button on
the Model Contents toolbar. This helps in 'de-cluttering' the drawing
so only the relevant information is displayed when measuring.The Model Contents allows selection of objects within a drawing or model, from a defined list.
In the traditional 'Non-BIM' environment, the Model Contents tree displays different items depending on the type of file selected for measurement:
For 2D dwg files, the list will display layer names from
the source drawing. The content on the layers in the Drawing Viewer
can be turned on/off by clicking the show button on
the Model Contents toolbar. This helps in 'de-cluttering' the drawing
so only the relevant information is displayed when measuring.
Options in the Model Contents toolbar provide additional, global control over the display of layer content by clicking the buttons.
· 
Turns all the layers
ON regardless of current status
· 
Turns all the layers
OFF regardless of current status
· 
Inverts the current
display of layers, i.e., all those there were OFF
are turned ON and vice versa.
A typical scenario would be that all the layers are turned off initially and then each turned on, one by one, to assess the content displayed. If useful to the measurement task it can be left on, if not it can be turned off.
Clicking on the "+" icon by layer name will expand the tree list to display the objects on that layer. Clicking in "-" icon will collapse the list.
Options in the Model Contents toolbar provide additional, global control over the tree listings by clicking on the "+" and "-" icons.
Clicking on the + button on the toolbar will expand the tree, clicking on the - button on the toolbar will collapse the tree.
To measure an aspect of something in the Model Contents tree, set the type of measurement to take (Area, Count, Length, Volume) in ribbon: Settings > Next Measurement.
Next Measurement Type of Area selected
In the Model Contents tree, child objects can be selected and dragged to the Measurements window to create a measurement based on the Next Measurement Type. Alternatively, right-click on the item and select 'Add to measurements'.
Block references can also be identified and counted in this fashion, either individually or cumulatively.
For PDF files, by clicking on the light bulb icon against a Page reference multi-sheet pdfs can be opened and activated in turn for measurement. The Model Contents tree displays the list of sheets. The light bulb icons in the toolbar header have no effect for PDF files as only one Page can be active at once.
In the BIMMeasure environment, the Model Contents tree will display the objects contained within a model, by type, in a tree directory.
The tree has inherited the structure from the Revit database based on:
Categories: For example, Doors
Families: For example, ExtSgl
Types: For example, 910 x 2110mm
Instances: For example, [202518]
Highlight used to show the link between the item in the tree and on the model.
Roof objects have been turned off in the tree
There is a dynamic link between the items in the tree and the objects on the model.
Objects can be selected in the tree and they will also be selected in the model, and vice versa.
How they are displayed in the model will depend on the following settings:
The light bulb button in the Model Contents toolbar function in a similar manner as for dwg layers but based on objects.
Invert toggle used to display just the roof objects.