Top 20 Revit Tips, Tricks, and Handy Tools

Here are some of my favorite Revit Tips and Tricks.

1)  Previous Selection Set
Ctrl + the left arrow key on your keyboard will re-select the previous selection set.

2)  Filter Selection Sets

Use the Filter tool   to refine selection sets to just the item needed. Combine this with Select all Instances.

3)  Drag to Copy

Hold down the Ctrl key and drag a component to make a copy of it.

4)  Key it In

Tired of the Project Browser and the Properties palettes disappearing? Get them back fast with a couple of custom key-ins.

If custom key-ins made you faster in AutoCAD, consider using the same ones in Revit.  Here are some classic AutoCAD commands and the Revit commands that go with them.
(Break)                        Split Element
(Copy)                         Copy
(Erase)                        Delete
(Fillet)                          Trim/Extend
(Hatch)                        Filled Region
(Insert)                        Link Revit
(Line)                           Detail Line
(Mirror)                        Mirror
(Offset)                        Offset
(Quick Save)                Synchronize
(Trim)                          Trim/Extend
Start by using the keyboard short cut for the keyboard shortcut editor ‘KS’.  

5)  Temporary View Settings

Sometimes you just need to clean up a view to work in it. Enabling temporary view properties allows users aimlessly hack away at visibility graphics with no regrets, because when done, the view properties will return back to standard automatically.

6)  QAT is Whack

It’s there; you might as well use it. Right click on the ribbon to add your most used tools to the QAT. Digging through the ribbon is for losers.

7)  Control the Project Browser

Expand the Project Browser. This is a Windows feature that works in any Explorer-type listing. The Ctrl + asterisk will expand all folders and Ctrl+ - (dash) will collapse them. Be sure to use the keys on the number pad.

8)  Tiny Temporary Dimensions?

Make temporary dimensions size appropriate for mature eyes by selecting Application Menu, then Options, and look in the Graphics tab.

9)  Orient to View

Want to create a 3D view for a specific floor? Right click on view cube, then orient to view, floor plans, and then click on the callout you want to show in your 3D view.

10) Create Identical Dependent Views

If you have dependent views set up for one discipline use the Apply Dependent View tool on the right click menu to apply the same dependent views with the same cropping to other required views for the different disciplines.

11) Create an Image of a View

To create an image of a view, right click on it in the Project Browser, select save as image, then export it from the Application Menu.

12) Transfer Project Standards

Most everything can be swiped from another project rather than recreated.

13) Pick to Delete

Hold down the Delete key and click on items to delete one at a time.

14) Hard Enter

Ctrl + Enter. Use it to force a new line of text instead of waiting for text wrap to work.

15) Drag a View to a New Sheet

In the Project Browser, users can simply drag a view from one sheet to another. No need to delete and replace on a new sheet.

16) SZ

SZ is the same as C for close in AutoCAD.

17) Math Magic in Properties

Place an equal sign in front of any number in the Properties pallet to construct and equation. Click “Apply” to solve.

18) Undo/Redo Drop Down

There is a drop down next to Undo and Redo so you can go to just the right spot.

19) Controlled Zoom
Want to edit text that is really far away and small? Click to edit the text then, hold down the control key and use the mouse wheel to zoom into the text only. It's weird, so you should try it.

20) View Tools
I keyin WT an ZA so much, I think they are my number one used keyins. WT tiles all the open windows, then ZA will zoom all the open windows. Whether I am working on families or projects, I more than not want to see many different view open at once. Nothing helps give me the BIG picture faster than these keyins.

As a bonus, one of the weirdest tools I have ever used is the Replicate view tool. This tool will create a temporary second copy of the active view. The help file indicates that it might be useful if you are working on a close up section and still want to see a far off view. OK. 

I did notice that I could place annotations and lines in either view and they showed in both. The two views have the same name except one is suffixed 1 and the other 2. Close one view and the other reverts back to the original name. You never know when you might to want to replicate a view. 

Seriously, you will never know.