Dynamic Legend

The Fastest Way to Quickly & Easily

create, modify and update legends

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to manually create legend tables with element views in my project?
How can I update elements in the legend, depending on the model? It takes a long time to
manually create a legend and to update all of the data in the legend!
What do I need to do if I want to use actual images of the doors and other elements in my
legends?
Do I have to manually split my created legend table to place them on different pages?

How can I quickly create a legend table depended on swing direction of my doors or
windows?
Can I update elements in the legend from the linked project?

Can I create a legend table with top, side and front views of an element?

Working with Legends

Dynamic Legend (DL) extension
Convenient dialog allows to find and group elements and to filter and analyze legend
data before creation;
Ability to create legends on different pages;
Ability to update all selected legends with one click;
Has possibility to use real element pictures instead of legend components;
Ability to use one or more element views in the legend;
Works with linked projects.

Types of elements
Dynamic Legend (DL) is the Autodesk Revit extension that
allows you to quickly create, modify and update legends for
Revit elements.

Currently DL works with:

Air Terminals, Casework, Ceilings, Columns, Communication Devices, Conduit Fittings, Data Devices, Doors, Duct
Accessories, Duct Fittings, Electrical Equipment, Electrical Fixtures, Entourage, Fire Alarm Devices, Floors, Furniture,
Furniture Systems, Generic Models, Lighting Devices, Lighting Fixtures, Mass, Mechanical Equipment, Nurse Call
Devices, Parking, Pipe Accessories, Pipe Fittings, Planting, Plumbing Fixtures, Roofs, Security Devices, Site, Specialty
Equipment, Sprinklers, Structural Columns, Structural Connections, Structural Foundations, Structural Framing, Structural
Stiffeners, Telephone Devices, Walls, Windows.

Dynamic Legend
Preparation
Before working with Dynamic Legend there must be a sample block created in the legend
view. Block can be created with lines, text notes, legend components, detail items and
other. It must also have generic annotations M_SM_Legend Parameter Text.rfa, that will be
exchanged with parameter values. An example of this family will be loaded to the project by the Load
Sample Annotations. The name of the family may change, but the beginning (M_SM_Legend
Parameter Text) must stay the same. For Imperial projects goes I_SM_Legend Parameter Text.rfa

Dynamic Legend
Preparation
Sample block can have different design:

You can download a sample

project from E-Help and copy it
to your project.

Dynamic Legend
Preparation
Before selecting Create/Edit Legend please select the sample block from the legend view:

Create/Edit Legend
Dialog
Elements of selected category are conveniently grouped
together in a tree where the user can filter them by any
configurable criterions. Criterions can be selected with
Configure Grouping.

The element list with its parameters.

Parameters can be selected with Select Parameters.
These parameters can be used as configurable criterions.
In this case they are displayed like yellow columns
(Level, Family, Type).

Create/Edit Legend
Select Categories
Select Categories - the list of possible categories from the
project that can be updated in legend view.
At the bottom of the dialog the user can see the count of how
many categories is selected.

Create/Edit Legend
Select Parameters
Available Parameters all possible
parameters of the selected
category/categories;
Group (BID Grouping) additional
parameters that is not in usual
parameter list;
Common parameters shows only
common parameters if different
categories are selected.

Selected Parameters all selected parameters. Parameters can be added to this list with
Add and Remove.
Changing the order of parameters can be adjusted with Move Up and Move Down.

Create/Edit Legend
Select Parameters
Total numerical values can be
summed;
Hide parameters can be hided. In
this case parameters can be used for
filtering or grouping but it will not be
displayed in the final legend view;
Page parameters that is used for
splitting the elements by the different
legend views. If Category is selected
then elements with the same category
will be in one legend view.

Create/Edit Legend
Select Parameters: Total
If Total option is not switched on then the values is not
summed. For example, one type of wall has different lengths in
the project, so in the value becomes Varies.

If Total option is switched on then the values are summed. If

one type of wall has different lengths in the project, then at the
value will be summed.

Create/Edit Legend
Configure Grouping

The families can be grouped together in a tree. Configure Grouping

the list of parameter comes from Select Parameters. If Level,
Family and Type are selected in Configure Grouping then the
elements can be expanded, filtered and quantified by these
parameters.

Create/Edit Legend
Configure Grouping

If Document, Level, Family and Type are selected in Configure

Grouping then the elements can be expanded and filtered under
these criterions. Document shows the Revit file name. This criterion
is most often used with linked files.

Create/Edit Legend
Legend Page Data
Legend Page Data additional properties for splitting the table through different
legend pages (views).
Number of Rows number of element rows in the dialog:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Rows per Page number of rows that will be in one legend page (view). If
Page is selected near parameter in Select Parameters then this value will be
disabled.

Create/Edit Legend
Legend Page Data Number of Pages

New feature in v2013.1:

Automatically creates new
needed legend views !

Number of Pages automatically calculated how many pages

(legend views) will be needed for creating legend. This value is
calculated by dividing Number of Rows with Rows per Page or
with different parameter values that is checked near Page in
Select Parameters.
If the Page is selected near the Family then the elements of
different families will be updated in different legend views:

1
2
If Page is selected then Rows
per Page will be disabled.

Create/Edit Legend
Add Row Number
Add Row Number adds additional parameter with row number:

Create/Edit Legend
Add Grand Totals

New feature in v2013.1:

Possibility to add/remove the
final column/row!

Add Grand Totals adds the final column/row where are summarized grand total
values of elements:

Right-click settings
Sort
Sort sorts the values in accessing order for selected parameters.

Right-click settings
Filter By Selected Data
Filter By Selected Data filters elements according to the selected values.

Filtered doors with family name Simple1 that

is located in level 3.

Right-click settings
Distinct Values in Column
Distinct Values in Column shows different values of select columns at a separate dialog
where user can apply a filter.

For example, filtered Simple1

door families that opens to all
bedrooms in the project.

Right-click settings
Copy to Clipboard
Copy to Clipboard copies to clipboard selected values.

Create/Edit Legend
Pick Columns
Pick Columns creates the array of sample entities depending on
direction, distance and selected parameters. In the place of text there
will be parameter names. In the place of generic annotation there will
be parameter values (Empty). Parameter names and the design can be
changed by user in this step.
For horizontal block:

Create/Edit Legend
Pick Columns
For horizontal block:

1. Pick the line that indicates direction and array distance:

2. Select elements what will be arrayed down:

For vertical block:

1. Pick the line that indicates direction and array distance:

2. Select elements what will be arrayed to the right:

Create/Edit Legend
Pick Rows
Pick Rows creates the array of entities depending on direction,
distance and the elements.

For horizontal block:

Create/Edit Legend
Pick Rows
For horizontal block:
1. Pick the line that indicates direction and array distance:

2. Select elements what will be arrayed to the right:

Create/Edit Legend
Pick Rows
For horizontal block:

1. Pick the line that indicates direction and array distance :

2. Select elements what will be arrayed down:

Create/Edit Legend
Result
Created door legend depended on the project.

User can change the configuration at any time:

- change legends component and its view type: plan, elevation, section or other;
- remove and add a new type or instance parameter what values want to see in the Legend;
- add/remove a row/column numbers parameter for the legend table.

Create/Edit Legend
Using Images
It is possible to use real element images
instead of legend components. In the sample
block has to be an image from the catalog
where are all images. Image file name has to
be the same as family name.

Swing Direction
First Step
In the case of using swing direction in legend the user has to do these steps:
1. Create text instance parameter in the door category:

Swing Direction
Second Step
2. Fill swing direction parameter with values (ex. Left, Right). In this case the user can do
it automatically with BID Modify Elements Write Swing Direction:

Swing Direction
Third Step
3. Create the same parameter in frame M_SM_Legend Component Dimension.rfa. The
parameter has to be instance text under text grouping. Primary value has to be the same
as in door parameter and it should show how the door looks like in the front view:

Swing Direction
Result
When the value in the frame will be the same as the value in the door then the component
view will be Elevation: Front. If it will be different then the component view will be
Elevation: Back.

Create/Edit Legend
Export to Excel
Data can by easy exported to Excel with Export to Excel.

Create/Edit Legend
Draw Table
Creates/updates table in the drafting view.
Created table is grouped. If the user ungroup the table
then there will be no possibility to update the data
later.

Create/Edit Legend
Draw Table Table Dimensions
Width, Height real table sizes in current units.
Number per page splits data in separate tables with predefined number of rows.

Create/Edit Legend
Draw Table Table appearance settings
Row Height Factor changes the height of row by multiplying data text height and the
factor.

Create/Edit Legend with Preselected Types

Use this function if you need to work just with some element types instead of working with
all of them. This function is especially useful when you work with big projects.

Update all Legends

This function updates all select legends with one click.

In the dialog legends has to be selected for updating:

Later the user can check when the latest updates was made:

Dynamic Legend
Benefits
The Revit extension Dynamic Legend dramatically speeds up the Revit project documentation process.
Speed The Dynamic Legend extension helps to quickly and accurately create legends of the families in
your design. Revit doesnt update elements or properties in the legend. Depending on the complexity of
the model it can take a long time to create and update all of the data in the legend manually.
Easy to Use Dynamic Legend tools allows you to automatically create/update legends.
Reduction of errors The Dynamic Legend never misses a thing.

Saved settings for future projects Allows you to re-create legends to meet company standards.

Dynamic Legend
Other samples

Dynamic Legend
Other samples
It is possible to use one or more view in the block.

Dynamic Legend
Other samples

Dynamic Legend
Other samples

Dynamic Legend
Other samples

Dynamic Legend
Other samples

Dynamic Legend
Other samples

Dynamic Legend
Other samples

tools4revit

TOOLS4REVIT is developed by AGA CAD Ltd., Autodesk

Authorised Developer
AGA-CAD is the supplier of computer-aided design software and data management solution, operating since 1991.
Companys activities consist of TOOLS4REVIT development, Revit families creation, programming services for
working with BIM projects faster and easier. With resellers in a number of countries AGA CAD Ltd. implements BIM
solutions for architects, structural and MEP engineers, constructors and building contractors.

Address:
AGA CAD Ltd.
algirio g. 112A,
LT-09300 Vilnius,
Lithuania, EU
Contact:
Phone: +370 5 2398111
Fax: +370 5 2398113
E-mail:
info@tools4revit.com
www.tools4revit.com
Copyright 2012 AGA CAD Ltd.

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