Add a Beam Length to Framing Tag

You will first create a shared parameter in the project file:

1. Under Manage tab, select Shared Parameters.
2. Create a new file.  (This file will usually be saved in the project folder, but for this I have saved a file called Beam Tags in S:\Revit\Shared Parameters\.  You can browse to this file to load it.)
3. Create a new Group  (I named the group Beam Tags).
4. Create a new Parameter (Design Length).  Discipline is Common and Type of Parameter will be Length.

Then modify or create a Structural Framing Tag:

1. Load the Shared Parameters file if it is not open.
2. You can either create an additional label that will tag in addition to the current beam (copy or Create), or you can change the current label and tag only with a framing length.
3.  Highlight a tag to access the Edit Label dialogue option.
4. In Edit Label, on the left side below Category Parameters, choose the Add Parameter icon.
5. In Parameter Properties, choose Select..., Parameter Group "Beam Tags", Parameter "Design Length".
6. Design Length should not be an option under Category Parameters.  Use the arrow buttons between frames to add and subract Parameters from the Label Parameters window.
7. Save the Framing Tag as a new family file so that you can keep the stock tag and the new tag separate (or perhaps add a new Family Type with visibility parameters?).

This is an open Annotation Tag file, specifically the Structural Framing tag with an additional tag added to the right of the stock Type tag.  This tag is in a box because it is currently highlighted and its Label dialogue box is open.  I used a different font size and color for the Design Length label.  The suffix for the label is "l=" and the default value is X'-X"

For each type of framing family you want to tag with a length you will have to edit the Family:

1. Load the Shared Parameters file if it is not already open.
2. Open the Family Types dialogue.
3. At the right side, under Parameters, click Add...
4. Select Shared parameter, Select..., Design Length.  Make it an Instance parameter, it should file itself under Dimensions.
5. Hard code Design Length to be =Length (default).
6. Load the Family back in to the project and discard the edited Family file (DO NOT save this back over the stock Revit Families).

Hatch All Existing Structures

This change will be made in the Phases dialogue, found on the Manage tab.  In Graphics Overrides, change Existing Cut Pattern to your preferred Existing hatch style.  Options:
Change the Projection/Surface Pattern if required.
Change the color of Surface and/or Cut lines to black, if desired (This will not entirely override linked models that are already shaded or Underlayed)

Alternately, change the materials:

Revit Wish List - Prompt Before Upgrading

How many times have you "accidentally" opened an old project with a newer version of Revit?  This can destroy several minutes of your day, especially if there are large linked files that are also in an older version.  Why not allow the user to prevent this automatic upgrade, inform them which version the project was last saved in, so that they can close the current Revit, and open the project with the correct version?

Addendums, Revisions, ASIs

Tip:  For ease of creating cut sheets (separate 8½x11s) after CDs, keep sections cuts and details linked live to the model (even if you only used detail elements).  This way, new views to be placed on revisions sheets can be made with "Duplicate as Dependent" and both the original sheet view and the new revision view are identical.

Revit - RAMSteel - Bentley ISM

RAM - Revit Link is no more.  Now we will use Bentley's ISM (Integrated Structural Modeling) to transfer data to and from Revit and RAM Modeler.

Bentley's Structual Sync must be installed on both the RAM and Revit workstations, and the ISM plugin for Revit must be installed on the Revit workstation.

Once the model is constructed in Revit, use the Bentley ribbon to export and import model data.  In RAM, there should be a new menu item "ISM" available under File.

Instructions for modeling in Revit:

1. Enable worksharing.  (All worksharing instructions can be skipped if the Revit model will not be used for CDs)

2. Create worksets for RAM elements.   (In my current model, I added RAM Framing, RAM Floors and RAM Grids in addition to the normally used Structural worksets.  If you already have a model, when moving members to new worksets, Right Click and "Select All Instances Visible in View" is your friend.  Also, Beam Systems can (and should?) be moved to RAM worksets.)

3. Create model, using as few member sizes as possible (you will see why when you get to step 8).  As this will be exporting into RAM, use the minimum amount of levels necessary, and do not offset elevations for decks and joists.

4. Create a Plan View that shows all elements, but only worksets that will be exported to RAM modeler.

5. From that plan view, select all objects, then from the Bentley ribbon, select "Create Repository"
Check the "Use Revit Current Selection" box and create an ism.dgn file where the RAM software can access it (ie the Project directory).  Hit the "Next >" button to start the process.

6. You must now map the Revit elements to ISM elements.  I will describe the instructions as they appear for me in my particular model.

7. For Materials, there are two unmapped steel types, indicated by the X next to the types.  Hit the "Match All" button and ISM Revit Link should be able to fill in the materials for you.  (If not...Highlight the first Revit material, and if there are no matching materials from the dropdown list under "ISM Materials" to the right, select the "New Material" button.  Select "Steel" and hit OK in that dialog, and the Steel (947-521) material will fill out.  Change the other steel materials to the same.)
Hit Next once all materials are matched.

8. For Column/Framing Section Export Mappings, highlight Wide Flange Column, then select "Table Section" from the "ISM Section" Type to the right.  Table Name and Section Name will fill out below.  Change Table Name to AISC, and then select the appropriate Section Name (W10x49 in my case).

The process is the same for Wide Flange Beams and HSS members.  For bar joists, the Table Name will be "Table Joist" instead of Table Section.  Hit Next once all members are mapped.

***Edit - You must select the search tables before Match All will work -

9. Surface Member Export Mappings maps the floors (and walls).  "Match All" appears to find Composite Deck information easily.    New Material has a Steel Deck option that fills in material information. Next to continue...

10.  Dialogue box changes to "Data Export Progress" and it looks like you are done but you must hit the "Export >" button to proceed.

11. Structural Synchronizer will open, this shows what elements are being modified from the previous ISM version.  Status and Change for all members is automatically set to "Added" and "Accepted" for new files.  Hit the Update button and an unfriendly dialogue box will appear prompting for a "Commit Message".  This box prompt should be "Enter Changes" or similar. For now I type in "Initial model export" and hit OK.

12.  After a few seconds 'Some data warnings/errors occurred. Click Show Report for details.'  I check the report and have 108 framing items that did not get a material set. (These are steel bar joists that have material set to , not sure if I should worry setting a material, I imagine RAM will so this when it designs the joists.)

13.  Hit Finish.

14.  From the RAM Modeler, Under the File menu pulldown, select ISM and then "Create from ISM Repository"

15.  Run an Integrity Check and marvel at how few errors you have (compared to dxf import).

16.  Be aware that the Revit model, the ISM file, and the RAM rss files are all separate.  The Revit modeler and RAM designer should take care not to make changes to their models that will be undone by one another.

Revit Wish List - Make Text Settings "Permanent"

Why is there no option to set defaults for these buttons?  Either in the Revit system itself or per project I don't care. I'm tired of setting them manually every time I start working in a project.

Revit Wish List - Floor / Wall Attachment

"Would you like walls that go up to this floor's level to attach to its bottom?"

NO!  I do not want to attach walls to this floor.  Why do I have to bother with this question every single time I change a time bit of my floor edge?  Give us the option to turn this prompt off.