Ultimately we have more than one add alternate in the project. So, in the case where I have an option set for all of the alternates, how would I go about showing, say, only 3 of the 5 in a particular view? From what I understand, my choice for what shows up in a view is either only one of the options or all...?

Thats why you sometimes put them in seperate Option Sets. If i have option sets:

What color is my shirt (options: red, white, blue, none)
What color are my socks (options: Black, green, orange, none)
What type of pants (Jeans, Dressy, Cargo, none)

Every view shows one OPTION for EACH set, in VG. So i can have (view one) red shirt, black socks, dressy pants; (view two) White shirt, green socks, cargo pants; (view three) Birthday Suit. All pretty quickly.

Doh! Didn't even look in VG. Was setting the option viewable by the Visible In Option setting in the view properties palette...

I am not sure Option Set Pants: Option None is the most appetizing example of the Empty Option pattern. But hey, if it works! And I suspect that may get offered up for POTM voting as well.

Gordon

One more quick question guys - is there a way to make the box next to "Exclude Options" unchecked by default?

No, and trust me when i say: You dont want it unchecked. If youre doing something that requires that box being unchecked, chances are youre going to mess something up. Rooms are bound by objects in options, BOTH the rooms and the boundaries should be in the options. unchecking that box and messing with the option from the Main Model is a prequel to screwing up the room boundaries, which- ive found- is the first cause of people thinking Design Options suck...

Right. Understood. There are some people in my office who hate design options because it feels cumbersome to edit elements in it. Like you say, if you know how to navigate it correctly, it is really not that bad...

The only thing I have to say when starting with DO:
KEEP A BACKUP!!!! Not the standard files Revit creates, but a renamed different file which you can always revert to. Start using DO as late as possible (finish off the base model first) and then start with the DO's. Then, create a new backup at least once a day by using the save as. Just to have backups that don't get overwritten...

This is a great and powerful feature with two big handicaps:
1. You're bound to screwup at least one project before you get the hang of it, don't let this set you back in the use of DO's. Assigning elements to different DO's has to be done at a point that you might not fully oversee the implications or directions of youor future design.
2. It can't be reverted. If you make a mistake in assigning to an option, well you're toast. The only way to undo is using the undo-button but it can easily take a day or so before you figure out you made a mistake at which point it's impossible to undo.

Having said that: I strongly recommend everyone to use this when you have multiple alternates to a design. It's a great tool, which works awesome once you get the hang of it. But when you start: be very very careful.

Unsuccessfully, I searched for MEP input on add alternates and DO use. Does anyone have a tried and true workflow suggestion?

I can recall only one project that has come through our office where the Arch used a DO this way. They hated the result and we had a hell of a time.

Thanks in advance!

My understanding is that MEP systems don't like DO because the systems themselves cannot calculate with the options ... maybe with the primary, but definitely not any other options. I learned this the hard way - by using DO in a project (as an architect) and trying to get the MEP engineers to do likewise. Maybe that's improved in the 3-4 years since that project, but I suspect it's got more to do with the systems needing to clearly connect with all the pieces and the "options" break those connections.

That said, one thing I've wondered is whether using the "Phasing" function might provide a different way to accomplish this (i.e. put the alternates/options in a "future" phase).