Selection Sets in Revit 2018

By Dennis Collin 

Revit has many ways of selecting objects from picking on screen graphically, to utilising meta data via Dynamo to family types and selecting similar elements of the same type.

Selection sets have been in Revit for several years now and provide a simple yet effective way to select elements without having to resort to memory intensive methods like Revit grouping. These selection sets can be saved and repicked later when needed. 

The selection of objects activates the selection set buttons in the ribbon highlighted in the figure above. In this example, some glazing panels and door panels have been selected relative to a particular room or space.

This works very well for the setting up of display filters for quick display configuration of drawings.

Should the selection set need to be modified, then select the Edit function within the selection set menu, pick the selection set to be edited. This will then grey out the model with elements in the selection set shown as bold as per Fig 3.

Should the selection set need to be modified, then select the Edit function within the selection set menu, pick the selection set to be edited. This will then grey out the model with elements in the selection set shown as bold as per Fig 3.

Once the selection set modification has been made click on the green tick, Finish Selection button which will return the user to the normal editing mode.

Use of selection sets are very useful, if not essential for the speedy reselection of elements in complex models, the building of view filters and view templates. For the creation of floor plans, phased site plans and editing of meta data to specific items.