Part 1 D MA TE Exploring the User Interface Creating an Effective Project Template Worksets and Worksharing Project Collaboration Multiplatform Interoperability: Working with 2D and 3D Data Parameters Schedules PY RI GH TE Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Chapter 6: Chapter 7: CO u u u u u u u RI AL General Project Setup
Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface Autodesk Revit MEP 2012 utilizes a ribbon interface, allowing for easy access to the tools needed for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design and modeling. Having a good knowledge of where tools are located and how to access commands easily is the best way to be efficient in your use of Revit MEP 2012.
| Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface Revit are repeated on different tabs. Depending on your screen resolution, some of the buttons on panels may become compressed to fit on your screen. The panels and tools for each tab are described here (not all panels are shown for each tab): Home The Home tab is the main tab for MEP modeling tools. This tab is divided into panels that are specific to each of the main disciplines. This tab is where you will find the tools to build an MEP model.
The Ribbon Architect Revit MEP 2012 is capable of modeling much more than just the components of an MEP engineering system. The Architect tab contains tools that allow you to model architectural components or to create conceptual mass objects. The Room & Area panel contains the Legend button, which allows you to apply color fill to your views based on defined criteria.
| Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface options have a separate button for each use, such as the Mirror, Split, and Trim/Extend tools. The tools for creating groups, assemblies, or parts are located on the Create panel. If you are running any external applications or macros, the Add-Ins tab will appear on your ribbon as the next-to-last tab. The buttons or other features provided by the external application will appear on the tab as configured.
The Ribbon Family Editor Tabs The tabs in the Family Editor environment differ from those in the Project File environment. When you open a family file, the tabs on the ribbon contain some familiar tools, but many of them are specific to the creation and modification of family components.
| Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface Modify The Modify tab in the Family Editor environment is the same as the one found in the Project File environment. This tab is also compact, allowing for a contextual tab when objects within the family are selected. The Load Into Project button is available on each tab in the Family Editor environment. This allows you to load the family into another open file at any time.
Quick Access Toolbar You can control the visibility of the ribbon tabs by clicking the small button to the right of the tabs. This button will cycle through the different display options. You can also click the small arrow next to the button to display and select a specific option. You can establish the switching behavior of the tabs on the ribbon to determine which tab is displayed when you exit a tool or command. When you click a tool, the contextual Modify tab for that tool appears.
| Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface The option at the bottom of the list allows you to set the location of the QAT either above or below the ribbon. Setting it below the ribbon moves it closer to the drawing area for easier access. Moving it to this location does not take the place of the Options Bar, however. If you add several buttons to the QAT, you may want to move it below the ribbon so that it does not crowd out the filename on the title bar.
User Interface Features You can dock the Options Bar at the top of the screen, below the ribbon (which is the default location), or at the bottom of the screen, just above the status bar. Right-click on the Options Bar to change its docked position. Properties Palette The Properties palette is a modeless dialog box that allows you to access the properties of items in your project. This feature reduces the number of mouse clicks necessary to access the properties of a model object or project component.
| Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface Figure 1.6 Properties palette Type Selector Drop down for changing properties displayed The properties shown in the Properties palette are instance properties. You can click the Edit Type button to display the Type Properties dialog box for a selected item or view. When viewing the instance properties of an object or view, the scroll bar at the right side of the palette will hold its position when you move your mouse pointer away from the palette.
User Interface Features | A new button has been added to the View Control Bar that enables you to save and lock the orientation of a 3D view. When a 3D view is locked, you can tag items in the view. You can zoom and pan in a locked view but you cannot orbit the model. The button menu has options for unlocking the view, to allow orbiting, and for returning to the saved orientation. When you unlock a view, any tags applied in the view will not be displayed until it is returned to its saved orientation.
| Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface settings take precedence over any view filters that may be applied to the view. If you override the graphics of a category in the view, only the changes to line weight will be applied (color overrides will not display). Figure 1.9 3D view with worksharing display activated To turn the Sun Path on or off in a view, you use the Sun Settings button.
User Interface Features file. If activating Hardware Acceleration causes problems because of your video driver, you can choose not to activate it and skip step 5: 1. Open the Ch1_Project.rvt file found at www.sybex.com/go/masteringrevitmep2012. 2. Click the Visual Styles button on the View Control Bar. Set Visual Style to Shaded. Zoom, pan, and orbit the view, and make note of the variations in color based on the model orientation. 3. Click the Visual Styles button and select Graphic Display Options.
| Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface You can access any editing requests by clicking the small button next to the active workset indicator. This will open the Editing Request dialog box, which displays any pending requests by others to borrow elements. This dialog box also displays any requests made by you to other users. Next to the button is an indicator that shows the number of requests that are currently pending.
Menus and Settings Figure 1.11 User Interface button options The User Interface button provides not only a way to display or remove interface components for more screen real estate, but also a way to access the Recent Files screen, which cannot be accessed from the Switch Windows drop-down button, until it has been activated by using this button. Menus and Settings The menus within Revit MEP 2012 offer access to many tools for user interface settings.
| Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface Clicking the Options button opens the Options dialog box, which has several tabs for different settings within Revit MEP 2012. The General tab now contains a slider that allows you to control how frequently your file will update when working in a worksharing environment and utilizing the Model Updates option of the new worksharing display features. The General tab is also where you define your username for Revit MEP 2012.
Menus and Settings | In addition, you can define the level of information provided by tooltips from the Tooltip Assistance drop-down menu. If you are still learning the function of different tools within Revit MEP 2012, you may want to set this option to High so that you will receive detailed descriptions of how tools work when you hover over them with your mouse pointer. If you find that the tooltips interfere with your workflow, you can set this option to None.
| Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface Shortcut Access You can access the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box by clicking the User Interface button on the View tab. There is even a keyboard shortcut for the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box: KS. You can sort the list in ascending or descending alphabetical order by clicking the desired column.
Menus and Settings Graphics The Graphics tab of the Options dialog box allows you to set the selection, highlight, and alert colors used in the drawing area. The drawing area’s background color can be inverted if you are more comfortable using a black background. Settings for temporary dimensions are also available to make them more readable, as shown in Figure 1.15. You can set the background for temporary dimensions to transparent or opaque (this setting is not shown in the figure). Figure 1.
| Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface The options displayed on a context menu depend on the object selected when the menu is accessed. One nice feature of Revit MEP 2012 is the ability to define the selection set when the Select All Instances option is chosen. Figure 1.17 shows that you have the option to select only the objects in the active view or to select them throughout the entire project.
The Bottom Line | When you right-click a family in the Project Browser, you get a context menu with options to edit, rename, or reload the family. You can right-click a family type in the Project Browser to access its type properties or to select the instances in the project without having to locate one of the instances in the model, as shown in Figure 1.19. Figure 1.19 Context menu for a selected family type You can also use a right-click context menu to manage linked files through the Project Browser.
| Chapter 1 Exploring the User Interface Utilize user interface features. Many features are available in the Revit MEP 2012 user interface that allow for quick access to tools and settings. The use of keyboard shortcuts can also improve workflow efficiency. Master It To enhance workflow efficiency, it is important to know how to access features of the user interface. What tool can be used to activate or remove user interface features? Use settings and menus.
