By Dennis Collin
Previously I discussed how users could create their own custom hatch patterns inside a Revit file.
At first glance it looks like users are limited to parallel lines and square grids, but by understanding the format of a custom fill pattern file, more complex patterns can be created. These patterns can be either drafting or model in nature depending on need.
Consider that there may be a need to define a repeating equilateral triangle pattern, of 600mm edge length, this pattern can be sketched out in a drafting view to help understand what values and syntax needs to be input into a user defined ‘PAT’ text file.
In the example image in figure 1, 3 lines have been created, using different colours to aid clarity.
All lines are drawn from an 0,0-origin coordinate from which the pattern will be repeated.
A Green line is a horizontal line, travelling left to right (zero degrees angle) at a spacing of 520mm.
A Red line drawn at 60 degrees from horizontal also at an approximate 520mm spacing.
A Blue line drawn at 120 degrees from horizontal also at an approximate 520 mm spacing.
This concept needs to be entered into a text format file which can be created in an application like Notepad or similar.
Semi Colon symbols can be used as ‘remark’ statements, and these have been used in figure 2 as a formatting reminder.
If the pattern fill line needs to be of a broken appearance i.e. dashed, a negative number can be used instead of a zero in the ‘Pen UP’ field.
Once saved, a new model (or draft) fill pattern can be loaded into a project and if there are no formatting errors, Revit will take a pattern name from the file (or one can be specified) during the creation process.
This fill pattern can then be assigned to Revit materials and will display either as cut or surface depending upon the pattern type.