Consistent view placement on sheets

By Jerker Hägglund, Autodesk Sweden, June 2009

This is a workaround to place views onto sheets in Revit with consistent position. Currently the only point that can be snapped to when placing a view on a sheet is between the centre of the view and the origin of the title sheet family. Therefore, this tip explains how to edit the title sheet family so that it’s origin is shifted to an appropriate position for the views.

As such, this workaround is only valid when it comes to place a single view on each sheet. Of course it is still possible to add additional views such as legends, schedules and auxiliary views but they will not be precisely aligned.

In order to identify the origin point of the title sheet family, first create a dwg drawing with AutoCAD containing a crosshair at the origin point, 0, 0, 0 – the size does not matter too much but 50mm across is a reasonable size.

In Revit, create a new sheet then select the title block and select edit family. Import the crosshair dwg file into the family using origin to origin positioning. You will now see the AutoCAD crosshair and most likely, this will be position in the bottom left corner of the title block family.

Load the title block family back into the project (could be wise here to rename and save your title block family) and take, for instance, plan view level 1 and drag it onto the sheet. As you drag the view, Revit will identify the origin with blue selection line, and with both the vertical and horizontal lines selected, snap the view onto the sheet origin.

The next step is to reposition the title sheet around the view. To do this, select the title block and once again edit it’s family. The trick is now to move the title block graphics inside the sheet family around the view. The best way to do this is the tile the sheet view and the title block family view so they are side by side. Select the title block graphics and move them so the plan view will fit within the title block frame.

Reload the family back to the project and the plan view should now fit within the title block frame. If it doesn’t  go back into the title block family and adjust it appropriately.

To ensure other views are aligned across the sheet set, simply use the same title block for other levels and once again, snap the view to the origin point.

We no longer have a need to carry around an AutoCAD dwg in the title sheet, so it would be recommended that is now deleted from the title block family.

Summary

This tip was executed in a trial and error manner but to add some additional control to this it would possible to add offset parameters to the title block family and thereby drive the frame position for different layouts. The way to do this would be to group the title block graphics in the family (to be able to add parameters) and then create a crosshair for reference (crosshair should be with invisible lines) and position it in the origin of the title block. Now, create two type parameters (one for x offset and one for y offset) and add dimensions between crosshair and the title block and label the x offset and y offset parameters to the dimensions. Then simply create different family types adapted for various layouts.