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Mostra — How to use

May 7, 2026

Mostra adds a visualization layer to any Revit view. Group elements by a shared parameter, choose a color palette, and produce isolated 3D views, persistent filters, or direct graphics overrides in a few clicks. The tool has two modes: a simple single-category selector launched from the MOSTRA button, and a multi-category Pro mode with named presets for recurring coordination workflows launched from the MOSTRA PRO button.

Buttons at a glance

Button Ribbon label What it does
MOSTRA MOSTRA Opens a dialog to choose one category, one parameter, a color palette, and an operation. Best for ad-hoc analysis on a single element category.
MOSTRA PRO MOSTRA PRO Opens a dialog with a multi-category checklist and a named preset system. Best for recurring coordination workflows where the same settings are reused across sessions.

Before you start

  1. Run the Mostra installer for your Revit version and restart Revit.
  2. Open your project in Revit and switch to the AvantLeap Tools tab in the ribbon.
  3. Activate a view that contains model elements. Supported view types are floor plans, sections, elevations, and 3D views. Schedule, legend, and sheet views are not supported.
  4. Confirm that at least one model category with visible elements is present in the active view. If the view contains only annotation or all elements are hidden, the Category list will be empty.

Core workflow

Activate a supported view
(floor plan / section / elevation / 3D)
                 |
    +------------+------------+
    |                         |
  MOSTRA                MOSTRA PRO
(single category)   (multi-category + presets)
    |                         |
    +------------+------------+
                 |
      Select Category / Categories
                 |
          Select Parameter
                 |
        Select Color Palette
                 |
         Choose Operation
    +-----------+-----------+
    |       |       |       |
Create  Apply   Apply  Reset
Views  Filters Override  View
                 |
             Execute

Scenarios

Scenario 1: First use — splitting a multi-storey building by level

A BIM coordinator opens Mostra for the first time and needs to create one isolated 3D view per floor so that structural engineers can review each level independently.

  1. Activate the default 3D view of the project.
  2. Click MOSTRA in the AvantLeap Tools tab.
  3. Select Walls from the Category dropdown.
  4. Select Level from the Parameter dropdown.
  5. Select AvantLeap from the Color Palette dropdown.
  6. Select Create Views.
  7. Click Execute.

Expected outcome: one isolated 3D view is created for each unique level value found on wall elements in the active view. Each view is named AVLP_ISOLATED_{LevelName}_Walls and shows only the walls on that level. The views appear in the Project Browser under 3D Views and can be opened, printed, or exported independently.

Scenario 2: Weekly coordination update — reapplying a saved preset in seconds

Each Monday the coordination team reviews structural columns by assembly code in a specific floor plan. They saved this configuration as a MOSTRA PRO preset called "Columns by Assembly Code" during the first session. Running it now takes under ten seconds.

  1. Open the relevant floor plan.
  2. Click MOSTRA PRO in the AvantLeap Tools tab.
  3. In the Presets section, select Columns by Assembly Code from the presets dropdown.
  4. Click Load. The categories, parameter, palette, and operation are restored automatically.
  5. Click Execute.

Expected outcome: parametric filters are applied to the floor plan, each structural column group colored by its assembly code value. The team can compare the current state with the previous week's screenshots and note any changes to assembly assignments.

Scenario 3: Cross-category review — coloring structural and architectural elements together

Before a design review meeting, a coordinator needs to show walls, floors, and structural columns all color-coded by the same parameter — Phase Created — simultaneously in one view.

  1. Activate a 3D view scoped to the area under review.
  2. Click MOSTRA PRO in the AvantLeap Tools tab.
  3. Tick Walls, Floors, and Structural Columns in the category checklist. Click All to select every visible category first, then untick the ones you do not need.
  4. Select Phase Created from the Parameter dropdown.
  5. Select Rainbow from the Color Palette dropdown.
  6. Select Apply Overrides.
  7. Click Execute.

Expected outcome: every wall, floor, and structural column in the view is color-coded by its Phase Created value. Elements from other categories are hidden. The same phase receives the same color across all three categories, giving a clear cross-category phase picture for the meeting.

Scenario 4: Design change — resetting and reapplying after a parameter update

A structural engineer has updated the Assembly Code on a batch of columns following a design change. The filters from last week's run show stale groups that no longer reflect the current data. The coordinator resets the view and reapplies to get current results.

  1. Open the floor plan that had Assembly Code filters applied from the previous session.
  2. Click MOSTRA in the AvantLeap Tools tab.
  3. Select Reset View.
  4. Click Execute. All AVLP_ filters and element overrides are removed from the view.
  5. Click MOSTRA PRO.
  6. Select Columns by Assembly Code from the presets dropdown and click Load.
  7. Click Execute.

Expected outcome: a fresh set of filters is applied reflecting the current Assembly Code values. No stale groups from the previous run remain. The view is clean and ready for the next review.

Output reference

Operation Output type Where to find it Persists in the model
Create Views Isolated 3D views named AVLP_ISOLATED_{Value}_{Category} Project Browser, 3D Views Yes
Apply Filters Parametric view filters named AVLP_{Category}_{Value} Visibility/Graphics Overrides dialog, Filters tab Yes
Apply Overrides Direct element graphics overrides in the active view Visible in the current view No — reset if a view template is applied or another override replaces them
Reset View No output created Not applicable Not applicable — removes existing AVLP_ filters, element overrides, and hidden element state

Color palettes

Palette Character Best use
AvantLeap Brand-aligned hues, perceptually spaced General use, most coordination workflows
Rainbow Full hue sweep from red to violet Presentations and quantity-heavy groupings with many unique values
Traffic Light Red, yellow, and green progression Status, compliance, or binary to ternary reviews
Pastel Soft, low-saturation tones Print-ready outputs and light-background views
High Contrast Maximum perceptual separation Colorblind-friendly outputs and accessibility reviews
Random Random colors per run Legacy workflows that must match color assignments from earlier versions

Tips

  • Start with a cropped or scoped view. Mostra analyzes only elements visible in the active view — working in a cropped floor plan keeps the category list short and the output focused on the area that matters.
  • Save frequently reused settings as a named preset in MOSTRA PRO. On the next session, select the preset, click Load, and click Execute. No need to re-select categories, parameters, or palette.
  • Use Apply Filters for deliverables and recurring coordination. Filters persist in the model and can be included in view templates or shared with other team members opening the same file.
  • Use Apply Overrides for quick session-only checks. Overrides in the active view do not affect other views or model outputs and are not preserved by view templates.
  • Reset View before reapplying after a parameter change. Running Apply Filters on top of an existing set of AVLP_ filters duplicates them. Reset View first to get a clean state, then reapply.
  • Views created by Mostra follow the pattern AVLP_ISOLATED_{Value}_{Category}. In the Project Browser, create a browser organization rule that groups views starting with AVLP_ to keep them separate from your working views.
  • If the Category dropdown is empty, the active view is likely empty or shows only annotation. Switch to a floor plan or 3D view with visible model elements and try again.
  • Traffic Light works well for any parameter with three to five meaningful values. Grouping doors by Fire Rating (none / 30 min / 60 min / 90 min) produces a clear compliance overview with minimal configuration.