At a high level, only three types of elements can be associated with a phase in Revit: geometry, rooms, and views. Geometry is anything that you would use to build your design, like host components such as walls, floors, ceilings, and so on, as well as family components such as doors, windows, furniture, lighting, and so on. Once an element is placed in the project, the phase may be changed, as shown in Figure 11.7.

Figure 11.7. Changing the phase of geometry

Rooms are also given phase properties, but there is an important difference: the phase of a building geometry may be changed after placement. The phase of a room may not, as shown in Figure 11.8. If you want to change the phase of a room, you'll need to delete and re-create it in the proper phase. You'll also find it faster to press Ctrl+X to cut the rooms from one view and then press Ctrl+V to paste them into a view of the desired phase.

Figure 11.8. The phase of a room may not be changed after placement.

The phase of an element when initially placed is often confusing to a new user, but it's quite simple: the phase of the view that you're placing the element into determines its phase, as shown in Figure 11.9. Again, this is not as critical for geometry, since the phase of a building element can be changed after placement. But there are occasions when you're placing a lot of elements that you intend to be in a particular phase, and you'll want to create a view with that phase as active. Then you can place the elements in that view and not worry about having to change them later.

However, a view's phase is critical when you're placing rooms since you can't modify the phase of a room after placement. So be sure to verify the phase of the view before placing rooms.

Figure 11.9. Changing the phase of a view

Let's get into the details of phase settings. Once you understand what each of the dialog boxes do (as well as what they don't do), the rest of phasing becomes clear.

On the Manage tab, click the Phases button, which will open the Phases dialog box, as shown in Figure 11.10. You'll notice that there are three tabs. The first tab is for your project phases.

Figure 11.10. Changing the phase of a view

Right away, this is where people get confused, because they think that they need a phase for every different view that they'll be creating. And in the most common of phased projects, you'll have views to illustrate Existing, Demolition, and Proposed conditions. But since this dialog box only shows Existing and New Construction, people will in error create a new phase for Demolition.

If your project is a simple, three-phase kind of project (like a tenant upfit showing three phases), this extra phase isn't necessary. Just trust us! Basically, the Project Phase tab is for determining when the geometry is being created (not demolished). When would you want to create more phases? When you need to create geometry in more than these two phases.

For example, think of a staged construction project that will happen in two new phases. In this scenario, you need to move an entire office floor to one side of the building—all the staff, furniture, and so on. While everyone is working in half the building, you begin to design a phase that demolishes the other half and begins to reconfigure the proposed floor layout. This might be "New Construction – Phase 1."

Once that phase is complete and everything is cleaned up, you move everyone into the new space, and start the same process on the other half of the building. This phase might be "New Construction – Phase 2." Do you notice that we're still not creating a Demolition phase? Again, that's because the Project phases allow you to set when geometry is being created—not demolished.

Go ahead and create the two phases as just described (see Figure 11.11). We'll use this in a sample exercise in a moment.

Figure 11.11. Creating additional Project phases

Once you've created these additional Project phases, pick any project geometry and look at its instance parameters. You'll notice that it can be assigned to any one of these three phases, as shown in Figure 11.12.

The next tab in your phasing dialog box is Phase Filters (Figure 11.13). There's seven predefined phases shown. All these phases can be deleted except for the Show All option.

Figure 11.12. Assigning available phases

Figure 11.13. The Phase Filters tab, with seven predefined phases

Don't be concerned if the filter names seem a bit cryptic at first. What's really important is the four graphic conditions that can be overridden: New, Existing, Demolished, and Temporary. Concentrate on these views for the moment, and the filter names will begin to make sense.

Select any of the drop-downs, as shown in Figure 11.14. You'll notice that the phase filter can override the graphics in one of three ways:

Figure 11.14. Setting a filter override

Once you understand how each of the phase filters displays objects, it all begins to make sense. For example, the Show Complete phase filter shows New and Existing elements by Category. But Existing and Temporary elements are not displayed at all. If you want to show the project when in the finished condition, when the dust has settled and everything is complete, this setting makes sense.

So to recap, things can be shown, not shown, or shown differently. Easy!

If there's any remaining confusion, it probably involves the naming convention of Show Previous + Demo. A better name might be Show Existing + Demolition but Existing is a bit misleading because this setting is showing the previous phase, which is not necessarily existing elements. It might be Temporary elements that need to be demolished. Therefore, Show Previous makes more sense.

The Graphic Overrides tab is the final tab in the Phasing dialog box (Figure 11.15). This dialog box relates back to the "Overridden" assignment of the previous tab.

Figure 11.15. The Graphic Overrides tab

This dialog box allows you to override geometry in a few areas; the Line and Pattern characteristics of Projection/Surface and when Cut. You also have an option to just halftone the element. And finally, you can assign a unique Material setting when rendering. While this is helpful for illustrating actual rendering phase information, it can also be useful for rendering everything to a matte material, something we discuss in Chapter 15.

Now, if there's anything confusing about this dialog box, it's the lack of the ability to create a graphic override for "Future" elements. Such a feature would be helpful for showing future context in a phased construction, when you're trying to visualize the next condition. But as it is, phasing can show you where you are and where you're coming from, but not where you're going.

Why there's no Future phase in Revit is confusing to us; we hope to see this addressed in a future version.

Here's a simple exercise to illustrate each of the phases in a single view. First, open a new project using a default template. Next, draw four walls in parallel and then open a 3D view (Figure 11.16).

Figure 11.16. Four generic walls

By default, all of these walls have been created in the New Construction phase because the phase of the view is New Construction.

Now, selecting each of the walls, associate them with each of the following phase settings:

Figure 11.17 shows what you'll have when you're finished.

Figure 11.17. Default shaded overrides for phasing

Right away you'll notice that the Existing (not Demolished) and the Proposed (not Demolished) look similar, except for the edge color. This isn't enough. So let's change the graphic properties of this wall so it's graphically more distinct.

Go to the Manage panel and select Phases; then click the Graphic Overrides tab (Figure 11.18).

Figure 11.18. Default Graphic Overrides settings

Next, select the option to open the Material setting for the Phase-Exist material (Figure 11.19).

Figure 11.19. Default shaded override for existing materials

This is the setting we want to change. Select the Shading option, and you'll be able to assign a different shading value. We're selecting the lime greenish color along the top row (Figure 11.20).

Figure 11.20. Overriding the Shading value

When you finish changing these settings, you'll have the result shown in Figure 11.21.

Figure 11.21. Finished shading values

Now you can really graphically tell the phases apart. We think this particular setting should be part of the default Revit template. That way, new users would be able to distinguish the phase of an object far more clearly than in the default template.

Now that we've talked about the phase properties of geometry, we'll cover the phase properties of views. Starting with the view from the previous example, select the View Properties. Selecting the space of the view, and then notice that the Properties dialog box automatically changes to reflect the properties of the view (Figure 11.22).

Figure 11.22. Phase filter options

Applying each of these filters will help you understand the implications of how this will affect the properties of what will be shown in a view and how it will be shown.

First, let's start by changing the phase to New Construction and set the phase filter to Show All (Figure 11.23). This will show all the elements and override their graphic based on their construction phase and whether they're demolished. And it gives us a sense of all the elements as they exist in time.

Figure 11.23. Show All and New Construction

And although this is great for 3D views, where every phase has a distinct color, it's also wonderful for working in a plan, elevation, or section. Simply shade the view while working and you'll be able to clearly distinguish between objects in different phases, as shown in Figure 11.24.

Figure 11.24. Shaded plan view of phased elements

Now let's start moving through each of the sequences. But here's the important part. Rather than sequentially moving through the various phase filters from top to bottom, let's move through a sequence that makes sequential sense.

Let's begin by keeping the phase filter to Show All, but setting the phase back to Existing (Figure 11.25). This will only show the object created in the Existing phase—and their graphics are not overridden.

Figure 11.25. Existing phase only

Keep in mind that it's impossible to see anything that's proposed from this present Existing phase. That's because there's no way to see beyond the present phase. We think you should be able to do this, but Revit just doesn't offer that functionality yet.

Now you need to set the phase to New Construction and select the Show Previous + Demo option (Figure 11.26). This shows both existing walls (the walls from the previous phase). And one of the walls is clearly being demolished. What's important to remember is that the graphic overrides that are being applied are relative to what you'd be seeing through the lens of the New Construction phase.

Figure 11.26. Show Previous + Demo

Now let's select the Show Previous Phase option in the phase filter, as shown in Figure 11.27. Maybe a better name would be Show Existing To Remain because the demolished elements are no longer shown.

Figure 11.27. Show Previous Phase

Now we'll move forward another moment in time and set the phase filter to Show Previous + New. This will show only the remaining elements (not any of the demolished content) from the present and previous view (Figure 11.28).

Figure 11.28. Show Previous + New Elements

This brings up another interesting point. Why not show the Existing To Remain as well as the Proposed and Proposed Temporary elements? Although you could also create a new phase filter, for this example, we'll change the settings of the Show Previous + New Graphic override settings (Figure 11.29).

Figure 11.29. Showing Existing and all New elements

Figure 11.30 shows the result.

Figure 11.30. Existing To Remain, Proposed, and Temporarily Proposed elements

The next order of sequence will be to set the view to Show Demo + New, which would show demolished elements from the present and previous phase as well as any New elements from the present phase (see Figure 11.31).

Figure 11.31. Show Demo + New

But this brings up another interesting point. If you want to show only the objects in the present phase (as well as demolition), then you'll want to modify the phase filters in the Phase Settings, as shown in Figure 11.32. We don't know how common it is to show demolition from a previous phase without showing the existing from the same phase. That's why we're just changing an existing setting rather than creating a new phase filter.

Figure 11.32. Turning Off demolished elements from a previous phase

The result would be only the New and Temporary elements being shown in this view (Figure 11.33).

Figure 11.33. Showing only Proposed and Temporary elements

The next sequence, Show New, will only show the New elements in the present phase (Figure 11.34).

Figure 11.34. Showing New elements

Now comes the final setting, Show Complete (see Figure 11.35). This only shows the existing elements that remain from the previous phase (after demolition) and the new elements that are being proposed (minus the temporary construction that has also been demolished).

Figure 11.35. Showing finished conditions

You can find the example file used in this section, called c11_Phases.rvt, in the Chapter 11 folder.

You can create two kinds of groups in Revit. One is just for geometry, and they're called model groups. The other is just for view-specific content like text, tags, dimensions, and so on, and they're called detail groups. You can create one kind of group or the other explicitly. But if you try to create a group with both model and detail elements, Revit is smart enough to create a detail group that's associated with the model group.

To demonstrate this, open a new project and start with drawing four walls, as shown in Figure 11.36. Don't forget to dimension the length and width conditions.

Figure 11.36. Four walls and dimensions

Now select the Create Group function under the Modify | Multiselect tab. Go ahead and keep the default name Group 1 for both Model Group and Attached Detail Group (Figure 11.37).

Figure 11.37. Creating the model and attached detail group

Now select the group and copy it to the side of your original group. You'll notice that only the geometry is copied, which is fine (Figure 11.38).

Figure 11.38. Copied group

Associating the detail group is really simple. Just select the group and then select the Attached Detail Groups option, and you'll see the dialog box shown in Figure 11.39.

Figure 11.39. Attached Detail Group Placement dialog box

The results are fairly straightforward (Figure 11.40). Both groups are now identical with geometry and dimensions.

Figure 11.40. Identical groups

Now that you've created two identical groups, you'll add a door to one of the walls that belong to the group, as shown in Figure 11.41. But don't add it to the group—just place it in one of the walls.

Figure 11.41. Adding a door outside of Group mode

Now you can select the group to the left and select Edit Group. You'll enter a special editing environment, as shown in Figure 11.42. Everything in the view becomes a sepia tone and you're able to add, remove, and attach other elements to your group.

Figure 11.42. Group Edit mode

Now add the door to the group by selecting the Add function. You'll notice that you can't add the door numbers. This is fine, because you'll add them later when numbering. Now finish the group and you'll notice that both groups have a door in the same location (Figure 11.43).

Figure 11.43. Finished group

The process is essentially the same for modifying groups: enter Group mode, make the changes and/or additions, and then finish the group. Be careful when you're duplicating and swapping one group for another one, which is common during design iteration.

First, duplicate the group. The easiest way to do this is to right-click the group name that you want to duplicate in the Project Browser, as shown in Figure 11.44.

Figure 11.44. Duplicating a group

Now you can select any of your groups and swap it for this new group. Go ahead and exchange Group 1 for Group 2.

Now enter Group Edit mode for this second group, and edit it as shown in Figure 11.45; then finish the group.

Figure 11.45. Modifying the second group

This brings up an important point of discussion. Groups have insertion points that need to be considered before you exchange one group for another. When you create a group in Revit, the insertion point is initially at the geometric center of all the stuff in the group, which is fine if you're trying to find it.

But keep in mind that as you edit the group, the insertion Apoint doesn't move until you deliberately move it. This can be seen in Figure 11.46, as editing the geometry for Group 2 retains the same insertion point that was active when the group was created.

Figure 11.46. Insertion points in different groups

Moving the insertion point is an easy matter of dragging (and if necessary, rotating) the Insertion Point icon to a common location before swapping one group for another (Figure 11.47).

Figure 11.47. Relocating insertion points

Once you've done this, swapping groups occurs at the same relative location. Figure 11.48 illustrates Group 1 being swapped for Group 2, and vice versa. But common insertion points are being maintained.

Figure 11.48. Exchanged groups

Of course there will be occasions where everything in a group works great. And it works throughout the project, except for that one particular condition. This is really frustrating. And in the past, you had to create new groups for each slight exception, which might have been conceptually consistent, but often led to an exponentially growing list of group variants.

This is now deftly handled by excluding elements from groups. The rest of the groups are intact, and scheduling is aware of excluded elements. Figure 11.49 shows an example. We've copied the group above the first one. But in this condition, there's a column right in the middle of the door.

Figure 11.49. Group conflicts

First, select the door and select Create Similar to place a new door where you want it to go. This door will not be part of the group (you can't place elements as exceptions). In this case, the new door has been placed above the grouped door, and its swing direction has been flipped (Figure 11.50).

Figure 11.50. Adding a new door

Now you can exclude the door that conflicts with the column as an exception to the rest of all the other groups. This can be a bit confusing at first, because you don't enter Group Edit mode to exclude members from groups. Simply hover over the group and tab through until the door is highlighted. Then select the door, as shown in Figure 11.51.

Figure 11.51. Selecting elements in groups

Once this is done, you'll notice an icon to the upper left of the door (Figure 11.52).

Figure 11.52. Selecting the door in the group

Selecting this icon will allow you to exclude the door as an exception to the group, and the wall will heal itself as if the door is not there (Figure 11.53).

Figure 11.53. Excluded elements from groups

Hovering your mouse over the group will reveal any hidden elements in the group (Figure 11.54). Just tab through to select the hidden door to include the component back into the group.

Figure 11.54. Excluded elements not shown

Even though we consider Revit to be the only whole building BIM (WBB) application in the world (by integrating the building, content, documentation, and multiuser workflow into one database), there are times when you'll want to share the data across many files.

And just like you wouldn't want your family components locked up inside a project file, there are good reasons to keep commonly used groups outside your project. You might even want to keep them in a folder just like your custom content. This can be accomplished by saving groups outside your projects.

Saving groups is a simple matter of right-clicking the group name in your Project Browser and selecting Save Group (Figure 11.55).

Figure 11.55. Saving groups

You'll then be prompted to save the group as an RVT file (not an RVG file as in the past). You can open this file like any other RVT file and then reload the group into the project in order to update all the instances.

Be aware that when you load the group in a project, if the group name already exists, you'll be given a warning. You can overwrite the existing group (by selecting Yes) or load with the option to rename the group that's being loaded (by selecting No). Or you can cancel the operation altogether (Figure 11.56).

Figure 11.56. Loading modified groups

What's really great is that when you reload the group Revit even remembers to exclude previously excluded elements from the group that's been modified in another session of Revit. Figure 11.57 shows a desk and chair have been added to the group. The group has been reloaded, overwriting the original group, but the exclusion remains intact.

Figure 11.57. Retaining excluded group elements

Because groups are also RVT files, they can be linked into the project environment as well. While you can't edit a link in place (as with a group), there's some excellent reasons you might want to start a group as a link and then bind the link at a later time, which will convert it to a group. Groups and links can also exist within design options (more on design options in a moment).

Simply select Link Revit from the Insert tab (Figure 11.58).

Figure 11.58. Adding groups as links

Then browse to your group and click Open, as shown in Figure 11.59.

Figure 11.59. Select the group and click Open.

After the link has been placed, you can copy it throughout your project. Keep in mind that all the functionality between groups and nongrouped elements will not behave the same as links and the rest of your project. For example, in Figure 11.60, the upper-right collection of walls and furniture is a link, not a group. And as a result, walls are not cleaning up between links and groups in the same way as they are between groups and groups or other walls.

Figure 11.60. Wall joins between links vs. groups

But this graphic restriction may not be a concern during programming and predesign, when links allow for a lot of rapid flexibility.

After you've resolved your design using links, you can bind them into the project environment (Figure 11.61).

Figure 11.61. Binding links

But rather than "explode" the link into separate and unrelated elements, Revit converts the link to a group. Once this happens, the previous graphic issue is resolved as walls easily join across groups, as shown in Figure 11.62.

Figure 11.62. Resolved wall graphics

Groups are great for creating and maintaining design iteration within a single project. And they're also great for maintaining consistency across multiple projects, since groups can be saved and loaded across multiple files. They can even be linked as separate RVT files and then converted to groups at a later time.

But like everything in Revit (and in life), there are some important exceptions that you want to be aware of. Nearly every time there's been a problem with groups we've noticed that it's the result of doing one of the following five things. Not that doing any of these things will kill your project—they may be completely technically feasible. But they may put your project into a world of hurt that you'll wish you could have avoided:

If you'd like to download the file that has been created during the examples, you can find it in the Chapter 11 folder; it's called c11_Groups.rvt.

Again, let's start simple, establish the principle, and then add complexity later. Create four simple walls with a wall down the middle of the space both as shown in Figure 11.66.

Figure 11.66. Starting design options

We're going to configure this simple space into a design option that divides the space vertically in one option and horizontally in the other:

Figure 11.70. Selecting the option

Just as a side note, you'll need to do this every time you select elements in the Main Model and you need to add to a design option. But you'll get used to this convoluted and time-consuming process over time. You could create a keyboard shortcut or menu item to the Quick Access toolbar. But of course this would defeat the purpose of using the new user interface.

You can also add elements to a specific design option by selecting the option from the Design Options panel (Figure 11.71).

Figure 11.71. Selecting an option to edit

Another, faster option is to use the Active Design Option selector at the bottom of the screen (Figure 11.72).

Figure 11.72. Active Design Option selector

This will allow you to enter a special mode where you can add elements from outside the option, or create them from within the option. Everything that is not inside this option will turn light gray, indicating that it is not inside the presently editable option. Now you can add another wall as shown (Figure 11.73).

Figure 11.73. Edit Option mode

You notice that whenever you switch between Option 1 and Option 2, the view automatically changes to show the option that you've selected. This is because initiating design options automatically creates another tab in the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog box. By default, the Design Options tab shows Automatic (Figure 11.74). This means that the primary design option (in this case, Option Set 1) will be shown in the view.

This tab is available for any view, even for schedules, as shown in Figure 11.75. Selecting the Visibility Graphics settings in the View Properties of a schedule filters the schedule according to the desired design option.

Of course, if you want to specify or lock a view to a particular design option, simply specify this in the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog box (Figure 11.76).

Figure 11.74. The Design Options tab displays Automatic.

Figure 11.75. Design Options in the View Properties of a schedule

Figure 11.76. Locking the view to a design option

This can be particularly useful for views that are being placed on sheets. For working views, it's fine to leave the View Properties set to Automatic, so the view switches to actively show the desired design option.

As your project grows and begins to resolve more detail, it may be necessary to delete an option set, accept the primary design option, or delete a single design option. While some of these options might at create somewhat similar outcomes, there are important differences.

First, deleting an option deletes the option set and all of its associated options. You delete an option set by selecting it in the Design Options dialog box and clicking the Delete button (Figure 11.77).

Figure 11.77. Select the option set and click Delete.

You'll see the following warning indicating that you're about to delete all the geometry associated with the option set (Figure 11.78). Click Yes.

Figure 11.78. Click Yes at this warning.

Additionally, any views that are associated with the option set will be deleted by default, but you're given the option to uncheck views that you want to retain, as shown in Figure 11.79.

Figure 11.79. You can uncheck views that you want to retain.

Yes, this is a lot of warnings, but for good reason! All your related geometry, plans, elevations, sections, schedules, 3D views, and so on are about to be deleted. You do have the option to keep the views, but they'll only show what's left in the Main Model. And the Main Model may or may not technically exist. That's because if you only have one option set in your project, then design options will no longer exist. There's no longer a distinction between the Main Model and anything else.

Second, accepting the primary design option ultimately removes the option set, but it also retains the geometry associated with the primary option, as shown in Figure 11.80.

Figure 11.80. Delete option set warning

You do this by selecting the desired option set and then clicking the Accept Primary button in the Design Options dialog box. Accepting the primary option also deletes any of the other options associated with the option set. And finally, the design option set is removed and all and all of the geometry associated with the primary option is moved into the Main Model.

Finally, you can delete a single design option within an option set. However, you may not delete a primary option. You'll first have to assign a new primary option. Do this by selecting the desired option and then clicking the Make Primary button, as shown in Figure 11.81. Once this is done you can delete the formerly Primary Option.

Figure 11.81. Make Primary option

Just remember that all of the previous warnings will apply. Deleting a design option will delete all the geometry and associated views.

Putting It All Together

Now it's time to bring it all together—phasing, groups, and design options. Let's create a tenant upfit in two phases. The first phase will resolve construction on one side of the space, and then we'll turn to the other side of the space to complete the renovation. We'll also rely on groups for collections of components. Finally, we'll create a design option for the second space. Ultimately, you need to visualize the exercise in plan, perspective, and schedule.

Here's the existing condition of the space from the previous exercise. If you haven't created the file to this point, go ahead and download that file to get started. Before you create your facsimile, remember that this will be the existing condition. So rather than create the existing walls and then change their phase, let's start by duplicating a view and changing the view of that phase so that the walls and other content are already on the existing phase.

Duplicate Level 1 and rename it to LEVEL 1, EXISTING, as shown here.

Then click inside the view to activate the view's properties; make sure that the phase is set to Existing.

Existing Plan

Leave the phase filter to Show All for now. Don't be concerned that the elevation tags have disappeared in the view. View tags are also phase aware, and they're in the New Construction phase. The overall space is 80' x 80'. We've also added some exterior dimensions as a reference. The finished exterior plan is shown here:

As you can see, the finished existing space is really two areas. In this scenario, the tenant in the lower-left space is expanding and will be taking over the upper space.

The idea is that we're going to demolish the space in stages. We don't want to upset the existing tenants to complete the phased work.

Phase One: Demolition

Some of the existing walls will remain. But you don't want to demolish them in this view. That's because the demolition should take place at the start of New Construction. But there's going to be two construction phases (so there will also be two demolition phases). If you haven't created those two phases, do so now, as shown here.

Now let's duplicate Level 1 again and rename as shown here. This will be the view that contains the demolition.

Now go to that view and be sure to change the phase and phase filter, as shown here.

Now demolish the walls as shown here. As a shortcut, you don't have to demolish the doors if you demolish the walls that host them.

Now let's add the new elements. First, we'll replace a portion of the walls around the upper-left spaces with storefront. Since this is proposed, and the walls exist, it will automatically demolish the openings. The graphic shown here is a perspective of the work thus far. Recall that we've shaded the existing walls so that they'll stand out more from the proposed walls and the demolished walls are in shown in red.

Phase 1: Proposed

First, let's duplicate Level 1 and rename as shown here:

Make sure that the phase and phase filter are set as shown here. This view will only show the existing elements that remain after demolition and the proposed content.

Now we'll start adding furniture to the space. We'll add a reception area and other office furniture. Add desks, tables, shelving, and chairs, as shown here:

Now let's start adding open office furniture. But let's group the assembly before we start copying through the office space.

The graphic shown here is the completed space in a plan view:

The graphic shown here is the space in a perspective view. Note that the demolished walls are not being shown. To give some graphic clarity and allow you to see through the context of the existing walls, we've temporarily set the transparency value of the existing material (in the phase properties) to 50%.

Phase 2: Demolition

Let's start by duplicating Level 1. Then rename the view to LEVEL 1, PHASE 2 DEMOLITION and set the phase and phase filters as shown here:

Now demolish the existing walls as shown here. Note that you'll have to split the long wall between Phase 1 Proposed and Phase 2 Proposed in order to allow only a portion of the wall to be demolished.

The graphic shown here is a perspective view showing the proposed demolition for the second phase. Don't be confused by the proposed content from the previous phase showing as existing. This is correct, since that content is now considered existing when seen through the lens of the second phase.

Phase 2: Proposed

Now let's duplicate the view again for the start of proposed work. Duplicate Level 1 and rename it to LEVEL 1, PHASE 2 PROPOSED. Set the phase and phase filter as shown here:

Start working in your new plan view, adding proposed elements as shown. Don't worry about getting the design right—just get the idea right. Here's the plan view:

Just remember, adding elements in the view with the appropriate phase and phase filter settings is the easiest way to avoid confusion. Here's a perspective of the same view:

Now that you're finished with the demolition and proposed work in both phases, take a moment to set up a perspective and then duplicate it three more times. Each of the views will show each phase sequence. Your Project Browser should look similar to this:

Except for the existing perspective, here are all of the tiled views thus far:

Scheduling

Now let's create a schedule for walls that will quantify demolition for each phase. As a side note, we believe it would be helpful to be able to create Multi-Category schedules that would allow both host and component categories to be scheduled at the same time—for example, being able to schedule demolition for both walls and doors in the same demolition schedule. But this is not presently possible. So we'll create the schedules individually.

First, there's no phase filter to show only demolished elements. We'll need to create this filter, as shown here:

You can visually confirm what it will show by applying it to a working view:

Now let's start by creating a schedule for walls that are being demolished by volume. We also need to estimate the cost of disposal for each phase. Create the schedule as shown here:

The following graphic shows the schedule fields that you'll need to create. You'll only be able to select the Type and Volume fields from the Available Fields selection.

We'll also need to create a project parameter for the cost per unit volume (CF) per wall type. Click Add Parameter and fill out the resulting dialog box as shown here. Choose Type Parameter because we want to be able to add one value per wall type, not per each instance.

You'll need to add a Calculated Value in order to multiply the demolished units' volume by the cost per units and get the total. We've divided the Volume value by 1 in order to keep the units consistent, as shown here:

The Sorting/Grouping settings are shown here:

The Formatting settings are shown here:

Here's the Formatting for the Disposal Cost Calculated value:

When you're finished, the schedule will appear showing with the following values. Your schedule will not be exactly the same because the amount of demolition will vary between this example project and your project.

For the Phase 2 demolition schedule, don't start over. Duplicate the previously created schedule and just change the phase, as shown here:

All that's left is to assemble the views on sheets. We'll only need to use two sheets. Each sheet will show a combined Phase 1 Demolition and Proposed views (plans, perspective, and schedules):

Design Options

Everything looks great, but as to be expected, you need to show another option for Phase 2. This is really easily done!

First, create a new design option set and two options, as shown here. Notice that we've renamed the set for clarity.

Here's a great tip. To isolate what you need to assign to Option 1, set the phase filter to Show New elements. This will turn off any existing conditions from the previous phase.

Now select everything in the view, return to the Manage tab, and click Add To Set. Deselect Option 2, as shown here, and click OK. This will add everything to the Option 1 (primary) design option. Then set the phase filter back to Show Previous + New.

Now duplicate LEVEL 1 - PHASE 2 PROPOSED, and rename it to LEVEL 1 - PHASE 2 PROPOSED - OPTION 2. This will be your working view for the second design option.

Next, set the View Properties to show the second option:

Now make Option 2 active and create another design iteration, as shown here:

Now place this design option on the sheet next to the Phase 2 demolition and first option. You can also duplicate the perspective view of the first option; remember to change its Visibility Graphics to show Option 2, as shown here:

If you'd like to download the file used in this example, you can find it in the Chapter 11 folder; it's called c11_Exercise.rvt.