Revit Tip: Control View-Specific Annotations with Visibility/Graphics (VV/VG)

Use Visibility/Graphics Overrides (VV/VG) to precisely control annotations per view without breaking standards or resorting to one-off hides.

Why this matters

• Clarifies drawings by surfacing only the tags, symbols, and markers needed for each view’s purpose.
• Prevents ad hoc “Hide in View” actions that degrade consistency and increase QA/QC risk.
• Keeps model geometry untouched while you tailor documentation output.

Quick setup workflow (per view)

• Open VV/VG (shortcut: VV or VG) and switch to the Annotation Categories tab.
• Toggle only the annotation categories you need: e.g., Door Tags, Room Tags, Elevation/Section Marks, Grids, Levels, Reference Planes, Generic Annotations, Text Notes, Dimensions, Keynotes, Color Fill Legends.
• Use Halftone for de-emphasis (e.g., existing-level grids or non-primary notes) instead of turning them off.
• Leverage Object Styles for global, project-wide line weights/colors; use VV/VG for view-specific overrides.
• Enable Annotation Crop (View Properties) so tags and symbols outside the crop don’t bleed into the sheet.

Linked models and their annotations

• Select a Revit Link in the view > Display Settings > choose By Linked View or Custom.
• In the Annotations settings for the link, set “From Linked View” to mirror the consultant’s documentation, or “Custom” to selectively show/hide categories.
• Remember: tags from a linked model reference the linked elements, not your host model—use thoughtfully for coordination or background purposes.
• Decide which team “owns” grids/levels/section marks to avoid duplicates; typically show them from only one source.

Patterns that work

• Documentation plan: show object tags (doors, windows, rooms), hide dimensions and reference planes, halftone grids.
• Coordination plan: show grids, levels, section/elevation marks, system tags (MEP), hide most notes.
• RCP: show ceiling-based tags and symbols; hide floor-focused tags and section heads that clutter the ceiling view.
• Permit/export views: limit to required tag types; keep keynotes and legends visible; halftone non-authoritative annotations.

Filters vs annotations

• View Filters do not control annotation categories. If you need different tag visibility by discipline or phase, use separate views with View Templates (which store VV/VG settings).
• For symbols built as Generic Annotations, consider subcategories in the family for finer control via VV/VG.

QA/QC guardrails

• Avoid Hide in View by Element/Category for annotations—encode the rule in VV/VG, then lock it with a View Template.
• Resolve duplicate or conflicting annotation sources across links before sheet production.
• Audit “Annotation Crop” and “Detail Level” on sheeted views to maintain consistent graphics.

Performance and governance

• Keep multiple annotation-focused View Templates (Documentation, Coordination, RCP, Export) and apply them in bulk.
• Document standards in your BIM Execution Plan; train teams to use VV/VG first, element overrides last.

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