Revit project files (also referred to as Models) are created from template files. A template file gives a standard starting point for all projects and includes many common settings and preferences. You can use the template files provided with the software or you can customize them to create your own. For this exercise, we will use the basic Revit template file provided with the US Imperial installation. (In Revit it is referred to as the Architectural Template, (but in Windows Explorer the file is actually named: Default.rte).
Exercise 1–Create a new project file
The template files available will vary with your installation of Revit. If your version does not include the template file noted here, a copy is included in the dataset folder.
Figure 2–1 Create a new project model from the default architectural template
If you don’t have the template indicated, you can click the Browse button to locate the copy included with the dataset files.
The default template is somewhat minimal in its setup. You can see the basics on the Project Browser. The Project Browser is usually docked on the left or right side of the screen and includes the project’s views, sheets, schedules, etc. Each of these items allows us to interact with some aspect of our project. Think of the Project Browser as the “table of contents” for your project. If you do not have the Project Browser displayed, you can reload it from the View tab of the ribbon. Or you can right-click and choose: Browsers > Project Browser. You can then drag the browser wherever you would like it onscreen. For this tutorial we will assume the default location docked to the left side of the screen beneath the Properties palette. While you are verifying the user interface options, make sure that Properties palette is also displayed and dock it to the side of the screen as well (see Figure 2–2).
Figure 2–2 Make sure both the Project Browser and properties palette are available
In the middle of the screen is the “model canvas” and it is surrounded by four icons that are the locations of the four building elevations you see listed on the Project Browser. While it is possible to adjust these elevations (we can move them, change their symbols, rename them, etc.) we will leave them as is and use them to frame our work area. Note one more thing in Project Browser: The Floor Plan named: Level 1 is bold. This indicates that this it is the active view. Another way to say this, is that we are currently working in the Level 1 floor plan in the model canvas.
As we work through the exercises, saved versions of the files will be provided. If you wish to skip some steps, or start in the middle, or just get behind in your own work, you can open one of these catch-up files and keep going. They look like this:
Catch-up file completed to this point: 00_Medical Center_Topic.rvt
