Aside from its many instruments and functionalities for enhancing and smoothing the working experience, the most recent version of the GRAITEC PowerPack for Revit® also includes a feature for simplifying the 3D editing and viewing processes, called Section Box, which allows users to swiftly manage the section box extends in real-time, with a simple mouse scrolling.
In Revit®, the ‘Section Box’ command is used to clip the viewable portion of a 3D view. You can activate it simply by checking the Section Box entry in Properties – Extents.
After enabling the section box, you can modify its extents using ‘drag’ controls in the 3D view. You can also modify extents from other views (e.g.a plan or an elevation view).
It is worth mentioning that the Section box extents are not cropped by the view’s crop area.
Figure 1 - Enabling the Section Box feature
On our add-on, the ‘Section Box’ can be enabled by clicking on it under 3D Views panel of the PowerPack Ribbon.
Figure 2 - "3D Views" category on PowerPack for Revit's ribbon
A major improvement that our tool features is that you can choose on which axis to narrow or expand the section box by simply holding the CTRL key and scrolling. In order to achieve this, you will need to make use of the other options related to this tool: X Axis, Y Axis, Z Axis, Cutting Step, and Reverse Plane.
Figure 3 - Additional options for Section Box usage
To section your model in real-time, hold the CTRL key and scroll using the middle mouse button.
- X,Y,Z Axis
By choosing x, y or z Axis from the drop-down list located at the top right corner of the 3D Views panel, besides the ‘Section Box’ button, you will be able to modify the desired plane to cut through. The axis currently selected is also displayed on the ribbon.
Figure 4 - Cutting the view with X Axis enabled
- Cutting Step
Introducing values followed by symbol units (m, cm, mm, etc.) for the Cutting Step will change the offset dimension with which you cut when scrolling. Simply enter your value and then press <Enter>.
Figure 5 - Cutting the view by changing the Cutting Step value
- Reverse Plane
The last option, Reverse Plane, gives you flexibility with a single click: it enables you to reverse the cutting plane, thus enabling the opposite one and allowing you to modify it according to your desires.
Figure 6 - Cutting the view by using Reverse Plane option