Filled Region and Fill Pattern Management

Analyze, rename, merge or delete unused Revit filled regions or fill patterns found within Revit projects, templates or family files with Ideate StyleManager.

Related video: Fill Pattern and Filled Region Management

Filled Regions

Filled Regions are 2d annotative elements that include boundaries (lines) and a fill pattern. Filled region types are used by filled region elements and can also be ‘used’ within groups, meaning that if a group or unplaced group is using a filled region, that filled region type cannot be purged.

Understanding Duplicate Filled Regions

Isolate duplicate filled regions in Revit with Ideate StyleManager

Use the “Isolate Duplicate” checkbox to review all duplicate filled regions. A duplicate filled region type is one that has the same built-in graphic properties as one or more other filled region types. The built-in graphic properties are:

Tips for Filled Regions

  1. Analyze, merge, and delete any unused fill patterns first, to streamline reviewing your subsequent review of filled regions.

  2. If a filled region type is deleted, any filled region elements that use that type will be deleted and the type will be removed from the project. There will be a pop-up warning that occurs.

  3. Unplaced 2d detail groups can be using filled regions. When you see this listed as a usage, consider using the Delete option within the Usage area, then use the Delete button on the Filled Region type to remove it from your project.

  4. Use this tool in all your project files and titleblock or other annotation family files to prevent downstream garbage in your projects.

Fill Patterns

Fill Patterns are used to define the appearance of surfaces that are cut or shown in projection. Fill patterns are used in many ways within the Revit project, template and family files including, but not limited to: filled regions, materials, view graphic overrides, phase graphic overrides, etc.

A fill pattern is created as either basic (lines) or custom (.pat) and is defined as being either [Drafting] or [Model]. You can use the Type drop-down to isolate the [Drafting] or [Model] patterns. This is useful because merging across these two types is prohibited by Revit. 

Understanding Duplicate Fill Patterns

Use the “Isolate Duplicate” checkbox to review all duplicate fill patterns. A duplicate fill pattern is one that has the same programmatic definition. Custom fill patterns may look very similar but have slightly different definitions and therefore not be flagged as a duplicate.

Isolate duplicate fill patterns in Revit with Ideate StyleManager

Tips for Fill Patterns

  1. If an in-use fill pattern is deleted, the style of the element reverts to its default state, which is the built-in style called <Solid fill>.

  2. Fill patterns that have the word "diagonal" tend to be used extensively and therefore may take longer to analyze.

  3. Fill patterns can be batch deleted by selecting one, then using Ctrl+Shift to select more, making it easy to get rid of 100s of CAD Import fill patterns all at once.

  4. Use this tool in all your template files to prevent downstream garbage in your projects.

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