Convert 2D drawings to 3D information models

00:04

After completion of this video,

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you'll be able to link CAD files into a revI project,

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convert 2 dimensional lines into 3 dimensional walls,

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describe how 2 dimensional files can be used in 3 dimensional BIM workflows,

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and explain how RVIt's wall tool converts 2 dimensional

00:22

lines into 3 dimensional walls with embedded data.

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Start by opening RVIt on the home screen,

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click the Open models button to open the dialogue box.

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In the Openre project dialog box.

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Navigate to the folder containing the revI project from the provided data set.

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Within the project browser

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and then the floor plan views,

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double click on the view you want to access.

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For this example,

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double click on the base floor level floor plan view.

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It should now be bold,

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indicating this is the current view,

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and looking down from above,

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you can see the north,

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south,

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east and west elevation markers.

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On the ribbon

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on the insert tab,

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on the Link panel,

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click Link CAD.

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In the link CAD formats dialogue box,

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navigate to your desired folder for this example.

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That should be the folder containing the provided data set

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and click once on the base level drawing file.

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Linking a DWG file into Revvit

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establishes a dynamic connection similar to an external reference in AutoCAD,

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which keeps the file

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updated with external changes,

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unlike importing,

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which creates a static copy within the revit model.

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Linking is good practice,

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as importing a static copy could be out of date.

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For example,

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walls may have been moved in the original file.

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And they wouldn't update in this revI project.

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On the other hand,

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if you link a file,

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it remains up to date if changes are made in the original.

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Before linking,

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check the layer and positioning settings to

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ensure proper alignment with your revvit project.

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Keep the colors,

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layers,

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and import unit settings as default.

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However,

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change the positioning so it is auto center to center

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and.

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It will be placed on the correct level,

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such as the ground floor level in this project.

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Click Open to link the file into this Revit project.

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Once linked,

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the 2D plan appears in your workspace as a static drawing,

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and while useful,

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it lacks the intelligence and interactivity flexibility of a 3D model.

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Convert these lines into parametric 3D walls by going to the ribbon.

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On the architecture tab on the build panel,

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click the wall tool.

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The ribbon changes to reflect the tools available

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while creating or modifying walls.

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In the properties palette,

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click the type editor

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to select the exterior wall type.

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And in the ribbon

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set the wall properties as desired,

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such as the height of the wall to the next level,

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which in this example is the upper floor level.

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Click location line and select Finish face exterior.

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The 2D line that you click will be used to position the exterior face of the wall.

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On the ribbon

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in the draw panel.

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Click the pick lines option.

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Hover your mouse

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over the line indicating the exterior of the wall.

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Rev it

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displays a dashed reference line

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indicating which side it will create the wall.

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Once this dash line is on the correct side of the 2D line,

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Click your left mouse button to convert the 2D line into a 3D wall element.

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Press the escape button on your keyboard twice to end the command.

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In plan view,

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these lines look very similar to the AutoCAD lines.

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Let's look at the project in 3D.

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Move your mouse to the ribbon.

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On the shortcut menu bar,

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click on the default 3D view button.

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It looks like a little house.

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On the view cube,

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click on the top corner

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between south and west

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to view the project from this angle.

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Place your cursor on the view cube

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and holding in your left mouse button,

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drag the view cube spinning it to spin your project model in the same direction.

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And place your cursor over the edge of the 3D wall you created.

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It should highlight blue.

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When it does,

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click your mouse to select the wall.

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Notice how the property's palette displays the

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properties such as base and top constraint

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area,

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volume,

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and length of the wall.

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Revit's parametric features ensure that changes to one element

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will update across all views.

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So let's adjust the wall's height

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and watch it reflect in the 3D and elevation views.

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In the Project browser in the elevation views,

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activate the south elevation view by double clicking the view name.

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Again,

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select the wall by clicking on it.

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Grips appear as triangular symbols

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that allow you to drag the wall's base,

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top,

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or sides,

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changing its length and height.

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Drag the triangle grip at the top of the wall

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to edit its height,

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snapping to the next level up,

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the roof level.

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Then click on the 3D view tab at the top of your screen

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to return to the 3D view.

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And notice how it changed height in this view automatically.

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The change

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affects all views parametrically,

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which is an advantage of working with a 3D model.

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Unlike the OCAD drawing where the user must manually update or draw new elevations,

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in Revvi,

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the element is updated automatically as any changes take place.

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To reset the height in the property's palette.

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Ensure the upper floor level

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as the top constraint

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and click the top offset area

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and type 0 to set it to a 0 offset

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and click apply to return it to the original height.

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This locks the top of the wall to the upper floor level.

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While the autocade lines have gaps for doors and windows,

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in revvet,

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the 3D wall should span the entire length of the external wall.

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And note how when converting lines in revrev only

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reads the length of the line segment as drawn.

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Return to the base level floor plan view by

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double clicking the level name in the Project browser.

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And click on the wall once to select it.

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Dynamic grips appear.

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This time represented by small circles at the end of the wall,

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and they can be dragged to correct the wall length

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in plan view using the wheel in your mouse.

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Roll the wheel backwards to zoom out from the view.

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Clicking and holding in the wheel while moving the mouse pans the view.

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You can pan left

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or right.

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You can use both of these to good effect so that

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you can see the entire wall length in one view.

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When you do,

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place your cursor on the small grip and drag it to edit the length of the wall.

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When your cursor is over the end corner,

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you'll notice a small magenta square symbol indicating the endpoint snap.

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Let go of the grip at this point to snap the wall length to the end of the 2D line.

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Doors and windows in Revit are more than just placeholders,

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they're intelligent components packed with data.

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Let's add a door to see how it interacts with the walls.

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Return to the 3D view by clicking the 3D view tab at the top of your screen.

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To activate the orbit command,

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click and hold the mouse view while at the

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same time click and hold shift on your keyboard.

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Move your mouse to orbit the model in 3D,

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and look around the newly created wall.

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Return to the base level plan view by selecting the view name

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in the tab at the top of your screen.

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On the ribbon in the architecture tab

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on the build panel,

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click door.

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And in the property's palette,

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notice the different types of door loaded into the model.

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More are available from the library if needed,

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and they're completely customizable so you can create

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exactly the type of door that you need.

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From the type selector,

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select the door's external single flush type.

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Move your cursor over the wall

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and notice when your cursor is near the interior or exterior face of the wall,

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it changes the opening direction for the door.

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When you have an opening in the correct direction,

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use the space bar to flip the swing of the door as needed.

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And once correctly positioned,

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click your left mouse button to place the door.

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Press escape twice to end the door command.

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Notice when it is placed in a wall in a plan view.

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The door cuts the wall so it appears as it did in

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the AutoCAD floor plan drawing adhering

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to traditional drawing practices and standards.

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However,

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when you activate the 3D view,

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notice that the wall is not split as it was in the 2D ACAD file.

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Each component includes valuable data such as material type and dimensions.

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This makes project coordination more accurate and efficient.

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Activate the south elevation again,

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the view automatically updates to display the addition of a door.

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On the ribbon

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on the view tab,

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Windows panel,

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select tile views to display the 3D floor plan and east elevations at the same time.

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In each view you may need to zoom out and pan using the

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mouse wheel so as to better position the model elements within the view.

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In the plan view,

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zoom into the door.

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And click on it to select it.

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Place your cursor on top of the door

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and click and hold your mouse button

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and drag the door along the wall to relocate it.

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Notice how all 3 views update at the same time.

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In the project browser,

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expand Schedules.

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Double click the door schedule to see

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how adding doors automatically updates quantities,

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costs,

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and other information.

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In the elevation view,

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click on the door to select it,

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and in the Properties palette,

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click the edit type button to open the Type Properties dialogue.

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Scroll down to the identity data section

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and manufacturer.

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And here click and enter solid door Company into this field.

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Click apply and OK to return to the project view.

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And notice how the schedule contains the data entered automatically.

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On the ribbon on the view tab

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in the Windows panel,

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select Tab Views to return to one view.