Time is money in the AEC industry, and every minute saved on repetitive tasks adds up to significant productivity gains. Here are ten proven strategies to dramatically speed up your Revit workflow, from simple keyboard shortcuts to advanced automation techniques.
Master Keyboard Shortcuts
Create custom keyboard shortcuts for your most-used commands. Go to View > User Interface > Keyboard Shortcuts and assign keys to frequently accessed tools. This alone can save 20-30% of your time.
Use View Templates
Set up view templates for common view types. This ensures consistency and eliminates the need to manually adjust visibility settings for each new view.
Leverage Worksets Effectively
Organize your model with worksets to improve performance. Close unnecessary worksets when working on specific areas to reduce model complexity and increase speed.
Create Custom Families
Build a library of parametric families for common elements. Reusable families eliminate repetitive modeling and ensure consistency across projects.
Use Filters for Quick Selection
Set up selection filters to quickly find and modify specific element types. This is much faster than manually selecting elements one by one.
Automate with Dynamo
Learn Dynamo to automate repetitive tasks. Even simple scripts can save hours on tasks like batch parameter updates or element placement.
Optimize Model Performance
Regularly purge unused families and views. Use the Model Performance Advisor to identify and fix performance bottlenecks before they slow you down.
Use Copy/Monitor for Coordination
When working with linked models, use Copy/Monitor to track changes automatically. This reduces manual coordination time significantly.
Create Project Templates
Develop comprehensive project templates with pre-configured views, sheets, schedules, and families. Starting from a good template saves days of setup time.
Invest in Automation Plugins
Use specialized plugins like Constructive's automation tools to handle repetitive tasks. The ROI is often realized within the first project.
Putting It All Together
Implementing even a few of these strategies can dramatically improve your productivity. Start with the techniques that address your biggest time drains, and gradually incorporate others. Remember, small improvements compound over time, and the goal is sustainable efficiency, not just speed.