One problem if you are migrating from AutoCAD to Revit is implementing your current AutoCAD standard to your Revit project. The common question I heard is how we can create your own families to looks like in your AutoCAD drawings. For the first question, you can read this family tutorial e-book.
Then the next question is how we can use our AutoCAD title block in Revit. We don’t want to use the default title block like in this tutorial, aren’t we?
In this post, we are going to import your existing title block in AutoCAD file to Revit family. Let us do it step-by-step.
Preparing DWG File
First, you need to prepare the DWG file. If you have a DWT template, you need to create an empty DWG file using that template. We can’t import DWT to Revit. Title block should be the only drawing element in that file.
What if you don’t have AutoCAD, but you want to use the DWT file? Easy. Just rename the file in Windows Explorer, change the dwt extension to dwg. DWT basically is DWG too.
When importing DWG to family, Revit will attempt to find objects in your layout/sheet first. If your title block is not in your layout, then Revit will ask if it should try to find in model space. It should be no problem, whether you use layout or model. BUT… you have to draw in 1:1 scale. Try to experiment with existing title block in default AutoCAD template if you have problem.
Create a New Family
Let’s start. First, you need to create a new family. In home screen, click new under family group.
Revit will ask you to to choose a family template. Go to titleblocks folder, and choose the paper size you want. The paper size depends on your family units. I use metric, so I will see A0 to A4 paper size. Click open.
In your new family, you will see a rectangle that shows your paper size. You can create your title block here from scratch inside that rectangle. Or simply import your existing drawing from AutoCAD drawing. We are going to do the last one.
Importing the DWG File
Now you can import the DWG file to your family. Use import CAD tool in insert tab, import panel.
Find your DWG file. Before you click open, there are many options available in the dialog box. If your DWG file has correct unit (and not unitless) then you can choose import unit as Auto-Detect. Positioning should be fine if you choose ‘Auto-center to center’. Title block is a rectangular object that should fit the paper just fine. If it’s not, you need to scale or move it later to fit your paper.
Click open. You should now see the titleblock in your family.
Select the titleblock. You should see it is selected as a single object. Click explode, full explode from contextual ribbon to break the AutoCAD elements, to basic Revit elements.
Adding Labels
Title blocks pretty much only have lines and texts. You already have them after importing your drawing from AutoCAD. Revit does have some intelligent texts that will automatically update when the information changed. The changes can be manually by you, or automatic. Sheet number is defined by you. Date/time stamp will updated automatically by your computer.
Let us see this part of our title block. The project number can be automatically take your project information. Date and sheet number can automatically changed. Those values should be created using label. The others, should use text as ‘static’ texts.
If we look at the ribbon, in home tab, text panel, we will see there are two types of texts. Now you know what their difference is, right?
Now delete all texts that you will replace with labels. After you remove them, activate label and place in the location you want. Revit will open a dialog box, asking you which parameter you want to display. Choose which information should appear at that location, and click ‘add parameter to label’ button. Or you can double click it to add the parameter to your label.
Add every information you want. Save the family so you can load it later to your project. Or you can load it to your template.
Now you already have your titleblock. Try to create sheets using it and place some views.
Excellent tutorial. thanks
Sir i want learn the AutoLISP, with the coordinates to insert the coordinates to other drawing, thanks for advance
This was an excellent tutorial. Well done.
You can download an A1 Titleblock for Revit here….
http://www.cadblocksfree.com/downloaddetails.php?…
Hi N,
I posted about using shared parameters in Revit sheet here. You may find it useful…
Hi everyone,
I think I have the same problem. I have made a title block from scratch but I have other parameters in my sheet other than those listed in the "Label" categories. Parameters like "Sheet Description" or "Consultant Info"… What should I do?! What's with this "Shared Parameters" ?! I have also put in "Sample Values" in front of each "Parameter" listed in the Label box but when bringing a "New Sheet" in my project some parameters are erased and the ones that are there are not the same as the "Sample Value" I mentioned.
I would appreciate it if some one could help me. Thanks!!
Edwin, how silly do you look with this comment?
"Not all family can use shared parameters. Refer to help file, what families categories can use shared parameters. Title blocks don’t support shared parameters. You need to use other type of labels or texts to do it."
If you can't give factual information, just don't suggest anything at all! Obviously a muppet!
Yuri,
Do you have a solution for it? This comment section is available if you want to share it. Or you can write a guess post if you wanted to.
Obrigado, me foi muito util.
Edwin, I need to use custom labels that are not listed on the 'Edit Label' Category Parameters window. Also in the Edit Label dialog box if I clcik the Add Paramter button it opens the Parameter Properties dialog box which already has the Shared Parameter radio button checked and it is grayed out. So if I need to create a custom parameter it automatically is a shared parameter. I will appreciate if you can discuss the steps to create parameter for custom labels. Thanks
Mbiswas,
Not all family can use shared parameters. Refer to help file, what families categories can use shared parameters. Title blocks don't support shared parameters. You need to use other type of labels or texts to do it.
Titleblock families are a little different when it comes to using shared parameters. The shared parameters that you added to the titleblock family ALSO need to be added to the project as Project Parameters that are applied to the 'Sheets' category. Only then will you be able to enter a value for a shared parameter that you have added to the titleblock family.
Upto 'Edit Label' dialog box it works fine but I am experiencing problem for the next steps. I am using RAC 2011.
1. 'Home' tab – 'Label' – Edit Label – Parameter Property – Shared Parameters – then selcting a parameter group and parameter to add on the Titleblock.rfa file. It shows on the rfa file but when I load it into a project, the default label (Proj Title, Date) are not showing. On the project file (rvt) nothing shows up but when I click on the location a blue box with a question mark appears which cannot be edited. I tried a few things but couldn't get it to work. Most of the available information on the web that shows the steps for this part is from 2010 and earlier and the tools are not the same as 2011.
Would be able to add some additional instructions to demonstrate how to make the label to work interactively with RAC 2011.
Thanks in advance
Mbiswas,
It should works. I don't think the label works differently in 2010 and 2011. The button is placed and named differently, but it works the same.
I created the tutorial using RAC 2011.
I notice that you are using shared parameters. Shared parameters are handled differently, and is not covered in this tutorial. I believe that's why your title block doesn't work.
To show project title, date, and other project default properties, you don't need to use shared parameters. You can simply add the available parameter from the list.