USE CAD FILES TO CREATE 2D FAMILIES

This is a method to quickly create 2D family placeholders from CAD files.

Exploding CAD imports in a Revit project slow Revit down and make it more difficult to manage visibility.

• 1. Start new family using the appropriate category template

  2. (never use Detail Item category, unless it is a detail component, as families won't schedule or appear in 3D).

  3. Import CAD file or CAD block.

  4. Move CAD import so it aligns with the insertion point (intersection of Reference Planes).

  5. Draw any Reference Planes you want to use to make the family parametric.

  6. Explode CAD import.

  7. Delete anything from the CAD import you don't want.

  8. Select all lines and change sub-category to a Revit sub-category.

  9. From Manage > Additional Settings > Line Style delete any linestyles from the CAD file.

  10. From Manage > Additional Settings > Line Patterns delete any line patterns from the CAD file.

1. Manage > Purge All.

Generally you will need to create Masking Regions to hide what ever is below the object Do this from from CAD import lines by:

• 1. Select the lines that will make the boundary, CopyClip them (Ctrl C).

  2. Start the Filled Region or Masking Region.

  3. Paste the lines Aligned to Current View.

  4. If required change sub-category of lines.

1. Finish Masking region.

Lines can be left as Symbolic Lines that only appear in Plan views, or turned in to Model Lines that will appear in 3D views as well. Model Lines can also be hosted on a reference plane. This is useful if you need the models lines to appear above a floor finish.

To do this:

• 1. Select the lines to be changed to Model Lines.

  2. From Modify Menu pick Convert Lines

  3. (this can also be used to turn Model Lines into Symbolic Lines).

1. Modify > Visibility Settings;

2. untick Front/Back & Left/Right.

3. Untick Plan if you are using Filled or Masking Regions or Symbolic Lines for plan representation.

4. Untick Coarse if you don't want to see the lines when Coarse Detail level is set.

   1. Go to an elevation view.

   2. Draw a Reference Plane above the Ref Level at the height you want the Model lines to be.

   3. (for floor mounted families high enough to be above floor finishes - 11 to 51mm).

   4. Add a parameter driven dimension from Ref Level to the Reference Plane if you think you will need to vary the height.

   5. Give the reference Plane a name (e.g. Base).

   6. Go back to plan view.

   7. Select the Model Lines.

5. Modify > Edit Work Plane.

• 1. Under Specify a new Work Plane; Name, pick the reference plane you just created.

6. Save the family. Make sure the name indicates it is 2D.