RENAMING PDF & EXPORTED FILES - SET UP PROCEDURE
Revit uses its own method for naming PDF & exported files, which invariably never suits what we require.
If you are printing or exporting multiple single sheets you end up having to rename them all.
This describes how to set up a method that renames files after they are printed or exported, based on a Revit schedule.
1. Create Revit Schedules
The easiest way is to copy the schedules from another Revit project, or the Project Template file.
Open your project.
Either start a new project using the default Project Template, or open a project containing a schedule.
In the Project Browser go to Schedules/Quantities, highlight the schedule called Z_RenameSheetList.
Right mouse click and pick Copy to Clipboard.
Go to your project. Paste (Modify>Paste).
Go back to the new project.
In the Project Browser go to Schedules/Quantities, highlight the schedule called Z_RenameDWGList.
Right mouse click and pick Copy to Clipboard.
Go to your project. Paste (Modify>Paste).
The schedules are now in your project. If you have no sheets with title blocks set up they will be blank and show nothing.
You can also create your own schedule (View>Schedules>Sheet List). But you must follow the same structure as Z_RenameSheetList and Z_RenameDWGList, and you must use these names exactly the same.
2. Edit the Revit Z_RenameSheetList Schedule
The schedule must be structured to create a DOS command for each sheet, which has the form:
MOVE :revit created file name: :the file name you want:
In the schedule the :revit created file name: bit is between START and MIDDLE, the :the file name you want: bit is between MIDDLE and END.
The only part of the :revit created file name: bit you need to change is plot prefix.
This is the file name in the Revit print dialog Name: box (under Create separate files. View/Sheet names will be appended to the specified name). By default Revit puts the project file name in, so edit the plot prefix parameter so that it matches the name being used for local revit project files (without the .rvt extension). If you are allowing usernames to be appended to local files just use the project filename without the username. The username can be deleted at plot time.
Do this by opening the Sheet List Properties dialog via Fields Edit... button, from the Scheduled fields (in order): list select plot prefix, then hit Edit button. Edit the Formula: box. Make sure the name is surrounded by quotes.
You may want to change the :the file name you want: bit to suit your project requirements.
The schedule is a mixture of Field parameters (which are existing parameters and can change) and Calculated Value parameters (which are created in the schedule and are fixed).
You don't necessarily need to filter or sort the schedule. If a sheet file isn't printed (and therefore doesn't exist) it will just skip to the next one. However you might want to sort by Sheet Number so it is easier to check its output if an error occurs.
It is best to make the schedule as generic as possible, with things that might change (like drawing prefix) contained in field parameters.
If set up intelligently this schedule should never need to be edited again.
3. Edit the Revit Z_RenameDWGList Schedule
This schedule has the same structure as the Z_RenameSheetList and serves the same purpose.
Make changes to Fields after MIDDLE to match any changes you made to the Z_RenameSheetList schedule.
4. Decide where you will put your PDFs when Printed
By default PDF printers (e.g. Adobe) will ask you for a file name for every sheet you print. When printing multiple files this is an onerous and unnecessary task.
You can change the printer's properties to point to different folders every time you print from Revit (see Printing Procedure), but this is also extra work, prone to error, and to losing files.
A better way is to have a dedicated folder for dumping prints. Once files are renamed and grouped they can be moved to other folders.
It doesn't matter if the folder is on your local hard disk (e.g. C:\!PLOTS), or within a project's folders (e.g. ...\P-Presentation & Issued\!PLOTS).
If you work on multiple projects your local disk is best, if you always work on a particular project you can put it within its folders.
With a dedicated folder a PDF printer can be set up to always print to that folder. The best way to do this is to create a PDF printer dedicated to Revit printing.
5. Set up a dedicated Revit Printer
When printing multiple PDF drawings from Revit it is convenient for Revit to have its own printer so preferences can be set that suit Revit.
Refer to INSTALL PDF PRINTER FOR REVIT on how to do this.