Autodesk Revit: Easy template creation

Template in Revit — a special .rte file, a starting point when creating a project. Template contains preloaded families, pre-configured views, filters, designed schedules, sheets etc. and thus simplifies and standardizes projecting.

Working on a good template, you need to build an object and apply a minimum design — a lot of routine operations are runned automatically.

For instance, you are projecting a block of flats. Having a good template, having just built a 3D model and pointed out essential features, you will get:

• preloaded model families  (walls, coverings, doors, windows etc. that you need)

• configurated plans (for instance, without "unnecessary" engineering objects)

• set schedules

• preloaded tags

• standard callouts

• configurated 3D views

• lists with general data, object indexes

• all "standard lists"

• etc...

How to get a template? There are 3 main ways:

• "clean sheet " design (i.e. clean project, that was created without a template)

• get a template on the basis of a completed project 

• use a cleared project as a source file

"Clean sheet " design — an optimal path, if one needs to make accurate settings and minimize objects in the project. This is a very near work but only this way allows you to get the objects you really need in a template.

R > New > Project

 

Select Template file in the emerged window - <None>, Create new – Project template

 

Select Imperial or Metric system, and start adding objects. It is possible to load/create manually as well as import from another object (see below).

The described way is perfect when projects are alike and there is enough time to create a template. This can be a typical projecting or work in a big company, when the whole department is responsible for the BIM functioning.

It is much easier to get templates on the basis of completed projects. One just need to clean the project from unnecessary objects, views, families and others and save. Depending on the components left, one can save it as a template or as a project.

Saving into project is applied as Revit doesn't maintain all objects  in a template (e.g. Worksets).

Thus, with minimal efforts you get a template. Side effects for time saving can be "unnecessary" objects that you have forgotten to  delete from plans, families, materials etc.

It's up to you which way to choose. As for me, each of them is applied under certain terms and has got advantages as well as disadvantages. One thing comes for sure — a good template speeds up a working process. 

However, anyway it can be necessary to delete unused components or, on the contrary, preload something from other projects.

There are two ways to delete unnecessary types of objects.

Manual — to delete families individually from Project browser.

Select proper family from the list of available and click the right mouse button to delete whether the whole family or its certain types:

With "Purge Unused" tool: Manage > Purge Unused. Revit will analyse the project and will show the objects preloaded to the project but are not used.

I recommend "Check None" and to put «ticks» manually next to the necessary objects — otherwise some unnecessary items can be deleted with this tool.

 

There are 2 ways to import from other projects:

Manage > Transfer Project Standards . The tool lets copy a large number of parameters of other projects, settings, styles etc.

The only thing you need is to define the project (it must be opened, or the current project must be connected with it) and what to load:

Insert > Insert from file

• Insert Views from File — insert of lists, specifications, 3D views

• Insert 2D elements from File – detail components insertion

When the template is ready, save it: R > Save as > Template

 

Almost done!

Add the template to the list of those offered at the sart of a new project:

R > Options > File Locations > + (Add value) > Select file

 

If necessary, level it up with Move rows up button.

 

Done!

Now the template we created is offered when you starting Revit.

Best regards,
Alexander Vysotskiy

Vysotskiy consulting CEO
BIM-consultant of PSS

e-mail: me@AVysotskiy.com
Phone.: +7(904) 514-56-77
Skype: VisikPro
Blog: www.AlexVisotskiy.com