Make Pattern — BIMO Documentation

Make Pattern creates a Revit fill pattern from detail curves drawn in the active view. The selected curves define the pattern graphics, while two picked points define the rectangular repeat domain.

The command can create either a drafting pattern or a model pattern. It can also create a square Filled Region sample that uses the new pattern.

Find the command in BIMO > Model > Make Pattern.

When To Use It

Convert a detail-line sketch into a reusable Revit fill pattern.
Create custom hatches without preparing or importing a .pat file.
Build separate presets for common model-pattern and drafting-pattern workflows.
Place a quick Filled Region sample to inspect the result in the active view.

Requirements

An active Revit project document is required.
Work in a view where Revit allows detail curves and point picking.
The source elements must be DetailCurve instances in the host document.
Draw the source geometry as one repeatable tile.
Be ready to pick two opposite corners of the pattern domain after selecting the curves.
Creating a sample requires an active view that supports Filled Regions and at least one existing FilledRegionType that BIMO can duplicate.

Linked-model elements are not processed.

Configure The Command

Open BIMO > Stay up to date > Open Settings, select Make Pattern, and configure the required values.

Setting	Default	Behavior
Pattern name	`Fill Pattern Name`	Name of the new Revit fill pattern. The name must not already exist.
Region name	`Filled Region Name`	Name of the optional Filled Region type created for the sample.
Model	Off	Off creates a drafting pattern; on creates a model pattern.
Masking	Off	Controls whether the optional sample Filled Region type is masking.
Create region sample	On	Creates a square Filled Region sample after creating the pattern.
Sample segment length	`5000` mm	Side length of the optional square sample.

Make Pattern supports BIMO presets and preset variants. Use separate presets when you regularly need different pattern names, pattern targets, or sample settings.

How To Use It

Draw the repeating motif with detail lines in the active view.
Select the required detail curves, or leave them unselected and run the command.
Run BIMO > Model > Make Pattern.
When no valid detail curves were preselected, select them in the Revit picker and finish the selection.
Pick two opposite corners of the rectangular repeat domain. The domain should contain the intended repeating tile.
BIMO creates the fill pattern using the current settings.
When Create region sample is enabled, BIMO creates a Filled Region type and places a square sample in the active view.

Other preselected element types are ignored. If the preselection contains no detail curves, the manual picker opens.

How The Pattern Is Built

Straight detail curves are converted into line-based pattern grids.
Arcs, ellipses, and NURBS curves are tessellated into straight segments.
A model pattern uses model dimensions from the selected geometry and picked domain.
A drafting pattern is adjusted using the scale of the active view.
The generated pattern is stored as a FillPatternElement in the current document.

The selected curves are not deleted or modified.

Optional Filled Region Sample

When Create region sample is enabled, BIMO:

duplicates the first available Filled Region type in the document;
assigns the new fill pattern as its foreground pattern;
sets the foreground color to black;
applies the configured Masking value;
creates a square Filled Region in the active view.

Other properties inherited from the duplicated type are not explicitly reset by the command.

If one or more Filled Region types already use the configured Region name, BIMO asks whether to replace them. Declining the replacement cancels sample creation.

Result And Undo

The fill pattern is created in a transaction named Create Fill Pattern. The optional Filled Region type and sample are created in a separate transaction named Creating filled region sample.

Because these are separate operations, the pattern can remain in the document when sample creation is canceled or fails. You may also need more than one Revit Undo action to remove both the sample and the pattern.

Warnings And Model Impact

The command modifies the current Revit document by creating new element types and, optionally, a Filled Region instance.
A fill pattern with the same name is not overwritten. BIMO reports the conflict and cancels the operation.
Replacing a same-named Filled Region type deletes the existing matching type before creating the new one. Existing Filled Regions that use that type can be affected or deleted by Revit.
The optional sample is based on the first Filled Region type returned by the document, so it can inherit properties that are not shown in Make Pattern settings.
Curved source geometry is approximated with straight segments.
Review the generated pattern at the intended drawing scale before using it in production documentation.

Troubleshooting

Problem	What To Check
BIMO says that the fill pattern name already exists	Choose a unique Pattern name. Existing fill patterns are not replaced.
The manual picker opens despite a preselection	The initial selection contained no valid detail curves.
The pattern repeats at the wrong size	Check the two picked domain corners, the active view scale, and whether Model is enabled.
Curves look faceted in the pattern	Curved detail lines are tessellated into straight segments. Simplify the source geometry or use more suitable linework.
The sample is not created	Confirm that the active view supports Filled Regions and that the document contains at least one Filled Region type.
BIMO asks to replace a Filled Region type	A type already uses the configured Region name. Cancel to preserve it, or use a different name.
The command is canceled but the new fill pattern still exists	The pattern is created before the optional sample and is committed in a separate transaction.

Known Limitations

Uses detail curves from the host document only.
Requires a manually picked rectangular repeat domain.
Does not overwrite an existing fill pattern with the same name.
Generated Revit patterns are line-based; curves are approximated.
The optional sample is always square and is placed only in the active view.
The base Filled Region type used for the sample cannot be selected in the command settings.