I've run across a very informative graphic to explain how Revit is set up at the most basic level. I've polished things up a bit and here you are:

I hope you find it as interesting as I did. I mean, I sort of knew this, but trying to explain the differences to other people was always a bit difficult. Until now. :)

I've been following the BIM troublemaker for a while now, and he pulled another one out of the hat. For some light reading, just check out this:

http://bimtroublemaker.blogspot.com/2011/01/complex-rigging-and-built-up-forms-pt1.html

and

http://bimtroublemaker.blogspot.com/2011/01/complex-rigging-pt2-skin-that-sucker.html

I thought I was pretty savy with Revit, but the Troublemakes is in a class of his own. I stand amazed.

In the past few days I've been back behind my computer, reviting away. And I have found an interesting way Revit understands the difference between Select All Instances and Count in schedules.

Today we needed to calculate the number of workspaces placed in an interior design for a client. So we created a furniture schedule with the fileds Family Name, Family Type and Count. In the options we chose not to Itemize Every Instance and sorted by Family and then by Type. So far so easy.

According to the schedule we had 150 workspaces.

But when I went to one if them and used the Right Click > Select All Instances > Entire Project I got 183 selections back.

Wait. What?

Well after some searching it turns out that Select All Instances > Entire Project will select everything and in all Design Options, whereas the schedule will give you the correct count for the selected Design Option.

Just one of those things that are logical from a certain point of view, but not readily obvious.

To all you Reviteers out there:

Happy New Year!

(Image courtesy of Alex Bruda from RGBStock.com)