria be reset“
  6. When you see this message, click No, and then move on to ticking the next Category
  7. In this way, you retain you Shared Parameter as a Filter Criteria for as many Categories as possible…

Once again, we just have to know What Revit Wants 🙂

How to Hide Filled Regions by Type… Using a View Filter in Revit

Luke Johnson

Let’s say you have some linked RVT files and you are using ‘By Linked View’ for visibility. What if you just want to hide off a single type of Filled Region from that Linked View? Is it possible? Yep, here’s how:

  1. Make a new View Filter for Detail Items that looks like the below, using Family Name equals Filled Region, and the relevant Type as properties:
  2. Add this View Filter to your View or View Template
  3. In the visibility properties for that Link, make sure you set Filters to By Host View…

Done!

    Using View Filters on Unconnected Nodes in a Structural Model

    Luke Johnson

    Great little post by Gareth Spencer, showing that you can graphically filter unconnected nodes to allow for easier Structural Model validation:

    Download PDF at:
    http://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/Downloads/FileDownload.ashx?FileUrl=/WhitePapers/Autodesk_Revit/Revit_Structure/wp-cad-00194/docs/Cadline_Unconnected_Nodes_Revit.pdf

    via
    Using Filters To Highlight Unconnected Nodes – WhitePaper – CADline Community

    Using a Saved Selection Set as a Filter to make Demolished items transparent

    Luke Johnson

    It can be difficult to stop Demolished items from occluding New items in Revit.  There is no easy way to say “make everything Demolished wireframe, but leave other elements as-is” in a Hidden Line view.

    However, you can use a normal Filter to “override” the Phase Filter.  This works because normal VG Filters operate at a higher level than Phase Filters.  Just create a Saved Selection Set, add it to a View or applicable View Template as a Filter, and set the Transparency for that Filter to be 100%.

    You could do this by making a Filter that operates on a Shared Parameter that is added to all Categories likely to include Demolished items – meaning you would have to set this property manually.  However, it may be easier to manage if you just graphically create the Saved Selection Set and use that instead:

    1. Make a new Phase Filter that shows only Demolished items (all the rest “Not Shown”)
    2. Go to a 3D view, enable this Phase Filter, select all the Demo items and Save them as a New Selection Set (Manage tab — Selection)
    3. Add the filter to a View or applicable View Template as Filter, and set the Transparency for that Filter to be 100%.

    If you need to add or remove items to the Demo set:
    You can use the Edit option under Selection on the Manage tab to enter a Selection Edit mode, where new items can easily be added.  Or you can just select the whole lot again, use the same Selection Set name, and you will be prompted to overwrite the existing DEMO set.

    Free SuperFilter add-in for Revit 2014

    Luke Johnson

    Download it at:
    SuperFilter | Autodesk Revit | Autodesk Exchange Apps

    It has a dockable interface, shows number of objects and can list ID of elements, as per the translation from this Russian site:

    • Now Super Filter works with all types of objects, including the objects selected in the manager of the project.
    • Now the window is presented in the form of a constantly open window similar to the properties window and the project manager. You can place it on the analogy of these windows, even doing extra tab.
    • The updated interface is both visually and in functionality. Now show the number of objects in each node. It is also available a list of ID elements.

    Using Consistent Workset names to control Linked Model Visibility Graphics

    Luke Johnson

    Nice idea from bim42:
    Each trade model contain a limited amount of worksets, each draftsman working on his own linked model, so I was able to create the same worksets in my compiled model.
    Worksets in the Coordination Model
    These worksets can now be used to create filters containing every element of the specified trade.

    via
    Revit linked models visibility | BIM 42

    Priority of Visibility Overrides in Revit

    Luke Johnson

    A great list showing the Visibility/Graphics priority, thanks to Revit Fix.  From most powerful to least powerful:

    1. Line Work Tool
    2. Override graphics in view by elements
    3. Filters
    4. View Depth -Beyond system line type (plan views only)
    5. Phasing graphic overrides
    6. Advanced model graphics – silhouette edges.
    7. Visibility / Graphic overrides – Halftone
    8. Visibility / Graphic overrides – Override host layers (Cut line styles)
    9. Visibility / Graphic overrides – (projection & cut lines)
    10. Project object styles

    Revit Fix: Battle of the “line” overrides