Editing Elements Interactively |
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Moving Elements |
Revit provides several ways to move elements, ranging from traditional tools to using intelligent dimensions that appear on the fly when you select elements. Become familiar with each method, and find what works best for your workflow.
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| Using Temporary Dimensions |
You should have noticed by now that when elements are selected, dimensions appear. These dimensions are called temporary dimensions and are there to help you position elements relative to other elements. Clicking the blue dimension value makes it an active, editable value. Type in a new value, and the element you selected moves to that point. Keep this in mind: Dimensions always move elements that are selected. By the same token, you can’t edit a dimension if nothing is selected.
If a temporary dimension isn’t referencing a meaningful element, you can choose a different ref- erence by dragging the small blue square attached to the dimension witness line to a new parallel reference (Figure 3.4). Parallel references highlight when the mouse moves over them. |
Figure 3.4
Drag or click the small blue grip to change the temporary dimensio |
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If you click a blue grip, it cycles to other possible reference in the element. For example, clicking the blue grip of a dimension to a door or window cycles between the left and right openings and the cen- ter of the element. The same is true for walls: Try clicking the blue grip control, and see how the temporary dimension cycles through the various references in the wall (interior face, centerline, exterior face).
To change which references temporary dimensions go to first, use the Settings Temporary Dimensions dialog (Figure 3.5). Here, you can set how dimensions default to walls, doors, and win- dows independently. |
Figure 3.5
The Temporary Dimension Properties dialog lets you define default behaviors. |
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If you have many elements selected, temporary dimension sometimes don’t appear. Check the Options bar for the Activate Dimensions button; clicking it adds dimension to the view for you to use. |
| Using the Move Tool |
Use the Move tool to move elements precise distances by typing in values or using the temporary dimensions as helpers. When you have an element selected, the Move tool becomes enabled.
Moving elements is a two-click process: First you define a start point, and then you click to define an end point. If you know you need to move something to the left 10´6., it doesn’t matter where your two picks take place; all that matters is that the distance between the two clicks is 10´6.. (Figure 3.6 shows the graphics provided during a move operation.) |
Figure 3.6
Use the Move tool to move elements precisely |
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| When the Move command is active, there are a few options to be aware of on the Options bar: |
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Constrain When this option is selected, it constrains movements to horizontal and vertical directions. Deselecting it gives you free movement if the element is freestanding. Hosted elements such as windows and doors always move in a constrained manner parallel to their host axis.
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Disjoin Hosted elements such as windows and doors can’t change host and move to another host without explicitly being disjoined from their host. This option lets you disconnect inserts from their host and move them to new hosts. For example, if you need to move a door from one wall to another, you select the door, select the Move tool, select Disjoin on the Options bar, and move the door to another host.
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Copy This option lets you make a copy of the element without moving the original element. In the strictest sense, this isn’t really a move operation but a shortcut to making a copy .
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| Nudging Elements (Reposition in Small Increments) |
| Nudging is a great way to push things around quickly and with a bit less precision. When an ele- ment is selected, you can use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move the element horizontally and vertically in small increments. Each press of an arrow key nudges the element a specific distance based on your current zoom factor. The closer you zoom, the finer the nudge is. Likewise, as you zoom out, the nudge moves elements by larger increments. This is a good tool when you’re work- ing with views placed on sheets. |
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| Moves With Nearby Elements |
| Another way to move free-standing elements, but in a more automatic ways, is to use the Moves With Nearby Elements feature. This tool is designed to capture logical relationships between ele- ments. When furnishing a space, you probably want to align the bed or dresser with a wall. If you change your design, you want the furniture to follow the wall to the new location. For this purpose, select the furniture and then select the option to Moves With Nearby Elements on the Options bar. By doing so, you create an invisible relationship between the bed and the wall so that each time you move the wall, the bed moves with it (Figure 3.7). |
Figure 3.7
When the bed is selected, the option to have it move with nearby elements is available on the Options bar. |
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