No Magic Wand, in Life OR Revit
The Best Way to Do it Is the Best Way to Do it (period)
The magic wand treatment is what many people seem to be looking for with tips and tricks (in my experience). In other words, many people want—if not expect—great solutions with no personal work—like having a magic wand passed over them, imparting knowledge.
I contend that giving an answer to an obvious question—one that exists in HELP, etc.—is enabling laziness or worse. Therefore, before giving an answer I suggest that people exhaust at least tips #1 through #3.
1. F1
Need I say more?
Use that little button!
A large number of issues can actually be resolved by doing a few minutes of looking at HELP!
http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2015/ENU/
http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2014/ENU/
http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2013/ENU/
http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2012/ENU/
Any older a version and you’re on your own; the HELP should be installed locally ;) or found via #2 below.
2. The Internet
Yeah, search your issue including the word ‘Revit’ and I will bet you’ll find someone has already had the issue and chances are there are solutions, if not video accompaniments.
3. RevitForum
Go there, create a username and password, and use it!
I like to keep that site onscreen so I can see the conversations… it helps.
4. You DO Have Time!
The “I don’t have time” excuse is oft cited, so let me give a tip on that: If or when one says, “I don’t have time” stop and ask if it is rather, “I don’t have time to do it right and would rather it take threefold the amount of time to re-do over and over later.”
The best way to do it is the best way to do it, no matter the time.
5. The Properties of an Object Are the Properties of an Object
I lay 10:1 odds that a majority of issues are staring users in the face, or are just a button or so away. Look in both the Instance and Type properties and don’t overlook any little flyout arrows.
Take a couple of hours (I do this on my own time) and look at and explore every (and I mean EVERY) button, setting, and flyout available.
I do this with every new release and guess what—it helps, because not every feature is documented and new things slip in regularly.
I am not saying to change everything, let alone ANYTHING, but I am saying that doing this will give you a good idea of what is available in Autodesk® Revit® and who knows what you might find, then remember some tools or options you never knew existed.
6. The Blogosphere
If you want more blogs (beyond mine) use tips #2 and #3 at least. For #3 look at the RFO organizers and find their blogs, then look on theirs and our blogs since most of us place links to some of the blogs we follow right there.
DWG file cleanup before using in Revit (yeah, from my blog) http://cad-vs-bim.blogspot.com/2014/12/dwgs-in-revit-clean-them-or-dont-use.html
7. Figure it Out on Your Own
This might not work every time, but it will work a lot more than you might imagine. Step away, think about what you feel might work, talk to others about what you propose, and watch a good number of issues go away.
I find that going over potential solutions with others gives me a chance to hear my ideas differently and often I modify the solution based on what I learn.
8. Twitter
Join, find BIM and Revit people and use it. Most of us post solutions, articles, and other helpful items.
So as you go through life and need help with something (in Revit, too) do yourself, your life, and your career a favor: Try finding and creating tips, tricks, and solutions/workflows yourself before asking others. Then if that fails use the final tip herein:
9. Ask
