Revit Technology Conference 2007 “Interface”

1. Revit Technology Conference 2007 “Interface” Wesley Benn Director, Benn Design

2. Introduction Screen Elements Terminology Methodology Otherologies Keys Standards Setup Performance 2

3. Screen Elements(cont.) • Menus: • Largely (not entirely) duplicated in the design bar • Not user-configurable – other than the addition of API tools • Far too much effort! • Tool bars: • Split into sections – general program tools (new file, open, cut, copy, paste, etc), view tools (zoom settings, 3D view, etc), editing tools (move, copy, align, trim, etc) • Right-click on the tool bar for a list of available toolsets • Far too much effort! • Option bar: • Includes the type selector and element properties button • WATCH THIS SUCKER! It is a contextual system – changing constantly to reflect current activities • Can be several layers deep • Design bar: • Breks down the tools found on the tool bar to their usage types – does not show some of the more specialised tools (particularly from the ‘tools’ menu) • Right-click on the design bar for a list of available toolsets • Can be several layers deep • Status bar: • Shows information relevant to current activity • Mimics the tooltips that pop up beside the cursor, but do not disappear after a short time – also appear faster than the tooltips • View control bar: • View specific • Beware of the shadow system • Individual settings • Performance • Sun studies Introduction Screen Elements Terminology Methodology Otherologies Keys Standards Setup Performance 3

4. Screen Elements(cont.) • Project Browser: • Heart of the system • Browser organisation • Multiple access methods • Applying properties to multiple views (view templates) • Printing... • Drawing window: • We all know what this is for, right? • Origin point • Tile windows • Close Hidden Windows • Dependant views • Notes: • Remember that many aspects of the interface are ‘contextual’ – they will change as you progress through your actions. The right-click menu, the status bar, and the option bar will all change to reflect your current actions. • There are almost always at least two ways of carrying out an action… • Add project folder locations to the file locations tab in Settings>Options to jump to those folders in one go Introduction Screen Elements Terminology Methodology Otherologies Keys Standards Setup Performance 4

5. Terminology • Language of the user, not the programmer • Works the way YOU do • Think like a designer or builder to search for answers • USE your words... • Important Concepts:: • Parameters: • Type vs. Instance • Shared • Nested • Families: • Hosted / non-hosted • Category / sub-category • Visibility/Graphics + Object Styles • View Range Introduction Screen Elements Terminology Methodology Otherologies Keys Standards Setup Performance 5

6. Methodology • Think First! • Planning pays – garbage in / garbage out • Know your needs • GNDN • Revaluate your assumptions • Leverage • Make your data work for you • Work to an appropriate level • Consequence • Watch the interface • Interference checking • Review warnings • Think again! • Read those ‘What’s new in this release’ files - can save some embarrassing moments • Consider dumping and redoing work when problems occur – can be faster • Predictability and efficiency - saves you more time than just being ‘fast’ Introduction Screen Elements Terminology Methodology Otherologies Keys Standards Setup Performance 6

7. Methodology(cont.) • Stop thinking about the way you used to work • Experiment • The developers still get surprised by things people can make Revit do that hadn’t occured to them • Share your experience • User Groups • Conference events • Forums • The right tool at the right time • Hint: may not always be Revit! • Take the next steps... • Take the idea of leverage and apply it elsewhere Introduction Screen Elements Terminology Methodology Otherologies Keys Standards Setup Performance 7

8. Keys • General operations: • 1. The most important key in the program is.... • No! NOT the escape key! • Reduce the need to zoom in and out • Use in conjunction with tooltips and the status bar • 2. Spacebar • can be used to flip walls about the location line while drafting, to change the handing of a door, to rotate components during placement, and more • 3. Modify • The standard selection tool • You do not have to hit escape, or swap to the modify tool, before changing tools. Simply select the tool you want and get on with it • 4. Escape • Finally, escape! Pressed twice, escape will take you back to the modify tool. Press just once, however, and escape will stop your current action, BUT LEAVE YOUR CURRENT TOOL ACTIVE • Selection: • 1. The most important key in the program is.... • Yes, that one again • ‘select’ – tab allows you to select portions of chains • Tab can also pick up surfaces, edges, even fill pattern lines, not just whole objects • 2. Control / Shift • Just like that legacy software – the control key can be used to ADD to a selection, and shift to REMOVE from a selection • Control-left arrow will select previous – need to use it right away! • 3. Delete • Umm yeah, you hit this to get rid of things... • But... hold down the delete key, THEN click on things Introduction Screen Elements Terminology Methodology Otherologies Keys Standards Setup Performance 8

9. Keys(cont.) • Views: • 1. The most important key in the program is.... • Hah! • Ctrl-Tab will cycle between open views • 2. the Evil Eye • Rather boringly known as the dynamically modify view tool (keyboard shortcut ‘F8’) • Do not use this in general circumstances – this is what your mouse wheel is for! • Note that sneaky little flyout section • 3. Arrow keys • The arrow keys can be used to nudge objects around screen by the snap increment (which is zoom dependant). • SHIFT – Arrow key will nudge by 10x the snap increment • 4. F5 - Refresh the screen • Keyboard Shortcuts: • Set them up and USE THEM! • Can be customised through the ‘keyboard shortcuts.txt’ file • C:\Program Files\Revit Architecture 2008\Program\KeyboardShortcuts.txt • Some suggestions include: • LF – Load Family • AA – Activate view • DD – deactivate view • use the numeric keypad as a ‘compass’ • use the standard number keys as single key shortcuts • Distribute a single file throughout a multi-user environment Introduction Screen Elements Terminology Methodology Otherologies Keys Standards Setup Performance 9

10. Standards • CONSISTENCY ABOVE ALL! • Project Templates • Object styles • Pre-loaded content • Import and export settings • Materials • Keyboard shortcuts • Naming conventions • Families • Files • Views • Output • Titleblocks • Rendering • 2D vs. 3D • Families • Develop a single standard for how parameters function • Library management is vital Introduction Screen Elements Terminology Methodology Otherologies Keys Standards Setup Performance 10

11. Setup • Planning is all... Introduction Screen Elements Terminology Methodology Otherologies Keys Standards Setup Performance 11

12. Setup • Planning is all... • Hardware • Workstations • Network • Software • Operating System • Revit - OOTB • Revit – API / Third-party software • Backup • Make sure you have it • Test it! Introduction Screen Elements Terminology Methodology Otherologies Keys Standards Setup Performance • Training • A quick course in navigation could save you a lot of time at sea 12

13. Performance • Hardware • Only the first step... • File Linking • Reduced file size • Simplified multi-user environment • Worksets • Not just for multi-user environments • Balance flexibility vs. ease of operation • File Management • Audit • Purge unused – especially CAD drawings! • Review warnings • Detail level • Because you should, not because you can... • Performance from visible detail, not actual detail Introduction Screen Elements Terminology Methodology Otherologies Keys Standards Setup Performance 13

14. Thanks to a whole lot of people who over the years have helped me to learn Revit, and who have contributed some of the tips and images shown here.