advanced families – all streams - rtc events advanced...give it a good name ... category to doors...

Advanced Families – All Streams

Toby Maple

AEC Consulting Services

F d ti f Ad d F iliFoundations for Advanced Families

• In-place or component family• Host or not to Host• Categories & Sub categories• Reference Planes & Reference Lines• Adding parameters to dimensions• Instance or Type parameters• Adding Geometry & Linework• Flexing• Multiple Types• Shared parameters, Parameters, Formula, Catalog files, Nested families, Shared

Nested Families, Array’s


I l t t t f ilIn-place or to create a component family• First question – do you want to reuse it???

• If YES create the family as a component, using one of the predefined templates. Remember these can be saved as an office standard “door.rfa”. This will save you have to start from scratch next time, add all those pesky shared parameters. You can then load it into many projects share on the webcan then load it into many projects, share on the web….

• If NO create it as in-place geometry from the modeling tab on the design bar. Remember these families can’t easily be reused. They are heavily reliant on the y y yobjects around them and their position. If using in-place, assign the correct category, give it a good name (not Casework 1), don’t forget to assign the subcategories, materials, display in plan, 3D, any shared parameters you need….you may as well h t d t f il t i d ihave created a component family….to reuse again, and again


H t t t H tHost or not to Host• You should always try and create your family as a standalone component unless

there is a good reason for it to be hosted e.g.: Door, Window

• This way you give yourself the flexibility to make a hosted version if the need arises. You can’t go from Hosted back to non hosted (R it’ t t i )(Revit’s one way street again….)

• Face based objects are a good way to solve this except they are a pain to locate. You have to specify the workplane and then attach the family to it and locate again inYou have to specify the workplane and then attach the family to it and locate again in elevation. They can be useful for attaching object to linked files though.

• TIP: remember you can create a non hosted door or window panel even though there• TIP: remember you can create a non hosted door or window panel even though there is not a non-hosted template. Start by opening the generic model template, swap the category to doors and viola – a non hosted door panel, with the default subcategories.


C t i & S b t iCategories & Sub categories• Having some standards on what types of objects will go on what

categories is import. Where do Fire hydrants go?? Plumbing fixtures, Specialty equipment?

• Subcategories are the CAD equivalent of Layers. For you to control how objects are displayed in different views you need to control their subcategories. Have some office standards, just as you did for CAD, that users know what to name them.

• TIP: remember Revit is a database. If you name your subcategories and accidentally have a space character on the end, Revit will think it is a new subcategory. Be careful here. You may end up with multiple, same name subcategories.e.g.: 2D Rep_ and 2D Rep. Revit will assume a new subcategory.


R f Pl & R f LiReference Planes & Reference Lines• To help others in your office who could be modifying the families, name your

reference planes. Also set the Is Reference value – Strong, Weak, Not a Reference

• This also has the bonus ability of being able to choose these reference planes

k las a workplane.

• Don’t forget to assign the correct origin (b i t) thi i h t(base point) this is where two perpendicular reference planes meet.

• TIP: when using a Reference line to define an angle parameter, if you start the line away from the rotation point and draw towards it. Then click on the lock that appears. Careful not to have chain turned on or the lock will disappear before you get a chance to lock it You can use TAB to select the ends of them as wellchance to lock it. You can use TAB to select the ends of them as well.


Addi t t di iAdding parameters to dimensions• You can create parameters in your family several ways. The easiest is to create the

dimension to your (named) Reference planes. Click on it and go to the options Bar. Here you can select in the Label drop down <Add a Parameter > This way theHere you can select in the Label drop down <Add a Parameter…>. This way the parameter type (Length, Angle) is automatically filled in.

• Some parameters are embedded in the family templatesSome parameters are embedded in the family templatesE.g.: Doors –Width, Height. These can’t be deleted. You can assign formula to them to lock them out from users E g :them out from users. E.g.: (Panel Width + Frame Width*2)then your Panel Width and Frame Width are the controlling parameterscontrolling parameters

• TIP: The default non modifiable parameters, can be changed from Type to Instance via the Options Bar, not in the Family Type DialogFamily Type Dialog.


I t T tInstance or Type parameters• Which to use??? Decisions, I don’t know, the world is going to end!!!! Arrrrhhhhh

• Instance Parameters - control only the objects you have selected in the project.• Type Parameters – control every family of that type e.g.: 450 x 450mm Column, also

across Revit phasing (time) careful here!!!

• When creating your family, if you are not sure leave it set to Type. Once you load the family into a project to test it, you may find that some parameters need to be instances Edit the family and change them throughinstances. Edit the family and change them through either the Family Types dialog or the Options bar.

• In the Family Type dialog box the parameters• In the Family Type dialog box, the parameterswith (default) after them are the Instance Parameters. Think of this dialog as your element properties dialog in the project Instance parameters you see firstin the project. Instance parameters you see first.Hit the EDIT/NEW button and you get Type Parameters.


Addi G t & Li kAdding Geometry & Linework• New to 2009 is the Swept Blend, this should help to solve some of the modeling issue

to date. Less void forms at least.

• When sketching the geometry, I use the Pick tool and Lock it to the Reference Planes, then trim the sketch up. I find this gives the most reliable results.

• To sketch the linework you need to select the appropriate Subcategory (you need to set these up in Object Styles first)

• I tend to create all my geometry, then go into 3D, select it and then assign the values.

You can then assign the subcategory, materials, Visibility parameter and Visibility/Graphics Overrides all in one go!!


Fl iFlexing• As you go through adding new parameters, make sure you test or flex the family

EVERY time.

• This also includes every PREVIOUS parameter you created. This is where your boss says “are you still working on that disabled toilet family, it’s been 4hrs already!!!”

• Remember the thing is, these family can have multiple types to streamline your library. Rather than having 1 object do 1 thing, it can do many hundreds of different configurations.g

• Don’t forget to flex it in the project environment as well. Load it into your template file and test that it works in schedules, plan, elevation, section, 3D, coarse, medium and pfine detail levels, that your subcategories are correctly assigned, view templates work, reference planes are set to the correct IS Reference for dimensioning, origin is in the correct location, flip controls, visibility controls, if it’s hosted that it still works when you change host size the list continueswhen you change host size….the list continues…..


M lti l TMultiple Types• The joy of creating families is once you have parametric control over the object

creating many “Types” is easy. Always have at least one type!!! Don’t leave the Family types dialog blank If you do when you load the family into the project it willFamily types dialog blank. If you do, when you load the family into the project, it will take the family name as it’s type. A double up!!!

• Then you realise and create a type now you have 2 typesThen you realise, and create a type, now you have 2 typesBut in the family there is still only Type 1, confused yet!!!

• There is something much more sinister here which I willThere is something much more sinister here which I will need a few slides to explain…..


Wh h t i d• When you have no type name assigned, but have added parameters.

• And load this into your project

• Then Edit the family to changea parameter.


Th l d it b k i t j t• Then load it back into your project

• And get this dialog, you would expectRevit to override existing objects withthe updated parameter value, right???

• After all that’s what the check box is for….

• Well, it doesn’t!!!!

• TIP: Always have at least one named type!!

• If you do have at least 1 named type the check box works correctly.


Sh d t P t F l C t l fil N t d f ili Sh d N t dShared parameters, Parameters, Formula, Catalog files, Nested families, Shared Nested Families, Array’s

I’m not going to try and cover all these other areas• I’m not going to try and cover all these other areas….

• I will let my learned colleagues explain some of the uses for these.

• Please stick with learning how to create your own content. It’s well worth the time & effort.

• The advantages are - you know that it works, it’s modifiable without exploding and it makes using Revit so much easier.

• I often say “if your spending your days in the Visibility/Graphics overrides trying to work out what and how to display something. There is an easier way. Good Families!!!


Th k !Thank you!

Questions?

Toby MapleAEC Consulting ServicesAEC Consulting Services

advanced families – all streams - rtc events advanced...give it a good name ... category to doors...

Documents