Query Objects in Layers

When you import or link a file to a Revit project, you can query the file for information about its objects.

This allows you to determine the identity of an object and the layer on which it resides. You can also hide the object’s layer or delete it.

1. Open a project view in Revit.
2. Highlight the import symbol for the file, and click to select it.
   Note: If you cannot select a link, enable the Select Links option.

   When you highlight the import symbol, the status bar displays the following:

   <imported file name> : Import Symbol : location <Shared> or <Not Shared>.

3. Click Modify | <File Name> tabImport Instance panel (Query).
4. Select the object to query, as follows:
   • Move the cursor over the import symbol in the view.

     Revit highlights lower-level objects (such as lines) first. Press Tab to switch to highlighting of higher-level objects, such as blocks.

   • Watch the status bar. When it describes the target object, click to select it.

   The Import Instance Query dialog opens and displays the following information:

   • Type: object type
   • Block Name: the block that contains the object, if applicable
   • Layer: the name of the layer containing the object
   • Style By: indicates whether the object style comes from the layer or by color
5. To hide the object’s layer in the current view, click Hide in view.

   The selected layer may still be visible in other views.

   Tip: To see the hidden layer temporarily, click Reveal Hidden Elements on the View Control Bar. To redisplay the layer, click View tabGraphics panelVisibility/Graphics. On the Imported Categories tab, select the layer, and click OK.
6. To delete the object’s layer from the Revit project, click Delete.

   The selected layer is no longer visible in any project views.

7. To close the Import Instance Query dialog, click OK.

   The query editor remains active so that you can select other entities.

8. Press Esc to exit the query editor.