Revit Tip: Streamline Revit Placement with Create Similar (CS) and Match Type Properties (MA)

Speed up repetitive placement and standardization by mastering Revit’s Create Similar (CS) and Match Type Properties (MA) tools.

Create Similar (CS): precise placement without hunting through the Type Selector

• Select a well-configured element, right-click, and choose Create Similar, or press CS.
• Revit activates the same category and type, carrying forward most placement options so your next instances match the exemplar.
• Before placing, check the Options Bar for context-sensitive settings (e.g., Location Line for walls, elevation/offsets for MEP, Tag on Placement if available).
• Use Tab to cycle through potential hosts or references; use Spacebar to rotate components during placement.
• Stay in placement mode to place consecutive instances; press Esc to finish. Right-click Repeat Create Similar to quickly restart.
• Pro tip: Isolate a reliable exemplar with Temporary Hide/Isolate, then use CS to propagate that standard confidently.

Match Type Properties (MA): enforce consistency after the fact

• Click Modify, choose Match Type Properties, or press MA.
• Pick the source element (the “golden” type), then click any number of compatible target elements to convert them to that type.
• Use Tab to select chains (e.g., connected walls/ducts) and apply MA broadly with fewer clicks.
• Notes:
  • MA changes the element type; instance-level parameters (like instance offsets or marks) are not overwritten.
  • Only compatible categories can be matched (a wall can change to another wall type, not to a floor).
  • Pinned or phased elements may resist changes; unpin and confirm the active view’s Phase where needed.

Combined workflow: fast, clean, and consistent

• Use CS to place new, correct instances directly from a trusted exemplar.
• Sweep through existing views with MA to eliminate one-off or legacy types that slipped in.
• Leverage the Selection Filter to limit MA targets to specific categories or levels when working in dense views.
• For system families (walls, pipes, ducts), validate constraints on the Options Bar after CS and review base/top offsets or slopes to avoid unintended geometry changes.

Quality assurance tips

• Create a “standards” view with a curated set of exemplars for CS. Keep it on a coordination sheet for the whole team.
• After a round of MA, run quick schedules or apply view filters to confirm that only approved types remain.
• Customize shortcuts (KS) so CS and MA are instantly accessible for all team members.

Adopting CS and MA as your default pattern—place with CS, normalize with MA—will significantly reduce clicks, enforce standards, and cut rework. For expert guidance, add-ins, and licensing solutions that complement this workflow, connect with NOVEDGE. Explore training and best-practice toolsets through NOVEDGE and keep your Revit teams moving faster, with fewer errors, every day. Looking to equip new seats or upgrade? Start with NOVEDGE for trusted advice and competitive options.