I’ve included a few tips using some of the new schedules features from Revit 2014:

Formatting in your Project Template

Formatting for the schedule title \ header \ body section can be added in your Revit template file even if the schedule is not yet populated.  For example, if you wish to add shading to columns and headers; first select the column index (which highlights the entire column) and apply formatting:

Then you can select the headers or grouped headers and apply formatting:

You won’t technically see any of the column formatting until the schedule is populated with elements (since the columns don’t exist yet), but it’s a nice method to set this up ahead of time.  Start adding some walls in the project later and the schedule uses the formatting you initially set:

“Generic Table”

Want to create a simple “generic table” where you can insert text, parameters, shading, images, etc.?  Well you could use the Revit 2014 schedules title section…

First, create a new schedule and either choose a category you do not have in your project, or alternatively filter the schedule so nothing displays in the body section.

Then under the Schedule Properties > ‘Appearance’ tab, un-check ‘Show Headers’.  Now you unmerge the default title row and add additional rows, text, parameters, images, shading, etc.  And you still get the specific control to resize the column and row dimensions.

Two tips; First use the ‘Clear Cell’ tool to remove the default schedule view name.  You can then use that cell to enter any data you wish.  Second, set up your cell sizes before adding new rows.  The new rows will use the previous row for cell number, size and formatting:

Disclaimer: Keep in mind this isn’t perfect, but should be considered a creative use of the schedules title section.  No schedules were hurt (yet) during this process.

Generic Model Schedule – Volume

First of all Revit 2014 adds Generic Models as a scheduleable category.  While you could schedule generic model elements in Revit 2013 using a Multi-Category Schedule, you did not get the ‘Volume’ parameter (and you needed to creatively filter the schedule).  In Revit 2014 you can both create a generic model schedule and schedule the volume:

Last tip here; don’t forget to double-click on the schedule sheet instance to open the schedule view for editing!

We have a previous post that discusses some troubleshooting approaches for missing annotation (from a linked model, in the host model):

Using Annotation from Linked Views & Troubleshooting Missing Annotation

In a related scenario you could potentially see the annotation from the linked model, but it appears at a slightly shifted location.  Similar to this example image:

By default the view (in the linked model) needs to be parallel to the host view, in order for the annotation to display.  However depending on your model size, placement, angle, etc. there could be a slight threshold where Revit will still display the annotation even if it is not technically parallel.  Usually this is very small (under 3/32” variance in the angle between the link and host view).

If this is the case you could potentially see the model geometry correctly but the annotation may display as shifted slightly in the view.  If so the following should help:

1. Use the Wall tool > ‘Pick Lines’ option to add a wall temporarily on the link (so there is a perpendicular reference in the host project).
2. Select the elevation > use the ‘Rotate’ option to rotate the elevation.  Ideally you want to rotate it away to the opposite side and then back so it will clearly snap perpendicular to the wall reference.
3. If the elevation still doesn’t appear correctly, try adding a new elevation to the same area.  The elevation should detect the temporary parallel wall you added.  After the elevation is created the reference wall can be deleted.

I wanted to describe a crash in Revit 2012 & 2013 that was resolved with the Revit 2013 Update Release 1 \ 2 that some users have reported:

The underlying cause is while in the Revit file navigation dialog (such as opening a file or doing a save-as) you do one of 2 things:

• Create a new folder (right-click > New > Folder)
• Right-click and then click ‘Cancel’ out of the file dialog

Revit could potentially crash with an unrecoverable error:

This was resolved as part of the Revit 2013 Update Release 1.  If you’ve ever experienced this behavior I would highly recommend confirming the Revit 2013 update release 2 has been installed (lots of other good improvements with the second release).  If you need the links they are available via our previous post:

Update Release 2 Available for Revit 2013 Products