Drafting in Revit can be a game-changer for architecture students and professionals alike, but I get it—time is money, and as busy designers, we need every edge we can get. I want to share some Effective Revit hacks that have helped me work faster and smarter without compromising the quality of my work. These tips might be just what you need to go from "stressed" to "super-efficient."
The Power of Efficiency: Why Drafting in Revit Matters
Drafting in Revit offers powerful BIM (Building Information Modeling) tools that allow us to efficiently create high-quality designs. Whether you're prepping for a presentation or managing a project for a client, efficiency in drafting makes a huge difference. And while getting a Revit BIM certification is a big step toward showcasing your skills, it's the little productivity hacks that set you apart in day-to-day workflows.
Image Credit: aecbytes.com
1. Utilize Templates and Reusable Families
One of my favorite Revit hacks for faster drafting is making use of templates and reusable families. Rather than starting from scratch for every project, take time to develop a robust template that suits the types of projects you typically work on. This might include:
- Common title blocks for consistency across projects.
- Reusable families, like doors, windows, and furniture, that save time and keep designs uniform.
- A standardized set of view templates, so that sections, floor plans, and other views always start with the same settings.
By relying on these resources, I often cut drafting time by nearly half! If you’re just getting started, it’s worth taking some time to build or download the families you'll use most often.
2. Master Keyboard Shortcuts
Honestly, learning keyboard shortcuts is one of the quickest ways to speed up drafting in Revit. I know it might seem daunting to memorize a bunch of new key combinations, but here are a few that I use every day and have become second nature:
- WA for walls
- DR for doors
- MV for moving elements
- CO for copying
These small actions, repeated multiple times a day, really add up. Take the time to customize shortcuts that make the most sense to you—you'll be amazed how much time you'll save.
3. Set Up Efficient Views
I’ve found that working with multiple views open side by side helps avoid constantly switching back and forth between perspectives. For example:
- I like to have a plan view and an associated 3D view open at the same time, so I can immediately see how changes in plan impact the building form.
- Use the "Tile Views" command to lay them out on the screen—this is a simple trick, but it reduces my screen-flipping dramatically.
The workflow becomes smoother, and I can visualize potential issues before they arise, which makes drafting much faster.
4. Filter and Hide Elements for Clarity
One of the lesser-used features that I think more people should leverage is hiding and filtering elements. When a model starts getting cluttered, especially in larger projects, hiding unnecessary elements helps focus on the task at hand. Instead of trying to navigate an overly busy model, just filter out the irrelevant bits.
- Use filters to control the visibility of certain categories.
- Hide temporary elements that aren’t currently relevant. For example, if I'm detailing a ceiling plan, I hide all furniture to make the workspace cleaner.
Keeping the workspace uncluttered is key to faster drafting and fewer errors.
5. Make Use of Groups and Worksets
Revit has amazing collaborative tools like groups and worksets that can help speed up drafting, especially when working in teams. I often create groups for repetitive parts of a design, like typical hotel rooms or residential units.
For larger projects, assigning worksets to different elements and working collaboratively with the team allows for a streamlined workflow, as people can simultaneously work on different parts of the same project.
6. Take Advantage of Dynamo
If you’re ready to kick things up a notch, look into Dynamo. Dynamo is Revit’s visual programming tool, and it lets you automate repetitive tasks without needing to be a coding genius. I’ve used Dynamo scripts to place hundreds of similar elements at once, which would’ve been a nightmare if done manually.
Image Credit: researchgate.net
- You can find a ton of Dynamo scripts online that solve common problems—or create your own!
- It’s an amazing way to personalize Revit and make drafting in Revit work exactly how you want it to.
7. Set Up Custom Tags and Annotations
Another trick that saves me time is setting up custom tags and annotations that include all the information I frequently need. By setting these up in advance, I don’t need to spend time manually tagging elements one by one.
Think about tagging components like doors, windows, or columns automatically—all the data flows seamlessly into schedules as well, which saves an enormous amount of time in documentation.
8. Schedule Your Way to Productivity
Speaking of schedules, utilizing schedules in Revit can also make drafting more efficient. Instead of switching between Revit and spreadsheets, generate schedules directly from the model. This way, all quantities and elements are updated in real time as the design evolves.
For example, if you update the type or number of windows, your window schedule automatically updates as well. It’s these little things that help you streamline workflows and reduce errors.
9. Learn from the Community
Finally, take advantage of the Revit community. From Revit forums to YouTube tutorials, there are countless places where people share the coolest hacks they’ve discovered.
Speaking of courses, if you’re interested in boosting your productivity, I highly recommend checking out this Advanced Revit Drafting Course. It dives deep into more specialized workflows and techniques—perfect if you're ready to take your skills to the next level.
Conclusion
Drafting in Revit can be overwhelming at times, but with the right strategies, it’s possible to turn it into an efficient and enjoyable process. By setting up templates, mastering shortcuts, leveraging tags, and perhaps even delving into Dynamo, you'll be saving yourself valuable time in the long run.
If you’re looking to build on these tips and explore advanced techniques, this advanced Revit course is a fantastic next step. It can help you really refine your workflows and boost your overall productivity.
FAQs
1. What are the best Revit shortcuts to learn?
Some essential Revit shortcuts include WA for walls, DR for doors, MV for moving elements, and CO for copying. Mastering these can save a lot of time during drafting.
2. How do I keep my Revit model organized?
Use templates, filters, and groups to keep your model clean and organized. Hiding unnecessary elements and setting up worksets are great ways to make sure you’re always focused on the relevant parts.
3. How do I create custom tags in Revit?
To create custom tags in Revit, go to the "Family Editor" and build a tag that suits your needs. You can customize the information displayed in the tag, such as dimensions or material properties, which can help save a lot of time during the documentation phase.
4. What is Dynamo in Revit?
Dynamo is a visual programming tool for Revit that allows you to automate tasks. It can be used to place multiple elements simultaneously or to modify a model in powerful ways—no coding experience necessary!
5. How can I make drafting in Revit more efficient?
Use templates, keyboard shortcuts, schedules, custom annotations, and consider looking into Revit hacks like using Dynamo for automation to make drafting more efficient.
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