Keynotes allow designers unable to access NBS plug-ins to annotate drawings and model objects with references to NBS Chorus specifications via text lists.
If you’re unable to use the NBS Chorus plug-ins, or you use an alternative modelling platform which is not currently supported by a direct plug-in from NBS, you may choose to use Keynoting functionality to make annotations in your drawn information and reference NBS specification content.
Keynote parameters are included in all modelled elements in Revit, as well as materials and 2D detail components. This information can then be annotated using the Keynote tag and works in the same way that that multicategory and material tags pull the clause information from the objects.
The keynote value is derived from external text files. All files need to be a tab-deliminated text (.txt) file. Once complete, the file needs to be located through Keynote Settings in the Revit platform.
In the UK, NBS specification content is structured by Uniclass or CAWS classifications, and there are additional equivalents for e.g. Uniformat (USA).
For existing NBS Chorus specifications, you can export a list of the contents into a text file by clicking the three-dot menu next to the specification title, and choosing Export to Keynote.
This generates a list of the System and Product classification codes and clause titles in your specification, exported to your Downloads location.
You may choose to edit the keynote file to remove clause references that are not relevant to your model project file, or to re-order the content.
Uniclass classification tables can be downloaded in Excel format from the Uniclass web tool and customized into text files. Consideration should be given to how the different classification tables are represented, either as a single file (for example, just using the Products table) or as multiple tables (using the Elements, Systems, and Products tables.)
| Keynotes | NBS plug-ins | |
| Embed classification codes in modelled elements | ||
| Improved productivity compared to manual annotations | ||
| Use data to add specification legends for drawing sheets | ||
| Direct access to NBS Chorus platform to view specification content and guidance | ||
| List associated and unassociated objects in the project file | ||
| Highlight changes to specification parameters e.g. clause titles and codes and warn when objects are deleted | ||
| Access to latest NBS content and classification tables |
