Making Design Options Easy

I have learned that many clients in the Architectural, Structural or MEP fields do not use the Design Option command within Revit^� software. It might just be a lack of time for some to learn how to effectively use the tool but it is a function that can dramatically increase your productivity.

In this article I will help those of you who need a little direction make sense of this command, but mostly I will give the general basic steps to use and manipulate your designs correctly.

I will urge you to follow along with me so you will be able to get a grasp of it while reading. Those of you who have been through training might recognize this exercise as the design came from the training material we use in our classes.

Before I begin, here a few tips.

If you know you will have more than one design, then go ahead and plan ahead. For example, you may have a few interior renditions, so go ahead and describe them in a way so you will remember what they entail. The same will go for exterior renditions. This would include roofs (roof structure) and other buildings if need be, not necessarily windows or doors, but definitely walks, drives or patios.
Remember the option set is an overall description, not the specific design option. This would say for instance keep similar options together. One �option set� could be interior and the other exterior. I will be using �Roof� as my description because that is the major element that will be changing.
Remember that in order to work on an option set you need to have selected an option set in the �Edit Option� menu. If you do not select an option, you will not be populating the design with your elements, just merely populating the project.
If you have already drawn elements within your project you can add them to the design option, but be sure that if they need to be in all your designs to complete the project then add them to all designs. You can always delete them out of the design option at a later date.

The first step will be of course to open Revit Arch, Structure or MEP, preferably 2009, but it will apply for 2008 as well.

Now let�s get started. Depending on your situation you may need to start a new project with a design. Be sure to have something familiar to work on or just sketch in a design and go from there.

STEP 1: My first step in the project will be to open the design option dialog box, seen below. This can be done through the �Tools� pull down menu or clicking on the icon in the �Design Option� toolbar (seen below).

Fig. 1

STEP 2: You will want to create a new Option set so that we can pull our designs into the project. Select �New.�

Fig. 2a

You now see that �Option Set 1� has been created along with an option named �Option 1 (primary).�

Fig. 2b

STEP 3: Let�s rename �Option Set 1� to �Roofs.� Do this by selecting the option set, not option, and click Rename on the right side of the dialog box (under �New�). This will allow you to rename the set only and not the option. To rename �Option 1� (primary) select it and then pick Rename in the option area on the lower right hand side of the dialog box (under �Primary�). Rename it �Complex.� In that same area select NEW to create another option. Rename it �Simple Ridge.� You should see something similar to this:

Fig. 3

Once you have completed your design option set and options select �OK.� This will take you back to your project. I will now start to draw the complex roof design.

STEP 4: I will first need to select my �Complex� roof option. If I do not select this option then I will not be inserting anything into it. To do this, select the �Edit Option� button on your toolbar to select the option (seen below left). This will allow you to view the different options available. Select �Roofs: Complex (primary).� You will notice that the button stays on until you are finished with your modification (seen below right).

Fig. 4a Fig. 4b

Note: If the design option is your primary design then you will see the newly created design after you deselect the �Edit Option� button.

STEP 5: I now can design the complex roof system by placing the roof into the project. You can now create material and your model as you would in a regular setting. You can design to your heart�s content for this one design and then when you are finished just deselect the �Edit Option� button to release it and you are done with that design option.

You will see in the below example that I have designed the complex roof.

Fig. 5a Fig. 5b

STEP 6: After I have finished the design I need to select the �Edit Option� button to finish editing the design option. When I am ready to design for the �Simple Ridge� design I select the �Edit Option� button again and scroll down to select the �Simple Ridge� design option (below).

Fig. 6

STEP 7: The roof I made earlier disappears which will allow me to design a different roof (seen below). Once finished with the design we can move on to another item within this design option.

Fig. 7a Fig. 7b

STEP 8: You will notice that there is no structure holding up the South East corner of the roof. Within the practice there is a model group called �Columns and Railings.� We need to insert this group onto the level 1 floor plan. Remember, we are still in the design option so do not deselect the �Edit Option� button just yet.

Fig. 8a Fig. 8b

Once you complete adding the structure, in level 1, you should see something similar to the example above. The above shows that the model has been finished for the �Simple Ridge� design option. You can now deselect the �Edit option� button. You will see that the simple ridge design disappears and the complex design reappears.

A feature within the Design Options repertoire is the ability to add items/elements to the design at a later time. An example would be that I have made my Complex roof design to mimic a small office building, and I need to get rid of and modify the bedrooms and bathroom respectively.

Fig. 8c

STEP 9: In order to do this we need to select the items needed (seen above) and add them to the design options (shown below).

Fig. 9a

Once this button is selected you will get a list of design options available. We will need to add all items to both designs in order to modify them in their entirety (seen below). Select �OK� and you will now be able to modify the options.

Fig. 9b

STEP 10: Back in the project select the �Complex� option from the �Edit Option� menu. Delete the two beds and modify the bathroom to look more commercial in design by taking out the bathtub and moving the sink against the exterior wall. Deselect the �Edit Option� button. You should see something similar to the below example.

�Complex� design option (Commercial) Fig. 10a

You will now be able to see the change in designs when you go between the Complex and simple ridge designs as seen above and below.

�Simple Ridge� design option (Residential) Fig. 10b

*Note: The primary design will be the only design viewable during normal project operations. If you choose to view the other designs all the time then change them to be the primary design option (seen below).

Fig. 10c Fig. 10d

Now that we have the �Design Option Set� set up it is now time to manipulate our project views to view what we intend to describe/show.

STEP 11: As shown below we will need to duplicate the level 1 floor plan to be able to view different views on our sheet. I have labeled them �Option 1� and �Option 2.� You can name them differently if need be.

Fig. 11

STEP 12: In order to view the properties of the design option we need to open the �Visibility/Graphics Overrides� dialog box (VV or VG). Once open, select the Design Option Tab at the top right and view the design set�s settings. You will see the main �set� name and also the text �<Automatic>� in the table to the right. Select the down arrow next to the automatic text. This will show you the list of design options within the design set and allow you to choose which design option you will be viewing in the view � reference Fig. 16b. Make each view to properly see the design intended. Your views should look similar as shown below. return to step 16

Fig. 12a Level 1 - Option 1 (Complex)

Fig. 12b Level 1 - Option 2 (Simple Ridge)

We now need to turn our attention to a 3D view of the project. Opening the default 3D view we notice that the exterior walls are not attached to the roof. The design option is the Complex design and the walls need to be selected to attach to the roof. If we try to do so first we are not allowed to select the walls and attach them to the roof. The process we have to follow is just like the adding of elements to our design options.

STEP 13: In order for this to work correctly we need to add the walls to the design options. Do this by selecting all exterior walls and selecting the �Add to Design Option Set� button on the �Design Option� toolbar. Select both options and select �OK.�

Fig. 13a Fig. 13b

STEP 14: We now have the ability to attach the walls to the roof. Select all exterior walls and attach them to the roof. While you are still in the default 3D view change to the �Simple Ridge� option and follow the same steps as before. Make sure you have the option selected from the edit option dialog before continuing.

Fig. 14a
Complex Design Fig. 14c
Simple Ridge Design

Fig. 14b
Complex Design (Complete) Fig. 14d
Simple Ridge Design
(complete)

OK, we are almost there. All we have left to do is create our 3D rendering or view (if required).

STEP 15: Open the �Level 1 floor � option 1� floor plan and insert a camera in roughly the same location as shown below.

Fig. 15a

Once you pick your viewing depth and direction the new 3D view will open and you will see what your complex design looks like in perspective (seen below).

Fig. 15b
(Shaded with edges)

STEP 16: Once this step is completed you will need to duplicate that view as in the past with the floor plan. Open each view and change the �Visibility/Graphics Overrides� to see each design. See step 12 for reference.

Fig. 16a Fig. 16b

Fig. 16c

STEP 17: This is our last step: To create a sheet with the views positioned on it. You should pull the views onto a sheet so that you can see what you have accomplished.

Fig. 17

Design options are a wonderful tool if understood and used correctly. As the saying goes �Practice Makes Perfect�. If you continue to work with this command it will get easier, but remember to keep the final product in mind and allow your imaginative juices to flow for there is no limit to what you can accomplish through design options.