View Template tweaks in Revit 2013

You can now set the default scale for new views.  So when you cut a section, it automatically defaults to whatever scale you want.  Here's how to enable it.....

As an example we'll use a section cut, but this will work for any view such as plans, 3D, etc.

Open up a section view > EDIT TYPE > > Identity Data >  New views are dependent on template > CHECK THIS BOX

Be Aware, anything that is defined in the view template will not be changeable when you check this box.

Above it you will see View Template applied to new views, the value listed to the right will be the default view template.  Set this as you would like and its done

You can even duplicate these views, so that you have more than one option.  See this video for more details.

Dimension Improvement in Revit 13

Here's a video that lists some improvements to the dimensioning in Revit 2013.  The first is the diameter dimension, why it wasn't already here, beats me, but I'll gladly take it.

The second may be a little more useful.  Basically it gives you more control over your dimension strings.
The most important thing I gathered from the video was the ability to fine tune and create dimensions.  For example this would allow me to dimension a bay of joists several different ways.

It will be worth your few minutes.  Watch it!

Quick Tip on DWG Export

In Revit 2013, you can hide reference planes when exporting to dwg.  Previously, my DWG exports looked great except for all those reference planes.  Although they don't plot, they still show up like any other line when open in autocad.  Lets just say they severely cluttered the design.

I couldn't find any way to get rid of them, well, now we have one.  You can find this under the general tab in the export dialog box.

Small Multi-Trim/Extend Tip

Basic but never fully grasped or utilized this command in Revit.  Usually it was because I was detailing at the end and was in a hurry either way...

Did you realize that once you initiate the multi trim/extend command you can choose multiple cutting lines?

For example you pick a line and trim 3 that cross it.  Now you have to do the same thing for a perpindicular condition.  Instead of cancelling out of the command, click into white space on the screen.   Then choose the line you want to cut w/ and get started again. 

Pics later, but wanted to write it down while it was on my mind. Can eliminate several commands this way, so hey, free money.

R O T A T E!

What happens when you are 2/3 of the way thru your project and Project North suddenly becomes Project West?  Not as simple as you think and it not as simple as it probably should be, but I digress.

Two ways I know of.

Under MANAGE > PROJECT LOCATION > POSITION > ROTATE PROJECT NORTH
    Should be the easy way to do it, but I couldn't get it to work.  It left me with errors I couldn't fix.

The other way to do it is to Mirror the Project.
Under MANAGE>PROJECT LOCATION>POSITION>MIRROR PROJECT

This worked perfectly, I had very little text in my project at the time, so the effects were minimal, my model elements flipped perfectly.  Much better than I expected.

So there you go.......

UPDATE: Another way you might accomplish this would be to change the origin point angle.  Find the origin point (Circle with an X, you might have to mash? the light bulb to see it) but you can change the elevation and the rotation there