the fastest way to quickly & easily create, modify and...

Dynamic Legend

The Fastest Way to Quickly & Easily

create, modify and update legends

http://www.tools4revit.com/

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need to manually create legend tables with element views in my project?

• How can I update elements in the legend, depending on the model? It takes a long time to

manually create a legend and to update all of the data in the legend!

• What do I need to do if I want to use actual images of the doors and other elements in my

legends?

• Do I have to manually split my created legend table to place them on different pages?

• How can I quickly create a legend table depended on swing direction of my doors or

windows?

• Can I update elements in the legend from the linked project?

• Can I create a legend table with top, side and front views of an element?


Working with Legends Dynamic Legend (DL) extension

• Convenient dialog allows to find and group elements and to filter and analyze legend

data before creation;

• Ability to create legends on different pages;

• Ability to update all selected legends with one click;

• Has possibility to use real element pictures instead of legend components;

• Ability to use one or more element views in the legend;

• Works with linked projects.


Types of elements

Currently DL works with: Air Terminals, Casework, Ceilings, Columns, Communication Devices, Conduit Fittings, Data Devices, Doors, Duct

Accessories, Duct Fittings, Electrical Equipment, Electrical Fixtures, Entourage, Fire Alarm Devices, Floors, Furniture,

Furniture Systems, Generic Models, Lighting Devices, Lighting Fixtures, Mass, Mechanical Equipment, Nurse Call

Devices, Parking, Pipe Accessories, Pipe Fittings, Planting, Plumbing Fixtures, Roofs, Security Devices, Site, Specialty

Equipment, Sprinklers, Structural Columns, Structural Connections, Structural Foundations, Structural Framing, Structural

Stiffeners, Telephone Devices, Walls, Windows.

Dynamic Legend (DL) is the Autodesk Revit® extension that

allows you to quickly create, modify and update legends for

Revit® elements.


Dynamic Legend Preparation

Before working with Dynamic Legend there must be a sample block created in the legend

view. Block can be created with lines, text notes, legend components, detail items and

other. It must also have generic annotations M_SM_Legend Parameter Text.rfa, that will be

exchanged with parameter values. An example of this family will be loaded to the project by the “Load

Sample Annotations”. The name of the family may change, but the beginning (M_SM_Legend

Parameter Text) must stay the same. For Imperial projects goes I_SM_Legend Parameter Text.rfa



Sample block can have different design:

You can download a sample

project from E-Help and copy it

to your project.



Before selecting “Create/Edit Legend” please select the sample block from the legend view:


Create/Edit Legend Dialog

The element list with it’s parameters.

Parameters can be selected with “Select Parameters”.

These parameters can be used as configurable criterions.

In this case they are displayed like yellow columns

(“Level”, “Family”, “Type”).

Elements of selected category are conveniently grouped

together in a tree where the user can filter them by any

configurable criterions. Criterions can be selected with

“Configure Grouping”.


Create/Edit Legend Select Categories

Select Categories - the list of possible categories from the

project that can be updated in legend view.

At the bottom of the dialog the user can see the count of how

many categories is selected.


Create/Edit Legend Select Parameters

Available Parameters – all possible

parameters of the selected

category/categories;

Group (BID Grouping) – additional

parameters that is not in usual

parameter list;

Common parameters – shows only

common parameters if different

categories are selected.

Selected Parameters – all selected parameters. Parameters can be added to this list with

Add and Remove.

Changing the order of parameters can be adjusted with Move Up and Move Down.


Create/Edit Legend Select Parameters

Total – numerical values can be

summed;

Hide – parameters can be hided. In

this case parameters can be used for

filtering or grouping but it will not be

displayed in the final legend view;

Page – parameters that is used for

splitting the elements by the different

legend views. If “Category” is selected

then elements with the same category

will be in one legend view.


Create/Edit Legend Select Parameters: Total

If “Total” option is not switched on then the values is not

summed. For example, one type of wall has different lengths in

the project, so in the value becomes “”Varies”.

If “Total” option is switched on then the values are summed. If

one type of wall has different lengths in the project, then at the

value will be summed.


Create/Edit Legend Configure Grouping

The families can be grouped together in a tree. Configure Grouping –

the list of parameter comes from “Select Parameters”. If “Level”,

“Family” and “Type” are selected in “Configure Grouping” then the

elements can be expanded, filtered and quantified by these

parameters.


Create/Edit Legend Configure Grouping

If “Document”, “Level”, “Family” and “Type” are selected in “Configure

Grouping” then the elements can be expanded and filtered under

these criterions. “Document” shows the Revit file name. This criterion

is most often used with linked files.


Create/Edit Legend Legend Page Data

Legend Page Data – additional properties for splitting the table through different

legend pages (views).

Number of Rows – number of element rows in the dialog:

Rows per Page – number of rows that will be in one legend page (view). If

“Page” is selected near parameter in “Select Parameters” then this value will be

disabled.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12


Create/Edit Legend Legend Page Data – Number of Pages

Number of Pages – automatically calculated how many pages

(legend views) will be needed for creating legend. This value is

calculated by dividing “Number of Rows” with “Rows per Page” or

with different parameter values that is checked near “Page” in

“Select Parameters”.

If the “Page” is selected near the “Family” then the elements of

different families will be updated in different legend views:

1

2

3 If “Page” is selected then “Rows

per Page” will be disabled.

New feature in v2013.1:

Automatically creates new

needed legend views !


Create/Edit Legend Add Row Number

Add Row Number – adds additional parameter with row number:


Create/Edit Legend Add Grand Totals

Add Grand Totals – adds the final column/row where are summarized grand total

values of elements:

New feature in v2013.1:

Possibility to add/remove the

final column/row!


Right-click settings Sort

Sort – sorts the values in accessing order for selected parameters.


Right-click settings Filter By Selected Data

Filter By Selected Data – filters elements according to the selected values.

Filtered doors with family name “Simple1” that

is located in level 3.


Right-click settings Distinct Values in Column

Distinct Values in Column – shows different values of select columns at a separate dialog

where user can apply a filter.

For example, filtered “Simple1”

door families that opens to all

bedrooms in the project.


Right-click settings Copy to Clipboard

Copy to Clipboard – copies to clipboard selected values.


Create/Edit Legend Pick Columns

Pick Columns – creates the array of sample entities depending on

direction, distance and selected parameters. In the place of text there

will be parameter names. In the place of generic annotation there will

be parameter values (Empty). Parameter names and the design can be

changed by user in this step.

For horizontal block:


Create/Edit Legend Pick Columns


1. Pick the line that indicates direction and array distance: 2. Select elements what will be arrayed down:

For vertical block:

1. Pick the line that indicates direction and array distance: 2. Select elements what will be arrayed to the right:


Create/Edit Legend Pick Rows

Pick Rows – creates the array of entities depending on direction,

distance and the elements.





1. Pick the line that indicates direction and array distance: 2. Select elements what will be arrayed to the right:



2. Select elements what will be arrayed down:


1. Pick the line that indicates direction and array distance :


Create/Edit Legend Result

Created door legend depended on the project.

User can change the configuration at any time:

- change legend’s component and its view type: plan, elevation, section or other;

- remove and add a new type or instance parameter what values want to see in the Legend;

- add/remove a row/column number’s parameter for the legend table.


Create/Edit Legend Using Images

It is possible to use real element images

instead of legend components. In the sample

block has to be an image from the catalog

where are all images. Image file name has to

be the same as family name.


Swing Direction First Step

In the case of using swing direction in legend the user has to do these steps:

1. Create text instance parameter in the door category:


Swing Direction Second Step

2. Fill swing direction parameter with values (ex. Left, Right). In this case the user can do

it automatically with BID → Modify Elements → Write Swing Direction:


Swing Direction Third Step

3. Create the same parameter in frame M_SM_Legend Component Dimension.rfa. The

parameter has to be instance text under text grouping. Primary value has to be the same

as in door parameter and it should show how the door looks like in the front view:


Swing Direction Result

When the value in the frame will be the same as the value in the door then the component

view will be “Elevation: Front”. If it will be different then the component view will be

“Elevation: Back”.


Create/Edit Legend Export to Excel

Data can by easy exported to Excel with “Export to Excel”.


Create/Edit Legend Draw Table

Creates/updates table in the drafting view.

Created table is grouped. If the user ungroup the table

then there will be no possibility to update the data

later.


Create/Edit Legend Draw Table – Table Dimensions

Width, Height – real table sizes in current units.

Number per page – splits data in separate tables with predefined number of rows.


Create/Edit Legend Draw Table – Table appearance settings

Row Height Factor – changes the height of row by multiplying data text height and the

factor.


Create/Edit Legend with Preselected Types

Use this function if you need to work just with some element types instead of working with

all of them. This function is especially useful when you work with big projects.


Update all Legends

This function updates all select legends with one click.

In the dialog legends has to be selected for updating:

Later the user can check when the latest updates was made:


Dynamic Legend Benefits

The Revit extension Dynamic Legend dramatically speeds up the Revit project documentation process.

Speed – The Dynamic Legend extension helps to quickly and accurately create legends of the families in

your design. Revit doesn’t update elements or properties in the legend. Depending on the complexity of

the model it can take a long time to create and update all of the data in the legend manually.

Easy to Use – Dynamic Legend tools allows you to automatically create/update legends.

Reduction of errors – The Dynamic Legend never misses a thing.

Saved settings for future projects – Allows you to re-create legends to meet company standards.


Dynamic Legend Other samples



It is possible to use one or more view in the block.


Copyright © 2012 AGA CAD Ltd.

TOOLS4REVIT© is developed by AGA CAD Ltd., Autodesk Authorised Developer

to

ols4

revit

Address: AGA CAD Ltd. Žalgirio g. 112A, LT-09300 Vilnius, Lithuania, EU Contact: Phone: +370 5 2398111 Fax: +370 5 2398113 E-mail: [email protected] www.tools4revit.com

AGA-CAD is the supplier of computer-aided design software and data management solution, operating since 1991. Company’s activities consist of TOOLS4REVIT development, Revit® families creation, programming services for working with BIM projects faster and easier. With resellers in a number of countries AGA CAD Ltd. implements BIM solutions for architects, structural and MEP engineers, constructors and building contractors.

If you have any ideas or problems and you would like to make your work with BIM projects faster and easier we can design a tool or a program especially for you. Write your ideas directly to [email protected].

http://www.aga-cad.lt/

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