Browser Organization Tips in Revit Building 8.1

The most-effective way to add levels in Autodesk® Revit is to use the Levels command on the Basics design bar. Upon doing so the “Make Plan View” option is automatically checked, creating a corresponding floor plan and reflected ceiling plan.

Another way to create new levels is to hold the control key down while making a copy of an existing level. However, using this method does not prompt the user to choose whether they want to create a corresponding floor plan and reflected ceiling plan. The image below shows how the levels appear.

The blue datum of the SECOND FLOOR level illustrates that corresponding plan views have been created and are listed in the Project Browser. The black datum of Level 3 (level that was copied) indicates that no plan view has been created.

The names and elevations of levels can be saved in a Revit template file. For instance, the image below (at left) shows the appearance of levels in an elevation view.

However, level views are sorted in the Project Browser alpha-numerically by default, as shown below (at right).

To display floor plan and reflected ceiling plan views in the Project Browser in the same order as their associated level, right- click on the heading Views (all) and then click on Properties.


 In Properties, duplicate the Discipline family type and rename the new type.  The image below shows the new type named "TEMPLATE_BROWSER."


Then select the edit box for the Folders parameter. Here you will find numerous permutations that can be chosen to sort project views. To list the plan views in the same order as their corresponding level, group the browser folder by Family and Type, then by None and sort by Associated Level in ascending order.

The resulting order of plan views appears below.

This page last edited on Tuesday, September 19, 2006