Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan Revit Intro
Lesson Overview
This lesson explains the main components of
Autodesk Revit software. It begins with
illustrations of model objects, mass objects,
dimensions and the ribbon interface. There are
exercises that demonstrate how to work with the
properties of views and model objects, and how to
create your own building elements.
Software:
Autodesk Revit 2015
Time:
1 to 2 hours
Level:
Beginner
Datasets:
Imperial included
Concepts Addressed
Conceptual Design by Sketching Building Elements
Conceptual Design with Mass Models
Annotations and Dimensions
Display and Navigation
Working with Views and Objects
Learning Objectives
After completing this lesson you will be able to:
Navigate the user interface: View window, Project Browser, ribbon tools, Options Bar.
Place, locate, and modify model elements
Use dimensions to control model elements
Place and modify mass elements
Create building elements from mass elements
Open different views
Change view displays
Change view properties
Adjust Advanced Model Graphics
Access, load, and place a family from a library
Change type properties of a family
Create an in-place family
Exercise Index
Exercise 01
Display and Hide Ribbon Tabs
Page 42
Exercise 02
Context Tabs
Page 43
Exercise 03
View Controls
Page 47
Exercise 04
Work With Families
Page 51
Exercise 05
Create Custom Families
Page 54
Lesson Plan Revit User Interface, Building Elements, and Family Component Intro
Page |1
Conceptual Design by Sketching Building Elements

About this lesson
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
Draw walls in a building project
Describe the tools for placing building elements
Constrain placement of objects
Key Terms
align
equidistant
building element
wall
constraint
Design Using Elements

Buildings are often designed inside out. This means that the designer concentrates on functional or
spatial requirements for interiors and the relationships between rooms or spaces, rather than the
shape of the building as seen from outside.
In cases like this, sketching walls in plan view is the most efficient way to start a conceptual design.
Doors, windows, stairs, and other elements are then fit in or between walls as part of the design
development process.
Revit software makes locating walls as easy as drawing lines.
When sketching walls, the display shows editable distances and angles, and the cursor reads geometric
features (endpoints, intersections, midpoints) and relationships (vertical, horizontal) to use in
constraining the sketch.
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Distances can be adjusted at any time.
Constraints that preserve relationships can be applied.
Other building elements such as doors, windows, floors, stairs, roofs, furniture, and equipment can be
loaded in from content libraries or sketched in place. The Build panel on the Architecture tab contains tools
for populating the design.
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You can add building elements in plan, elevation, section, and 3D views.
While components are being sketched, or at any time after, relationships can be established that make
editing efficient. In the illustration shown, windows are being aligned center to center and locked
together. If one is moved, the other will move as well.
In the two illustrations shown, windows placed in a wall are set to be equidistant.
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If the left side wall is moved, all the windows obey their constraints.
In essence, parametric design establishes rules that govern elements as a design evolves.
Conceptual Design with Mass Models

About This Lesson
Open the Massing & Site tab
Place a predefined Mass family
Use the In-Place Mass tool
Use tools to create building elements from masses
Key Terms
curtain system
massing & site tab
show mass
Design Using Form
in-place mass
model by face
solid form
mass floor
place mass
void form
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Many factors determine the form or shape of a building. Designers often decide on the form of a proposed
building before determining its interior spaces. This can be in response to the site or to building restrictions, such
as distance requirements from roadways. Tall building designs must frequently satisfy setback regulations that
affect the shape of towers. A designer, owner, or client may have a preconceived idea about the shape, size, or
form of a proposed building that drives the design process.
The ability to provide clients and reviewing authorities with comprehensible 3D sketches early in the design
process is important to the success of a project.
Revit has tools that enable designers to create 3D building shapes, or masses, quickly. There are mass families
available to load into a project, you can create in-place masses, and there is a conceptual mass family editor
environment. Masses can be edited in many ways, and then converted into building components such as floors,
walls, roofs, and curtain systems.
Working with masses is covered in greater detail in Getting Started.
The Massing and Site tab
The Conceptual Mass panel on the Massing & Site tab holds tools for placing mass families or starting
in-place masses.
Place Mass
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Place Mass enables you to load in predefined mass families from the Revit library.
Masses placed in a project this way have properties you can edit.
In-Place Mass
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In-Place Mass opens the Model-In-Place Mass tab.
Here you can create a combination of solid or void forms to define a named mass object.
Create Building Elements from Masses
Model by Face opens tools to create building elements such as floors, walls, roofs, and curtain systems by
selecting faces of, or within, masses.
Vertical exteriors can be converted to walls using Model by Face > Wall.
When a mass has been placed or created in a project, you can create a Mass Floor for each level that
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can then be converted into a floor.
Mass Floors can be converted to floors using Model by Face > Floor.
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Model by Face > Curtain System enables you to convert nonvertical or torqued faces into editable
panel systems that can become finished walls.
Model by Face > Roof converts horizontal or nearly horizontal faces into roofs.
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The Show Mass icon on the Conceptual Mass panel toggles display of masses on and off. To print a mass
displayed in a view, the correct Mass category must also be set visible in the View Properties.
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This lesson provided an overview of how to create and place mass models using the Massing & Site
tab.
Annotations and Dimensions

About This Lesson
Describe standard and custom symbols
Recognize temporary dimensions
Explain the use of dimensions
Key Terms
annotations
permanent dimensions
symbol
cartesian
spot coordinate
temporary dimension
family
spot elevation
text
Annotations
Designs and illustrations of building projects are incomplete without the specific instructions given by annotations
and dimensions.
Annotation includes text notes, legends, tags, and symbol heads.
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Revit supplies a library of annotation symbols organized by family. Each symbol family file
(*.rfa) can be opened and edited, and all instances of the family loaded into a project will update.
The user can also create custom symbol families using supplied family template (*rft) files.
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Dimensions
Revit uses temporary dimensions for sketching, and permanent dimensions for annotating. Permanent
dimensions can be linear, radial, or angular. Dimension controls display on the Options Bar.
Permanent dimensions can be used to modify the model.
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Revit models do not contain a Cartesian (x,y,z) coordinate system, but can be located precisely in vertical or
horizontal space by assigning coordinates.
The following illustrations show how a project's main level is assigned a real-world elevation, and how other levels
change display accordingly.
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Spot elevations and spot coordinates (for plans) are also available.
This lesson provided an overview of systems for annotations and dimensions.
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Display and Navigation

About This Lesson
After completing this lesson, you will be able:
Identify the elements of the Revit Architecture screen display.
Navigate views by using the Project Browser.
Use Properties and View Controls to adjust the display
Open tabs on the ribbon
Work with tool buttons, the Type Selector, and Options Bar
Open and use ribbon tabs
Work with context tabs and the Options Bar
Exercises
View Controls
Work with Families
Key Terms
context tabs
options bar
tabs
elevations
properties palette
type selector
floor plan
ribbon
view control bar
Navigating the Ribbon Interface

This exercise illustrates how you locate and select tools to create your building design.
The Ribbon
The special area of the user interface to access tools in Revit Architecture is the ribbon.
The ribbon sits above the drawing window. Its position is fixed. You activate tabs on the ribbon to access the
commands within them.
Some commands will not be active (that is, they are greyed out and unresponsive) in certain conditions. Tools
specific to elevation views will not be active in plan views, for instance.
Ribbon Tabs
The ribbon consists of the following nine tabs:
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Architecture
Structure
Systems
Insert
Annotate
Analyze
Massing and Site
Collaboration
View
Manage
Add-ins
Modify
The Architecture tab includes common building components such as walls, windows, doors, beams, and
rooms.
The Structure tab has tools to place beams and beam systems, structural walls, columns, slabs, trusses,
braces, and foundations.
The Systems tab has tools to place HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical equipment and create intelligent systems for
design and analysis.
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The Insert tab provides commands for linking and importing external content.
The Annotate tab enables you to place dimension, detailing, symbols, and text.
The Analyze tab provides analysis tools to measure design performance across Architecture, Structure, HVAC,
and Electrical systems
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The Massing & Site tab enables you to create masseswhich are different from building objectsand
to create or modify 3D site forms.
The Collaborate tab includes tools for working with others.
The View tab has tools for creating views and changing them.
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The Manage tab provides dialog boxes for changing settings, materials, and parameters.
The Add-Ins tab provides a central location to access free and fee-based plug-ins for Revit to enhance
productivity.
Mark 1: These are examples of free plug-ins that you may obtain from the Autodesk Exchange to
add additional productivity enhancements to Revit.
The Autodesk Exchange app link is located in the upper right hand corner of the user interface next to the
help button.
The Modify tab has tools for you to work with items in a project: editing, copy/paste, and inquiry.
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Context tabs display as you work. The Modify | Place Wall context tab is shown.
Note: Context tabs only appear when an object of that type is selected in the canvas window.
The Modify | Door and Modify | Window context tabs shown.
Application Menu
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The application menu opens when you click the Revit icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
This menu has file management tools such as New, Open, Save, Print, and Close.
The Close option on the application menu is the effective way to close project files.
Note: Your recent documents listing will likely be different than shown.
Revit Screen Display
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This lesson shows you specific areas of the Revit user interface and describes their functions.
The following images identify the basic interface components for Revit:
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Application Menu
Quick Access Toolbar
InfoCenter
Options Bar
Type Selector
Properties Palette
Project Browser
Status Bar
View Control Bar
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Drawing Area
Ribbon
Tabs on the ribbon
A contextual tab on the ribbon, providing
tools relevant to the selected object or
current action
Tools on the current tab of the ribbon
Panels on the ribbon
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A new file opens by default to a floor plan view at Level 1, with four elevation markers visible. The elevation
markers control the building elevations already listed in the browser. Ceiling plan views for Levels 1 and 2 are
generated automatically, along with a floor plan view for Level 2 and a site view.
The Project Browser
The Project Browser displays the contents of the model file in a logical tree structure. The browser provides views
of your building model along with legends, schedules, sheets, families, and groups. Legends, schedules, and
sheets are views that will be discussed in later lessons.
Available views include:
Floor plans
Ceiling plans
3D views
Elevations
Sections
Detail views
Renderings
Drafting views
Walkthroughs
Area plans
Families are named collections of content (such as doors and windows) or settings (such as text or
dimensions). Groups are user-created collections of content (such as a room full of furniture) treated as
one object for convenience in handling.
Architecture.rvt template
Construction.rvt template
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The Project Browser can be resized or undocked. To toggle the Project Browser on/off, click the User
Interface button located on the View tab, Windows panel on the ribbon. A check mark indicates it is
visible.
The Status Bar

Below the Project Browser is the status bar. This works with the tooltips that appear under the cursor
when you pass the cursor over items or select things.
The status bar displays hints and instructions as you work. The status bar also holds controls for
Worksets and Design Options when these have been activated in a project, and a selection filter counter
at the far right end.
View Control Bar

View scale, detail level, visual style, sun path on/off, shadows on/off, rendering (in 3D views), crop view,
show/hide crop region, unlock / locked 3D View, temporary hide/isolate, reveal hidden elements,
temporary view template, and analytical model visibility.
Icons for these tools are found on the View Control Bar at the lower left of the view window above the
status bar.
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View scale determines the amount of space the view takes when placed on a plotting sheet. To change
the scale of a view, place the cursor over the View Scale readout on the View Control bar and click. Select
the desired view scale from the list.
Level of detail determines the display of cut objects in plan views. The interior structure of a wall will
show at Medium and Fine, but not at Coarse. The Detail Level control is to the right of the View Scale
control on the View Control bar.
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The following image shows walls of a complex type displayed at Coarse and Medium detail:
Low Detail
Medium Detail
The Visual Style control is to the right of the Detail Level control.
It enables you to switch between:
Wireframe
Hidden Line (default mode)
Shaded
Consistent Colors
Realistic
Ray Trace
Wireframe
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Hidden Line
Shaded
Consistent Colors
Realistic
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Ray Trace
The Sun path on/off turns on the display of the sun path for display purposes. You use the Sun Settings
dialog box to specify sun angle, which can be according to the view, or by global location, date and
time.
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Plan Orientation
3D View Orientation
The Shadow control turns on the display of shadows for display purposes. You can also open the Graphic
Display Options dialog box to control the sun settings, sun and shadow intensity, and line styles applied to
edges in section or elevation views.
Shadows Off
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Shadows On
The Render control is active in 3D views. It enables you to create renderings with sunlight, shadows,
and materials applied to model surfaces.
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The Crop controls enable you to show and activate an adjustable cropping border to a view.
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Crop region hidden and inactive
Crop region shown but inactive
Crop region selected, controls available
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The Temporary Hide/Isolate control allows control over the display of objects or categories of objects
per view.
Once elements have been hidden, the view window displays a colored border. Selecting the control again
enables you to remove the temporary condition or make it permanent.
You can also hide and change the display of elements that you have selected with right-click menu
options.
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The Reveal Hidden Elements control shows items that have been hidden in a view, enabling you to
select them.
These controls, along with other display settings, are available in the Properties palette for the active
view. View Properties displays when nothing is selected in the view window.
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All views are listed in the Project Browser. To activate or open a view, expand its view category if
necessary and double-click the view name. You can right-click a view name in the Project Browser to
open or close it. The properties of the selected view will display on the Properties palette.
The Ribbon
The ribbon holds tabs organized by task. Nine tabs are available: Home, Insert, Annotate, Structure,
Massing & Site, Collaborate, View, Manage and Modify.
Each ribbon tab contains panels of grouped buttons. You can switch from tab to tab to select the
appropriate tool.
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Certain ribbon tools are split and hold options on a drop-down list.
Certain ribbon tools found in panel titles will open settings dialog boxes.
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Context Tabs, Options Bar, Properties Palette, Type Selector
Mark 1: Context Tab

Mark 2: Options Bar
When you start a tool by clicking a button, a context tab opens on the ribbon. This tab combines tools
from the Modify tab with tools specific for the work you have started. The Modify|Place Wall tab is shown
in the following image.
If you select items in the view window, a context tab which combines the Modify tab with tools for working
with the object(s) opens.
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When a context tab is active, the Options Bar may display below it, showing options that you can select
while you are working.
Wall example below
When you select an item or start a placement tool, the Properties palette enables you to adjust properties
of the object you are placing or modifying.
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The Type Selector on the Properties palette enables you to choose between types of elements.
Navigation Bar
The Navigation Bar on the right of the view window holds controls for zooming in the view.
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You can also reach zoom controls on the right-click menu.
In 3D views, the Navigation Bar has controls for Steering Wheels, which are navigation tools tied to the
cursor.
There is a ViewCube control in 3D views that enables you to orient the view.
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Quick Access Toolbar

At the top left of the screen is the Quick Access toolbar containing frequently used tools:
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3
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15
Open
Save
Synchronize and Modify Settings
Undo
Redo
Measure
Aligned Dimension
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Quick Access Toolbar default
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Tag by Category
Text
Default 3D View
Section View
Thin Line toggle
Close Hidden Windows
The Quick Access toolbar is the only place where Undo and Redo appear. You can add New File to
the Quick Access toolbar from the available list and you can open a dialog box to further customize
the Quick Access toolbar list.
Customize Quick Access Toolbar menu
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You can also right-click ribbon buttons and add them to the Quick Access toolbar for constant
visibility.
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Application Menu
Click the Revit icon in the upper left of the screen to open the only menu, the application menu.
The application menu contains file management controls, such as File Open, File Save, New File,
Print, Export, and Publish. On the right is a list of recently opened files. Click a file name to open that
file. You can switch this list to show open views in open files, and you can then click a view name in
the list to switch to a view in another file.
File Close only appears on the application menu. Closing individual views does not close a project file
until you reach the last open view.
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This lesson outlined the basic display and navigation components of the user interface for Autodesk
Revit software.
Exercise: Display and Hide Ribbon

Tabs
1) Create a new project based upon an

Architectural template. From the Home page of
Revit, select Architectural Template
This exercise shows you how to display

and hide tabs on the ribbon.
The completed exercise
Display and Hide Ribbon Tabs
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2) On the ribbon, click the names of the tabs one
59 by one to open them. After you have
examined
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60 each of them, make the Architecture tab

active.
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3) Click the arrow to the right of the Modify tab
62 name. Select Minimize to Tabs from the list.
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66 The ribbon tabs disappear except for their
67 titles.
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73 title. Select Minimize to Panel Titles.
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77 The panel titles display under the tab titles.
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88 Icons for panels display below tab titles.
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Click the panel title to display the individual
tools. They disappear when you move the
cursor away.
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100 title. Select Cycle Through All.
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The
78 panels display under the cursor and
disappear
79 when the cursor moves away.
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Do this for other tabs
83
84 title. Select Minimize to Panel Buttons.
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103
Click the arrow immediately to the left of
104
the list arrow you clicked previously.
You can use this control to cycle through the
ribbon displays.
Select Show Full Ribbon to return to
105
the default ribbon display.
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108 Minimized panel display is suitable for
smaller
109 screens.
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110
7) Close the file without saving.
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In this exercise, you opened a project
file, and
114
then viewed, hid, and displayed tabs on
the
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ribbon.
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Exercise: Context Tabs
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119
This exercise illustrates how to explore
tools and
120
commands on context tabs.
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136
137 The graphics display changes to show the
138 Level 1 Floor Plan.
139
3) Click any interior wall. The Modify | Walls
140 context tab opens.
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125
Context Tabs
126
1) Click the Open File icon on the Quick Access
127 toolbar.
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129
130 Open file:
131 RevitIntro_Exercise02.rvt
132
2) The file opens to a 3D view. Open view
133 Floor Plan Level 1. In the Project Browser,
double-click the view name.
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4) Click the door in the upper left of the model.
150 The Modify | Doors context tab opens.
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5) Click and drag the cursor outside the perimeter
154 of the model.
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157 You are selecting everything visible; all the
158 walls, doors, and windows highlight blue.
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6) The Modify | Multi-Select context tab opens.
160 Note that is has fewer panels and tools than
the
161 tabs for specific elements. Click Filter panel
>
162 Filter.
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7) Clear Walls and Doors. Click OK.
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184 You are creating a filtered selection set of
just
185 the windows in the view.
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8) The context tab changes to Modify | Windows.
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188 On the Properties palette, the Type Selector
list
189 reads Fixed: 36" x 48".
190
191 Click the down arrow next to the thumbnail
192 icon to open the Type list. Select Fixed: 24"
193 x 48" from the list to change all the selected
194 windows to this type.
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198 Click anywhere in the view to clear the
199 selection set. Select any window to verify
that it
200 has changed type.
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9) Click any door. On the Modify | Doors context
208 tab, click Create panel > Create Similar.
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10) On the Properties palette, the Type Selector
212 shows Single-Flush 36" x 84" selected.
Select
213 Single-Flush 30" x 80" from the list.
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11) Place a door as shown.
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Click Modify | Place Door tab > Select panel
> Modify to terminate the Door tool.
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12) Save the file as:
222 RevitIntro_Exercise02_finished.rvt
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file, examined
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the menus and toolbars, and used the
Options Bar to change a selection set of
elements.
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Working with Views and Objects
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About This Lesson
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Use View Controls and Graphic Display options
Load and place component families
Modify a standard family to create a new family type
Create a new in-place family
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Work with Views and Objects
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This lesson explores Revit views and model objects. In the exercises, you:
Change the display in Revit by opening different views. Revit provides floor plan, ceiling plan, and
271 elevation views by default. You can create sections, drafting views, schedules, and 3D views using
272 the View menu. Views can be added to your drawing sheets
Control how things appear on your screen using View Properties.

Navigate around your screen (Zoom, Pan, and so on) using your cursor combined with the selected
273 View tool.
Work with Revit families. Revit uses the term family to denote a collection of controls and
274 parameters. System families include levels, building elements (walls, floors), operating settings,
275 annotations, lines, display controls, templates, and views. Component families include model
276 objects (furniture, mechanical equipment), either predefined or user-created.
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Exercises
View Controls
Work with Families
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Key Terms
component family
ribbon
view navigation
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menus
system family
view properties
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options bar
toolbars
zoom
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Exercise: View Controls
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A building model, even a small one, is

an extensive
database. There is no way to see
everything in
it. Views are filters through which you
can see
representations of the database
elements in graphic
or table form. View controls enable you
to adjust the
display of individual views to see and
represent the
model as you desire.
326 The display changes. Four elevation

markers
327 are visible.
328
3) Use your keyboard to enter VV. This is a
329 shortcut to open the View Graphics/Visibility
330 dialog box. VG also opens the dialog box.
331 The dialog box opens with the Model
332 Categories on top.
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Visibility
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1) Open file:
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320 First, you practice with Zoom and Detail
Level
321 controls in a plan view.
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2) The file opens to Floor Plan view Level 1. Rightclick in the view window. Click Zoom to Fit.
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Click the Annotation Categories tab. Clear
the check mark next to Elevations. Click OK.
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The elevation markers disappear
from the view.
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Right-click. Click Zoom to Fit.
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4) Right-click. Click Zoom In Region.
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361 You will change visibility of elements in

another
362 plan view.
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6) In the Project Browser, select
364 Ceiling Plan Level 1. Right-click. Click Open.
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345 Click and drag the cursor as shown. The
display
346 is enlarged to show the area you defined.
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350 You can also use the scroll wheel on a
mouse to
351 zoom in and out.
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5) On the View Control Bar, click Detail Level.
353 Select Detail Level: Medium.
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357 The interior walls will now display lines to
358 differentiate studs and drywall.
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Enter ZF. This is a shortcut for Zoom to Fit.
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Zoom to Fit.
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7) Select the roof outline. Hold down the CTRL
369 key and window-select an elevation marker.
370 There are two parts to an elevation, so be
sure
371 to select them both.
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8) Enter VH. This is a shortcut to turn off visibility
373 for the categories of selected objects. It is
374 the same as the multistep procedure you
375 performed in step 3.
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377 There is also a Hide Category button on the
378 View Graphics panel of the Modify | Multi379 Select tab.
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On the Navigation Bar at the right of the
view window, click the Zoom list > Zoom to
Fit.
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385 Note that in Reflected Ceiling plans, doors
and
386 windows are not shown.
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View Properties
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9) Open the Level 2 Floor Plan view. This view is
390 not particularly useful in its current setup.
You
391 simplify it into a Roof Plan.
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393 Turn off visibility of the elevations, as before.
394 Click Zoom to Fit.
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Click APPLY
405
406 The Underlay enables you to display floors
407 other than the current one for purposes of
408 checking alignment.
409
11) Scroll to the Extents subsection of the palette.
410 Next to View Range, click Edit.
396
397
398 The Properties palette to the left of the View
399 Window displays View Properties.
400
10) On the Properties palette, change the Underlay
401 value to None.
402
411
412
Set the cut plane value to 7' - 0".
413
P a g e | 53
414
425
426
427
Graphic Display Options
428
13) Open Elevation view South. Zoom in to make
429 the house fill the screen.
430
415
Click OK twice to exit the dialog box.
416
417 All model views in Revit are 3D. The View
Range governs which physical elevations are
used for the top and bottom of plan views, and
where the cut plane sits. By setting the cut plane
to a level higher than the peak of the roof, the
ridge is now visible.
418
12) Select the name of the Level 2 Floor Plan in the
419 Project Browser. Right-click. Click Rename.
420
431
432 Elevation views are covered in more detail in
an intermediate fundamentals module.
433
14) On the View Control Bar > Visual Style, select
434 Shaded.
435
436
437
421
For Name, enter Roof. Click OK. Click Yes
in the question box about renaming other
views.
422
438
439
440
441
442
15) On the View Control Bar > Graphic Display
443 Options, select Shadows On.
423
424
444
P a g e | 54
445
446
16) Click Sun Path toggle in View Control toolbar
and select Sun Settings
447
448
449
450 Mark 1: Select Still
451 Mark 2: Select Winter Solstice
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463 Mark 3: Set time of day to 12:00pm
464 Mark 4: Click OK
465
466
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468
469
470
17) Save the file as:
472
473
file and adjusted visibility characteristics
in multiple views. You also changed
View Properties and used Advanced
Model Graphics.
474
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480
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483
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488
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491
492
Exercise: Work With Families
P a g e | 55
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
In this exercise, you open an existing

project file,
and use a Revit family to place a door.
This exercise
illustrates how you locate, load, and
place Revit
families.
In Revit, objects can be defined as
hosted (for
example, doors and windows are
dependent on
walls), or stand-alone (for example,
furniture). Revit
provides you with the basic building
components to
be used in constructing residential,
commercial, or
institutional structures. Additionally,
Revit has a free
online library that you can use to expand
your designs even more.
These components are called families
and there are
several different types. There are
system families,
standard families, and in-place families.
509
510
A system family, such as levels, walls, and
floors, is predefined within Revit. You can modify
and define new types of system families by
modifying the existing parameters.
511
A loadable family can be created by defining
512 the geometry and parameters in the Family
513 Editor. Doors, windows, roofs, floors,
railings,
514 lights, furniture, and annotations are
examples
515 of standard families. Many different types
can be
516 made for each family and used throughout
the
517 project.
518
In-place families are created within the project
519 and are dependent upon the model
geometry.
520
521
Designers who become proficient in
Revit will create their own families of
doors, windows, and furniture, and so
on. Revit families are similar to multi-
view objects in AutoCAD Architecture,

except they are fully parametric and
table-driven.
522
523
524
525
Use the Revit Library
526
1) Open file:
528
529 Open Floor Plan view Level 1.
530
2) You add closet doors to interior walls.
531 On the Architecture tab, Build panel, click
Door.
532
533
534
535 Doors are considered a loadable family
entity.
536
3) Click Modify | Place Door tab > Mode panel >
537 Load Family. This button enables you to
access
538 families that are currently not loaded into
your
539 project.
540
541
542 Your file browser automatically opens to a
543 default library based on the units selected
544 when Revit was installed.
P a g e | 56
545
546 You have families available in many different
categories such as Doors, Furniture, and
Annotation.
547
Family files have a file extension of *.rfa
548
Project files have a file extension of *.rvt
549
4) Click the Doors folder. Click Open.
550
564
565
566 On the Modify | Place Door tab, Tag panel,
567 verify that Tag on Placement is not selected
568 (white background). The Door Insertion tool
stays active.
569
551
552
5) If you highlight a door family, you will see a
553 preview of what the door looks like in the
554 Preview window.
555
556 Locate Double Panel 2.rfa. Click Open.
557
558
559
6) You see the family you just loaded listed in the
560 Type Selector of the Properties palette. It
has
561 a number of different sizes defined. Accept
the
562 default size.
563
570
571
572 As you move your cursor near any wall, a
door
573 appears along with temporary dimensions.
The
574 temporary dimensions display the location of
575 the door placement. Revit snaps weakly to
the
576 midpoint of walls. You click to place an
instance
577 of the door family.
578
7) Place an instance of the door as shown. It
579 snaps to the midpoint of the wall, but not
580 strongly. Your dimensions will probably differ
581 from those shown. The door is placed facing
582 the side of the wall where you click.
583
584
585 You can flip the door by using the blue
directional arrows. Temporary dimensions
P a g e | 57
display until you place another door or terminate

the Door tool by selecting Modify.
586
587 The dimensions redisplay if you select the
door
588 again.
589
590 To edit a temporary dimension and relocate
591 the door, simply click it. An edit box displays
in
592 which you can enter a new value.
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
8) Place two more instances of the door as
609 shown.
610
616
617
618
619
620
621
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623
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625
626
627
628
629
630
631
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642
643
644
645
646
647
In this exercise, you located, loaded,

and placed
instances of a door family.
Exercise: Create Custom Families

In this exercise, you open an existing
project file,
modify a door family, and create an inplace family.
648
611
612
613
9) Save file as:
615
649
P a g e | 58
650
651
652
Modify an Existing Family
653
1) Open file:
655
656 The file opens to Floor Plan view Level 1.
657
2) Select the double door as shown.
658
659
660 This door needs to be 48" wide. The Type
661 Selector lists the available sizes for this door
662 type. The required width is not available.
663
670
671
5) For Name, enter 48" x 80". Click OK.
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
6) Edit the Height and Width dimension fields as
687 shown. You can enter inch values if you put
"
688 after the digits (as in 80"). Revit adjusts
them to
689 foot-inch readings.
690
664
665
3) Click Properties palette > Edit Type.
691
692
Click OK twice to exit the dialog boxes.
693
694 The door updates.
666
667
4) In the Type Properties dialog box, click
668 Duplicate.
669
P a g e | 59
695
Click Modify to end command.
696
697
Create an In-Place Family
698
In our hypothetical design, imagine that
the client has an heirloom grandfather
clock and wants it to be a featured part
of the main hall.
699
700
The most effective way to make sure
that space is allowed, and to provide a
way to see a representation of the clock
in interior elevations, is to create a
component family in place.
701
7) On the Architecture tab, Build panel, click
Component > Model In-Place.
702
703
704
8) In the dialog box, select Generic Models. Click
OK.
705
706
707
9) For Name, enter Hall Clock. Click OK.
708
709
710
10) The ribbon changes to the Family Editor
711 environment. Click Create tab > Forms
panel > Extrusion.
712
713
714
11) On the Properties palette, set the Extrusion End
715 value to 6". The Depth field on the Options
Bar
716 updates.
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
12) On the Draw panel, click Rectangle.
726
727
728
Draw a rectangle approximately 1' x 1' - 4"
as shown. The exact dimensions and
location are not critical.
P a g e | 60
16) Sketch a rectangle inside the previous one, as

745 shown.
729
730
13) Click Mode panel > Finish (green check mark).
731 You have created the base of the clock.
732
733
734
14) Click Create tab > Forms panel > Extrusion as
before.
735
Set the Extrusion Start value to 6" and the
736
Extrusion End value to 5' 6"
737
738
739
Click OK
740
15) Set the Lines mode to Rectangle with an Offset
741 of - 2". Revit will display - 0' 2".
742
743
744
746
747
17) Click Mode panel > Finish as before. Click In748 Place Editor panel > Finish Model.
749
750
751
18) The family model updates.
752
753
19) Save file as:
755
756
In this exercise, you located, loaded,
and placed
757
a door family. You also created an inplace family using Extrusions.
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
P a g e | 61

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Lesson Plan Revit Intro

Autodesk Revit 2015

Conceptual Design with Mass Models

Annotations and Dimensions

Display and Navigation

Working with Views and Objects

Place, locate, and modify model elements

Use dimensions to control model elements

Place and modify mass elements

Create building elements from mass elements

Open different views

Change view displays

Change view properties

Adjust Advanced Model Graphics

Access, load, and place a family from a library

Change type properties of a family

Create an in-place family

Display and Hide Ribbon Tabs

Work With Families

Create Custom Families

Conceptual Design by Sketching Building Elements

Design Using Elements

Distances can be adjusted at any time.

Constraints that preserve relationships can be applied.

Conceptual Design with Mass Models

In-Place Mass opens the Model-In-Place Mass tab.

can then be converted into a floor.

Annotations and Dimensions

Permanent dimensions can be used to modify the model.

This lesson provided an overview of systems for annotations and dimensions.

Display and Navigation

Navigating the Ribbon Interface

The Collaborate tab includes tools for working with others.

The Modify | Door and Modify | Window context tabs shown.

Revit Screen Display

The Status Bar

View Control Bar

Crop region hidden and inactive

Crop region shown but inactive

Crop region selected, controls available

Context Tabs, Options Bar, Properties Palette, Type Selector

Mark 1: Context Tab

You can also reach zoom controls on the right-click menu.

Quick Access Toolbar

Quick Access Toolbar default

Exercise: Display and Hide Ribbon

1) Create a new project based upon an

This exercise shows you how to display

The completed exercise

Display and Hide Ribbon Tabs

60 each of them, make the Architecture tab

Working with Views and Objects

Control how things appear on your screen using View Properties.

Exercise: View Controls

A building model, even a small one, is

326 The display changes. Four elevation

361 You will change visibility of elements in

In this exercise, you open an existing

view objects in AutoCAD Architecture,

display until you place another door or terminate

In this exercise, you located, loaded,

Exercise: Create Custom Families

16) Sketch a rectangle inside the previous one, as

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