Selection Master

autoLink

Annotations

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autoLink can turn a standard generic annotation family into a smart family that can reference a view and update automatically.

Annotation Settings

The autoLink annotation system works based on the same system as parameter links. By default, autoLink contains a parameter link in the 'Generic Annotations' category named 'autoLink'. This means you can create any generic annotation you like and use a parameter named 'autoLink' and it will work as an auto-updating view reference right out of the box!

In order to facilitate placing autoLink generic annotations, an autoLink family can be defined in the settings dialog with the following settings:

  1. autoLink Family - Use this location to define where the autoLink family that will be used for the 'Place autoLink' command is located. By default, this is set to the pre-loaded autoLink symbol. However if you desire a custom symbol you can customize as desired and use this location to browse to the new symbol.
  2. Version Placeholder - Because many offices must work with several Revit versions at a time, this setting allows a placeholder that will be replaced by the current Revit year (i.e. 2014, 2015, etc.) when loading the actual file. If this is checked, the path 'C:\folder\##RevitVersion##\my Link Symbol.rfa' would be loaded as 'C:\folder\2015\my Link Symbol.rfa' in Revit 2015.
  3. Load / Reload - This button attempts to load or reload the autoLink symbol into the current project. When the 'Place autoLink' command is activated it will load the file automatically if it is not found in the current project but if it is found in the project the project version will be used. This button allows reloading of a symbol that has changed since it was originally loaded. 
  4. Error Handling - If this check box is checked, autoLink will override the color of annotation objects when it contains a reference to a view that has been deleted or is no longer on a sheet. If unchecked, autoLink will leave the color as is. Use the color selector to select the override color that indicates an error.

Video Example Placing autoLinks

autoLink buttonTo get started with autoLink you must first make sure that you adjust the autoLink settings to point to the element category and parameter name. By default, autoLink is set to point to a generic annotation with a parameter 'autoLink'.

An easy way to place autoLink symbols for the first time is to use the 'Place autoLink' button on the workFlow panel. This command will load the autoLink generic annotation symbol from the location specified in autoLink settings (if necessary) and will allow you to place autoLinks with a single click.

Once an autoLink has been placed, simply select it and edit the reference text just like you would with a Revit text field. autoLink will search for any viewport changes and update your autoLink reference to maintain an accurate link.

If 'Allow extra text' is enabled (see general settings) you can add extra text to the parameter (For example: Sim. or O.H.) and the program will search for the x/xxx text format and ignore the rest of the text.  This also allows you greater flexibility to add descriptor text before and after the reference (i.e. Bike Rack).

Customizing autoLink Symbols

It is very simple to create or edit an autoLink symbol.  To modify a family component, use the following steps:

  1. Create a text parameter that autoLink will use to track viewport changes; this parameter must be created as an instance parameter.
  2. If desired, create parameters for any parameter tags you would like to use.
  3. Adjust the autoLink settings to reference the above parameter and set any parameter tag values to match the parameter names.
  4. Now you can simply save the family as a new family component and load it into your project.  The only limitation to creating your own family component is that parameters must be instance or project parameters, not type parameters.
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