At the BIM Invitational Meetup, participants tackled the often-overlooked yet critical topic of managing line weights, text, dimensions, and change control in Revit. The discussions highlighted persistent challenges and explored potential solutions to streamline these seemingly mundane but essential aspects of daily workflows.
Issues with Line Weights, Text, and Dimensions
Participants shared widespread frustrations with inconsistencies in Revit’s line weights, text styles, and dimension settings. These issues often result in inefficiencies during project documentation and miscommunication among teams. Attendees noted that the lack of standardization in these elements frequently leads to wasted time correcting errors and ensuring consistency in deliverables.
“We spend too much time chasing minor fixes that could be avoided with better standards,” one participant remarked, reflecting a shared sentiment.
Standardizing Family Templates
A prominent proposal was to standardize Revit family templates by removing ambiguous categories like thin, medium, and thick line weights. Simplifying these classifications could reduce confusion and provide clearer guidelines for team members working on shared projects. Several attendees expressed interest in adopting such streamlined templates to eliminate unnecessary variations and improve overall workflow efficiency.
Adopting NCS for Line Weight Standards
The group also considered using the National CAD Standard (NCS) as a foundation for line weight standards. Many felt that aligning with an established industry standard could provide a consistent framework, reducing discrepancies across projects and teams. While some expressed concerns about the initial effort required to transition to NCS, the long-term benefits of improved clarity and efficiency were widely acknowledged.
Managing Line Weights Across Scales
Another suggestion was to create a dedicated sheet with views set to various scales, enabling better control and management of line weights. This approach would allow teams to identify and address inconsistencies early in the project lifecycle, ensuring that drawings are both accurate and visually coherent.
Exploring Color Wheel Output Settings
A creative idea that sparked interest was the potential use of a color wheel for output settings. By assigning specific colors to different line weights or project elements, teams could achieve a more intuitive and visually distinct output. Although still in its conceptual stage, many participants saw promise in this approach as a way to enhance clarity and organization.
Beth Evanoo’s Template and the Circle of Line Weights
Beth’s well-known Revit template, which incorporates the "circle of line weights," was referenced as a valuable resource for managing line weight consistency. Attendees discussed how adopting similar tools could help standardize practices and reduce the time spent on repetitive adjustments.
Title Block Lookup Tables
Another practical suggestion was the use of a lookup table for managing company addresses on Title Blocks. This method would allow teams to maintain a centralized database, ensuring accuracy and consistency across multiple projects. Attendees agreed that this approach could save time and minimize errors in project documentation.
Leveraging Guardian for Standard Control
To address challenges in maintaining editing standards, participants recommended exploring Guardian, a tool designed to control access and enforce consistency in Revit models. Attendees highlighted how such tools could empower teams to uphold standards while preventing unauthorized changes that disrupt workflows.
Reflections and Next Steps
The discussions underscored a shared recognition of the importance of addressing these “mundane” Revit issues to enhance productivity and reduce frustration. Participants left with actionable ideas, from simplifying family templates to exploring innovative tools like Guardian and the color wheel. The BIM Invitational Meetup continues to serve as a platform for tackling practical challenges and fostering collaboration in the AEC community, ensuring that even the smallest details contribute to larger successes.