To learn Revit quickly, you need to apply your experience with specific tools to your use case and figure out how and why they work together.
I have had the opportunity to use modeling and documentation tools in the interface through various updates and features. Here are 5 tips that have helped me learn faster:
- Start with 3-dimensional views
- Master the shortcuts of a specific area of interest
- Understand how to use families, annotations, and sheets
- Discover workarounds and time-saving tips
- Collaborate and share your work
Start a 3D model
Start by modeling something you know, even if it’s not for work or school. No matter how sketchy your first project looks, don’t spend too much time in a 2D viewport.
- Open floor plan of Level 1.
- Click the house icon in the Quick Access toolbar to open the 3D view.
- Go to the Views tab > Windows panel > click Tile Views (Shortcut: WT).
This way you can monitor both dimensions at the same time. I highly recommend understanding 3D views and their types.
A simple example might be your room or house. Focus on making the first model accurate using the standard out-of-the-box families and components.
Aim for a conceptual result first. The result will be a solid understanding of how Autodesk wants you to use this application, and there will be something to go back to and revise.
As knowledge grows, we notice how some tools can be related to niches and layers of the interface hierarchy.
- Basic: Annotations, components, and conceptual masses.
- Intermediate: Residential projects, sheets, topography, and rendering.
- Advanced: Shared parameters, PBR materials, and Dynamo scripts.
Tiers are not rigid in terms of experience, it takes consistent practice in a niche to master its tools. e.g. one can be skilled using Dynamo and Macro scripts in Revit (Advanced), and still come across conceptual massing-in-place (Basic) as a complex task.
In order to get a feel for which niche is practical for your skills, work on at least one to three diverse projects.
Choose a niche and then learn the shortcuts
- Drafter (basic elements, annotations, schedules, views, and sheets)
- Technologist (project management, automation, collaboration, backup and purging)
- Visualizer (massing, rendering, animation, and Virtual Reality)
Use search engines and YouTube: type “tool name in Revit” into the search bar. Gradually discover a favorite niche and learn all about its tools.
Create one-press keyboard shortcuts for all your basic tools. I use keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Your Move tool should be number 1 because it is the most frequently used command; number 2 is for Copy, number 3 for Offset, and so on.
Families, Annotations, and Sheets
Any component (doors, chairs, etc.) is a family. Parameters (dimensions, manufacturer, materials, etc.) define that family.
Families and their systems are the automation of drafting. Sheets and viewports are how our components come together to become integral. Annotations are elements we used to draft but now have in all sheets by applying them once in any viewport (levels, section lines, model lines, etc.).
Workarounds
Are view ranges confusing? Walls and foundation connections are out of control? Almost everything in Revit has a workaround. Chances are someone ran into this problem years ago and asked about it on a forum.
Search Google for “problem in Revit”, even if you think it won’t show up in the results pages.
I used to prefer design to grunt work, but the time I spent finding the right workarounds has saved me a lot of time and allowed me to design more freely.
Worksharing
Don’t miss out on BIM360 and the Autodesk Construction Cloud. These tools prepare you as a new user for an optimal workflow for maintaining, reviewing, and collaborating on Revit projects.
Understanding Revit and its user interface can be as quick as with any other design software.
The learning curve in this case is measured in weeks or months. With a knowledge base to fall back on, understanding the software tools is just a matter of technical training.
With experience in preparing documents, either from the design side or the construction knowledge, a full-week course will make the workflow more efficient. For at least a few projects, surf search engines for BIM manuals or use the help of a knowledgeable co-worker.
It takes a couple of semester-long courses in how drafting standards work, and how the building design process gets executed. 60+ hours of drafting niche-specific training are comparable to experience in blueprints or the building industry.
You will find some CAD commands and tools in Revit. For the basics, the learning curve is measured in hours.
Learn how to recreate at least one CAD project and then move on to more comprehensive BIM tools.
Learning Revit after AutoCAD has its own disadvantages: You have to relearn so much and can’t expect the software to behave similarly.
Make sure you get used to new necessary shortcuts, families, different workarounds and collaboration.
Watch Autodesk videos, choose a niche, and see how each tool enriches your workspace. Experiment with the software, then share it with others for complementary experiences.
Mohamed Fakhry has helped thousands of architects and designers find their next project with step-by-step guidance on his blog, mashyo.com. About Mohamed
His journey began during his university years when he recognized the need for information-rich 3D models to accelerate learning and improve production processes. Now, Mohamed shares his expertise through Revit tutorials that are accessible to all.
