Fast(er) Way To Place a Missing Room Tag

This is a very simple quick tip. When you have a room tag that is missing in a view. Copying is quicker than the Tag Room command. This only works if there is a Room Tag of the type you need already in the View. 

I've noticed that it takes a second or so for the Tag Room command to activate, it seems like it is reading/processing the Rooms in that view. Then a few more seconds for to check / change the type in the properties drop-down.

Revit Efficiency Hunt

I am currently working on a project with a Revit file size that fluctuates between 500-800mb. Due to recent crashes and extensive lag I have been experiencing with even simple tag edits, I did some research to find where to gain efficiency in the Revit model. Although the project I am experiencing is on the larger side, these recommendations will apply to any sized project.

I found an Autodesk white paper entitled, 2014 Model Performance Technical Note. There are recommendations for Hardware, Software settings and User best practices. If you have seen this before, as have I, this still serves as a good reminder for things we forget or are likely unknown to the more novice or casual Revit users.

It's worth evaluating the entire document but I am highlighting sections below that are of particular interest and most of which can be easily implemented. 

Hardware:    

• p11 - Hard drive configuration of swap file.
• p13-15 - Optimizing the OS.
• p16 - Verify network and server capabilities.
• p27 – Second item down, one dramatically weaker machine spec can reduce project performance.

User best practices:

(I can see instructions on these as an Office tech note via e-mail, a training or the opening / splash page or all of the above.)

• p13 - Restarting Revit prior to memory intensive tasks.
• p18 - Limit use of arrays.
• p19 - Use constraints sparingly, find alternatives to keep certain items from being edited.
• p19-20 – Families; Avoid voids, 2d symbolic lines instead of 3d geometry, limit flexibility.
• p21 – Unload links not in use, better yet, open file with the specify option in the open file dialog.
• p21 – Set and emphasize detail level for modeling for the project in general.
• p21 – Delete unnecessary area schemes / plans.
• p22 – Railings, had not heard this one before, maybe this could be applied through visibility whether course, medium or fine.
• p23 – Room separation lines in separate workset, this one is interesting, I am curious of the benefit, besides controlling visibility.
• p23 – View depths, (the further a view sees, the more model elements it tries to calculate.)
• p24 – Close unnecessary views, I know this one but often forget, especially 3d views on synch to central.
• p26 – Only open worksets that you need (repeat: open file with the specify option in the open file dialog.)
• p26 – IM/message board service for the team – I have used Slack.com on a project and it has been great, highly recommended.
• p26-27 – All of the worksharing recommendations are valuable.

A good AUGI article that parallels most of these items can be found here, it also includes a few additional tips that can prove useful. 

Excerpt of note:
Hierarchy of Revit Graphics  There are so many ways to change the way things look or if they are even displayed in Revit. This little code cracker tells what trumps what. It’s a great way to systematically check through what might be causing the issue. The higher numbers trump the lower numbers.

1. Object Styles
2. View Range
3. Visibility Graphics Overrides
4. Phasing Graphics Overrides
5. View Depth (Beyond)
6. View Filters (Filters nearer the top of the list override filters nearer the bottom)
7. Override Graphics in View by Element
8. View Detail Level
9. View Discipline
10. Line Work Tool
11. Worksets
12. Hide in View