How to set the color of cable trays

You can set cable tray colors in Revit using Object Styles, View Filters, materials, or Dynamo scripts depending on whether you want to color all trays, specific types, or automate the process.

Using Object Styles for Category-Wide Color

1. Go to the Manage tab on the Ribbon and select Object Styles.
2. Switch to the Model Objects tab and locate Cable Tray.
3. Click the color box next to Cable Tray to open the color selection dialog.
4. Choose a new color from the palette or define a custom RGB/HEX value.
5. Click OK or Apply to confirm. This changes the color for all cable trays in the project .

Using View Filters for Specific Types

1. Navigate to the View tab and select Visibility/Graphics (shortcut VG).
2. Scroll to the Filters section and create a new filter for cable trays based on parameters like Type, Service Type, or Size.
3. Apply the filter to the view and set the Surface Pattern to Solid Fill with the desired color.
4. This method allows different cable trays to display distinct colors in the same view .

Applying Materials for Export or Instance Overrides

1. Assign a material to the cable tray in the Properties Palette.
2. Navisworks and other export tools recognize materials, so this ensures colors are preserved when exporting.
3. You can also use the Paint tool in Revit to color individual trays without affecting the entire category .

Automating with Dynamo Scripts

1. Dynamo scripts can color code cable trays based on parameters like Type, Elevation, Service Type, Size, Width, or Height.
2. The script performs a view override and can generate a legend showing which color corresponds to each value.
3. Always back up your project before running scripts to avoid unintended changes .

Tips

• For quick visual differentiation, View Filters are often the most flexible method.
• Use Object Styles for consistent, project-wide color standards.
• Combine materials and filters if you need both export compatibility and visual differentiation in Revit views.
• Consider creating a legend view to document the color coding for coordination and documentation purposes .