To change the orientation of a plan in Revit, follow these detailed steps, ensuring that your drawing aligns correctly with the desired project north or true north direction. Adjusting the plan view orientation allows for proper alignment with your overall project design and helps provide accurate project documentation.
Understanding Orientation Types
Before making any adjustments, familiarize yourself with the two primary orientations in Revit:
Project North: Represents the orientation based on the project grid and is typically used for internal documentation within the project.
- True North: Refers to the actual geographic north and is relevant for site plans and solar studies. Changing between these two orientations helps maintain design accuracy related to real-world conditions.
Rotating a Floor Plan View
Open the Floor Plan: Start by selecting the floor plan view you want to modify from the Project Browser.
Access Orientation Settings: Navigate to the View tab on the ribbon. Here, locate the ‘Orientation’ drop-down menu within the ‘View’ panel.
Set to True North: From the drop-down list, choose "True North." This action will switch the orientation of the current view to align with geographic north.
Modify the View: If the floor plan does not align with True North, you can rotate it. Click the Modify tab and select the ‘Rotation’ tool from the panel.
- Select and Rotate: Click to select the view you want to rotate. Specify the rotation angle either by dragging to your desired orientation or by numerically entering the angle in the options bar.
Adjusting the Project Orientation
Find Project Location Settings: Go to the Manage tab, then click on the ‘Project Location’ panel.
Rotate True North: Click on the ‘Position’ drop-down and choose ‘Rotate True North.’
Set Angle of Rotation: Input the desired angular adjustment from Project North to True North. This can be done by entering specific degrees or using the mouse to manually adjust the angle.
- Confirm the Changes: Apply the changes, and your views should now be updated to reflect this new orientation.
Rotating 3D Models
If you need to rotate a 3D model to align with the new orientation:
Select 3D View: Open the specific 3D view you wish to manipulate.
Select Objects: Use the selection tool and click on each object you need to rotate.
Choose Rotate Tool: From the Home tab, access the ‘Modify’ panel and choose the ‘Rotate’ function.
Define Rotation Axis: Click to specify the start point and endpoint of the axis about which you want to rotate the objects.
- Input Rotation Angle: Decide on the angle of rotation and enter it into the dialog that appears.
FAQs
How can I view changes made to the orientation in Revit?
To see the effects of the orientation changes, switch between the plan and 3D views. Make sure to set the correct orientation in the Properties panel for each view.
Is it possible to rotate specific elements without affecting the entire view?
Yes, you can select individual elements or groups of elements, use the rotate tool, and specify their rotation without changing the overall view orientation.
What should I do if the rotation options are not available in my project?
If rotation options are grayed out, check the ‘Orientation’ setting within the Properties palette. Ensure it’s set to ‘Project North’ to access the rotate functions. Additionally, ensure you are in a view that allows rotation adjustments.
