Revit Architecture 2011 Tutorial
Revit 2010 is a building information modeling (BIM) software package by Autocad. It focuses on building 3D models that are later compiled into orthographic drawings, which are 2D representations of your 3D model -- usually the plan (top-down), front and side views. Revit uses a ribbon interface through which you access basic drawing and editing commands. Although the program may seem daunting at first, with some experimenting you will quickly learn how to use Revit's interface.
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Instructions
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Click the purple “R” button in the top left corner of the screen. This is the application button, from where you can access basic file commands like opening, saving and printing projects. Note that the task bar at the top of the window holds short-cut keys for many of these functions, including open file, save file, undo, redo, select and Web help.
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Start by creating a new project. Click the application button, then click “New.” You then select a template by clicking “Browse.” Revit's settings are preset in different ways in each template, usually to gear the project towards a particular sort of drawing, such as construction or residential. Choose the “Default” template if no template seems relevant to your project.
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Click through some of the tabs on the main toolbar at the top of the window. This is called the “ribbon.” The “Create” and “Insert” tabs are used to add objects to the drawing. Start by clicking the line tool, then click two points in the main drawing area to position it. Then experiment with other shapes and objects -- try creating a circle and a few walls anywhere in the drawing area using the "Circle" and "Wall" tools.
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Modify one of your objects. Revit uses a “Draw then modify” system – rather than draw objects perfectly, you create them and then use the modify tools to edit them. Click an object to select it and note that a new tab becomes available – “Modify Lines,” or “Modify Form,” for instance. Experiment with the options in these tabs and note their basic effects.
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Change your view. Click the cube in the upper-right corner of the drawing area, and drag it around. Note that this changes your perspective on the 3D drawing, allowing you to see how it looks from any angle you wish. You can also use the zoom tool, just beneath the cube, and you can apply various orthographic views from the “View” toolbar. These orthographic views are 2D, and are used to get a closer look at a certain part of the drawing while excluding the rest, such as the plan view of a certain floor in a building. They also help you to see how your 2D print-outs will look before you print them.
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Continue to experiment with different objects and tools. Try to position four walls to create a small room using the wall tool, then use the "Ceiling" and "Floor" tools to complete the outside edge of a simple structure. Simply click the relevant button from the ribbon, then click in the drawing area to position it. Use the grips -- the small squares that appear on the corners of the objects when you select them -- to move and resize the objects. When you have done this, use the "Door" and "Window" tools to add these items into the wall in the same way. Note the way Revit automatically snaps these objects to the wall when you move the cursor close to it. Creating this simple structure will help familiarize you with Revit's interface.
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References
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