The other day I was creating some training datasets and I wanted to be able to open the dataset to a predefined view. I remembered that beginning in Revit 2012 this was possible but for the life of me I could not find it in Revit 2013. I knew it had to be in the Manage tab somewhere. After looking at each tool icon I found the tool under the Manage tab>>Manage Project panel>>Starting View Tool.
Once this tool is selected the Starting View dialog box is displayed. The default view to be opened is the Last Viewed. So whatever view was last opened when the file is saved is the first view that is opened. Depending upon the view this may cause Revit to take some time opening the file. For example a Realistically shaded view with shadows turned on will take longer to open than a drafting view with some text.
In the Starting View dialog box, pick the drop-down list and select the desired view in the model to be opened by default each time you open the project. Many companies will create a Drafting View that includes the project name, and specific criteria about the project and perhaps brief instructions on how the Revit file is to be used, then set the view as the starting view. This drafting view does not include any graphics and serves two purposes.
- If set as the starting view, it enables Revit to load the view quicker when opening the project.
- If the file is saved with this view current, the file size of the Revit project will be smaller as the preview does not include any graphics. You would be amazed at the file size difference from saving the file with the drafting view current compared to a 3D shaded and shadowed view current.
So be sure to set a default view that will be opened up when starting a project. This may give you the benefit of being a little efficient when working with Revit.
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Ron Palma
AEC Application Specialist
Ron has 25+ years of experience in the architectural industry as a drafter, designer, lead project designer, trainer, and a CAD manager implementing Autodesk Architectural Solutions for residential design firms. His instructional accomplishments include: Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), trainer, support technician, educator at Portland and Clackamas Community Colleges, as well as a U.S. Army certified instructor. Ron holds a BA in Instructional Design suma cum laude, is a member of the Oregon Army National Guard, where he is a First Sergeant of an Infantry Company, specializing in training and mentoring soldiers in their careers, and has been deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Resolute Support. Ron is a published author and continues to write professional technical training manuals and shorts for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and Revit. As an Autodesk Certified Instructor and Revit Architecture Autodesk Certified Professional, Ron continues to provide Revit Architecture and AutoCAD training and support for various AEC firms. Find Ron on Twitter.