The process of offsetting levels in Revit typically involves adjusting their elevation property directly or creating new levels at a desired height, as the dedicated "Offset Tool" commonly used for elements like walls, lines, or details operates differently.
How to Offset Levels in Revit
While there isn't a direct "Offset Tool" to vertically shift existing levels in the same manner you'd offset a wall, you can effectively "offset" levels by adjusting their elevation or creating new levels.
1. Adjusting Existing Level Elevation
The most common way to "offset" an existing level is by modifying its elevation property:
- Select the Level: In any elevation or section view, select the desired level line.
- Modify Elevation:
- Direct Input: Click on the elevation dimension text next to the level line and type in the new desired elevation value.
- Properties Palette: With the level selected, go to the Properties Palette. Under the "Constraints" section, locate the Elevation parameter. Input the new numerical value for the level's height and press Enter.
2. Creating New Levels at a Specific Offset
You can also create new levels at a specific vertical distance from an existing one:
- Go to an Elevation or Section View: Navigate to a view where levels are visible.
- Access Level Tool: On the Architecture tab, in the Datum panel, click Level (LL).
- Define Offset: On the Modify | Place Level tab, in the Draw panel, you can choose a drawing method.
- To create a level at a specific offset from an existing one, you can use the Pick Lines tool. Then, in the Options bar, input the desired Offset value.
- As you move your cursor over existing levels, a preview of the new level will appear at the specified offset. Click to place the new level.
Understanding the Revit Offset Tool (as seen in references)
The "Offset Tool" (found under the Modify tab, in the Modify panel) is a versatile command in Revit primarily used for creating parallel copies of selected lines, walls, beams, or other linear elements, or for moving elements by a specified distance.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Functionality | This tool allows you to create new, offset instances of selected elements, or move existing ones, by a precise distance. It is commonly applied to: |
| - Detail lines, model lines, arcs, circles | |
| - Walls, beams, and other linear architectural/structural components | |
| How to Use | As demonstrated in Revit tutorials (similar to the Move or Copy tools), once the Offset tool is activated, you can input a specific numerical value to define the offset distance. For instance, to offset a wall by two feet, you would type '2' (or '2'' depending on units and preferences) into the options bar and press Enter. Then, clicking on the element or moving your cursor will show a preview, allowing you to place the new offset element or move the original one to that precise distance. |
| Application | While the concept of inputting a specific numerical value for an offset is common across many Revit modification tools, the dedicated Offset Tool itself is not the primary method for altering the vertical elevation of existing levels. Levels are datum elements controlled by their elevation property. |
In summary, while the Revit "Offset Tool" is highly effective for replicating or moving many types of elements by a specified distance, offsetting levels is achieved through direct modification of their elevation properties or by creating new levels at a desired height.
