Wednesday, September 02, 2015

Temporary View Templates

View Templates are quite useful and potentially powerful when they are allowed to be aggressive, placed in charge of Views. To make a View Template the Boss we just need to assign one to a view via its View Template parameter.


Using the Right Click option to Apply Template Properties does not a boss make. It just applies the template settings but then leaves the view open to abuse.

When we do take advantage of placing a View Template in charge of views we bump into this Boss and its rules whenever we want to change the way the view looks. Normally that's good because the View Template is preventing arbitrary changes. In the following image I've mocked up structural walls and separate Veneer walls because I want to accentuate the structural wall in plan views (a common request). It also allows for fussy exterior finish changes (though these are hardly fussy).


In the plan view I've reduced the intensity of the veneer walls. When we need to change the way a view looks and it has a Bossy View Template we can use the Temporary View Properties button on the View Control Shortcut Bar. Usually it is sufficient to click Enable Temporary View Properties. Notice the other choice; Temporarily Apply Template Properties.


If we often find ourselves needing to apply the same kind of override to certain views it makes sense to create a View Template for that and then use it to apply an override to the view, like this next image. I've changed the appearance of the veneer walls to make them stand out; so it is easier to adjust them.


I created a Filter that is looking for a specific value in Type Comments. I picked that because it was easy for this example but it could be any parameter you like, as long as it sets the element(s) apart from others.


I also made another Filter to change the wall the other walls look so they don't compete graphically with the veneer walls as much as they would normally.


When I'm done adjusting the veneer walls I just need to click Restore View Properties and the Boss is back in charge.


Next time you find yourself using Temporary View Properties and Visibility/Graphics to tweak a view again, for the same reason as the last couple times, consider creating a View Template for it.

2 comments:

Rob Valenti said...

It seems that view templates can have three levels of persistence:
Apply view template
Apply view template properties
Temporarily apply view template properties

I know you commented on this in a post in 2013, looking at "Apply" versus "APPLY", and you frequently comment on Revit's subtlety or pickyness, which is very reassuring, because otherwise I might just feel dumb.

I always try to derive some tentative principle, in addition to just trying to remember these subtleties by brute force. The one I get from this is that the Revitdevelopers see that something's properties are more superficial and transient than that thing's deeper essential nature.

Do you think that our Revit overlords are sitting around contemplating philosophy?

Steve said...

I describe them this way now:
Apply is passive (this is how they've only worked in the past)
Assign is aggressive (View Template button in Properties Palette)
Override (only relevant and necessary when a VT is Assigned, otherwise we can't alter a view without changing its template first)