# Intro to Revit
# Why Artcraft Chose Revit
## Design Faster. Draw Accurately. Quote Faster.
Welcome to the Artcraft Revit Academy.
This training program has been developed to help Artcraft dealers, designers, and architects create custom kitchens more efficiently using Autodesk Revit and the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow.
While this Academy will teach you how to work with Artcraft Revit content, our goal is much larger than simply teaching software.
Our goal is to help you spend less time drafting, less time counting cabinets, less time entering information manually, and more time designing great spaces and serving your clients.
## Why Artcraft Chose Revit
At Artcraft, we've always believed that technology should simplify the design and ordering process.
For more than fifty years, we've invested in technology that connects our dealers directly to our factory. Long before cloud-based software became commonplace, Artcraft developed its own integrated online order entry system—Accolades—allowing dealers to configure products, generate pricing, submit orders electronically, and communicate directly with our manufacturing operation.
Today, Revit represents the next step in that evolution.
Unlike traditional drafting software, Revit uses Building Information Modeling (BIM), allowing you to create a single intelligent model rather than a collection of independent drawings.
From one model, Revit automatically generates:
- Floor Plans
- Elevations
- Sections
- 3D Views
- Cabinet Schedules
When a change is made anywhere within the model, every view updates automatically.
This significantly reduces repetitive drafting while improving the overall accuracy of your project.
## Why Revit?
Traditionally, kitchen designers relied on multiple pieces of software to complete a single project.
One application was used for drafting.
Another application was used for creating renderings.
A separate process was then required to prepare information for pricing and ordering.
Revit combines many of these tasks into a single workflow.
As you design, you're simultaneously creating technical drawings, presentation-quality 3D views, and the intelligent model that drives your schedules.
For a custom manufacturer like Artcraft, this is especially important.
Not every project is built entirely from standard catalogue products.
Many projects require custom cabinetry, fillers, panels, and architectural millwork designed specifically for that space.
Because Revit is a true BIM platform, you have the flexibility to model custom elements directly within the project whenever required, while still working alongside Artcraft's intelligent cabinet families.
This provides the freedom required for truly custom design without sacrificing the efficiencies of a coordinated BIM workflow.
## The Power of BIM
The true value of Revit is not simply that it creates better drawings.
The real value lies in the information contained within the model.
Every Artcraft cabinet family contains intelligent product data, including:
- Dimensions
- Product definitions
- Shell Codes
- Master Codes
- Cabinet parameters
- Scheduling information
As you build your kitchen, Revit automatically collects this information into a cabinet schedule.
That schedule can then be exported from Revit and imported directly into Accolades.
This is the foundation of the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow.
Instead of manually counting cabinets, manually entering product information, and manually rebuilding the project for pricing, the BIM data created during the design process becomes the information used to generate your quote.
Your model becomes much more than a drawing.
It becomes the foundation for documentation, scheduling, pricing, and ultimately manufacturing.
## The Artcraft Design-to-Order Workflow
Everything taught throughout this Academy supports one simple workflow:
**Design → Schedule → Export → Accolades → Quote → Order**
Using Artcraft Revit Families, you'll:
- Design your kitchen in Revit.
- Automatically generate cabinet schedules.
- Export cabinet information directly from the model.
- Import that information into Accolades.
- Generate accurate quotes in a fraction of the time required by traditional manual workflows.
By eliminating duplicate data entry and allowing BIM data to flow directly from design into pricing, you'll spend less time managing information and more time designing.
## Why Artcraft Revit Families Matter
Although generic Revit families are available from many sources, they are typically designed only for visualization.
Artcraft Revit Families are different.
They have been developed specifically around the Artcraft product catalogue and are designed to mirror the same options and modifications available within Accolades.
The same cabinet information used to create your drawings also supports scheduling, pricing, and ordering.
This is what makes the Artcraft workflow unique.
Rather than drawing a kitchen first and pricing it later, your design becomes the foundation for the entire ordering process.
## What You'll Learn
Throughout this Academy, you'll learn how to:
- Set up your Revit environment.
- Work with Artcraft Templates and Families.
- Build complete kitchen layouts.
- Modify Artcraft cabinets.
- Create professional documentation.
- Generate cabinet schedules.
- Export project information.
- Prepare your project for pricing and ordering through Accolades.
Each lesson has been intentionally designed to be short, practical, and easy to follow, allowing you to learn at your own pace while immediately applying what you've learned to real projects.
## Our Goal
Our objective is simple.
Help you design faster.
Help you quote faster.
Help you order faster.
By combining the power of Revit, the intelligence built into Artcraft Families, and the automation provided by Accolades, we're creating a workflow where information is entered once and used throughout the entire project lifecycle.
The result is fewer repetitive tasks, greater accuracy, faster quoting, and a seamless connection between design and manufacturing.
Welcome to the Artcraft Revit Academy.
Let's get started.
# Understanding Artcraft Revit Families
## Overview
Every cabinet you place in Revit is called a **Family**.
A family is much more than a 3D model.
It contains the geometry, dimensions, product information, and parameters that define how a cabinet looks, behaves, and interacts with the rest of the project.
For Artcraft, Revit Families form the foundation of the entire Design-to-Order workflow.
## What is a Revit Family?
A Revit Family is a digital representation of a product.
In the case of Artcraft, each family represents a cabinet from the Artcraft catalog.
Families are intelligent objects.
Rather than being simple lines or shapes, they contain information such as:
- Width
- Height
- Depth
- Product parameters
- Cabinet options
- Scheduling information
This allows Revit to automatically generate plans, elevations, sections, schedules, and 3D views from a single model.
## Why Artcraft Revit Families are Different
While many manufacturers provide generic Revit families, Artcraft Families have been developed specifically to support the complete Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow.
They are not simply visual cabinet models.
They have been built around the same product logic used within Accolades.
This means the information created during design can continue flowing through scheduling, pricing, and ordering without needing to be recreated manually.
## Artcraft Families vs Generic Revit Families
A generic Revit family may look similar to an Artcraft cabinet, but it does not contain the product intelligence required for the Artcraft workflow.
Generic families are typically useful for visualization and documentation only.
Artcraft Revit Families, on the other hand, are designed to support the entire project lifecycle.
They include:
- Artcraft product definitions
- Shell Codes
- Master Codes
- Cabinet parameters
- Standard Artcraft modifications
- Schedule information
- Data required for export into Accolades
Because of this, Artcraft Families become much more than drawing objects.
They become the source of information used throughout the project.
## Why This Matters
As you place Artcraft cabinet families into your model, Revit automatically builds a cabinet schedule.
That schedule can then be exported and prepared for import into Accolades.
If generic Revit families are used instead, this workflow is broken.
Although the project may still look correct visually, the information required for scheduling, pricing, and ordering will not exist.
This means cabinet information would need to be recreated manually before the project could be quoted.
Using Artcraft Families eliminates this duplicate work while helping improve both speed and accuracy.
## Built Around Accolades
One of the unique advantages of the Artcraft system is that the modifications available within Revit closely mirror the modifications available within Accolades.
For example, when you modify:
- Cabinet dimensions
- Door hinging
- Drawer front sizes
- Recessed bottoms
- Toe-kick recesses
- Door reveals
you're working with many of the same options that will later be used during pricing and ordering.
This creates a consistent experience from design through manufacturing.
## Best Practices
- Always use Artcraft Revit Families when designing Artcraft kitchens.
- Avoid substituting generic cabinet families.
- Load only the families required for your project.
- Modify cabinets using the built-in parameters rather than creating custom geometry.
- Keep your Artcraft Family Library up to date by downloading the latest versions from Accolades.
## Key Takeaway
Artcraft Revit Families are more than cabinet models.
They are intelligent products built specifically for the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow.
By using Artcraft Families, you're creating a model that supports documentation, scheduling, pricing, and ordering—all from the same source of information.
This is what makes the Artcraft Revit workflow faster, more accurate, and fundamentally different from using generic Revit content.
# Understanding Your Revit Screen
## Overview
Before designing your first Artcraft kitchen, it's important to become familiar with the Revit interface. Although Revit may look overwhelming at first, you'll quickly find that you'll use the same few tools throughout most of your projects.
This document introduces the key areas of the Revit workspace and explains how they support the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow.
## The Properties Palette
The **Properties** palette displays information about the object or view you currently have selected.
For example:
- Selecting a cabinet displays its parameters and configuration options.
- Selecting a wall displays wall-specific properties.
- Selecting a view displays settings related to that particular view.
Many of the modifications you'll make to Artcraft cabinets—including dimensions, hinging, and custom options—will be completed through the Properties palette.
If the Properties palette is accidentally closed, you can reopen it by navigating to:
**View → User Interface → Properties**
## The Project Browser
The **Project Browser** organizes everything contained within your Revit project.
Rather than managing multiple drawing files, Revit stores all project information in a single intelligent model.
The Project Browser allows you to quickly navigate between different types of project information.
Common sections include:
- Floor Plans
- Elevations
- Sections
- 3D Views
- Sheets
- Schedules
- Families
If the Project Browser is accidentally closed, it can be reopened by navigating to:
**View → User Interface → Project Browser**
## Understanding Views
One of the most important concepts in Revit is that you are not creating separate drawings.
Instead, you are building a single 3D model that can be viewed in many different ways.
Common views include:
- **Floor Plans** – Top-down views used to design cabinet layouts.
- **Elevations** – Side views used to review cabinet heights and alignment.
- **Sections** – Cut-through views that show construction details and vertical relationships.
- **3D Views** – Perspective or orthographic views used to visualize the complete design.
Because every view is generated from the same model, any design change automatically appears throughout the entire project.
## Sheets
Sheets are the pages used to organize your final drawing package.
A sheet can contain multiple views, including floor plans, elevations, sections, schedules, notes, and details.
The Artcraft Template includes pre-configured sheets and title blocks to help standardize documentation and reduce setup time.
Designers can also replace the Artcraft logo with their own company logo while maintaining a consistent drawing layout.
## Schedules
Schedules are organized tables of information extracted directly from your Revit model.
Rather than manually creating cabinet lists, Revit automatically reads information stored within your Artcraft cabinet families and generates a schedule.
In the Artcraft workflow, cabinet schedules play a critical role because they provide the information that will later be exported from Revit and imported into Accolades for pricing and ordering.
This eliminates manual counting, improves accuracy, and significantly reduces repetitive data entry.
## Families
Families are the building blocks of every Revit project.
Each Artcraft cabinet family contains not only the cabinet geometry, but also the product information, parameters, shell codes, master codes, and scheduling data required throughout the Design-to-Order process.
Because Artcraft families are built specifically around the Artcraft catalog, the options available within Revit closely mirror the same options available within Accolades.
This consistency helps create a seamless workflow between design, pricing, and manufacturing.
## Working in a Single Model
One of Revit's greatest advantages is that every view is connected to the same model.
If you:
- Move a cabinet
- Resize a cabinet
- Modify a wall
- Add or remove cabinetry
those changes automatically appear in:
- Floor Plans
- Elevations
- Sections
- 3D Views
- Schedules
This coordinated workflow reduces drafting time, improves accuracy, and helps ensure every drawing remains synchronized throughout the project.
## Navigation Tips
As you work in Revit, you'll frequently use these navigation controls:
- Hold the **scroll wheel** to pan around the drawing.
- Use the **scroll wheel** to zoom in and out.
- Use the **View Cube** to quickly change between standard views.
- Press **ZA** on your keyboard to zoom to fit and re-center the active view.
These shortcuts quickly become second nature and will significantly improve your efficiency as you begin designing Artcraft projects.
## Key Takeaways
The Revit interface is designed around a single intelligent model.
Instead of managing separate drawings, Revit automatically generates coordinated plans, elevations, sections, schedules, sheets, and 3D views from one source of information.
Understanding how the Properties palette, Project Browser, views, sheets, schedules, and families work together will provide the foundation for every Artcraft project you create.
# Revit Cheat Sheet for Artcraft Users
## Keyboard Shortcuts
Shortcut
Function
**Spacebar**
Rotate the selected component before placing it
**ZA**
Zoom All / Fit the active view to the screen
**WT**
Tile all open Revit windows
**TW**
Cycle through tiled windows
---
## Essential Modify Tools
These are the tools you'll use most often when designing Artcraft kitchens.
- **Align** – Align cabinets, walls, and other elements.
- **Move** – Reposition objects within the model.
- **Copy** – Duplicate cabinets or other components.
- **Mirror** – Create mirrored layouts.
- **Rotate** – Rotate selected elements.
- **Match Type** – Apply the properties of one object to another.
- **Groups** – Combine multiple objects into reusable layouts.
- **Pin** – Lock objects in place to prevent accidental movement.
- **Text** – Add notes and annotations to drawings.
---
## Understanding Revit Terminology
One of the most important concepts in Revit is understanding the hierarchy of objects.
**Category → Family → Type → Instance**
For example:
- **Category:** Cabinet
- **Family:** Base Cabinet
- **Type:** B36
- **Instance:** The individual B36 cabinet placed within your project
This hierarchy allows you to control both standard product definitions and project-specific modifications.
---
## Core Revit Concepts
### Project vs. Template
Templates are the starting point for new projects and contain standards, views, schedules, sheets, and settings. Projects are the actual kitchen designs you create.
### Levels
Horizontal reference planes used to establish heights for cabinets, countertops, ceilings, and other building elements.
### Grids
Reference lines used to organize building layouts and coordinate construction drawings.
### Reference Planes
Invisible construction guides used to help align and position elements within the model.
### Hosts
Many Revit components require a host element, such as a wall, floor, or ceiling, before they can be placed.
---
## Helpful View Controls
### Crop View
Limits the visible area of a view without changing the model.
### Section Box
Temporarily crops a 3D view to focus on a specific portion of the model.
---
## Helpful Selection Tools
### Select All Instances
Quickly selects every instance of a particular family or type within the project.
### Moving with Temporary Dimensions
Select an object and use the temporary dimensions to accurately reposition it without creating permanent dimensions.
### Chain Selection
Allows multiple connected walls or dimensions to be created in a single operation, improving drafting speed.
---
## Artcraft Best Practices
- Start every project using the **Artcraft Template**.
- Use **Artcraft Families** whenever possible.
- Modify cabinets using built-in parameters instead of creating custom geometry.
- Keep schedules up to date—they are the bridge between Revit and Accolades.
- Remember that changes made anywhere in the model automatically update your plans, elevations, sections, schedules, and 3D views.
- Using AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude can be a really helpful way to get answers and clarifications on Revit functions quickly and accurately
# Understanding the Difference Between a Project and a Template
## Overview
Before creating your first Artcraft kitchen, it's important to understand the difference between a **Revit Project** and a **Revit Template**.
Although they work together, they serve two very different purposes.
Understanding this distinction will help you start every project correctly and take full advantage of the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow.
## What is a Revit Template?
A **Revit Template (.RTE)** is a pre-configured starting file that contains standards, settings, views, schedules, sheets, and other resources used to create new projects consistently and efficiently.
Think of the template as the foundation for every new project.
At Artcraft, we've already completed much of the setup work for you by creating a template that includes the tools and standards commonly used when designing kitchens.
The Artcraft Template includes:
- Pre-built drawing sheets
- A customizable title block
- Kitchen design reference levels
- A pre-configured cabinet schedule
- Standard project views
- Settings that support the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow
Rather than rebuilding these items for every new project, you simply start with the Artcraft Template.
## What is a Revit Project?
A **Revit Project (.RVT)** is the actual design file where you create a specific kitchen or interior space.
Every project is unique.
As you design, you'll place cabinets, draw walls, modify layouts, create elevations, generate schedules, and prepare documentation for that individual client.
Each kitchen should be created as its own project while continuing to use the same Artcraft Template as the starting point.
## How They Work Together
The relationship between a template and a project is simple.
You begin by opening a **New Project** and selecting the Artcraft Template.
Revit then creates a brand-new project based on that template.
From that point forward, all of your design work takes place inside the project—not the template.
The template remains unchanged so it can be reused again and again for future projects.
## Why Artcraft Uses a Template
Using a standardized template provides several important benefits.
It ensures that every project begins with the same drawing standards, organization, and workflow.
It also helps ensure that cabinet schedules are organized correctly for exporting information into Accolades, reducing setup time and improving consistency between projects.
Most importantly, starting with the Artcraft Template allows you to spend more time designing and less time configuring your Revit environment.
## Best Practices
- Save the Artcraft Template in a location that is easy to find.
- Never design directly in the template file.
- Always create a **New Project** from the template.
- Save your project immediately using a meaningful project or client name.
- Use the same Artcraft Template for every new project to maintain consistency.
## Key Takeaway
Think of the **template** as your starting framework and the **project** as the actual kitchen you're designing.
You only download and configure the template once, but you'll create a new project from it every time you begin a new design.
Using the Artcraft Template ensures that every project starts with the same proven foundation, supporting a faster, more consistent Design-to-Order workflow.
# What's Included in the Artcraft Revit Template?
## Overview
The Artcraft Revit Template has been developed to provide a consistent starting point for every new project while reducing setup time and supporting the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow.
Rather than creating sheets, title blocks, schedules, levels, and project settings from scratch, the template includes these items pre-configured and ready to use.
This allows you to spend less time setting up your project and more time designing.
## Pre-Built Sheets & Title Blocks
The Artcraft Template includes professionally formatted drawing sheets complete with title blocks.
This allows you to begin documenting your project immediately without creating sheet layouts from scratch.
The title block is fully customizable, allowing you to replace the Artcraft logo with your own company logo while maintaining a professional and consistent drawing package.
## Pre-Configured Kitchen Design Levels
The template includes several standard reference levels commonly used in kitchen design.
These include:
- Toe-Kick Height
- Base Cabinet Height
- Countertop Height
- Bottom of Upper Cabinets
- Hanging Height
- Ceiling Height
These reference levels provide a consistent framework for creating elevations and sections while reducing project setup time.
If your project requires custom installation heights, these levels can easily be adjusted to suit the design.
If you no longer wish to see the levels while working, they can be hidden at any time without affecting the model or removing the level from the project.
## Pre-Configured Cabinet Schedule
The Artcraft Template includes a cabinet schedule that has already been configured for the Artcraft workflow.
As Artcraft cabinet families are placed into the model, their information is automatically organized within the schedule.
This schedule is specifically designed to support exporting cabinet information from Revit and preparing it for import into Accolades, eliminating the need to manually build cabinet lists.
## Standard Project Views
The template includes a collection of standard project views that are ready to use.
These include:
- Floor Plans
- Elevations
- Sections
- 3D Views
Having these views already established provides a consistent project structure and makes navigating your project much easier.
## Consistent Project Standards
Because every Artcraft project begins with the same template, all designers are working from a common set of standards.
This creates consistency across projects, simplifies collaboration, and helps ensure documentation follows the same format from project to project.
It also helps ensure that cabinet schedules and project information are organized correctly for the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow.
## Why Artcraft Uses a Template
The Artcraft Template is much more than a convenient starting file.
It has been specifically developed to support the complete Artcraft workflow—from design and documentation through scheduling, pricing, and ordering.
By beginning every project with the Artcraft Template, designers can eliminate repetitive setup work while ensuring their projects are structured correctly for exporting information into Accolades.
## Best Practices
- Start every new project using the Artcraft Template.
- Save the template in a permanent location so it can be easily accessed for future projects.
- Customize the title block with your own company logo if desired.
- Use the pre-configured levels as reference guides throughout the design process.
- Review the cabinet schedule before exporting information to Accolades.
- Modify the project—not the template itself.
## Key Takeaway
The Artcraft Revit Template provides a ready-to-use project foundation that includes professional drawing sheets, customizable title blocks, kitchen design reference levels, standard project views, and an Accolades-compatible cabinet schedule.
Using the template for every new project promotes consistency, improves efficiency, reduces setup time, and creates a seamless workflow from design through pricing and ordering.
# Downloading the Artcraft Revit Template & Family Library
## Overview
Before you can begin designing Artcraft kitchens in Revit, you'll need to download two resources:
- The **Artcraft Revit Template**
- The **Artcraft Revit Family Library**
These files are available directly within your Accolades account and should only need to be downloaded once. Once installed, you'll use them as the foundation for every new Artcraft project.
## Downloading the Artcraft Template
To download the Artcraft Template:
1. Log in to your **Akolades** account.
2. Navigate to **Quotes**.
3. Open any active quote.
4. Click the **Magnifying Glass** icon.
5. Select the **Technical** tab.
6. Scroll to **Artcraft 3D Revit Families**.
7. Select the **Resources** tab.
8. Click **Download** beside the Artcraft Revit Template.
We recommend saving the template in a location that is easy to remember, as you'll use it every time you begin a new Artcraft project.
## Downloading the Artcraft Family Library
While still within the **Artcraft 3D Revit Families** section, you'll notice several tabs, including:
- Base
- Upper
- Tall
- Wardrobe
- And more
These tabs contain all of the Artcraft cabinet families currently available within the Artcraft catalog.
If a cabinet appears within these tabs, a corresponding Revit Family exists for that product.
Download the families you require and save them in a dedicated folder alongside your Artcraft Template.
Keeping your family library organized will make it easier to locate and load content into future projects.
If you are missing a family you need, contact and we will work to get the family made for you.
## Loading Families into Revit
Once downloaded, there are two methods for loading families into your project.
### Method 1 – Load Family
Within Revit, use the **Load Family** command and browse to the location where your Artcraft Family Library is stored.
### Method 2 – Load into Project and Close
Open the family file directly.
Once the family is open, select **Load into Project and Close**.
The family will be loaded into your active project, and Revit will return you to your drawing.
If Revit prompts you to overwrite an existing family, always select:
**Overwrite the existing version and its parameter values.**
This ensures that the latest family definition is used within your project.
## Best Practices
- Download the Artcraft Template only once and store it in a permanent location.
- Keep your Artcraft Family Library organized in a dedicated folder.
- Start every new project using the Artcraft Template.
- Load only the families required for the project you're designing.
- Periodically check Accolades for updated templates and family files to ensure you're working with the latest Artcraft content.
## Why It Matters
The Artcraft Revit Template and Family Library have been developed to work together as part of the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow.
Using the latest template and cabinet families helps ensure that your projects follow Artcraft standards and that cabinet information is structured correctly for scheduling, pricing, and importing into Accolades.
Starting every project with the correct files provides the best foundation for accurate design, efficient documentation, and a seamless transition from Revit to ordering.
# Important Nuances: Setting Up Your First Artcraft Revit Project
## Overview
Once you've downloaded the Artcraft Revit Template, you're ready to create your first Artcraft project.
Every new kitchen should begin by creating a **new project** from the Artcraft Template.
This ensures that every project starts with the same standards, schedules, sheets, levels, and settings that support the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow.
## Before You Begin
Before opening Revit, make sure you've saved the Artcraft Template in a location that is easy to find.
You'll only need to download the template once, but you'll use it every time you start a new Artcraft project.
Keeping the template in a dedicated folder makes it quick and easy to locate whenever you begin a new design.
## Creating a New Project
To begin:
1. Open Revit.
2. Select **New Project**.
3. Under **Template File**, click **Browse**.
4. Navigate to the location where you saved the Artcraft Revit Template.
5. Select the template and click **Open**.
6. Confirm that **Project** is selected.
7. Click **OK**.
Revit will now create a brand-new project using the Artcraft Template as its starting point.
## Save Your Project
Before beginning any design work, save your project immediately.
Select **File → Save As** and choose a meaningful project name.
Many dealers use the client's name, project address, or internal job number as the project name.
Saving your project at the beginning helps keep your work organized and reduces the risk of losing progress.
## Verify Your Project
Once your project has opened, take a moment to confirm that the template loaded successfully.
You should see:
- Standard project views
- Pre-built drawing sheets
- The Artcraft title block
- Kitchen design reference levels
- The pre-configured cabinet schedule
If these items are present, your project has been created correctly and you're ready to begin designing.
## Best Practices
- Store the Artcraft Template in a permanent, easy-to-find location.
- Always create a **New Project** from the template.
- Never design directly within the template file.
- Save your project immediately after creating it.
- Use a consistent project naming convention for easier organization.
## Why It Matters
Starting every project from the Artcraft Template provides a consistent foundation for design, documentation, scheduling, pricing, and ordering.
Rather than spending time configuring Revit for every new project, you can begin designing immediately, knowing that your project is already structured to support the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow.
# Linking a CAD or PDF file
## Overview
As you become more familiar with the Artcraft Revit workflow, we encourage you to begin new projects directly in Revit whenever possible. Starting a project in Revit from the beginning allows you to take full advantage of Building Information Modeling (BIM), including intelligent cabinet families, automatic schedules, coordinated views, and a streamlined Design-to-Order workflow.
However, there may be situations where you've already started a project in AutoCAD or have received an architectural floor plan in DWG format from a client, architect, or builder. In these cases, importing a CAD drawing into Revit can be an excellent way to transition an existing project into the Artcraft Revit workflow.
## Importing an AutoCAD Drawing
To bring an AutoCAD drawing into Revit:
1. Open your Revit project.
2. Navigate to the **Insert** tab.
3. Select **Import CAD** (or **Link CAD**, depending on your preferred workflow).
4. Browse to the DWG file you wish to use.
5. Select the desired import settings and click **Open**.
Once imported, the CAD drawing can be used as a reference for laying out walls, placing cabinetry, and building your Revit model.
## Why Import a CAD File?
Importing an existing AutoCAD drawing allows you to continue working on projects that have already begun without having to redraw the entire floor plan.
The CAD drawing becomes a reference beneath your Revit model, allowing you to trace walls, verify dimensions, and accurately position cabinetry while taking advantage of Revit's intelligent modeling tools.
Rather than continuing to draft in 2D, you'll be building a true 3D model that automatically generates plans, elevations, sections, schedules, and presentation views.
## The Benefits of Transitioning to Revit
Once your CAD drawing has been imported, all new design work should be completed using native Revit elements and Artcraft cabinet families.
As you place Artcraft cabinets, you're no longer simply drawing geometry—you are creating an intelligent model that contains product information used throughout the design, scheduling, pricing, and ordering process.
This provides several important advantages:
- Automatic generation of floor plans, elevations, sections, and 3D views from a single model.
- Changes made anywhere in the model automatically update throughout every view.
- Cabinet schedules are generated directly from the model, eliminating manual counting and data entry.
- Cabinet information can be exported for use within Accolades, supporting a faster and more accurate quoting process.
- Improved visualization through realistic 3D models and renderings, making it easier to identify design conflicts and communicate ideas with clients.
## Best Practice
Importing a CAD drawing is an excellent way to transition existing projects into Revit.
However, for new projects, we recommend beginning directly in Revit whenever possible. This allows you to take full advantage of the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow from the very beginning, eliminating unnecessary drafting steps and maximizing the benefits of intelligent modeling.
Think of an imported CAD file as a starting reference—not the final drawing. As your Revit model develops, it becomes the primary source of project information, providing the foundation for documentation, scheduling, pricing, and ultimately, ordering through Accolades.
# Drawing Walls
Before placing cabinets, you'll first need to create the room or space you'll be designing.
In Revit, walls define the room and provide the surfaces that cabinets will snap to during placement.
To begin, navigate to the **Architecture** tab and select the **Wall** tool.
Once the Wall tool is active, click anywhere in your floor plan to define the starting point of the wall.
There are two ways to create the wall length.
The first method is to simply click and drag your mouse to the desired location, then click again to finish the wall.
The second method is to click the starting point and type the desired wall length directly from your keyboard.
If you're working in metric, simply enter the desired dimension, such as **2000** for 2000 millimetres.
If you're working from an imperial drawing or field measurement, you can also type dimensions using feet and inches. For example, entering **80"** will create an 80-inch wall, even if your project is using metric units.
Revit automatically converts the measurement for you, allowing you to work comfortably with either measurement system.
Continue drawing walls until you've created the basic outline of the room.
At this stage, the goal is simply to establish the room boundaries—not to create a detailed architectural model.
These walls will provide the reference points that Artcraft cabinets use when snapping into position.
If you need to adjust a wall after it's been created, simply select it and drag either endpoint or use the temporary dimensions to make quick adjustments.
Once your room is complete, you're ready to begin loading and placing Artcraft cabinet families into the project.
# Using Levels
## Overview
Levels are horizontal reference planes used throughout Revit to establish consistent heights within a project.
In kitchen design, levels help define the vertical position of cabinetry, countertops, and other architectural elements.
Rather than measuring heights manually every time you create an elevation or section, the Artcraft Template includes a series of pre-configured levels that provide a consistent starting point for every project.
## Why Artcraft Uses Levels
The Artcraft Template has been configured with standard kitchen reference levels to save time and improve consistency between projects.
These levels provide a visual reference when placing cabinets and reviewing elevations, helping ensure that cabinetry is positioned correctly throughout the design.
They also make it easier to communicate design intent between designers, project managers, installers, and manufacturing.
## Standard Levels Included in the Artcraft Template
The Artcraft Template includes the following reference levels:
- Toe-Kick Height
- Base Cabinet Height
- Countertop Height
- Bottom of Upper Cabinets
- Hanging Height
- Ceiling Height
These levels represent common reference points used during kitchen design and can be adjusted if a project requires different heights.
## Modifying Levels
If your project requires custom cabinet heights or unique installation conditions, levels can be modified to suit the project.
To adjust a level:
1. Open an Elevation view.
2. Select the level you wish to modify.
3. Enter the desired elevation value or drag the level to its new location.
Any changes should be made thoughtfully, as these reference levels are intended to provide consistency throughout the project.
## Using Levels During Design
As you design your kitchen, use the levels as visual guides for placing cabinetry.
For example:
- Base cabinets should generally align with the Base Cabinet Height level.
- Countertops align with the Countertop Height level.
- Upper cabinets can be positioned using the Bottom of Upper Cabinets and Hanging Height levels.
- Toe-kicks can be checked against the Toe-Kick Height level.
These reference points help create consistent elevations while reducing the need for repeated measurements.
## Hiding Levels
The reference levels included in the Artcraft Template are intended to help you during project setup and while creating elevations and sections.
Once you're comfortable with the layout, you may decide that you no longer need to see the level lines while working.
Levels can be hidden at any time without affecting your project or changing the underlying model.
Simply select the level, right-click, and choose **Hide in View**, or use Revit's visibility controls to temporarily hide level annotations within the current view.
This can help create a cleaner workspace while still allowing you to reveal the levels again whenever they're needed.
Remember, hiding a level only affects its visibility in the current view. The level itself remains part of the project and continues to function as a reference for your design.
## Best Practices
- Begin every project using the levels provided in the Artcraft Template.
- Modify levels only when the project requires custom installation heights.
- Use levels as reference guides rather than manually calculating cabinet heights.
- Verify level placement before creating elevations and sections.
## Why It Matters
The pre-configured levels in the Artcraft Template are designed to eliminate repetitive setup work and establish a consistent framework for every project.
Combined with the template's pre-built sheets and cabinet schedules, they help create a standardized workflow that improves drawing quality, reduces setup time, and supports the Artcraft Design-to-Order process.
# Placing and Modifying Artcraft Cabinets
## Overview
Once your room has been created, you're ready to begin placing and modifying Artcraft cabinet families.
Artcraft Revit Families have been developed specifically for the Artcraft product catalog and are designed to closely mirror the same options and modifications available within Accolades.
This consistency allows information created during the design process to flow more efficiently into scheduling, pricing, and ordering.
## Placing Cabinets
Cabinets can only be placed while working in a **Floor Plan** or **3D View**.
They cannot be placed from an Elevation view.
To place a cabinet:
1. Navigate to the **Architecture** tab.
2. Select **Component** > **Place a Component**.
3. Choose the desired cabinet family from the drop-down list.
4. Move your cursor into the drawing area.
5. Click to place the cabinet.
As you move the cabinet near a wall, Revit automatically snaps it into position, making it easy to create accurate layouts.
## Loading Cabinet Families
The **Place a Component** drop-down only displays families that have already been loaded into the current project.
If the cabinet you need does not appear in the list, it must first be loaded.
There are two methods for loading Artcraft Families.
### Method 1 – Load Family
Use the **Load Family** command and browse to the location where your Artcraft Family Library is stored.
### Method 2 – Load into Project and Close
Open the family file directly.
Once the family is open, select **Load into Project and Close**.
This loads the family into your active project and returns you to your drawing.
As a best practice, avoid saving changes directly to the family file unless you intentionally want to modify the source family.
If Revit displays an overwrite prompt while loading a family, always choose:
**Overwrite the existing version and its parameter values.**
This ensures that the latest family information is loaded into your project.
## Moving Cabinets
To reposition a cabinet, simply select it and either:
- Drag it to a new location, or
- Use the **Move** tool from the Modify tab.
As you move the cabinet, Revit automatically snaps to nearby walls, cabinets, and reference points to help maintain alignment.
Temporary dimensions can also be used to position cabinets more precisely.
## Modifying Cabinets
After selecting a cabinet, you'll find a variety of parameters within the **Properties** palette.
These parameters control both the cabinet dimensions and the available Artcraft modifications.
### Cabinet Dimensions (Red)
The most common modifications are the cabinet dimensions:
- Width
- Height
- Depth
These parameters are displayed in **red** and correspond directly to the dimensional information used within Accolades.
Changing these values immediately updates the cabinet throughout the model.
### Hinging
Many cabinet families allow you to control the door hinging and swing direction.
Adjusting the hinging allows the cabinet to better suit the intended layout while maintaining the correct Artcraft product definition.
### Front Resizing (Green)
Certain cabinet families include front resizing options.
For example, a DB3 cabinet allows the drawer front heights to be adjusted while maintaining the overall cabinet size.
These parameters are displayed in **green** and provide additional design flexibility without changing the cabinet's core construction.
### Cabinet Modifications (Blue)
Artcraft families also include a variety of custom modifications displayed in **blue**.
Examples include:
- Recessed bottom on upper cabinets
- Recessed legs for toe-kicks
- Door reveal adjustments
These modifications mirror the same options available within Accolades, creating a consistent workflow between design and ordering.
## Automatic Model Updates
Because Artcraft cabinets are parametric Revit families, every modification updates automatically throughout the project.
If you change a cabinet's size or configuration, Revit immediately updates:
- Floor Plans
- Elevations
- Sections
- 3D Views
- Cabinet Schedules
This eliminates the need to manually update multiple drawings and helps maintain consistency across the entire project.
## Best Practices
- Place cabinets from a Floor Plan or 3D View.
- Load only the families required for your project.
- Use the Properties palette to modify cabinets rather than creating custom geometry.
- Use the colour-coded parameters to quickly identify dimension changes, front resizing, and custom modifications.
- Remember that Artcraft Revit Families are designed to closely mirror the options available within Accolades, helping create a seamless Design-to-Order workflow.
## Key Takeaway
Artcraft Revit Families are much more than 3D cabinet models.
They contain the information, parameters, and product logic needed to support the complete Artcraft Design-to-Order process.
By designing with Artcraft Families, you're not only creating an accurate model—you're also preparing the information that will later be used for scheduling, pricing, and ordering through Accolades.
# Adding Dimensions
## Overview
Dimensions are one of the most important tools for communicating your design. They clearly define cabinet locations, wall lengths, appliance openings, and other critical measurements that installers, project managers, and clients rely on throughout the project.
One of the biggest advantages of Revit is that dimensions remain connected to the model. Rather than manually updating dimensions every time a design changes, Revit automatically updates them whenever the model is modified. This helps improve accuracy while reducing repetitive work.
## Adding the Dimension Tool to Your Quick Access Toolbar
Since dimensioning is one of the most frequently used tools in Revit, we recommend adding it to your Quick Access Toolbar.
To do this:
1. Navigate to the **Annotate** tab.
2. Locate the **Aligned Dimension** tool.
3. Right-click the command.
4. Select **Add to Quick Access Toolbar**.
This places the Dimension tool at the top of the Revit window, allowing you to access it quickly regardless of which ribbon tab you're working in.
## Creating Dimensions
To create dimensions:
1. Navigate to the **Annotate** tab.
2. Select **Aligned Dimension**.
3. Click the elements you want to dimension, such as walls, cabinets, or reference points.
4. Click again to place the dimension line.
Revit automatically creates clean, accurate dimensions based on the elements you've selected.
## Customizing Dimension Styles
Dimension styles can be customized to match your company's drafting standards.
To modify a dimension style, select an existing dimension and click **Edit Type** in the Properties palette.
From here, you can control a variety of settings including:
- Text size
- Text font
- Arrowheads
- Tick marks
- Line weights
- Precision and rounding
- Units displayed
You can also choose whether your dimensions display in **metric**, **imperial**, or both.
This allows you to produce drawing packages that match your office standards or the requirements of a specific project.
If your projects regularly involve both Canadian and U.S. measurements, displaying both metric and imperial dimensions can improve communication and reduce confusion during installation.
## Automatic Dimension Updates
Because dimensions are associated directly with the Revit model, they update automatically whenever the design changes.
For example, if you:
- Move a cabinet
- Resize a cabinet
- Adjust a wall location
- Modify the layout
the associated dimensions update automatically without requiring manual edits.
This is one of the major advantages of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and helps ensure your documentation always stays coordinated with your design.
## Best Practices
- Add the Dimension tool to your Quick Access Toolbar for faster access.
- Dimension from meaningful reference points, such as walls, cabinet faces, and appliance openings.
- Keep dimension strings clean and easy to read.
- Avoid duplicate or unnecessary dimensions that may clutter the drawing.
- Review dimensions after major design revisions to ensure the drawings clearly communicate your design intent.
## Why It Matters
Well-dimensioned drawings are easier to understand, easier to review, and easier to build.
Combined with Revit's intelligent modeling capabilities, automatic dimensions help reduce drafting time, improve accuracy, and ensure that everyone involved in the project is working from the same coordinated information.
# How to Create a Section
## Overview
Section views are one of Revit's most powerful documentation tools.
A section allows you to cut through your model and view it from the side, making it easier to understand the vertical relationship between cabinets, countertops, walls, ceilings, and other architectural elements.
Because section views are generated directly from the Revit model, they remain fully coordinated with your project and automatically update whenever the design changes.
## Why Use Sections?
Section views provide valuable information that cannot always be seen in a floor plan.
They are commonly used to:
- Verify cabinet heights
- Review countertop elevations
- Check appliance clearances
- Confirm the relationship between upper and lower cabinets
- Communicate construction details to installers
- Produce professional drawing packages for clients and contractors
Rather than creating separate drawings, Revit automatically generates section views from the same intelligent model used to create your plans, elevations, and 3D views.
## Creating a Section
To create a section:
1. Open a Floor Plan view.
2. Navigate to the **View** tab.
3. Select **Section**.
4. Click once to define the starting point of the section line.
5. Click again to define the end point.
6. Move your cursor to choose the viewing direction.
7. Click once more to complete the section.
A section marker will now appear in your floor plan.
To open the section, simply double-click the section marker or select the section from the **Project Browser**.
## Working with Section Views
Once the section is open, you can:
- Pan and zoom through the model.
- Review cabinet alignment.
- Verify installation heights.
- Check clearances and construction details.
- Add dimensions and annotations.
Sections can also be placed onto drawing sheets alongside floor plans and elevations as part of your final drawing package.
## Automatic Updates
One of the greatest advantages of working in Revit is that section views remain connected to the model.
If you:
- Move a cabinet
- Resize a cabinet
- Modify a wall
- Adjust cabinet heights
- Change the room layout
the section view updates automatically.
This eliminates the need to redraw construction details and helps ensure that every drawing remains coordinated throughout the project.
## Best Practices
- Place sections through the most important areas of the kitchen, such as appliance walls, islands, or tall cabinet runs.
- Use sections to verify vertical relationships before finalizing your design.
- Add dimensions and notes where additional clarification is required.
- Review section views before issuing drawings to ensure the design is complete and coordinated.
## Why It Matters
Section views help transform a floor plan into a complete set of construction documents.
They improve communication, reduce installation questions, and allow designers, project managers, and installers to clearly understand how the project is intended to be built.
Combined with Revit's intelligent modeling capabilities, section views automatically remain synchronized with your design, helping produce more accurate drawings while reducing repetitive drafting work.
# Understanding Cabinet Schedules
## Overview
One of the greatest advantages of using Revit with the Artcraft workflow is the ability to automatically generate cabinet schedules directly from your design.
Rather than manually counting cabinets and creating cabinet lists, Revit extracts information directly from the Artcraft cabinet families you've placed within the model.
This schedule becomes the bridge between design, pricing, and ordering.
## What is a Cabinet Schedule?
A cabinet schedule is a table that organizes the information stored within each Artcraft cabinet family.
Every cabinet placed in your project contains information such as:
- Cabinet Type
- Width
- Height
- Depth
- Quantity
- Shell Code
- Master Code
- Other Artcraft parameters
Rather than entering this information manually, Revit automatically reads it from the model and organizes it into a schedule.
Each row represents a cabinet, while each column represents information associated with that cabinet.
## Where Does the Information Come From?
The schedule is not created manually.
Instead, it is generated directly from the Artcraft cabinet families placed within your project.
Every time you place a cabinet, modify its dimensions, or change one of its parameters, the schedule updates automatically.
Because the schedule is connected to the model, there is no need to maintain separate cabinet lists or manually recount cabinets after every design revision.
## Why Cabinet Schedules Matter
For many Revit users, schedules are simply another form of documentation.
For Artcraft dealers, they serve a much larger purpose.
The cabinet schedule is the link between your Revit model and Accolades.
Rather than manually entering cabinet information into the ordering system, the schedule contains the information that will later be exported and prepared for import into Accolades.
This significantly reduces manual data entry while improving both speed and accuracy.
## Automatic Updates
One of the biggest advantages of Revit is that schedules remain connected to the model.
If you:
- Add a cabinet
- Delete a cabinet
- Resize a cabinet
- Modify cabinet parameters
- Change the layout
the schedule updates automatically.
This ensures that your cabinet list always reflects the current design.
## Reviewing Your Schedule
Before exporting your schedule, it's good practice to review the information for accuracy.
Check that:
- Every cabinet appears in the schedule.
- Cabinet dimensions are correct.
- Shell Codes and Master Codes are correct.
- Quantities appear as expected.
- No cabinets are missing.
Spending a few moments reviewing the schedule before export can help prevent errors later in the quoting and ordering process.
## Best Practices
- Allow Revit to generate the schedule automatically.
- Avoid manually recreating cabinet lists outside of Revit.
- Review schedules after significant design changes.
- Confirm cabinet information before exporting.
- Remember that any change made to the model is automatically reflected in the schedule.
## Why It Matters
The cabinet schedule is one of the most important components of the Artcraft Design-to-Order workflow.
It transforms your Revit model from a collection of 3D cabinets into structured product information that can be used for pricing, quoting, and ordering.
By eliminating manual cabinet counting and duplicate data entry, schedules help improve accuracy, reduce repetitive work, and create a seamless connection between Revit and Accolades.
In short, the schedule is what allows your design to become an order.
# Drawing Linears
Coming Soon:
Drawing Toe Kick
Setting Toe Kick Height
Drawing Light Valence
Drawing a Crown
Understanding Chains