Introduction to Autodesk Revit

Your Free practical guide to Revit Architecture Essentials

Written by
Mostafa M. Saber
htts://www.revit-courses.com
 Introduction to Autodesk Revit

Table of Contents
Setting up Revit on your computer.........................................................................................................4

Understanding Revit Terms................................................................................................................... 9

Revit Templates and Content.............................................................................................................. 10

Project Templates....................................................................................................................... 11

Revit Content Library.................................................................................................................. 11

Where to find installed library?....................................................................................................11

What if I can’t find any library folders?........................................................................................13

More Content resources............................................................................................................. 13

The Revit Interface.............................................................................................................................. 14

The launch screen...................................................................................................................... 14

Opening an existing project........................................................................................................ 15

Opening an Existing Project....................................................................................................... 16

Resources........................................................................................................................................... 17

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 Introduction to Autodesk Revit

Setting up Revit on your computer

First, you’ll need to setup Revit. After you’ve obtained your license, you can download the Revit setup
files from Autodesk website. There are several types of licenses; business, educational, … etc.

In my case, I’m using an educational license. To download Revit Setup Files, simply follow these
steps:

1. Visit the link https://www.autodesk.com/

2. From the MENU, select Downloads, Free student software

3. Select Revit from the list of available programs

4. After signing in with your student or educator account,

select the version, windows type and language

5. Now, using Autodesk Download Manager, you can

download Revit Setup Files

Software and cloud-based services subject to an Educational license

i may be used solely for Educational Purposes

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 Introduction to Autodesk Revit

Once you have the setup files, follow the steps as shown in the screenshots below:

1. Launch Setup, and accept to make changes to your computer on the pop-up message

2. Click Install on the following screen

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 Introduction to Autodesk Revit

3. Now, you must select your country, then what content you need to install

Important Note: These steps are critical for the correct libraries and templates to be
! installed. Templates and libraries will control Revit units and standard graphics.

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 Introduction to Autodesk Revit

4. Select your default units (Imperial or Metric)

In my case, I’ve selected Architectural Discipline as my main, and US Metric as the default content.
This means I will still have access to Imperial Libraries and Templates, but Metric ones will be my
default, because I use Metric more than Imperial units.

It’s time now to click “Install”, set back and wait for the installation to finish. Once done, launch Revit
from its icon on the desktop. Revit will request license information, which you should have received by
now at your email. Enter the serial number and product key provided by Autodesk, and you’re all
ready to start learning Revit.

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 Introduction to Autodesk Revit

Understanding Revit Terms

Most of the terms used to identify objects in Revit are common, industry-standard terms.
However, some terms are unique to Revit. Understanding the following terms is crucial to
understanding the software.

Project
In Revit, the project is the single database document including all information for the building design,
from geometry to construction data. All your geometry, views, plans, sections, schedules, … etc.

Level
Levels are infinite horizontal planes that work as a reference for elements like roofs, floors, and
ceilings. It also serves as constraints for vertical elements such as walls and columns.

Element
When creating a project, you add parametric building elements to the design. Revit classifies elements
by categories, families, and types.

Category
A category is a group of elements that you use to model or document a building
design. For example, in architecture model, you may create elements of the walls,
doors, windows category, while a mechanical model may contain categories like
mechanical equipment and air terminals.

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 Introduction to Autodesk Revit

Family
Families are classes of elements in a category. For example, you can use a
double-leaf door family in your project. Each element (Door) in the project may
have a different size, while they have the same properties of a few families
(single-leaf, glass door, … etc)

Type
Each family can have several types. A type can be a specific size of a family,
such as a 900 x 2100mm door or A0 title block. It can also be a specific style
for text notes or dimensions.

Revit Templates and Content

How do I change units in Revit? Why does Revit families still have other unit systems?! These are
some of the most common questions I receive from new Revit users. But the actual solution is not
changing units system or loading another family. You only need to start off on the right ‘foot’!

Project Templates
Revit uses Templates to define the way you start a project, from units
to default project elements like walls, doors, … or annotation styles
for dimensions, section heads, Grid bubbles and so on. Templates
also affect the starting number of levels/ stories of your project and
the default views (plans, elevations and sections, … etc.). Many firms
have developed their own templates to control graphics standards,
increase efficiency and reduce rework by architects, drafters and
engineers.

Revit Content Library

Revit Library is another important component of the software that is essential while working on
projects. The content library is automatically downloaded while setting up Revit, based on the chosen
country and content to install. It includes the basic elements you’ll use on everyday tasks. Library
components\ elements are available to load when needed, but beware, as each extra component
you’re loading into your project increases the file size and the required resources to run it.

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 Introduction to Autodesk Revit

Where to find installed library?

Usually, you can find it under ‘ProgramData’ folder, which is a hidden system folder on your operating
system drive, Autodesk, RVT XXXX, Libraries, ….

You may change the default location for content by opening the Options from the application menu.
Click on File Locations, then Places,

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 Introduction to Autodesk Revit

If you need to change the default

Library path, simply click it, and then
click the little square with dots >

You could choose a network

location that will be a common library
for your team members.

After selecting the Library Path, click

OK and close the Options menu.

What if I can’t find any library folders?

The reason could be a disconnect while setting up Revit, this may interrupt content download. To
download the missing content, visit https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-
products/downloads/caas/downloads/content/autodesk-revit-2019-content.html

To apply the content files:

•Download the desired content executable to a local location

•Launch the content executable from the saved local location

•Specify the desired content location (Default destination folder “C:\Program Data\Autodesk\RVT
2019”) and choose Extract.

More Content resources

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 Introduction to Autodesk Revit

The Revit Interface

In these pages you’ll know more about Revit interface components.

The launch screen

The launch screen is what you see when Revit starts. It’s mainly split into two parts; Projects area at
the top is where you can open existing project documents or create a new one. You’ll also see
thumbnails of recently-open projects. The lower part is where you work with Families. These are
components that you will be using inside the projects.

At the right side, the Resources panel,

which offer you several useful tools to
learn about Revit new features, read
comprehensive help articles, or download
additional apps for Revit.

Opening an existing project

Let us start by opening an existing
project and navigating through its
different views.

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 Introduction to Autodesk Revit

Click the file tab/ application menu, then move over ‘Open’, move to the bottom of the menu, and
select ‘Sample Files’

The ‘Sample Files’ are installed by

default with Revit.

Try opening ‘rac-basic-sample-project.rvt’ which includes a simple house

model with many useful learning links marked with this icon > ?
To read more about using this file and its hidden resources, visit BIM blog;
‘A hidden free tutorial in your Revit Architecture’

Thank you for taking the time to read through these pages. I hope this 1st part will guide you to your
first steps into a world of BIM. Stay tuned for the future articles and the 2nd part of ‘Introduction to
Autodesk Revit’. For more information, visit the links in the Resources section below.

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 Introduction to Autodesk Revit

Resources
https://knowledge.autodesk.com

https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2019/ENU/

https://www.revit-courses.com/bim-blog

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