Mastering Revit Keynotes & Annotation Legends with Brian Mackey

BIM Pure
BIM PureMar 2, 2026

Why It Matters

Efficient keynote scheduling in Revit improves project coordination and reduces errors, accelerating delivery for AEC firms.

Key Takeaways

  • Generic annotation families can be scheduled without shared parameters.
  • Use note blocks to filter and sort keynotes by type and number.
  • Red text indicates internal working schedules; naming conventions control order.
  • Filter‑by‑sheet option limits schedule view to notes present on that sheet.
  • Instance vs. type parameters affect visibility and editing of keynote values.

Summary

The video is a replay of a live master class on Revit keynotes and annotation legends, hosted by Brian Mackey, focusing on best practices for creating, scheduling, and managing keynotes, tags, and generic annotation families.

Mackey explains that generic annotation families (note blocks) can be scheduled without shared parameters by adding a label, allowing users to view keynote numbers, values, and types. He demonstrates sorting by keynote number, filtering by type (plan vs elevation), and using itemization settings.

He shares practical tips such as using red text for internal schedules, prefixing schedule names with “Z” or underscores for ordering, and leveraging the filter‑by‑sheet feature to display only notes present on a given sheet. He also discusses instance vs type parameters for toggling visibility of values.

These techniques streamline documentation, reduce manual tracking, and improve coordination between architects and contractors, ultimately saving time and minimizing errors in BIM projects.

Original Description

In this live masterclass excerpt, Brian Mackey explores best practices for Revit keynotes & symbols legends and schedules.
Unlock all live masterclasses: https://bimpure.com
Learn how to create a note system using generic annotations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK9caWfXSWk
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
1:30 - Scheduling Notes
6:05 - Red text in schedules
6:40 - Organizing schedules
8:00 - Using Type-based Notes
11:06 - Showing text of notes
15:22 - Placing keynotes / symbols
19:03 - Note bubbles in legend
22:50 - Rename schedules tricks
33:05 - Keynotes legends
35:22 - CSI keynoting
36:30 - Keynotes vs symbols
37:20 - Keynotes by sheet (avoid)
39:44 - Dumb tables

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