Everything You Need to Know About Autodesk® Revit® Structure View Filters

Everything You Need to Know About Autodesk® Revit® Structure View Filters

Jared Rodrigues – JVA Consulting Engineers

SE4638-L

This 90-minute hands-on lab focuses on Revit Structure view filters. This class will show you everything there is to know about filters: what they are, how to use them, when to use them, and why. Filters provide a way to override the graphic appearance and visibility of all elements that share common properties. You will also gain a basic understanding of visibility graphics, object styles, view templates, and project parameters.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this class, you will be able to:

  • Explain when to use or not to use a view filter
  • Override the graphic appearance of elements using a view filter
  • Override the visibility of elements using a view filter
  • Apply a view filter to multiple views at once using a view template

About the Speaker

Jared is a senior CAD drafter/Revit modeler at JVA Consulting Engineers, a leading consulting structural and civil engineering firm headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. Jared has been using AutoCAD® and other Autodesk products for 12 years. He first began using AutoCAD as a sophomore in high school, and then later earned his associate degree in computer-aided design/architectural from Westwood College located in Denver, Colorado. He has extensive knowledge in customizing AutoCAD using AutoLISP®/Visual LISP®, and has completely customized AutoCAD for three different companies. During the last five years, Jared has become an expert in using Revit, and has successfully helped JVA implement Revit as their primary designing software. In addition to his everyday tasks, Jared also takes on a teaching role at JVA, leading a number of classes on Revit Structure and AutoCAD.

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Introduction

What is a view filter?

A view filter is a tool used to override graphic representation (line weight, line pattern, line color, material, andvisibility)of objectssharing common properties.

When should I use a view filter?

Use a view filter when you need to apply view specific graphic or visibility overrides.

All of the methods below can also be used to control graphic representation and/or visibility. Use them first. If you cannot achieve the result you want with these methods, use a view filter.

  • View Range
    The view range can control the visibility of objects and graphic representation of objects. If an object doesn't fall within the view range then it will not be visible. Some objects that fallbelow the bottom of the primary range but within the view depth of the view range will take on the graphic representation of a "beyond" object.
  • Detail Level (Coarse, Medium, or Fine)
    The graphic representation of some objects change with the detail level. Example: In a coarse view, a wide-flange beam is displayed as a single line, but in a medium or fine view it is displayed with several lines showing more detail.
  • Visual Style (Wireframe, Hidden Line, Shaded, Consistent Colors, Realistic)
    The graphic representation of objects can change with the visual style. Example: If wireframe is selected then no objects will be displayed as hidden because everything is transparent.
  • View Discipline (Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Coordination)
    The view's discipline can change the visibility of objects. Example: If the Structural discipline is selected, then non structural walls will not show up. If the Coordination discipline is selected, then some objects that are hidden will not be displayed.
  • Object Styles
    Object Styles controls the default graphic representationof all objects.
  • Visibility/Graphic Overrides by View
    You can override the Object Style's default graphic representation of objects using the Visibility/Graphic Overrides by Viewtool. You can also override the visibility of objects using this tool.
  • Phasing

The Phasing tool can override the visibility or graphic representation of all modeled objects. Example: You can use the phasing tool to show existing walls with a lighter line weight than new walls.

You can also control the graphic representation and/or visibility of objects using the Visibility/Graphic Overrides by Element. However if you are using this tool, consider using a view filter instead.

Applying Graphic Overrides with a Filter

Follow these steps to set up a view filter:

Step 1:Determine or provide a way for the filter to identify the objects you want tofilter.(You can do this by using a parameter, custom parameter, family name, or type name).

Step 2:Create the filter.

Step 3:Apply the filter to desired view.

Step 4:Apply graphic or visibility overrides to the filter.

Example View Filter: Masonry Walls

In Revit,by default, all walls have the same line pattern and line weight. Many firms like to differentiate between different types of walls by changing the line pattern and/or line weight.You can only accomplish this by using a view filter.

This example will show how to use a filter to display masonry walls with a differentline weight and line pattern.

Step 1:Determine or provide a way for the filter identify masonry walls: In the example project notice that you can differentiate masonry walls from all other walls by the type name. All masonry walls have the word "masonry" in the type name.

Step 2:Create the filter.

  1. In the View tab on the Ribbon click theFilters button
  2. Click the New... button
  3. Name the filter "Masonry Walls"
  4. Keep Define Criteria selected and click OK
  5. Under Categories check Walls
  6. Under Filter Rules > Filter by: select Type Name
  7. Change equals to contains
  8. In the blank field below contains, type "Masonry" (Case Sensitive)
  9. Click OK twice

Step 3:Apply the filter to desired view

  1. Go to a view where you want to apply the filter
    (For this example go to Level 2)
  2. In the View tab on the Ribbon click on Visibility/Graphics button
  3. Go to the Filters tab
  4. Click on the Add button
  5. Select the "Masonry Walls" filter and click OK

Step 4:Apply graphic or visibility overrides to filter

  1. Click on the Override... button under Projection/Surface > Lines
  2. Change Weight to 2 and Pattern to Dash Dot 3/16" then click OK
  3. Click on the Override... button under Cut > Lines
  4. Change Weight to 4 and Pattern to Dash Dot 3/16" then click OK

Example:Concrete Wall Filter

Create a filter to turn the concrete walls on Level 2 to the color red.

Step 1:Determine or provide a way for the filter to identify the objects you want to filter.
Hint: Type Name

Step 2:Create the filter.
Hint: All the steps are the same except masonry=concrete.

Step 3:Apply the filter to desired view.

Step 4:Apply graphic or visibility overrides to the filter.
Hint: Projection Lines: Color=Red

Example: Pier Filter

Create a filter that displays piers on the Basement view as dashed and with a line weight of 4.

Step 1:Determine or provide a way for the filter to identify the objects you want to filter.
Hint: Type Name

Step 2:Create the filter.
Hint: Category: Structural Columns, Filter Rules: Type Name contains PIER

Step 3:Apply the filter to desired view.

Step 4:Apply graphic or visibility overrides to the filter.
Hint: Projection Lines: Weight=4, Pattern=Hidden 1/16"

Example: HSS Columns

Create a filter in Level 2 that displays HSS columns that start at or above level 2 with a heavier line weight.

Step 1:Determine or provide a way for the filter to identify the objects you want to filter.

Step 2:Create the filter.
Hint: Family NameequalsHSS-Hollow Structural Section-Column
ANDBase Level is at or above Level 2

Step 3:Apply the filter to desired view.

Step 4:Apply graphic or visibility overrides to the filter.

Applying Visibility Overrideswith a Filter

A View Filter can be used to control the visibility of objects. In this example, follow these steps to turn off all Masonry Walls using the masonry wall filter you already created.

  1. Go to a view where the masonry wall filter has already been applied.
  2. Click on Visibility/Graphics button in the View tab on the Ribbon (Short Key: VG)
  3. Go to the Filters tab
  4. Uncheck the checkbox under Visibility next to Masonry Walls

Tip: Using a filter to control the visibility of objects can be used as a great selection tool.

Example 1:
Using the example above, after turning off all masonry walls you can now, select all walls that are not masonry.

Example 2:
You can select all columns excluding pilaster and piers by first creating a pilaster and pier filter, then turning off the visibility of those filters, and then selecting all columns using the funnel filter.

Applying one View Filter to Multiple Views Using a View Template

After you have created a view filter inone view, you can apply the same settings to multiple views at once, using a view template.

Creating a View Template

  1. Open a view that has a view filter applied.
    (Go to Level 2 where we created the "Masonry Walls" view filter)
  2. In the View tab on the Ribbon click on View Templates > Create template from Current View.
  3. In the New View Template dialog appropriately name your view template
    (Name your view template "Masonry Wall Filter" and click OK)
  4. In the View Templates dialog uncheck all checkboxes except for V/G Overrides Filters.
  5. Click OK

Applying a View Template

  1. In the Project Browser select all of the views to whichyou want to apply the view template.
    (Select the Basement, Level 1, and the Roof levels. Hold down Ctrl to select multiple views)
  2. Right-Click on one of the selected views and click on"Apply View Template..."
  3. In the Apply View Template dialog select "Masonry Wall Filter" under Names and click OK

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