Scope boxes allow you to define 3D regions of your Revit model and apply them to different views.
They can help you organize your model, control the visibility and graphics of elements, and coordinate across disciplines.
Create Scope Boxes
The Scope Box tool allows you to create a scope box directly in a plan view or 3D view.
Here are the steps for using this tool:
Step 1 – Open a plan view
Go to the Project Browser and double-click on a plan view name.
✨ Tip: After you create a scope box in any plan view, it is reflected in all 2D and 3D views.
Step 2 – Create a Scope Box
Go to the view tab > Create panel > click Scope Box.
Step 3 – Draw the boundaries
Click on two points in the view to define the length and width of the box.
You can also enter the height in the Properties palette. Then press Enter or Esc to finish the drawing.
Note that your modeling work should have a hierarchy of visibility controls:
Categories organize elements, filters refine visibility, matchlines refers to two split views on a primary view, plan regions define specific areas for view display, design options provide alternative design solutions, phasing manages construction stages, and worksets separate elements.
To hide scope boxes in all views, assign them to an “off in all views” workset.
Step 4 – Edit the scope box
To edit the scope box, go to a 3D view, select it, and go to the Properties palette. You can change the name, height, and visibility of the scope box in views.
✨ Tip: Rotating a scope box will also rotate the crop region of any view that uses it. This can be useful for creating angled views.
Step 5 – Apply the scope box to views
To apply the scope box to views, open the views you want to use the scope box for in the Project Browser.
Then, go to the Properties palette and choose one from the Scope Box drop-down list. The views will be cropped by the scope box boundaries.
The extents of the section boxes are controlled by the scope boxes. Select a Scope Box Name parameter from the Properties palette.
✨ Tip: Create dependent views that have different crop regions but share other view properties. To do this, create a parent view with no scope box assigned, then create dependent views from it and assign different scope boxes to them.
You can use scope boxes to control the visibility of datum elements based on their associated box.
This association makes it less likely that you or someone on your team will drag a grid/level head in one view and not realize they’ve moved it in every view. Because it’s controlled by the scope boxes.
If the Scope box in a view is grayed out, you may have a view template assigned to that view, or you may need to reset the view’s crop region.
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.
