"Varies" for Multiple Parameters instead of a blank value

[ntanner]

When you select multiple instances of an element and if they have different parameters it would display 'Varies' in the parameters value rather than a blank white box that appears to be an empty value.  .

This would greatly help when you have items in a schedule that are not sorted with  'Itemize every Instance' checked

 

[jkidder]

I see the point, but see it being more of an issue for values (like a comments field) that can be blank.  I'd prefer to see an option on the Appearance tab (or even more flexibly, the format tab for each parameter) that is blank by default, but when unchecked allows for the user to put in their own text.  Sometimes I might want to see it as blank, especially in a working schedule ,that I'm trying to interpret information quickly and don't need excess text.  Sometimes "Varies" would be fine.  Sometimes I might want to say "See Sheet A-404" or "TBD".  Letting the user enter their own text would also make it easier to adapt to different languages and local conventions.

[ntanner]

@jkidder Thanks for the input.  I guess my idea isn't that is has to say 'Varies' just that it needs a method of displaying values that are different as in the example above with multiple wall heights.  If there was a property such as a fire rating or something that can be empty or have a value it would be good to distinguish it with something so that it doesn't appear that all selected items are blank.  

Maybe it highlights the inside or the border of the box red... or something that would allow a quick glance and not require extra user input to display.

I realize some text parameters may need to actually say 'Varies' so it may not be good to have 'Varies' as the value for multiple elements with different instance parameters.

[Anonymous]

<MULTIPLE VALUES> would be lovely...

[ntanner]

@Anonymous Perfect!

[Anonymous]

This is a user interface/QC disaster waiting to happen when a schedule is not set to "Itemize Every Instance" and an unsuspecting (new) Revit operator changes the ID tags or what-have-you on hundreds of components all because the cell was "blank."

[wrtetro]

For me this would be useful to have this for my length parameters for light fixtures.  It is impossible to schedule every single length for fixtures that are for example in a cove, or LED roll out strips for display cases, under eave or decorative areas...this could equate to 30+ types for the same exact fixture.  I just leave that portion of my schedule blank instead of typing out each instance with a general note to verify fixture lengths shown on plans, but I still get RFIs for this.  I would like to see the same for my multivolt option as well where I have a fixture that can be 120 or 277.  This option would be great for all disciplines.

[Anonymous]

I think we have a few different scenarios needing different solutions:

1. The desire to purposely return and show that the cell has multiple values, e.g. lengths of items in a non-itemized schedule. This could be done with a logic that says, "IF MULTIPLE VALUES, REPORT __________" where the user could fill in their own value, e.g. "VARIES" or "MULTIPLE".
2. The desire to at least show within the properties of multiple-selected objects or within a non-itemized schedule that the parameter simply contains multiple values and is in fact not necessarily blank for all selected items, e.g. <MULTIPLE VALUES>.
3. For bonus, similar to item #1, the chance to report a value if the cell is indeed purposely left blank, e.g. round inlet diameter parameter on a square neck grille in the schedule, e.g. "N/A" or "-".  (How many of us have to put text on top of a schedule to appease the engineer...?) Granted, now with the ability to concatenate data in Revit schedules, we can handle the round/square neck inlets a little better if we want them in the same column.

[wrtetro]

@TFuller1980

I totally agree that there are several different scenarios here that affect all trades...and I hope I never have to place text over a schedule on a sheet and hope I never see anyone do this in my office...SMH.

[YarUnderoaker]

@TFuller1980

As I understand second option - it's must be a list of field values separated by delimiter which define by user. And there must be limit to symbols in one cell due to prevent freezing or crashing process.

With this feature, for example, we can do list all the rooms number with same finishing in one row.

[balazs.trojak]

<varies> is the answer

[pieter5]

@YarUnderoaker Great idea and something we have been hoping for a long time.

We would use it for marks, rooms, comments etc: it would allow us to combine rows in schedules without losing important values in some of the fields. For example: schedule items (chairs) and have a field that lists all the rooms it was placed in.

There's an idea for that idea specifically that I hope will get a lot of support: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/schedules-list-values-vs-blank-cells/idi-p/6773032

Basically, in schedules, I would like to have the option to chose what to do when a value varies:

- enter a label (could be blank by default so the current behavior would still be an option for people who want that, but could also be 'varies' or 'varieert' (in Dutch))

- list the different values

[BTsurumoto]

When viewing the value of a parameter (e.g., "comments") in the properties pallet after selecting various objects in a model: if the objects have different values, by default, Revit displays a blank field rather than providing a message (e.g., "multiple values selected"). If you fill something to the blank field, it will overwrite all values with the newly entered one. If you do not know that some objects already have values filled out, you will not know that you have replaced them with a new value.

[ntanner]

Please consider this other idea too: Improve Current Scale Visibility

[AWGe_gall]

Today when several objects that have the same parameter and these objects are selected, Revit empties the cell.

We therefore confuse the parameters that are really empty with those that have different information.

Indication - VARIOUS - when the information is different would solve this problem and provide a lot of clarity.

____________________

Aujourd'hui quand plusieurs objets qui possèdent le même paramètre et que ces objets sont sélectionnés, Revit vide la cellule.

On confond donc les paramètres réellement vide et ceux qui possèdent des renseignements différents.

L'indication -DIVERS- quand les renseignements sont différents réglerait ce problème et apporterait beaucoup de clarté.

[rasmus.oberg]

Please prioritize this, it's a small tweak to the UI that would be extremely helpful.

[colin.magner]

This is an essential and long overdue requirement.

When editing things like schedules that have sorting/grouping applied it's all to easy to overwrite values because there don't appear to be any.

[erin.card]

Yeah I'd love SOMETHING there.  Ideal situation for my workflow (well, workflow for material schedules) is a concatenate option, that lists each value and is not something that is changeable from the schedule.  Someone else here mentioned something similar.  🙂  

[awasyliw]

For schedules there are a number of ideas (including one of mine) for allowing a cell with various values to list them instead of being blank.

It has been suggested we should have the option (for schedules) of having a multi value cell blank, return "varies", or list all of the results. This would be a really useful addition to scheduling, allowing much greater flexibility in how we present data.

[blro.]

Adding to this. Another option that may be nice to show a range (24-64m²) or (maybe even a labelled average?) in addition to a custom string or a hard-coded "Varies" text when dealing with number values.

[jkidder]

@blro. There is an option to "Calculate Minimum and Maximum" in the format tab.  It will show the values as "24 SF ... 200 SF"