autoLink

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autoLink allows the user to create automatic updating view references where Revit can't. autoLink contains three primary modes of linking:

1. Parameter Links - autoLink allows you to specify parameters (such as head and jamb details) that will be linked to views. Simply enter the view reference in those parameters and they will be automatically updated. Parameter linking can also turn a standard generic annotation family into a smart family that can reference a view and update automatically
2. Text Links - Simply type view references into standard Revit text notes and they will be recognized by autoLink and updated automatically when views change.
3. Keynotes - When paired with Keynote Manager, autoLink can also recognize view references in your keynote values and keep them updated when view references change.

 

The autoLink general settings are found at the bottom of the settings dialog and consist of three primary 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
   1. 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. 2016, 2017, 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\2017\my Link Symbol.rfa' in Revit 2017.
   2. 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.
2. View Reference Settings
   1. Show autoLink Update List - This setting controls the small popup notifications that notify you that autoLinks have been updated or any change has been performed. If you prefer to have autoLink do it's work in the background and not notify you uncheck this box.
   2. Update References - This list allows you to control when autoLink checks for updates and sets links. Note that with the instant update it is recommended that you leave at least one other option checked if you are working on a project where another user may edit that does not have autoLink installed. This is because the instant update does not check every link in the project, it only checks the ones that are changed by the current model change.
3. When View Reference not found - This setting controls how (by default) autoLink behaves when a link is not found. This can happen if the user mis-types a link, when the view that is linked is removed from the sheet, or when the view is deleted. Important: this setting controls the default setting on the error dialog box that comes up when references are not found. You will be given an option to change them per element on that dialog. There are 3 options for dealing with broken links:
   1. Replace with Default Text - This will change the autoLink to display whatever text is in the 'Default Link' field (marked as a above) rather than an actual link.
   2. No Change - This option will continue to display the autoLink text even though it is incorrect.  If the “Show Error Message” check box is checked, the user will be reminded that this autoLink is incorrect during each update.
   3. Delete the Element - This option deletes the element with a broken link. Note that as stated above you will be given a dialog box to confirm each element when a broken link is found, your elements will not be deleted automatically.
   autoLink also allows a series of additional options in dealing with a broken link:
   1. Search Other Models - This setting allows autoLink to search through other models for a broken link. This primarily alows autoLink to recognize if you have broken a single large model into two smaller models and linked both in. The view id will be the same but the model will be different; this setting allows autoLink to recognize this change and update accordingly.
   2. Show Error Message - If checked, autoLink will pop up an error message to the user when a broken link is found, if unchecked no error will be shown.
   3. Color Overrides - If checked, autoLink will override the color of text links and/or annotation (view specific) elements to the color selected when an error is found.
4. autoLink Status - In some cases autoLink may need to be turned off while making updates to a project (like splitting a model) or may be undesirable on a specific project. This section shows the current enable state of autoLink and allows you to disable autoLink for the current project, current Revit session, for a specific period of time, or indefinitely (until you re-enable it).