Template Creation with Revit

By Steve Coburn,
AEC Solutions Engineer
Hagerman & Company
Memphis, TN
 

When you first open up your new Revit software you’re sitting there almost wondering what you will see when it’s up and running. Regarding content, no matter what you have been told, there will always be something that you will need to create that you absolutely have to have. One of these items that will need to be worked with is the project template. The template I am talking about is not the detail template or family template. It is the template that you will use to start your everyday projects with. This template will contain your standard details, elements needed, schedules and project output format/layout.

This is where some if not all firms get hung up on the transitioning issue. During the interviewing or shopping process they try to find out what Revit contains, as far as content goes. Some even ask about templates and how they are set up. If the salesman/technician has any knowledge at all the prospect will be told that template creation can be done and that even though most items within the template can be immediately implemented, the project template will take time to come to fruition.

Today I will show you the basic steps of creating a simple template. Once understood you can then recreate and modify the template as you go along.

Step 1

The first and most important step will be to create the look of the final product, e.g. sheet presentation or better known as the title block or even border sheet.

Here you see the default new project open.

Select files>New>Family. This will bring up the “New Family” Dialog box. To design a title block for the sheet, select “Titleblocks>D-36x24.rft.” This will get you started designing a 24x36 “D” size sheet.

This is all good, but do we have to start over from scratch? The answer is “no.” An added benefit here is that you can import your border drawing from AutoCAD into the family template.

Select File>Import/Link>CAD Formats and browse to your dwg border. Other than going on and picking on open I have changed the colors to black and white.

The border can be anything you desire. After inserting it, you will then be allowed to modify it after exploding it. This will allow you to move lines or draw new ones. To do this, select your border and pick on “Full Explode” to break it up.

Zoom in to the bottom right corner or wherever you want the sheet number to be located. If you want to change text feel free to do so. For this example I will leave my stationary text alone. To be able for Revit to use this border we need to insert labels for the information desired.

In the design bar you will need to pick on “Label” and decide on the justification of the text in the “Options Bar.” Once done, pick the location where you want this text to show up. You will then receive a dialog box for the “Edit Label.” This is where you will tell Revit what information you need. We will not select the “Sheet Number” parameter and add it to the label. A sample of the text will show as seen below. If it looks good, hit “OK.” You now have a number! Go ahead and create one for the sheet name. It is also at this time that you can add any graphics or other text to the border as you need. You can also create a revision schedule to insert on the border as well. I’ll leave that for another time.

Now that we have our border/title sheet designed we need to save it in a central location or an easily accessible area for you or your firm. You will use this later on in the template.

Step 2

Your second step in creating your project template is to create a project, but only with the basic elements that are standard for any type project. Note: This could be set up, for future projects or different projects that may have different types of construction, square footage or even geographical location. For all intensive purposes you could set it up per specific codes, but that’s a stretch at this point in the road.

Let’s start putting this all together. Select File>New>Project>Project Template>OK.

This process uses the default template file for Revit and allows the basic elements to be brought in while at the same time allowing you to create your own template. Notice the title of your file, it should read Revit . . .200X[Template1-Floor Plan: Level 1], which only lets you know you are in a template file in the level one floor plan view. Any changes or modifications after this step will be done to the template.

My first goal would be to set up my sheet layout using my newly created titleblock border family. Select “Sheets(All)” in the project browser. Right-click and select “New Sheet.” This brings up the “Select a title block” dialog box. Select “Load” to load the titleblock you created earlier. Once you find it, highlight it and select “Open.” We will now see two titleblocks within our window. Pick your titleblock and select “OK.”

Given that all labels are set correctly, your sheet should be numbered already; most likely “A101.” You now have the opportunity to rename the sheet as well. Right click on the name of the sheet and select “rename,” or double click on the number or title in the viewing area and change it there. Take this process and populate your project browser with your sheet divisions. Remember to only use your discipline’s system of labeling as there will not be a need for other disciplines to be created. Note: In the MEP program you will have sheets labeled for each discipline, such as M, E, P or FP; only in the Architectural and Structural programs will we not label the others. As you can see I have populated my sheets with the basic Architectural divisions.

Step 3

Take this concept and start creating other elements of your sheet set. You can create ahead of time an assortment of schedules such as door and room schedules and place them on your sheets. Legends can be preliminarily created, as well as details that you normally use – See “Saving Drafting Views to Create a Revit “Block” Library” - article in the October edition to understand how that process happens.

This is the basic process of template creation. Utilize Revit to display the standard details that you normally use, import your standard library DWG/DXF/DGN to save time on creation of sheets that only show details not linked to the project model. Before you know it your project template is looking pretty good and is ready for the next step, using it in production.

I did not cover the subject of line weights and line styles as you would be sitting in your chair for another hour or so. In the upcoming months I will try to explain the differences in the way Revit controls its’ lines’ weights and styles in an effort to help you understand the differences between it and AutoCAD or any other package.

A final note: Template creation in Revit is an ongoing process. There may be some thought to having everything loaded or nothing loaded; whatever you decide to do be willing to change it. My personal opinion is I would have the basics loaded, but be ready to add or subtract elements that you realize are needed or unnecessary. I have spoken with several firms, and even after a year of starting this process, they are still changing their templates. Whether it’s content or graphics, they see changes are still necessary.

If you would like some help with this process please call your local Hagerman representative for more information.