Three 3 Second AutoCAD tips for Revit

Thanks to a client who old-schooled me with an awesome AutoCAD command called “OOPS”, I have decided to post a list of my three most useful AutoCAD command tips for Revit users. All of these commands can be used to prepare an AutoCAD drawing for Revit linking purposes.

1. AutoCAD command: "OOPS"

• This is a very nice command to undo the most recent AutoCAD objects and lines you have deleted. As can be seen from the image below, I have selected the Sterile Supply room cupboards, sink, hand dryer and dividing wall, and will delete these items

• I will now modify the shelving to run around the perimeter of the room, and add text as per the image below. 
• If you realise that you made a mistake (i.e. deleting the room from the drawing), simply type the command “OOPS” into the AutoCAD command bar.

• Your last deleted AutoCAD objects and lines will now be restored to their original position. Nifty, hey?

2. AutoCAD command: "FLATTEN"

• More often than not, you will either generate a drawing in which you have hundreds if not thousands of line start and/or end points having a Z-axis offset. This typically happens when snapping an AutoCAD line to another which has an elevation specified. This will create huge problems in Revit, especially in Elevation and 3D views.

• A quick and easy fix to this is to select all lines and type Flatten into the command bar. When prompted to remove Hidden Lines, select No. 

• AutoCAD will now force all lines which has a z-value to be flattened to a z elevation of 0

3. AutoCAD command: "OVERKILL"

• Yet again, most AutoCAD files, either created by yourself, or those received from the professional team might have multiple lines in the same location. This creates a file size problem both in AutoCAD, as well as in Revit. To quickly delete any and all overlapping lines, select all lines and type OVERKILL into the command bar

• You will be able to select certain categories you would like to exclude (Ignore) from the operation

• When selecting OK, in this example, I have deleted 89 duplicate lines, as well as 566 overlapping objects/segments. This is not a large AutoCAD project, so just imagine the advantages of working on a 20 000 sqm plus GLA project! Huge difference me thinks!