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Revit Model Checker Configurator Tips

Jason KunkelJanuary 3rd, 2017

The Revit Model Checker Configurator is simply how you make checks for your Model Checker. But, it can be anything but simple the first time you try to make one. Here are some good first time and thirty-first time tips to help you along your way.

Start with the Wizard - when making your first check, lean on the wizard to build a series of filters for you. It is far easier to do it this was rather than starting from scratch. Then once it has been created, it is far easier to make tweaks and modifications to it.

Make little checks - you want to make a lot of small checks rather than a small amount of large checks. It's easier for your users to understand what is out of alignment with their standards and it's easier for you to troubleshoot those checks if they aren't working correctly.

Don't mix your check types - There are two types of checks in the Configurator: Element Checks and General Checks. Element Checks report with a Pass/Fail while General Checks simply give a report of elements that match, either with a number of items or a list. A section in your Model Check Configuration File will report to users as an overall result, but if you have both Element Checks and General Checks in the section, it can be confusing if the section has pass, failed, or just reported. To keep from confusing your users, don't mix your General Checks and Element Checks in your sections.

Try to use the built in parameters - when you add a filter for a parameter, the Configurator will give you a dropdown preopulated with a slew of what are called Revit's Built-In Parameters. Users never see parameters named this way through the usual Revit UI, they are all hidden in the database. For example, if you are looking for a Room Number, the UI parameter is simply "Number" while the built-in parameter is "ROOM_NUMBER". Both will work with the Configurator, but the built-in parameter is a better approach for two main reasons. First off, Revit allows more than one parameter called the same UI name, but built-in parameters are unique; so you could actually have two parameters for a room called "Number", but there will only ever be one "ROOM_NUMBER".  The second reason is not as critical, but it's good practice. The built-in parameters don't care what language of Revit you are using, but the UI parameter does. So by using the built-in parameter, you are setting up your checks to be able to be used by more installs around the globe.

These simple tips can help you along your way to keeping your checks easy to use and very effective.

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