A million ways to view Revit

Last week this blog reached a big milestone: 

One million views.   

OK, some of those viewings may be bots and a few were admin views, but it is still a big deal for me.  It is great to know that so many people out there are interested enough to look at this blog, and hopefully spend time reading the content.  It is also really rewarding when I meet people at conferences and user group meetings, and they tell me that the blog has helped them out (so they must be reading it).

Top Ten Blog Posts

By far the most popular is the post on stair path arrows in Revit.  What this tells me is that this is still a huge issue for people - ever since Autodesk created the 'New Component Stair' tools, and totally changed the stair path annotation method, it has confused users.  Autodesk have not only confused people, but they have continued to neglect the issue for 7 years (?) and have still not fixed the bug that prevents you from copying and pasting stair path arrows from one view to another - shame on you Autodesk.

In the top ten are five blog posts on stairs and railings - yes it is still a part of Revit that people need a lot of help with.  I hope that my blog posts have made life a little easier for people - although I do need to do some updates for the recent tweaks to the software, such as the new multi-storey stair tool.

Number 2 on the list is Copying Views between Revit projects - the reason this is confusing is that each view type has a different method of copying or transferring views. 

One way to get Autodesk to fix some of these issues is to vote on their Revit Ideas wishlist site.  Here is my list of things that I think should be voted up the list.

Global Parameters Enhancement Wishlist - Revit Ideas

All my recent research work on Global Parameters has created a list of enhancement requests.  Although a lot of new global parameter features were released with Revit 2017, we only had one enhancement and one bug fix in v2018:

• Associate global parameters to Radius and Diameter dimensions (2018)
• Global parameters vs Equals dimension conflict removed (bugfix 2018)

Here is my list of enhancement requests, plus a few other ideas from other people already on the wishlist - please vote for them if you'd like these to be fixed:



Enable global parameters to associate to Array Numbers

Enable creation of an Area Reporting Parameter for use in Global Parameters

Enable global parameters to associate to Floor ‘Height Offset from Level’ system property

Allow association of global parameters to material properties of system families 

Allow access to Global parameter of linked model

Allow the use of Shared Parameters in Global Parameters

While we are on the subject of shared parameters, I really really wish we could use them in Key Schedules so please vote that up too.

Ability to "Paint" using a Global [material] Parameter

Please note that requests to enable us to associate global parameters to ALL system parameters will probably not get far because each and every one has to be programmed separately, so it is better to create a wishlist item for each parameter that you want access to (frustrating, I know).

Revit Stair and Railing Enhancement Requests

Do you think that the Revit Stair and Railing tools are good enough for typical Revit modelling?
No?  I thought so.

Well, Autodesk seem to think that they have fixed stairs and railings in v2018.  Well, yes, the new multistorey stair tool is a great improvement on the old system, and it has certainly improved how it handles railings.  But there is an awful long way still to go, particularly with railings.

Autodesk are now taking user input to the Revit Ideas website very seriously - yes they are listening to our requests on that site, and the number of votes really makes a difference.

Here is what we need to do:   vote for all those stair and railing issues that urgently need attention.

I have looked through the list of ideas on the website.  Since it is quite hard to navigate through all those duplicate ideas and requests for things that already exist (where people just need a bit more training), I will try to make it easier for you by creating a few links to ideas that I think need to be voted up.  I was going to wait until I had comprehensively reviewed all the wishlist items, and gone through all my own requests and comments on this blog in the past, then added some more wishlist items - but I think it is too important to wait.  I will add to this list in due course.

Please add your votes to any ideas that you support:

Stairs

Stair annotation:

• Allow rename or delete of stair path system family; Fix stair path arrows so that we can quickly add a path to multiple views
• fix the broken Copy & Paste function for stair path arrows.
• Tag All Untagged - Stair Path Arrows
   
• Make Stair Number Text Have Type Properties
   

Stairs & Views:

• "Show hidden linework" function should work on component stairs (actually it used to work on the old sketch stairs, but is broken on component stairs).  This is doubly important now that the old stair by sketch command has been removed from v2018.
• Ability for stairs below to obey view range (or cut mark on stairs going down?)

Stair modelling

• Component stair end in landing option
• Automatically cut a hole in floor above when creating a stair?  Too dangerous? Or a good idea?
• Stairs - More Functionality - this one is a repost of the original request that gathered much support but was labelled as 'Implemented' by Autodesk when multistorey stairs were imporoved in v2018.  The author does not consider any of its content to be implemented - (core & finish layers to stairs, more parameters, control over end conditions etc)
• Allow stairs to join structural elements such as beams
• Allow stairs and ramps to join walls and floors (same deal as above but it has lots of votes already)
• Allow Boolean Cut Void operations on stair components - so we can create irregular shaped stairs & landings without converting them to sketches

• Explode a v2018 Multistorey Stair back to separate stairs per level

Railings

Railings Generally

• Railing Overhaul - Resolution of Limitations - This is a comprehensive request to fix many things about railings from Chris Price (Mr Spot), who is an expert on Revit railings

Railing view properties

• Make railing terminations visible in plan view
• Allow railings to be visible in a Reflected Ceiling Plan - 
• Schedule Railing posts and balusters

 Railing Modelling

•  Please make Railings more user friendly - 
•  Railing baluster spacing 'Shrink Pattern to Fit' option
• Unchained Railings - allow a break in the railing sketch 
• Give us Control of Railing Offset from Path Default Property

• Fix Railing Toprail/Handrail Inside Corner Transition

• Start and End Indents on Handrail Support Spacing
• Horizontal rails to have start and end indent/offset (to match start/end baluster space)

• Rationalise Railing Materials so we don't need to duplicate numerous linked families for one material change

If there is something that you want to see added, please create your own stair or railing 'Revit Idea' on the Autodesk site - specific detailed requests, please (one item per request).   If I can understand them clearly, and they have not already been implemented in v2018, I'll add them to this list.  Please do not create any more general requests to improve railings - just vote for the 'Railing Overhaul' one from Chris Price, listed above.
More to be added soon . . . .