Exercise 4.1: Create a Generic Railing

To begin, go to the book’s web page at www.sybex.com/go/revit2015essentials, download the files for Chapter 4, and open the file c04-ex-4.1start.rvt.

1. Open the default 3D view by selecting the small house icon on the Quick Access toolbar (QAT) . Select the Architecture tab, and choose the Railing flyout from the Circulation panel. Select the Sketch Path option to enter sketch mode.
   
   1. Before you draw a railing, you’ll create a new type.
2. Select Edit Type from the Properties palette, and with the Type Handrail — Rectangular current, click Duplicate in the Type Properties dialog box. Name the new railing Handrail — Design, and click OK twice to exit all the dialog boxes.
3. Draw a path line 30′ (10000 mm) long.
   1. This line will define your railing path.
4. Click Finish Edit Mode to exit the sketch, which will create the railing.
   1. This will be the default rail in the exercise file (Figure 4.1).

      

   2. Next, you will edit some of the newly created railing properties.
5. Select the railing, and choose Edit Type from the Properties palette to open the Type Properties dialog, as shown in Figure 4.2.

   

6. Click Edit for the Rail Structure (Non-Continuous) parameter. In the resulting dialog box click Insert. This will add another rail to your railing type. In the Name field enter Low Rail. Set the Height to 1′-0″ (300 mm) and change the Profile to Rectangular Handrail : 2″ × 2″ (Rectangular − 50 × 50 mm) (Figure 4.3). Close the dialog box by clicking OK to return to the Type Properties dialog.

   

7. Locate the Top Rail group. Set the Height to 3′-6″ (1060 mm). Leave the Type as Rectangular − 2″ × 2″ (Rectangular − 50 × 50 mm). This parameter controls the top rail used in the railing.
   1. Next, you will modify the balusters.
8. In the Type Properties dialog box, click the Edit button for the Baluster Placement parameter.
9. In the resulting dialog box, find the Main Pattern panel, select the second line (Regular Baluster), and set its Baluster Family value to Baluster - Square : 1″ (Baluster - Square : 25 mm). Set the Dist. From Previous parameter to 5″ (125 mm).
10. In the Posts area, set the Baluster Family value for the Start Post, Corner Post, and End Post parameters to None (as shown in Figure 4.4).

    

11. Click OK to close the Edit Baluster Placement dialog box, and click OK again to close the Type Properties dialog box.

Exercise 4.2: Create a Stair by Component

To begin, go to the book’s web page at www.sybex.com/go/revit2015essentials, download the files for Chapter 4, and open the file c04-ex-4.2start.rvt.

1. From the Level 1 plan view, start the Stair By Component tool. The tool should default to using the Run component. Click any point to the left, and then move your cursor to the right.
   
   1. As you do, Revit Architecture tells you how many risers remain to complete a stair that starts on Level 1 and goes through Level 2 (Figure 4.5).

      

2. Click when you see the message 9 Risers Created, 9 Risers Remaining. This will complete the first run of the stair. Since you have not created enough risers to reach Level 2, you need to start another run. Move the cursor over to the right until the temporary dimension displays 5′-0″ (1525 mm). Click again to start the next run, and click to the right when you see 9 Risers Created, 0 Risers Remaining (Figure 4.6).

   

3. Select the Railings tool in the Tools panel of the ribbon. Specify the Handrail - Rectangular type (Figure 4.7), and click OK to close the dialog.

   

   1. Revit Architecture will use this default handrail whenever you create this stair, until you specify another type. The railing can be edited, modified, or deleted at any time from the stair.
4. Click Finish Edit Mode to complete the component stair.
   1. The resulting stair is shown in the default 3D view in Figure 4.8.

      

   2. Now you’ll create a second component stair to adjust some additional parameters.
5. Start the Stair By Component tool again, but before you pick a point to start the first run, choose the Location Line option from the Options Bar.
6. Set the Location Line to Exterior Support: Left. This will align the outside edge of the stair with your pick points, making it easier to snap to existing geometry.
7. For the start of the first run, click the endpoint of reference plane 1 where it meets the wall. Move to the right 6′-5″ (955 mm), and click again to complete this run.
8. Start the second stair run using the same Location Line setting, and click at the endpoint of reference plane 2 where it meets the wall. Move down anywhere past 9′-0″ (2750 mm), and click the last point to complete the second run (Figure 4.9).

   

   1. One of the nice features of component stairs is the ability to dynamically change the stair using shape handles.
9. Select the landing that was automatically created and notice the shape handles. Drag the landing edge shape handle down any distance to enlarge the landing. Notice that the stair run automatically moves down to reflect the new landing size.
10. Click Finish Edit Mode to complete the component stair (Figure 4.10).

    

In the following exercise you will create a straight run stair by sketch to familiarize yourself with the workflow and properties of this stair type.

Exercise 4.3: Create a Stair by Sketch

To begin, go to the book’s web page at www.sybex.com/go/revit2015essentials, download the files for Chapter 4, and open the file c04-ex-4.3start.rvt.

1. From the Level 1 plan view, start the Stair by Sketch tool from the Stair flyout. Click any two points from left to right (far enough apart for Revit to display 18 Risers Created). This will create an 18-riser straight stair between Level 1 and Level 2.
2. Select the top boundary line and drag the end grip back two risers (Figure 4.11).

   

3. Draw a new boundary line for these two risers to create a custom condition using the Start-End-Radius Arc Draw shape.
   
4. Using the Trim/Extend Single Element tool, extend the riser line to meet the new boundary line you added in step 3 (Figure 4.12).

   

5. Select the lower boundary line and notice that the temporary dimension appears showing 1′-6″.
6. Click the temporary dimension text and enter 2′-6″ to move the lower boundary line down.
   1. Notice that the riser sketch lines did not automatically move down with the boundary line.
7. Use the Trim/Extend Multiple Elements tool to extend the riser lines to meet the new boundary line location (Figure 4.13).

   

8. Click Edit Type to open the stair Type Properties.
9. Under Risers, uncheck the End With Riser parameter and click OK to close the dialog.
   1. This will remove the riser that is generated at the end of the stair.
10. Click Finish Edit Mode to complete the stair.
    1. Ignore any warnings received about actual number of risers created.
11. Select the two railings that were automatically created, and swap the type in the Type Selector to Glass Panel - Bottom Fill. The completed stair is shown in Figure 4.14.

    

In the following exercise you will customize an existing Stair by Component landing to reflect changes to the design.

Exercise 4.4: Customize and Create a Component Stair Landing

To begin, go to the book’s web page at www.sybex.com/go/revit2015essentials, download the files for Chapter 4, and open the file c04-ex-4.4start.rvt.

1. From the Level 1 plan view, select the existing stair and click Edit Stairs to enter edit mode.
2. Click to select the existing landing object.
   
   1. You want to customize the landing shape so you will need to convert the landing to a sketch.
3. Click Convert To Sketch-Based on the Tools panel. Close the dialog confirming that this conversion is irreversible.
4. Notice there is a new option called Edit Sketch on the same Tools panel.
   
5. Click Edit Sketch to edit the landing boundary. Select and delete the existing landing boundary line (the longest line closest to the wall).
6. Set the type of lines to Boundary in the Draw panel. Set the draw mode to Pick Lines. Set the Options Bar Offset parameter to 2″ (50 mm) so you can compensate for your support distance along the wall.
7. Pick the faces of the interior wall lines to create the new landing sketch lines. Use the Trim/Extend To Corner tool to clean up the new boundary lines.
8. For the last segment, at the start of the second stair run you will need to create a small sketch line with the same 2″ (50 mm) offset. This offset will accommodate the stringers that will be created around the landing.
   1. The final sketch is shown in Figure 4.15.

      

9. Click Finish Edit Mode.
   1. Notice that you are still editing the component stair; you simply finished editing the landing sketch.
   2. While still editing the stair, add a second landing.
10. On the Components panel click Landing. Choose the Create Sketch option.
11. Confirm that the Properties palette Relative Height parameter is set to 15′-0″ (4570 mm). With the Draw option set to Boundary, sketch a second landing at the end of the second run, as shown in Figure 4.16.

    

12. Click Finish Edit Mode to complete the new landing sketch. Click Finish Edit Mode again to complete the stair.
    1. The finished stair is shown in Figure 4.17.

       

In the following exercise you will update an existing stair to span multiple project levels using the Multistory Top Level instance property.

Exercise 4.5: Create a Multistory Stair

To begin, go to the book’s web page at www.sybex.com/go/revit2015essentials, download the files for Chapter 4, and open the file c04-ex-4.5start.rvt.

The example file has five project levels, and you want to repeat the existing stair between them since they are consistent level heights.

1. Activate the 3D view saved in the exercise file.
2. Select the stair and from the Properties palette locate the Multistory Top Level instance parameter.
   1. Currently it is set to None.
3. Change the value to Level 5 and notice what happens (Figure 4.18).

   

   1. Revit will repeat the stair up to the level you specified, including any railings that are currently attached to the stair.
4. Select one of the railings and notice that all four instances of the railing are selected.
5. Change the railing type to Guardrail - Pipe and notice that all four railings update to reflect the type change.
6. Select the stair and click Edit Stairs to enter edit mode.
7. Open the Level 1 floor plan view. Select the landing, and using the shape handles adjust it to be 2-6″ (760 mm) on each side that meets the run (Figure 4.19).

   

8. Click Finish Edit Mode to return to the project.
9. Open the 3D view again, and notice that every stair landing has also been updated.
10. Select the stair and change the Multistory Top Level parameter to Level 4.
    1. The stair will update to reflect the new top-level assignment (Figure 4.20).

       

In the following exercise you will create a new railing and set the host to use an existing stair.

Exercise 4.6: Host a Railing to a Stair

To begin, go to the book’s web page at www.sybex.com/go/revit2015essentials, download the files for Chapter 4, and open the file c04-ex-4.6start.rvt.

1. From the Level 1 plan view, click the Railing flyout and choose Sketch Path.
2. Using the Pick Lines draw tool, select the inner line for each of the three stringers (see the sketch in Figure 4.21).

   

3. Then, from the Properties palette, set the Tread/Stringer Offset instance parameter to 2″ (50 mm).
   1. This will allow you to pick a specific reference but still assign a set value to move the railing to (Figure 4.21).
4. Click Finish Edit Mode to complete the railing.
5. Create another railing using the same steps but for the opposite outside three stringers. Instead of using 2″ (50 mm) for the Tread/Stringer Offset use -2″ (-50 mm) (Figure 4.22).

   

6. Click Finish Edit Mode to complete the sketch.
7. Open the default 3D view and note that the railings are not yet hosted to the stair but are instead hosted to Level 1.
8. Select one of the railings and click Pick New Host on the Tools panel.
   
9. Click the stair; this will change the railing host from Level 1 to instead attach and follow the geometry of the stair.
10. Click Pick New Host for the second railing to complete the new railing host (Figure 4.23).

    

In the following exercise you will customize an existing railing top rail to allow for a custom termination condition.

Exercise 4.7: Edit Railing Top Rail and Slope

To begin, go to the book’s web page at www.sybex.com/go/revit2015essentials, download the files for Chapter 4, and open the file c04-ex-4.7start.rvt.

1. Open the example file to the 3D view.
2. Move the cursor over the top rectangular rail and press the Tab key once. The top rail should be highlighted.
   
3. Click to select the top rail (Figure 4.24).

   

4. Once it’s selected, click Edit Rail on the Continuous Rail panel.
5. Click Edit Path and choose the Line Draw shape.
6. Draw a custom path for the top rail starting at the endpoint of the existing path, similar to Figure 4.25.
   

   

7. Click Finish Edit Mode twice to finish editing the top rail and return to the project.
   1. Next, you’ll correct the railing condition at the top of the landing to match the flat slope.
8. Open the Level 1 floor plan view.
   
9. Select the railing and click Edit Path to return to sketch mode.
10. Use the Modify panel’s Split Element tool to split the railing path at the edge of the landing (Figure 4.26).

    

11. Press the Esc key twice, and select the split railing sketch path over the landing.
12. On the Options Bar change the Slope to Flat.
13. Click Finish Edit Mode to exit the railing sketch.
14. Open the default 3D view, and notice that the railing condition is now flat over the landing.
    1. You can use the Slope controls for railing conditions when you need to override how the default slope will be calculated. The completed railing is shown in Figure 4.27.

       

Exercise 4.8: Create a Ramp and Edit the Boundary

To begin, go to the book’s web page at www.sybex.com/go/revit2015essentials, download the files for Chapter 4, and open the file c04-ex-4.8start.rvt.

1. Open the example file to the Level 1 view.
   
2. Select the Architecture tab, and choose the Ramp tool from the Circulation panel.
3. In the Properties palette set the Ramp Type to Ramp 1; the Base Level is Level 1 and the Top Level is Level 2.
4. Using the Run Draw tool, add straight runs similar to Figure 4.28.

   

5. To get all the landings and ramps into the right location, select the boundary and riser lines after creation and move them using the Move tool on the Modify panel.
   1. The ramp should look similar to the image in Figure 4.28.
6. Click Railing on the Tools panel, and specify the Handrail - Rectangular railing. Click OK to close the dialog.
7. Click Finish Edit Mode to complete the sketch. Open the default 3D view; you should see a similar ramp to Figure 4.29.

   

8. Return to the Level 1 view, select the ramp, and click Edit Sketch.
9. Delete the three green boundary lines that represent the outside edges of the landings, as shown in Figure 4.30.

   

10. Select the Boundary tool on the Draw palette, and then choose the Tangent End Arc tool on the Draw panel.
11. Create the new boundaries shown in Figure 4.31 by picking one boundary edge and then the other.

    

12. Click Edit Type to open the ramp type properties.
13. Under Other, set Shape to Solid. Click OK to close the dialog.
    1. This will create a solid slab ramp instead of maintaining a consistent thickness value.
14. Click Finish Edit Mode to complete the sketch.
    1. Revit Architecture has already modified the railings to accommodate the new boundary (Figure 4.32).

       

The end exercise file has both ramp shapes, included as two separate ramps, for reference.