Notes continued – Specialty Schedules:

2. Notes: broken down by info area (schedules-views-sheets, specialty schedules, schedule calculations, bidding info) Material takeoff schedules are created from “regular schedules…. I have been as happy or creative.. And have been limited with the Revit based “material takeoff” type of schedules so I disregard them and create my own from my template. I utilize a lot of project parameters for schedule takeoffs. For calculating, hiding, filtering, restricting info, grouping etc. I have a “view template” created for my schedules so that the formatting of font, font size and such are included and I don’t have to change each one after it is created. I have several labeled types of schedules due to the need for a “master” schedule that I can edit with all my needed fields shown… these are not necessary for printing.. But for schedule management. Other types of labeled schedules are: “material takeoff”, keynotes, P/A/S117 (example) which are for placement on the Sheets that correspond the schedule name, Schedule… which is my master schedules for editing only, X, Y and Z for printing on special sheets like 11x17, 8x11 portrait or landscape or Arch E for 36x24 printing… The 8x11 and 11x17 pages are used for distributing by fax and email the schedules to vendors for bidding (size is relative as 8x11 faxes work best so the sheets need to be laid out differently and provide only the necessary info for bidding a select trades information: Note, I use efax to fax broadcast my bidding dox to hundreds of vendors in a single fax effort. My large format (Arch E) prints are for my in office use for bidding the jobs myself. They provide all the foundation, perimeters, lumbers, areas, sf, volumes necessary for calculating the lumber, concrete, materials, hardware and detailed information to capture my quantities and lists. These are for my own use and reference. I can export my lumber takeoffs but I also use a database for lumber and hardware takeoffs so I still select the items and quantities in the database but I use the schedule takeoffs to define the products, location and quantities. Two of our best / most valuable schedules are the Title 24 and the framing material type schedules. These really deliver quality information. A note… we actually use families already created for items like joist/beam hangers, foundation holddowns, structural hardware, beams, structural posts including 2x and double 2x members that are structural… this allow for determination of actual exact locations and interference checking… this has been extremely valuable for fixing interference problems in design and for providing exact dimensioning of foundation hardware for site placement.

3. Notes continued – Specialty Schedules: I have included the title 24 master schedule and a framing/hardware schedule for review. As well, other notes on schedules.. You can change the column names when editing the items/families in the schedules. Special note… Since I use filters for schedule creation for the schedules for each sheet…. I must use a filter method that best allows for removing and replacing the filter if I want to edit and item mistakenly hidden or added to the collection without checking the right parameter boxes… so.. I use the filter function… select the field and select “does not equal” and select “no” for a checkbox or condition… so… when I want to see items filtered from the list I change no to yes and it then shows me all the remaining hidden data which I can then change the checkbox selection there and then return to the filter and change the conditional item from “yes” back to no” which rebuilds the schedule back to its proper form… I prefer not to work with only one schedule because of the need for so many different versions of the information on different pages and for different deliverable purposes. That is why I have so many. And a good hint in your project template is to have your sheet related schedules name for the sheets they belong on and already placed on the created sheets in your template. Project templating: great to be able to have all parameters, sheets, schedules, views and such already established in your project template. I will be including a few sheets that are 8x11 so you can see the deliverable for bidding purposes. Note: schedule filtering… when no parameter seems to work… another filter method which is always available but more subject to errors… is .. Use “assembly codes” all revit materials / families have this field so if you are able to assign an assembly code you will be able to filter the schedule by the code or a part of the code like 8401* Other related filtering methods include the creation or use of simple “text” fields like description, description 1, filter info, face direction, include for both sides, include for sill plates, specialty items… etc.. The ability is limitless.. But you have to edit the master schedule to ensure all your needed items include this information. Defaulting you families parameters: If I have created or edited my families properly… the default selections are already established when I add the family and object to my project.. I then only need to modify the schedule for a few variables like Which face/direction is the window or door located on. Which pages do I want the item to show on, which list/schedule do I want the item to appear on… so windows are then listed and grouped by west/east/north/south and by hvac zones. Items may only show on their related pages/sheets … floor system or roof type schedules will only include the items with the “floor system”or roof system designation. This helps a lot.

4. Notes continued Calculations:The schedules that have Calculations have some different necessities which you learn from experience. For instance – lumber takeoffs… I want to know how many feet of walls by each wall type so I can use the schedule to determine stud quantities (I use 1.25 studs per l.f. in residential const. And I group the walls by levels/floors so I can identify the walls that get green plate (sill plate) as well as walls that are structural and need shearwall or may need 3x plate. So, my walls that I start the project with are template walls, with only the 2x structure applied.. They become locked to grids.. Then later I change the walls to add the plywood and stucco and sheetrock to fill out my schedules and apply the proper finishes. Schedules can even be used to control which walls I apply certain finishes to.. Which saves a lot of time when selecting the walls for applying or changing finishes. As well I often have invisible walls for certain applications of families (like placing electrical outlets or fixtures on a cabinet face… I don’t want the wall to calculate in my takeoffs so I filter these walls out.. As well wall types like 1st floor 2x4 interior are grouped separately from 1st floor 2x6 or other types of interior walls… again for takeoffs… and 1st floor exterior 2x6 or 1st floor exterior balloon wall type X would calculate separately due to the stud lumber sizes and lengths… any simply 1st floor type walls are typically on the concrete slab so these walls include filtering and calculation fields for establishing plating needs of 2 times the total length for top plate and 1 times the total for treated plates. That’s one example of the accuracy levels I begin to establish by using the custom schedules.. Other examples include the way we name our hardware… I name joist hangers enmass when I place them such as 1st floor roof system A35 connectors vs.. 2nd floor roof system A35 connectors… so I can select/change them if needed or for when reviewing the takeoffs I can understand whether all areas are accounted for and also when on site construction occurs I can locate and place the materials in their needed area of use. Saves time and effort and if there are insufficient quantities it lets you know before hand so you order more before they are actually needed which would have held up the job. So, in summary, wall, hardware, structural items, windows, doors, fascia, trims, and any interesting items that you want to have takeoffs for are best planned and installed in revit as they would be on the job site. (ex… I have placeholder windows and doors with trim but replace them during design with the actual products that I will be needing and apply finishes and such… my windows and doors would not have any trim in their family in the final design.. The trim would be applied separately as solid sweeps related to the different family category types like casework or walls… Note: sweeps and such created objects need to use fields like assembly codes for scheduling ease.. I find it very easy to apply all exterior trim, locking the sweep to the window or door or wall lines so the even change if I change the window or door… very fast and easy once you get used to it. This was a big change for me.. NOW: for takeoffs that are faxed out 8x11… my examples show several schedules on the sheet but generally the schedules are filtered and grouped and calculated down to a single label and a single result… the bidder does not need to see your master takeoff… only you do… and then drill it down or up to the single result… like gutters… 465l.f. or roofing area 4541 s.f or combined window or door opening area 874 s.f. These results are located in there own schedules and I would never modify these schedules… my modifications are done in the master schedules. The sheets rarely change… because they are already laid out.

5. Calculating fields: In my lumber, wall, floor system and similar type takeoffs, I am attempting to calculate for types, lengths, sizes, quantities.. Etc.. So a wall that has sheet rock on both sides would calculate s/r for both sides… typically “interior” walls would fit this selection… but exterior walls would be s/r 1 side and have another calc for the stucco or other finish. So by field or parameter check box I group my wall types and show only a single line calculated grouping of each type and in my master schedule select the walls that apply to 1 side or 2 sides and check the appropriate check box… Voila! The schedules not quantify the s/r takeoff and total stucco area… then my bid sheet shows the area for the voids like windows and doors so the bidder can deduct those areas for material that would not be needed… Now .. On lumber takeoffs and such related calculations… I have found some needed considerations… my takeoff would be incorrect if I didn’t apply some practices.. They are… Beam/header placements… I place beams in the proper locations but I don’t try to exactly size them because it’s too difficult, they won’t change with window/door/opening changes… so I just place them longer than need by a few inches… In the schedule or beam/structural member field parameters I have several fields that I review in the final bidding /calculation process. A field call “buy length” is my chosen field placed next to the length field so I can compare them… but I know that the door needs header either 5 or 7” longer than the door.. So I have a field for exact length.. Which I enter manually based on a reference of the schedule information coming from revit… I also have a buy length and Beam Purchase number so I can assign every window/door/opening header from a purchased 10/12/14/16/20’ length item. (save money but must be monitored by the person cutting all the beams.. Or just buy 1 extra.. And don’t worry about it. I am exacting but realistic in the real world use of these schedules.. For calculating total lengths I have also found problems much like you and others but… I have found solutions… again based on adding fields… so .. In calculating lengths and areas… volumes.. Etc.. I add fields like length2, heighth2, Area2 or such which duplicate the lengths or dimensions from revit but in another form or with another field name that allows more flexibility in its use… My takeoffs for structural members is the most signiificant area that I use this process in. I am including a copy of a takeoff for materials that shows the fields… as well I show the field calculations info… I think you could then recreate this info and use it in your schedules to derive your quantities that are not currently calculating or calculating properly. SORTING AND GROUPING VS PARAMETER FILTERING: I am able to use many less grouping and filter functions when I use the parameter filtering methods. Schedules are easier to manage… I just have more and “more specific” schedules. SCHEDULE PROPERTIES – FORMATTING: This is where the calculation function occurs by checking the calculate checkbox.. If it will not highlight it will not allow calculations… this is when I create alternate fields like length2 with this fields parameter properties set to read the revit protected field “length”.. Now I can use length2 for calculations.

6. BIDDING and RECEIVING BIDS FROM MY TAKEOFFS..Some hints… for bidding from these schedules… I often get bids with much greater quantities derived by subcontractors… I have found the revit deliverable to be very accurate so… I tell the bidders that the contract will divided by their quantities and at the end the absolute final quantity used will revise the bid total amount.. Generally my quantities were correct and my prices are much better.. But I never want to force a bidder to use my quantities … I just want the end price to be based on the final quantities established when they are done.. Big $$$$ saver. Often bidders are happy to bid from my numbers and are able to give me bids much faster and easier… no job site visits to take your time from you… I regularly get 15-30 bids on each subtrade, like lumber, concrete, hvac roofing, paint, s/r, stucco, cabinetry, countertops, doors, windows. But I only meet with a few of the finally selected lowest bidders… Note, I always allow bidders to come up with another idea or plan with costs… but they must submit it with the costs (apples for apples bidding) I am requesting. Then I can modify the scope later. Sheets – When I fax takeoffs to bidders I include 8x11 floor plans and elevation sheets which are already developed in my views and sheets of my template with the appropriate view templates assigned… so I can expect that my 8x11 sheets for bidding will be much smaller and the scale will be in the 1/8”=1’ to 1”=10’ range.. Still this provides the bidders enough info.. I add bidding notes to these pages in text form.. Often I include my prebuilt legends for further clarification. This is where I want to define my scope of work in the faxed documents. FAXING: I use efax for fax broadcasting… I have a database I use for generating the list of firms for each trade.. If I want to add more firms I research bidder lists from thebluebook.com and add them to my database before faxing.