Revit Terms
Split tool
(SL shortcut) When you select two objects it will split them as designated
Model Line
2D tool that lets you "paint" lines on the surface of an object
Reference Plane
A 2-dimensional plane used when designing families of model elements or placing elements in a building model.
Mass
A 3-dimensional shape used in the initial design of a building model.
Stair Calculator
A Revit tool that automates the creation of stairs based on a specified minimum tread depth and maximum riser height.
Workset
A collection of elements in a workshared project that can be worked on independently. A workset is typically a discrete functional area, such as interior, exterior, or site. When you enable worksharing, you can divide a project into worksets, with different team members responsible for each workset.
Library
A collection of predefined resources that you can use in a Revit project.
Template
A collection of settings that you can use as a starting point for projects, families, views, and more.
Reveal
A decorative cutout in a wall
In-place family
A family of elements that is created within the context of the current project. An in-place family exists only in the project and cannot be loaded into other projects.
Nested Family
A family that consists of instances of other families (subcomponents). The subcomponents can belong to the same category (for example, various window types) or different categories (for example, an exterior door and two lighting fixtures). You create nested families using the Family Editor.
Poche
A fill pattern that represents a cut surface.
Origin
A fixed starting point, or the point in a coordinate system where the axes intersect.
Revision Cloud
A graphic (shaped like a cloud) that indicates changes in a construction document. In Revit Architecture, you can sketch revision clouds in all views except 3D views. The cloud is visible only in the view in which it is sketched.
Wall Sweep
A horizontal or vertical projection from a wall, often decorative in nature. Examples of wall sweeps include baseboards and crown molding.
Tangent
A line that passes through the same point as a curve, in the same direction as the curve.
Room Separation Line
A line that you draw in a view to define areas that are used for different purposes, when a wall between the rooms is not desired. Room separation lines are visible in plan views, 3D views, and perspective views.
Type Catalog
A list of model elements that belong to a particular family type but that differ in size or other characteristics. Using type catalogs, you can load only the size you need, rather than loading the entire family type.
Host
A model element that can accept (host) other components. For example, a wall is a host for windows and doors. A roof is a host for skylights and dormers. A host may also be referred to as a host element or a host component.
Room Bounding Elements
A model element that defines a boundary of a room. For example, walls, partitions, floors, ceilings, and roofs are room-bounding elements. These are used to calculate area, etc.
Wireframe
A model graphics style in which Revit Architecture displays the image of the model with all edges and lines drawn, but no surfaces.
Revit
A parametric and computable BIM application that has bi-directional integration of graphic and text information in a fully coordinated digital database
Solar Study
A photo realistic image of a building model used to evaluate the impact of natural light and shadows on the buildings and site.
Work plane
A planar surface on which you can add sketch lines or other components.
Underlay
A project view or imported file that you use to help position elements in the current view.
Walkthrough
A representation of a building model that simulates a person walking through the model along a defined path.
Reference Section
A section tag that refers to an existing section view. When you create a reference section, Revit Architecture does not create a new view in the project. Instead, the reference section uses an existing section, allowing you to indicate different areas that have identical sections.
Profile
A series of 2-dimensional lines and arcs that form a closed loop. Use profiles to define cross-sections for railings, balusters, soffits, cornices, and other sweep-defined objects.
Object Style
A set of characteristics that define the line weight, line color, line pattern, and material for a category of model elements, annotation elements, or imported objects in a project.
Polyline
A set of connected straight line segments. Polylines typically define open loops.
View Range
A set of horizontal planes that control the visibility and display of objects in a view. The horizontal planes are Top Clip Plane, Cut Plane, Bottom Clip Plane, and View Depth. Elements outside the view range do not display in the view.
Project Template
A set of initial conditions for a project. Revit Architecture provides several templates, and you can create your own templates. Any new project based on a template inherits all families, settings (such as units, fill patterns, line styles, line weights, and view scales), and geometry from the template.
Title Block
A template for a sheet. A title block generally includes information about the company, address, date of the project, and revisions.
Offset
A uniform distance from an element or line, along which the element or line will move, or a new element or line will be created.
Markup
A unique identifier that you assign to an element in its properties
Viewport
A user interface mechanism that allows you to manipulate and activate a view that has been placed on a sheet. When you activate a view through a viewport, you can edit the model directly on the sheet.
Stacked Wall
A wall that has 2 or more horizontal layers, each consisting of different materials and surfaces.
Room Separator
Adds a "model line" that separates a room but does not affect your floor plan (use this for open spaces that aren't divided by walls)
Guide Grid
Allows you to align grids, reference planes and levels to keep alignment of floor plan or other object the same on all sheets
Instance Parameters
Allows you to edit an element once for a specific project. These settings control the appearance or behavior of an individual element in a project. The instance parameters and type parameters of an element combine to establish its element properties.
Flip grips
Allows you to flip object in plan view (you can also use the spacebar to flip item around)
Filter
Allows you to select what you want to see in a particular view
Sketch Ceiling Button
Allows you to sketch a ceiling for areas that are not enclosed by walls (located in the modify tab)
Witness Line
An annotation that indicates the distance between 2 points or elements in a building model.
Tag
An annotation used to identify elements in a drawing. Tags provide a way to automate the display of attributes for an element or type
Blend
An extrusion with two shapes
Hosted object
An object in a family that requires a wall or ceiling to place the element in the space
View Cube
Appears on right hand side to allow viewing at different angles for 3D drawings
Context Ribbon
Attaches itself to the selected item you want to edit under the Modify tab. All other tabs remain the same.
Object Snap
Automatically lines up to existing points (endpoints, midpoints, nearest, perpendicular, etc.) Can be managed under the snaps tab.
Category
Built-in list of object types that comes with the software (Doors, walls, etc.)
Host elements
Built-in place construction (floors, walls, roofs, ceilings, stairs, ramps)
Component Tab
Button that houses all the miscellaneous items not on the toolbar (light fixtures, furniture, etc.)
Single Escape
By pressing the "esc" key it will cancel out of the current element but still allow you to draw another element of the same type (it breaks the chain)
Family
Classes of elements that belong to a category. Groups elements with a common set of parameters.
Start-End-Radius Arc Tool
Click to enter wall start point, then enter the opposite end of the wall, then the radius to create a curved wall
Stacked wall
Combined of two or more basic walls stacked on top of each other
System Family
Come installed in the revit software. Not able to customize these elements. (also known as host elements)
Automatic Ceiling Button
Creates ceilings automatically for any room selected. (Make sure to use this only in the ceiling plan file- won't work on floor plan)
Core Boundary
Designated where the core begins and ends when placing walls between the exterior and interior
Top Constraint
Established the upper level of the wall
Base Constraint
Establishes the lower level of the wall
Basic wall
Has the same set of layers throughout the entire wall
Solid Edge
Has to completely highlight objects to select them.
Chain selection
Hover over object and press tab, it will select nearest object, press again to select another object. Click on highlighted objects to finalize selection.
Sweeps
In section view, this allows you to apply a material the entire perimeter, length, etc. of an object. Adds to the material of the wall.
Reveals
In section view, this allows you to inset a material the entire perimeter, length, etc. of an object. Carves away the material of the wall.
Global setting
Information that updates on every sheet in the project file (Ex: Project Date)
Edit Boundary
Lets you modify the sketch area when drawing floors or other elements
Options Bar
Located below the ribbon, shows you different options for the function you are using and let's you know what to do next
Constraint
Locked in design intent, cannot be changed.
Substrate
Material (such as plywood or gypsum board) that acts as a foundation for another material.
Free Standing Family
No restrictions to where it can be placed in the drawing. Does not require a host like walls, doors, etc.
Dashed Edge
Only has to touch objects to select them
QAT
Quick Access Tool bar with commonly used tools for easier access
DWF format
Read only format that retains all of the detailed data of the revit file, useful for sharing preliminary work (Use Design Review Software to open these types of files)
Model element
Represent a REAL thing within the building (door, staircase,window, etc.). If you change it in one view, it will be reflected in all views. (Parametric object)
Activate View
Right click>Activate View will allow a view to be edited in any sheet you are working in
Sheet List
Schedules an index of the sheets in a project for easy viewing in one place
Location Line
Shows you the centerline, finish face exterior/interior, core face exterior/interior based on setting found in properties
Properties palette
Shows you type and specific properties about the item which you are about to create or have already created. These can be changed as you are drawing. You must APPLY the change for it to take effect or shift cursor away from the palette.
Detail Level
Shows you varying amount of details to show how an element is constructed
Family
System families (built- in) or Component families (you can modify). Belong to a category but are more specific, tells you what kind of door, wall, etc.
Room Reference
The "X" that appears that allows you to select an entire room
View Specific
The characteristic of being visible in one project view only.
RFA
The file format for a Revit family.
Surface Pattern
The graphic design (fill pattern) used to represent a surface when shown in projection
BIM
The process of creating and using digital models in detail in design (coordinated and computable, allows you to simulate and analyze)
Annotation element
Things that describe objects in a set of drawings but aren't necessarily built, representational (wall tag, door tag, dimension, bar scale, etc.). This is view specific- it belongs to the view in question.
Area Plan
This tool allows you to add a color legend to your plan based on designated rooms and a custom color scheme
Split
To divide a single object into multiple objects or sections.
Snap
To jump to a line or reference point in a drawing.
Rehost tool
To move a component from one host to another. For example, you can use the Rehost tool to move a window from one wall to another wall.
Trim
To shorten selected elements to meet a specified boundary.
Load
To transfer a file or a collection of information from an outside location into a Revit project.
Ctrl Key/ Shift key
Use CTRL to select multiple objects. Use SHIFT key to deselect.
Zoom in/out
Use the wheel on the mouse to roll forward (zoom in) or backward (zoom out). You can also use navigation bar on the right of the screen.
Temporary Dimensions
Use witness line grips, select dimensions and put in your specific dimensions desired. Allows remember to select object you want to move. Under manage tab, you can reconfigure settings.
Parameter
Value that can be changed, used as reference point
Type
Variations between families (usually tells you the size, rating, etc.) Category>Family>Type