Design Options

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2020-01-28_Architecture Community MeetUp recording (on the topic of Design Options, by Eric Wing). Very basic. At one point Michelle asked for us to share our experiences - "We try to avoid them unless absolutely necessary" (in part because they are sometimes used in situations where linking in partial models would actually be a better fit), but I'm not sure they really understood the drawbacks (my example was Pauoa Valley Preserves - it might have been better if we had modeled the site-specific foundations in the site model, instead of using multiple overlapping design options - or at least put EVERYTHING below the main floor in the DOs, even though that would mean a lot of duplication, which we had to deal with anyway). Eric's "Tips to remember":

  • Not supposed to replace phasing.
  • Add more options than you think you'll need. [really? better to just "Duplicate" later...]
  • Try to avoid walls from multiple options intersecting each other. [he splits walls along a straight section so that the corners join correctly (and just live with vertical line at split joint)]
  • Set up View Templates.
  • Communicate to MEP, Structure and other trades!
  • Accept Primary Option as soon as possible. [& make sure you make a backup before doing so]
  • Still better than copying multiple models.

TIP/WORKAROUND: Since you can't Filter by Design Option, if you want to highlight what's in each option (and it's simple), use Phases instead (ex: #3931 4/18/18 would have been good to put in Phases).

BUG: Revit - Select all function fails with annotations in Design Options (Autodesk Support Case No:14138652: BUG: Select All Instances in Active Option > Visible in View DOESN'T select anything [2018-05-03 Closed - Change Request; Defect ID: REVIT-131388]; see also Select All Instances). According to support tech, option was disabled in previous versions [2015, according to article] (but not in 2018/2019)? [See Select all function fails with annotations in Design Options in Revit[1], but their "fix" just appears to be that the option is disabled again (NOT that they remove "...in Active Option" from the menu entry, when appropriate, and enable the functionality; annotation is still selectable while working in a Design Option]; Submitted new Support Case Number: 15266660 at 2019-04-12 2:49pm (CST): BUG: right-click menu for annotation should read 'Select All Instances' not '...in Active Option'[2]

Rooms don't work in Design Options (WORKAROUND: use Worksets) [per Ryan (RMA): 2018-10-01 #3610.10 Airport roof]

Basic Setup

Example assumes two Options for one Option Set, with a plan dedicated to each Option and Sections that should only be shown in the appropriate plan. See also KAI Monthly Training 2022-02-03 recording for creating (options & views), usage examples, and accepting primary.

  1. create a Set with two options: in the "Design Options" dialog:
    1. create a New "Option Set" (Rename as appropriate)
    2. NOTE: a default "primary" option is also created (Rename as appropriate)
    3. create a New "Option" (Rename as appropriate)
  2. uncheck "Include" for "V/G Overrides Design Options" in applicable View Templates (for plans & sections)
  3. set "Visibility/Graphics Overrides" (VG) for each plan to the appropriate option (what's seen IN the view)
  4. set "Visibility/Graphics Overrides" (VG) for each section to the appropriate option (what's seen IN the view)
  5. set "Visible In Option" for each section to the appropriate option (which views it's seen IN)
  6. use "Add to Set" to move existing elements from "Main Model" to desired Design Option(s)
    1. and/or create new elements after setting the "Active Design Option" as appropriate

How to Hide Elements (from Other Consultants) by Default

Sometimes there arises a need to hide elements so that they aren't seen when linked in by other firms. Sometimes Worksets, Phases, or other techniques are used, but the best/recommended way is by using Design Options. No adjustments are needed when linking in (if using Worksets, it must be turned off manually). Per a slide by Dan Stine (see 2020-04-23_Revit Rendering Makeover with Dan Stine), example: hiding entourage model elements (used only for rendering views) that other consultants don't need to see. The primary option is kept empty:

Ideas

Notes

  1. 2019-04-12 2:30pm CST submitted feedback: Should note that the "Fix" is to disable the menu item, NOT enable the functionality. Annotation can still be selected/edited/etc. while working in a Design Option, so all the tools that we use to edit Tags, etc. SHOULD be made available (i.e. take off "in Act.Opt." when only Annotation is selected)
  2. I got an email that there was a new article: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Revit-Select-all-function-fails-with-annotations-in-Design-Options.html related to a previous case of mine: Case ID: 14138652 - BUG: Select All Instances in Active Option > Visible in View DOESN'T select anything Status:   Closed - Change Request Defect ID:   REVIT-131388 The article says that it's fixed in 2020, but (judging by the hosted beta) it seems that the "fix" was just to disable the option, not to actually FIX the functionality. I understand that the cause is that the annotation is not technically part of the Design Option. However, it's still selectable/editable/etc. while working in a Design Option, so all the tools that we use to edit Tags, etc. SHOULD be made available (i.e. take off "...in Active Option" from the right-click menu entry when only Annotation is selected). THAT would be the true fix.