Revit user tasked with managing Revit model content and standards have probably run into a need to create new View Types to better help organize views and meet the deliverable requirements set forth by owners and jurisdictions.
One of the challenges with Revit is the ability to bulk create View Types for the different View Categories in a project. While it may take a short amount of time to create new View Types for small projects, creating many different View Types and standardizing the naming and View Template assignments for large projects can take a very long time. Unfortunately, Revit does not have an easy way to create new View Types. In this situation, users have to create new View Types one by one by selecting an existing View Type, then duplicating it, renaming it, and changing any required properties, such as View Template assignments.
A Better Solution: Use Ideate BIMLink
Thankfully, we have Ideate BIMLink to assist us with this challenge. Ideate BIMLink reports on existing View Types in Revit models and allows users to export the associated View Type data to Excel. From there, users can make changes to the existing data, such as the name of the View Types, View Template Assignment for New Views, and so forth. In addition to making edits to existing View Type data, users can also create new View Types using the same Excel worksheet by using NEW in the Element ID column, assigning the View Types appropriate names, category assignments, and View Templates, if applicable.
Using Ideate BIMLink to edit existing View Type information and to create NEW View Types will help bring project standards into alignment and save users many hours and the hassles that come along with doing things manually in Revit.
Step-by-Step Instructions
The process for this workflow looks something like this:
- In Ideate BIMLink, navigate to the …\Quality Control sub-folder.
- Select the link called View_Types-Create_New**
- Add or remove any parameters you wish to export to Excel, such as Project Information or RVT link information.
- Once all your data is compiled in Ideate BIMLink, export it to Excel.
- Note: In the corresponding video, we exported this data to an Excel file that had a worksheet set up with some basic information, such as proposed View Type names and Revit categories. This setup is not necessary. New View Types can be specified in the Excel file that you export.
- Under the Type Name column, at the end of the existing Type Name data, create a list of the View Types you would like to create.
- Assign the new View Types the appropriate Family Name. For example, if you want to create some new View Types for Floor Plans, input Floor Plan for the Family Name. This will ensure that the new View Types are assigned the appropriate category.
- Under the View Template applied to new views column, you can assign a view template so that when new views are created using the associated type, those views will be assigned the appropriate view template. This setting is optional and will not affect the creation of new View Types.
- Under the Element ID column, be sure to type in the word NEW. This will instruct Ideate BIMLink to generate the NEW View Types.
- Once the Excel file is completed, save your work.
- In Ideate BIMLink, select the IMPORT button and browse for the recently completed Excel file.
- Review the results in Ideate BIMLink. Check for items that have been edited, created as new, and any errors and warnings you may receive. Export any errors and warnings to Excel for review.
- Once complete, review the results in Revit. Verify that the View Types have been created and that settings, such as View Template assignments, have also been applied.
** Note: if you do not see the link called View_Types-Create_New, you can start with the link called
Project_Stds-View_Types and modify the link to match the one seen in the corresponding video. You can also reach out to [email protected] to request a copy of this link.
To learn more about this process, be sure to watch this video:
For a related blog post and video, go to Transferring View Types in Revit using Ideate BIMLink, which demonstrates how you can copy View Types to other Revit files to keep standards and deliverables in alignment.
Be sure to browse our website for more information on our Revit productivity tools. Give them a try with a free trial version, or subscribe today.
About the Author
Sash Kazeminejad - AIA, LEED AP - Customer Success Manager
Sash earned his Master of Architecture from Montana State University and is a California registered architect, LEED Accredited Professional. He has extensive experience in project management; BIM management; design for architectural firms in California, Montana, and Oregon; and leading classroom and online BIM training. He provides consulting, sales, support, and training solutions to AECO customers around the globe. Find Sash on LinkedIn.