CHAPTER 16
Schedules and Tags

To begin, I want to clarify something specific for the people who have been using Autodesk® AutoCAD® Architecture software: you don't need to tag an item in order for it to appear in a schedule in the Autodesk® Revit® platform. You can't just draft a schedule either. But this isn't a bad situation to be in. Say, for example, that you have a typical door schedule. Wouldn't it be nice to add a door to the model and have that door automatically show up in the schedule?

This chapter covers the following topics:

  • Creating schedules
  • Creating material takeoffs
  • Creating key legends
  • Adding tags
  • Keynoting

Creating Schedules

Revit allows you to schedule an item instantly based on a database. A door, for example, already has most of the information you need built into it. Didn't it seem funny that when you placed a door in the model, it was automatically tagged with a sequential door number? This is the power of BIM. We're now going beyond 3D.

Schedules don't stop at doors and windows in Revit. You can schedule almost any item that goes into the model. Along with schedules comes the ability to quantify materials and areas. You can even create a schedule for the sole purpose of changing items in the model. In Revit, it's always a two‐way street.

The first topic we'll tackle is creating the most common of the schedules in architecture: the door schedule. When you get this procedure down, you'll be off and running.

The good news is that you have most of the information you need to create a multitude of schedules. The bad news is that Revit‐produced schedules may not look like your company's schedules at all. Before we go further, it's important to note that some of you will be able to get a perfect duplication of your company's standard schedules; some of you won't. Those of you who don't will have to get as close as possible to your standards and, at that point, know that sometimes the cost of doing BIM isn't in the pocket but at the plotter.

Given that, let's get started. I think you'll find that creating and using schedules is a wonderful experience. You're about to learn how to save hours upon hours of work, all the while maintaining 100 percent accuracy.

Adding Fields to a Schedule

To begin, open the file on which you've been following along. If you didn't complete the previous chapter, go to the book's web page at www.wiley.com/go/revit2020ner. From there, you can browse to the Chapter 16 folder and find the file called NER‐16.rvt. The following procedure focuses on creating a door schedule. Grab a cup of coffee or power drink, and follow along:

  1. In the Project Browser, go to the Level 1 floor plan.
  2. In the Create panel of the View tab, click the Schedules ➣ Schedule/Quantities button, as shown in Figure 16.1.
    Click the Schedule/Quantities button on the View tab.

    FIGURE 16.1 Click the Schedule/Quantities button on the View tab.

  3. The next dialog, shown in Figure 16.2, allows you to choose which item you would like to schedule. Select Doors and click OK.
    Select Doors and then click OK.

    FIGURE 16.2 Select Doors and then click OK.

  4. The next dialog lets you add the fields (parameters) required for your schedule. The first field you'll add is Mark. To do this, select Mark in the Available Fields area to the left, and click the Add button in the middle of the dialog to move the Mark field to the right, as shown in Figure 16.3.
    Adding the fields to produce a door schedule

    FIGURE 16.3 Adding the fields to produce a door schedule

  5. Add the rest of the following fields using the same method.
    • Height
    • Width
    • Level
    • Finish
    • Frame Material
    • Frame Type
    • Comments
  6. Click OK. Your schedule should be similar to Figure 16.4.
The door schedule up to this point

FIGURE 16.4 The door schedule up to this point

The next step is to start organizing your data in your preferred display format. You have a long way to go, but when you're finished, you can use this schedule over and over again.

Sorting and Grouping

Because Revit is a database, think of building a schedule as creating a query in a database, because that's exactly what you're doing. By creating a sort, you can begin to see your doors in groups and have a tangible understating of where you are. Let's get started:

  1. Because you never use lowercase lettering, click into the header and title rows and change the names to all capital letters, as shown in Figure 16.5.
  2. Select the rows that contain the headers from COMMENTS to MARK. Do this by clicking into the COMMENTS cell and dragging your cursor to the left.
  3. With the cells highlighted, click the Shading button (see Figure 16.5).
  4. Change the shading to the gray basic color shown in Figure 16.5.
  5. In the Properties dialog is an Other category. Here you can return to the Schedule Properties dialog. Click the Edit button in the Sorting/Grouping row, as shown in Figure 16.6.
  6. On the Sorting/Grouping tab of the Schedule Properties dialog, set Sort By to Level.
  7. Select the Header option.
  8. Select the Footer option.
  9. Select Title, Count, And Totals from the Sort By drop‐down list (see Figure 16.7).
  10. Click OK.
  11. Save the model.

The next step is to group the header information the way you would like it. Most schedules include groups such as Frame Material and Frame Type. You'll create similar groupings.

Edit all the field names and change the shading of the row.

FIGURE 16.5 Edit all the field names and change the shading of the row.

Click the Edit button in the Sorting/Grouping row.

FIGURE 16.6 Click the Edit button in the Sorting/Grouping row.

Sorting the schedule by level

FIGURE 16.7 Sorting the schedule by level

Controlling Headers

Although this step isn't crucial to producing an accurate, readable schedule, it's important in the attempt to get this Revit‐produced schedule to look like the schedule you've been using for years in CAD. The objective of this procedure is to combine the header content into smaller groups under their own header, similar to what you can do in a spreadsheet.

To begin controlling the schedule headers, follow these steps:

  1. In the Project Browser, open DOOR SCHEDULE (if you don't already have it open).

    At the top of the schedule are the title (DOOR SCHEDULE) and the headers (which include NUMBER, HEIGHT, WIDTH, and LEVEL, among others), as shown in Figure 16.8. Focus your attention here.

  2. The goal is to combine NUMBER, HEIGHT, WIDTH, and LEVEL into a group under one header called DOOR INFORMATION. To do this, click the NUMBER cell, and drag your cursor to the left. You're selecting all four cells.
    Click and drag across the four cells to activate the Group button.

    FIGURE 16.8 Click and drag across the four cells to activate the Group button.

  3. When the cells are selected, click the Group button in the Headers panel.
  4. Click into the new cell, and type DOOR INFORMATION.

It would be nice if the defaults in Revit were all caps, but they aren't. The next procedure will rename some of the headers, but it won't change any values.

  1. Change the LEVEL header to FLOOR.
  2. Select the cells FRAME MATERIAL and FRAME TYPE As shown in Figure 16.9.
  3. On the Options bar, click Group in the Headers panel.
  4. Call the new header FRAME INFORMATION (see Figure 16.10).

Now it's time to begin filling out some of the blank fields. This is where you can increase productivity by using schedules. Instead of going door by door in the model, you have a list of every door right in front of you!

Adding the new header and changing the descriptions

FIGURE 16.9 Adding the new header and changing the descriptions

The groups are complete.

FIGURE 16.10 The groups are complete.

Modifying Elements in a Schedule

In Revit, data flows in multiple directions. When you created a schedule, the data from the doors flowed into the schedule to populate it. Now you'll ask Revit to collect data that you input into the schedule to flow into the doors.

To learn how to populate the schedule, follow along with the procedure:

  1. In the Project Browser, open DOOR SCHEDULE (if it isn't open already).
  2. Click into the FINISH cell for door number 101.
  3. Type PT (for paint).
  4. Click in the FINISH cell below the one you just changed.
  5. Click the menu arrow and notice that PT is in the list. Click PT (see Figure 16.11).
    When you start filling out the fields in a schedule, the items become available in the list for future use.

    FIGURE 16.11 When you start filling out the fields in a schedule, the items become available in the list for future use.

  6. Save the model.

Let's see how this affected the actual doors in the model and perhaps find a door that needs to be tagged with a WD (wood) finish:

  1. In the Project Browser, open the Level 1 floor plan.
  2. Zoom in on the door between the corridor and the east wing, as shown in Figure 16.12.
  3. Select the door.
  4. In the Properties dialog, scroll down to the Materials And Finishes category, and find Finish.
  5. Click in the Finish field, and type WD (see Figure 16.12).
    Changing the property of an element in the model does the same thing as changing the element in the schedule.

    FIGURE 16.12 Changing the property of an element in the model does the same thing as changing the element in the schedule.

  6. Click the Apply button at the bottom of the Properties dialog.
  7. Open the door schedule. Notice that door 100B has a WD finish.
  8. Save the model.

In the interest of not getting carried away with the mundane process of filling out the entire schedule, note that this process is applicable for every field in this type of schedule. The main takeaway is that you can populate a schedule by either changing the data in the schedule itself or by finding the scheduled component and changing it there, such as a door or window.

The next step is to further modify the appearance of the schedule on which you're working. You can then begin using this schedule to focus on a specific group of doors and change them based on a filter.

Modifying the Schedule's Appearance

As it stands, not everyone uses the same fonts, headers, and linework around the border of the schedule.

The objective of this procedure is to examine what font this schedule is using, as well as the line weights and spacing applied to the schedule. To learn how to adjust the appearance of a schedule, follow along:

  1. In the Project Browser, open DOOR SCHEDULE (if it isn't open already).
  2. In the Properties dialog, click the Edit button for Appearance.
  3. On the Appearance tab of the Schedule Properties dialog are two categories: Graphics and Text. In the Graphics category, click Outline and select Medium Lines, as shown in Figure 16.13.
  4. In the Text category, make sure Show Title and Show Headers are selected (see Figure 16.13).
  5. Click OK.

Your schedule doesn't change one bit! You've simply created a situation where the appearance of the schedule won't be apparent until you literally drag it onto a drawing sheet.

Configuring the schedule's appearance

FIGURE 16.13 Configuring the schedule's appearance

Adding a Schedule to a Sheet

With the schedule complete, we can drag it onto a sheet. The cool thing about when we do this is, we have additional functionality in terms of making the schedule more presentable.

  1. In the Project Browser, find the Sheets (All) category. Coincidentally, it's located directly below Schedules/Quantities.
  2. Right‐click Sheets (All).
  3. Select New Sheet.
  4. Select E1 30 × 42 Horizontal and click OK.

    You now have a new sheet containing a blank title block.

The next objective is to click and drag the schedule onto the sheet. If the schedule fits, this is literally the easiest thing to do in Revit:

  1. In the Project Browser, find DOOR SCHEDULE.
  2. Click it, but don't double‐click it—pick it and hold down the left mouse button.
  3. With the left mouse button pressed, drag the schedule onto the sheet. You can place it anywhere you see fit (see Figure 16.14).
  4. When you've moved your cursor to the correct position, release the mouse button. If the bottom hangs over the sheet, that's OK—you'll fix it in a minute.
    Clicking and dragging the schedule onto the sheet

    FIGURE 16.14 Clicking and dragging the schedule onto the sheet

  5. Notice the blue break grip located halfway up the schedule. This is the same type of grip that is used in grids, levels, and sections. Pick it, as shown in Figure 16.15.
  6. With the schedule split in two, you can see that it fits onto the sheet quite nicely. With the schedule still selected, notice the blue grip at the lower left, as shown in Figure 16.16. Pick the grip and drag. You can slide the schedule so that the length of each side adjusts up and down evenly.
  7. Zoom in on the top of the schedule, as shown in Figure 16.17, and select the schedule.
  8. There are blue triangle‐shaped icons at each cell in the title and the header. Pick the one on the COMMENTS column and drag it to the right. The COMMENTS header is now readable.
You can split the schedule into two (or more) sections.

FIGURE 16.15 You can split the schedule into two (or more) sections.

You can make further adjustments to the schedule by picking the round blue grip.

FIGURE 16.16 You can make further adjustments to the schedule by picking the round blue grip.

Pick the triangle grip to give the COMMENTS field some more room.

FIGURE 16.17 Pick the triangle grip to give the COMMENTS field some more room.

You can make two more adjustments to the schedule after you place it onto a sheet. They involve rotating and joining the two columns back together:

  1. Select the schedule (if it isn't already selected).

    On the Modify | Schedule Graphics tab, there is a Rotation On Sheet menu on the Options bar. You don't need to change the rotation—just note that it's there.

  2. Save the model.

Phew! I think you get the picture. If you like, feel free to create a bunch of schedules on your own. Practice does make perfect.

Let's venture now into creating a material takeoff. It would be a shame to have all these computations go unused!

Creating Material Takeoffs

Creating a material takeoff is similar to creating a schedule. The only difference is that you're breaking down components and scheduling the smaller pieces. For example, as you know, you can make a schedule of all the doors in the model—you just did that. But with a material takeoff, you can quantify the square footage of door panels or glass in the doors. To take it a step further, you can do material takeoffs of walls, floors, and any other building components you want to quantify.

The objective of this procedure is to create three different material takeoffs: one for the walls, one for the floors, and one for the roofs. Let's get started:

  1. On the View tab, click Schedules ➣ Material Takeoff, as shown in Figure 16.18.
    To add a new material takeoff, you can go to the View tab.

    FIGURE 16.18 To add a new material takeoff, you can go to the View tab.

  2. In the New Material Takeoff dialog, select Walls.
  3. Click OK.
  4. In the next dialog, add the following fields (see Figure 16.19):
    • Material: Area
    • Material: Name
    • Count
  5. Select the Sorting/Grouping tab.
  6. Sort by Material: Name.
  7. Add a footer.
  8. Choose Title, Count, And Totals from the menu, as shown in Figure 16.20.
  9. Select the Blank Line option.
  10. At the bottom of the dialog, select Grand Totals.
  11. Choose Title, Count, And Totals from the menu.
  12. Select the option Itemize Every Instance (see Figure 16.20).
  13. Click OK.
Adding the materials

FIGURE 16.19 Adding the materials

Configuring the parameters for the schedule

FIGURE 16.20 Configuring the parameters for the schedule

The next step is to begin taking some totals on your own. The first thing you can do is have Revit automatically format a column to produce an independent total; then, you can break out this takeoff and drill in to more specific line‐item totals:

  1. In the Properties dialog, click the Edit button next to the Formatting row to bring up the Material Takeoff Properties dialog, shown in Figure 16.21.
    Going to the Formatting tab

    FIGURE 16.21 Going to the Formatting tab

  2. In the field to the left, select Material: Area (see Figure 16.22).
  3. On the right, select Calculate Totals (see Figure 16.22).
  4. Click OK.

You now have a total area at the bottom of your takeoff groups, as shown in Figure 16.23.

The next step is to break this takeoff into smaller, more specific takeoffs. When you do this, you can provide your own calculations based on almost any formula you need.

Creating a Calculated Value Field

The objective here is to create separate schedules for plywood and gypsum by adding a new variable to the schedule that contains a formula you create. Yes, it's as hard as it sounds, but after you get used to this procedure, it won't be so bad! Perform the following steps:

Specifying we want this field to have a total.

FIGURE 16.22 Specifying we want this field to have a total.

The total area is calculated.

FIGURE 16.23 The total area is calculated.

  1. In the Project Browser, right‐click Wall Material Takeoff, and select Duplicate View ➣ Duplicate, as shown in Figure 16.24.
    Duplicating the schedule

    FIGURE 16.24 Duplicating the schedule

  2. Right‐click the new view in the Project Browser and select Rename.
  3. Rename it Plywood Takeoff.
  4. In the Properties dialog, click the Edit button in the Filter row.
  5. For Filter By, choose Material: Name.
  6. In the menu to the right, select Equals from the list.
  7. In the field below Material: Name, select Plywood, Sheathing (see Figure 16.25).
  8. Click OK.

Your takeoff should look like Figure 16.26.

Filtering based on material

FIGURE 16.25 Filtering based on material

The takeoff is filtered based only on plywood, sheathing.

FIGURE 16.26 The takeoff is filtered based only on plywood, sheathing.

The next step is to break down the plywood into 4 × 8 sheets. You'll need to add a formula based on the square footage given by Revit divided by 32 square feet to come up with the plywood totals:

  1. Open the Plywood Takeoff schedule in the Project Browser (if it isn't already).
  2. In the Properties dialog, click the Edit button in the Fields row.
  3. On the Fields tab in the Material Takeoff Properties dialog, click the Calculated Value button, as shown in Figure 16.27.
    Click the Calculated Value button in the middle of the dialog.

    FIGURE 16.27 Click the Calculated Value button in the middle of the dialog.

  4. For the name, enter Number of Sheets.
  5. Make sure Discipline is set to Common.
  6. Make sure Type is set to Number (see Figure 16.28).
  7. Add the following formula: Material: Area / 32 SF (metric users type this formula: Material: Area / 2.88 SF).
    Changing the calculated values

    FIGURE 16.28 Changing the calculated values

  8. Click OK.
  9. Click the Formatting tab, as shown in Figure 16.29.
  10. In the Field Formatting section, select Calculate Totals (see Figure 16.29).
    Selecting the Calculate Totals option

    FIGURE 16.29 Selecting the Calculate Totals option

  11. Select the new field called Number of Sheets.
  12. Click the Field Format button.
  13. Deselect Use Default Settings, as shown in Figure 16.30.
  14. Change Units to Fixed.
  15. Make sure Rounding is set to 0 Decimal Places.
  16. Select Use Digit Grouping (see Figure 16.30).
    Overriding the units to allow this field to round

    FIGURE 16.30 Overriding the units to allow this field to round

  17. Click OK.
  18. Select the Sorting/Grouping tab.
  19. At the bottom, select the Grand Totals option if it isn't selected already.
  20. Click OK.

Your material takeoff should resemble Figure 16.31.

The finished plywood material takeoff

FIGURE 16.31 The finished plywood material takeoff

Wow! Not too bad for only drawing a bunch of walls. As you can see, using the scheduling/material takeoff feature of Revit adds value to this application. Well, the value doesn't stop there. You can use the same functionality to create legends and drawing keys as well.

Creating Key Legends

Here's the problem with Revit. At some point, you'll need to add a component to the model that isn't associated with anything. Say, for example, you have a door that you would like to elevate on a sheet with the door schedule. You sure don't want that door included in the schedule, and you sure don't want to have to draw a wall just to display it. This is where creating a key legend comes into play.

Adding Legend Components

The objective of the following procedure is to create a key legend, adding elevations of doors that are used in the model. As it stands, a legend can mean any number of things. It can be a list of abbreviations, it can be a comprehensive numbering system keyed off the model itself, or it can be a graphical representation of items that have already been placed into the model for further detailing and coordinating. Another special aspect of legends is that a single legend may need to be duplicated on multiple sheets in a drawing set. You don't know it yet, but this is a problem for Revit. By creating a legend, however, you can get around this issue.

Follow these steps to create a door‐type legend:

  1. On the View tab, click the Legends ➣ Legend button, as shown in Figure 16.32. You can also right‐click Legends in the Project Browser and pick New Legend.
    Click the Legends a Legend button on the View tab.

    FIGURE 16.32 Click the Legends a Legend button on the View tab.

  2. The next dialog wants you to specify a scale. Choose 1/4″ = 1′–0″ (1:50mm). This is fine for now (see Figure 16.33).
    Choose 1/4″ = 1′–0″ (1:50mm).

    FIGURE 16.33 Choose 1/4″ = 1′–0″ (1:50mm).

  3. Call the view Door Type Legend.
  4. Click OK.

Congratulations! You now have a blank view. This is actually a good thing. Think of it as a clean slate where you can draft, add components, and throw together a legend.

The next step is to begin adding components. You'll need to go to the Annotate tab for this:

  1. Go to the Detail panel of the Annotate tab.
  2. Click the Component ➣ Legend Component button, as shown in Figure 16.34.
    Clicking the Legend Component button

    FIGURE 16.34 Clicking the Legend Component button

  3. In the Options bar, choose Doors: Door Passage‐Single‐Flush: 30″ × 80″, as shown in Figure 16.35.
    Changing the options for the legend

    FIGURE 16.35 Changing the options for the legend

  4. Change the view to Elevation : Front.
  5. Pick a point to place the elevation.
  6. With the command still running, you can place another instance. Change the view to Floor Plan. Place another instance of the door just above the elevation. Revit provides a snap line on the left side for alignment.
  7. In the Options bar, be sure Host Length is set to 6′–0″ (1800mm).

The next step is to add some text in an attempt to label the doors. These items can't be labeled, which can be a disadvantage to breaking away from the model. This is basically a dumb sheet. Follow along:

  1. In the Text panel, click the Text button.
  2. Make sure the text style is Text: 3/32″ Arial and that the leader is set to None.
  3. Place some text centered under each door elevation, and label the doors Type A (see Figure 16.36).
  4. Save the model.
Placing text underneath the doors

FIGURE 16.36 Placing text underneath the doors

It's nice to have accurate blocks available based on what you've added to your model up to this point. By using the Revit method of building a legend like this, you're removed from the horror of stealing old legends from other jobs. I think we all know what a nightmare this turns into when they aren't accurate. Plus, in Revit, you have a library of the doors you're using right at your fingertips. They don't have to be managed or updated constantly. They will always be there, and they will always be accurate.

Next, you'll create a symbol legend—that is, you need to make a sheet that contains all your typical symbols. This task will be carried out in a similar manner.

Adding Tags

You're nearing the end of the book, and you've probably noticed that some subjects, such as tags, were brushed over in earlier chapters. Tags simply can't be avoided because they come in automatically with many items. But a mystery surrounds them. Where do they come from, how does Revit know what tag to associate with what element, and how the heck do you make Revit tags look like your tags?

You can almost see a tag as a “window” looking into the item itself. A tag allows you to pull a parameter out of an item and put that parameter onto the drawing in a physical sense. Given that, tags are how you label things.

To start, let's concentrate on the simple and then move to the more complex. First, you'll learn how to add a tag that wasn't added automatically.

Adding Tags Individually

As you may have noticed, not everything you placed in the model received a tag—especially many of the doors and windows that you copied to different floors. The objective of the following procedures is to add tags to individual objects. The first type of tag will be by category.

Tagging Walls

Tagging walls is almost as automatic as tagging doors and windows. The only difference is that when you tag a wall, the tag might be initially blank.

To learn how to tag a wall, follow along with this procedure:

  1. In the Project Browser, go to the Level 2 floor plan if you are not there already.
  2. Zoom in on the east wing.
  3. Click the Tag By Category button.
  4. Make sure the Leader button is checked.
  5. Pick the wall indicated in Figure 16.37.
  6. Press Esc twice.
  7. Select the new wall tag (it's blank).
  8. Notice the blue items. Click the blue question mark in the tag.
  9. Call it MC‐1, as shown in Figure 16.38.
    Picking one of the corridor partitions to tag

    FIGURE 16.37 Picking one of the corridor partitions to tag

    Adding the wall tag data

    FIGURE 16.38 Adding the wall tag data

  10. Click Yes in response to the warning that you're changing a type parameter.
  11. Press Esc.
  12. Click Tag By Category on the Annotate tab.
  13. Pick any other exterior wall in Level 2. This time the tag is automatically placed with the appropriate MC‐1 tag filled out.

Suppose you would like to tag a number of the same items in one shot. Revit lets you do this by using the Tag All command.

Using the Tag All Command

The Tag All command is a favorite among Revit users. One of the most common examples of using this command is when you Copy/Paste Aligned multiple items to higher‐level floors. You'll almost always miss a few tags, or even all of the tags. This is where Tag All comes into play.

The objective of this next procedure is to find the Tag All feature and tag many items in one shot:

  1. In the Project Browser, go to the Level 4 floor plan.
  2. Notice that many doors and windows aren't tagged. (If for some reason all the doors and windows are tagged, select the tags and delete them for this procedure.)
  3. On the Annotate tab, click the Tag All button, as shown in Figure 16.39.
    The Tag All button on the Annotate tab

    FIGURE 16.39 The Tag All button on the Annotate tab

  4. In the Tag All Not Tagged dialog, click Door Tags.
  5. Hold the Ctrl key and select Window Tags. This specifies that every door and window in the view is about to receive a tag.
  6. Make sure the All Objects In Current View radio button is selected (see Figure 16.40).
    Selecting door and window tags

    FIGURE 16.40 Selecting door and window tags

  7. Click Apply.
  8. Click OK.

It almost goes without saying that Tag All is quite a valuable tool. Another valuable tool is the ability to reach into a component and tag specific material within the component.

Tagging by Material

Tagging By Material may be one of the most underused commands in all of Revit. The reason is that most people think of a tag as, well, a tag—a drawn box containing some abbreviations or letters. That's too bad, because you can also use tags as a means to place notes. Tagging an item's material is one way of doing just that.

The objective of the following procedure is to create a material description and then place a tag pursuant to that note:

  1. In the Project Browser, go to the Level 1 floor plan.
  2. Zoom in on the kitchen area in the east wing.
  3. In the Tag panel of the Annotate tab, click the Material Tag button, as shown in Figure 16.41.
    The Material Tag button in the Tag panel

    FIGURE 16.41 The Material Tag button in the Tag panel

  4. You may get the message stating that no material tag family is loaded into the model. If so, click the Yes button to load one.
  5. Browse to Annotations ➣ Architectural ➣ Material Tag.rfa.
  6. Click Open.
  7. Place your cursor over the tile floor, as shown in Figure 16.42. The tag reads “Porcelain tile, 4″, white.” When you see this tag, pick a point on the tile floor, and then place the note to the right, as shown in the figure.
    Placing the “Porcelain tile, 4″, white” note

    FIGURE 16.42 Placing the “Porcelain tile, 4″, white” note

  8. Press Esc twice or click Modify.
  9. Select the tag.
  10. In the Properties dialog, click Edit Type.
  11. Change Leader Arrowhead to Arrow Filled 15 Degree, as shown in Figure 16.43.
  12. Click OK to reveal the leader. Yes, that looks much better.

The next topic we'll explore is where these tags come from and how you can create your own. Notations and symbols are the basis for maintaining graphical standards. If you simply use the examples given to you by Revit, you'll have a set of drawings that look very generic and immediately turn off your design team.

Changing the leader arrowhead is one of the first things you will probably have to do.

FIGURE 16.43 Changing the leader arrowhead is one of the first things you will probably have to do.

Using Multi‐Category Tags

If you think about it, you used a door tag for the doors, a window tag for the windows, and a wall tag for the walls. Jeepers! How many different tags do you need to complete a set of construction documents? Well, in Revit, you can create a multi‐category tag. This will be the same tag (aesthetically) that identifies a common property in any element.

Unfortunately, Revit doesn't provide a sample multi‐category tag, so you'll have to make one. The objective of the next set of procedures is to create a new multi‐category tag and then use it on various furniture items.

As mentioned earlier, you should create any new family by using a template. Doing so will ensure that you're using the correct data, so the family will behave as expected. This is what you're doing right now:

  1. Click the blue File tab, and then choose New ➣ Family.
  2. In the Annotations folder, locate the file called Multi‐Category Tag.rft.
  3. Open the Multi‐Category Tag.rft template.
  4. Because you have started the family by using a template, the Ribbon has changed. In the Create panel, click the Label button.
  5. Pick the point at the intersection of the two reference planes.
  6. In the Edit Label dialog, add the Family Name and Type Name parameters, as shown in Figure 16.44.
  7. In the Family Name row, select the Break check box (see Figure 16.44).
    This time you're adding two parameters. By selecting the Break check box, you tell Revit to stack the parameters.

    FIGURE 16.44 This time you're adding two parameters. By selecting the Break check box, you tell Revit to stack the parameters.

  8. Click OK.
  9. Click the Application button and select Save As ➣ Family. Place the file somewhere you can find it later.
  10. Call the new tag Multi‐Category Tag.
  11. In the Family Editor panel, click Load Into Project.
  12. In the NER‐16 project (or whatever project name you're in at present), go to the Level 1 Furniture floor plan and zoom in on the northeast office in the east wing.
  13. On the Annotate tab, click the Multi‐Category button in the Tag panel, as shown in Figure 16.45.
    The Multi-Category button in the Tag panel

    FIGURE 16.45 The Multi‐Category button in the Tag panel

  14. On the Options bar, select the Leader option, as shown in Figure 16.46.
  15. Again, on the Options bar, select Free End (see Figure 16.46).
  16. Hover your mouse over the furniture items shown in the room in Figure 16.46. The tag reports the information for any item over which you hover. Pick the entertainment unit to the left of the room, and then pick two points to the right of the unit.
  17. Click Modify. Select the tag you just placed into the model.
  18. Click the Edit Type button.
  19. For Leader Arrowhead, select Arrow Filled 15 Degree.
  20. Click OK.
  21. Using the grips on the tag, move it out of the way, and adjust the leader so it looks like the one in Figure 16.46.
  22. Add another tag to the credenza located on the north wall. Adjust this tag as well (see Figure 16.46).
  23. Add one more tag to the shelving on the south wall of the room and adjust the leader so it looks acceptable (again, see Figure 16.46).
Adding the multi-category tag to the entertainment unit. Make sure you adjust the tag to show the information unobscured.

FIGURE 16.46 Adding the multi‐category tag to the entertainment unit. Make sure you adjust the tag to show the information unobscured.

Using multi‐category tags is a great way to label a model. It's nice because you don't need specific tags for the various elements. These items could have been different types of furniture and casework. As long as they have a family name and a type name, the label tag will work.

Another way to record items in a model is by adding keynoting. This procedure is done in conjunction with a schedule. The last section of this chapter will focus on this procedure.

Keynoting

Keynoting has been used in construction documents dating back to the Pharaohs. Okay, maybe not that far back, but you get the point. Revit does a nice job in terms of tracking keynotes. The only issue is that nothing comes pre‐keynoted in Revit. That is, a keynote value needs to be assigned to each item. If your company uses keynoting, you'll have to assign a keynote to every item in Revit in your template.

That being said, let's break down keynoting and start learning how to add keynotes to your model. You can add three different types of keynotes to a model: keynote by element, by material, and by user.

Keynoting by Element

Keynoting by element means you select an object and place the keynoted text. This procedure is the same as when you tag an object, except that this time the information you're reporting is actually a Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)‐formatted keynote or a standard for your installation location.

Before you get started on this exercise, make sure there is a keynote.txt file to which Revit is pointing. Then follow along:

  1. On the Annotate tab, click the small down arrow next to the word Tag.
  2. Click Keynote Settings.
  3. Make sure you're mapped to C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RVT 2015\Libraries\US Imperial\RevitKeynotes_Imperial_2004.txt (RevitKeynotes_Metric.txt), as shown in Figure 16.47.
Mapping the Keynote.txt file

FIGURE 16.47 Mapping the Keynote.txt file

To use the keynoting by element function, follow this procedure:

  1. In the Project Browser, go to the Level 1 floor plan.
  2. Zoom in on a hallway sconce lighting fixture.
  3. In the Tag panel of the Annotate tab, select Keynote ➣ Element Keynote, as shown in Figure 16.48.
    Select Keynote ➣ Element Keynote.

    FIGURE 16.48 Select Keynote ➣ Element Keynote.

  4. In the Type Selector, click Keynote Tag ➣ Keynote Text, as shown in Figure 16.49.
    Choosing Keynote Tag ➣ Keynote Text

    FIGURE 16.49 Choosing Keynote Tag ➣ Keynote Text

  5. Pick the wall sconce shown in Figure 16.50.
    Placing the leadered keynote

    FIGURE 16.50 Placing the leadered keynote

  6. Pick a second point for the leader line.
  7. Pick a third point to place the keynote text (see Figure 16.50).

Because no keynote has been assigned to this family, you can specify one now. Revit lets you specify keynoting information by either assigning the information through the Properties dialog or by placing a keynote tag, after which Revit will prompt you to specify the missing information.

After you pick the third point, Revit displays the Keynotes menu shown in Figure 16.51. Follow these steps to place the keynote value into the sconce family:

  1. Scroll to Division 26 Electrical and click the plus sign.
  2. Go to the group 26 51 00 Interior Lighting.
  3. Go to the group 26 51 00.B2 Wall Mounted Fluorescent Fixture, as shown in Figure 16.51.
    Selecting the proper keynote value for the sconce

    FIGURE 16.51 Selecting the proper keynote value for the sconce

  4. Click OK.
  5. Drag the text to the right to see the arrow and the note clearly.
  6. In the Tag panel of the Annotate tab, select Keynote ➣ Element Keynote again.
  7. Pick another wall sconce and place the keynote. Notice that this tag is consistent throughout.
  8. Press Esc a couple times and select the tag.
  9. In the Properties dialog, click Edit Type. Change Leader Arrowhead to Arrow Filled 15 Degrees.

Are You Experienced?

Now you can…

  • create several different types of schedules
  • add custom fields to the schedules that calculate values
  • create material takeoffs that give you up‐to‐the‐second information as you add items to the model
  • create legends by using a blank view and basically drafting items into the model
  • import AutoCAD‐generated data to create a legend that looks exactly like your CAD
  • create drawing sheets, add a schedule, and manipulate a schedule to fit on the sheet
  • add tags to the model in addition to the tags that were automatically added when you placed the components
  • place tags that reach into a component and display different materials
  • create custom tags to display any information