Keynotes allow designers unable to access NBS plug-ins to annotate drawings and model objects with references to NBS Chorus specifications via text lists.
Plug-in alternative
Using keynotes with NBS
Introduction to Keynotes
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.
What are keynotes?
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 it works the same way as multicategory and material tags, pulling clause information from 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).
NBS Chorus specifications
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.
Creating custom keynote files
Uniclass classification tables can be downloaded in Excel format from the Uniclass web tool and customised 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.)
Comparison of Keynotes vs. NBS plug-in functionality
