How to Insert Componet From Family in Revit
Revit Families: A Step-By-Step Introduction
By Paul F. Aubin for Autodesk Academy
Maybe y'all know the power of Revit software'southward Family Editor just you've avoided information technology or it has intimidated you lot until now. Wait no more. This commodity will introduce you to the basics of Family Editor. In one case you get past being intimidated, you will find that while Family Editor is extremely powerful, it tin can really be cracking fun. In this brusk introduction, nosotros will create a Revit component family unit complete with constraints and parameters. Don't worry if you don't know what a constraint or parameter is — we'll cover that too. Whether yous've never worked in Revit software before, or you've used Revit software for a while but you've simply avoided Family Editor, this article will teach you lot the basics of the family editor in a simple pace-by-pace mode. We'll work through the creation of a Revit component (loadable) family complete with constraints and parameters.
Even if you are completely new to Revit, you have no doubtfulness discovered how important families and the family editor are to your success in Revit. Everything you create in Revit is office of a family unit — consequently, understanding families and what it takes to dispense them is a vital role of learning the software. Offset with the divergence betwixt System and Component families, this section will explore the critical concepts and terminology. We'll also take a quick look at what is provided in the Revit libraries and learn almost family templates. Following this brief introduction to terminology, the tutorial will focus on the component family creation procedures and strategies — presented in detailed step-by-step procedures. Using the concepts and techniques covered herein, y'all will learn how to brainstorm tapping into ane of the virtually powerful aspects of the Revit software package — the Revit family editor!
Everything in Revit Is Function of a Family
In order to get started with the family editor, it is important to sympathise some bones concepts and terminology. All elements in the Revit platform are part of a family unit and they fit into a clearly divers bureaucracy. At the peak level of this bureaucracy, are Categories. Categories are pre-divers within the software and cannot be added, deleted or renamed. A broad diverseness of categories are included in Revit and distributed among a few overall master groups including: model and annotation (but there are a few others). Model Categories include all elements that comprise your building model such as: Walls, Doors, Floors, Stairs and Beams. Note categories include items similar Text, Dimensions and Tags. Categories are by definition very wide. It would non exist enough to simply have a Walls or Doors category. These items come in all shapes, sizes and behaviors. Therefore, the next level of the bureaucracy is the Family unit. All Revit elements belong to a family. Families are all-time thought of simply as a collection of similar items sharing the same overall expect and beliefs. Revit includes many families such equally the "Bones Wall" wall family, the "Single-Affluent" door family unit and many annotation families similar "Text" or "Linear Dimension Style." Even the views themselves like floor plans and sections are arrangement families in Revit.
Families branch into 2 major kinds based on their behavior: the Arrangement Family and the Component (Loadable) Family. System families include annihilation that is built into the software and cannot be manipulated by the user in the interface. This tin include model components similar walls and floors, but likewise includes equally of import items like floor plans, project data, and levels. System families cannot be created or deleted. Their backdrop are pre-divers at the "mill." However, almost arrangement families like walls, floors and roofs can accept more one: Blazon. A blazon is our adjacent level or hierarchy in Revit. Think of it equally a drove of variables (sizes, materials or other settings) saved to certain values and given a name for ease of reuse. A Blazon provides a convenient way to switch several variables of a family at once. A family unit can contain one or more types; each with its own unique user-editable settings. And then while for case nosotros cannot create or delete wall families, we can add together, delete and edit the types associated with each of the provided wall families. For example, "Basic Wall" is the about common wall family. In the out-of-the-box template files, there are several predefined Basic Wall types such as: Exterior — Brick on CMU, Generic 6″ and Interior — 5 ½″ Partition (1hr). The Basic Wall definition simply means that it is a layered wall that has the same structure along its entire length and acme. The actual make-upward of this structure tin vary widely from type to type as the names noted here imply.
Other system families vary considerably in their specific limerick and features, simply at the conceptual level they share the aforementioned bones characteristics: the overall beliefs of the object is defined by the system and cannot be redefined; however, the specific object-level parameters tin be manipulated via the creation and awarding of type and/or instance variations.
As already noted, arrangement families include both things that are office of the physical model in your Revit projects (like walls, floors and roofs) and other items that are not (like views, project data, and levels). To distinguish further, system families that also happen to exist model elements are referred to as "Host" elements. A Host is an chemical element that can receive or support or provide construction for other model elements. Hosts are often required for many of the component families like doors or windows which require wall hosts, or lighting fixtures which often require ceiling hosts.
Component (or "Loadable") families include everything that is not a system family unit. Many component families are model elements, only they can too be annotation or other non-model elements also. Component families can exist "host-based" (require a host), or they tin can be "free-continuing" (non requiring a host). Revit users can create, delete and modify component families (and their associated types). This is achieved in the family unit editor and each family thus created can exist saved to its ain unique file (with and RFA extension). Similar arrangement families, component families tin can comprise one or more types. They can also have example parameters that vary from case to example (non part of the type). Different system families, they are completely customizable by the end user in the family editor.
Loadable component (model) families are the chief focus of this commodity.
In improver to the arrangement and component families, there is a tertiary type of family in Revit chosen the "In-Place Family unit." In-place families are similar to component families in terms of creation, editing and strategy. However, an in-place family is created directly inside a project (not in a separate family file as component families are) and it cannot be exported to other projects. Further, you can create in-place versions of many system family categories like walls, roofs and floors. This capability allows the creation of custom or gratuitous-grade shapes not otherwise possible in pre-defined system families. You should simply consider creating an in-place family for elements that are unique to a detail project with little possibility that yous will ever want to reuse them in future projects. Also, in-place families equally already noted, offer the only means to "customize" certain system families like walls or roofs. In-place families therefore prove constructive for modeling unique existing atmospheric condition or very specialized and unique pattern scenarios. However, wherever possible, consider if the item y'all wish to create tin can be built using either predefined system elements or a component family first before resorting to an in-place family. Oft creating an in-identify element seems like a good idea at the time only to afterwards be the source of regret. We will non be exploring in-place families in this article.
Revit and Family unit Terminology
Here is a cursory summary of Revit for Compages disquisitional terminology. The analogy is borrowed from the online aid file a few releases back. There is a different version in the current assist system, but I prefer this illustration as I believe it still does the best job of summarizing all of the various kinds of elements in the Revit environment.
Chemical element — Anything in your Revit Architecture project. (Elements in italic can be created and edited in the family editor.)
Model Element — Something that represents the bodily geometry of your edifice.
Host Element — An element that can receive or support or provide construction for other model elements (built in-place construction).
Component Element — An detail inserted into a project (items that are pre-manufactured, purchased and installed). Can exist freestanding or require a host.
Host Based Component Element — A Component Element that must be inserted on or into a Host.
Freestanding Component Chemical element — A Component Element that tin can exist inserted independently without a Host.
View Element* — An detail in the Revit interface that allows you to run into and interact with all other elements. Views adjust to the characteristics of typical architectural drawing types like plan, section, elevation and schedule. Some View Chemical element families allow customization of Types, many do not.
Datum Chemical element* — Include Levels, Grids and Reference Planes. These are used found project context, limits, extents and the like. Datum Elements provide guidelines and limits for other elements within a project and can also include annotative qualities. The families and types of datum elements cannot be edited.
View-Specific Element — Something that is used to document, describe or embellish a view of your project. View-specific elements do non appear in any other views automatically. If you wish to echo view-specific items in other views, you lot can copy and paste them.
Detail Element — A two-dimensional family typically representing a model element simply at a level of detail that would be impractical to model. Detail elements appear but in the view in which they are added. Detail Elements remain their bodily size equally created and do not adjust calibration with the view.
Annotation Element* — Include text, dimensions tags and symbols. These items are view-specific (actualization only in the view in which they are added) and are used to notate, embellish, describe and document design intent within a Revit Architecture project. Annotation elements maintain a constant size relative to the plotting scale of the view in order to maintain a constant size relative the sheet on which they are placed.
*Level and Grid head tags, Section and Elevation head tags, model element Tags and Symbols (Generic Annotation families) can be created and modified in the family editor. Text and Dimensions cannot.
Many of the branches in the diagram contain both system and component families. Naturally for a discussion on the family editor, nosotros are therefore limited to because only the non-system families. This includes all items on the Component Elements model co-operative, Particular Item families on the Detail Elements branch, Loaded Tags on the Notation Elements co-operative and a few other miscellaneous elements equally well like titleblock families or view tags and level head symbols.
Family unit Libraries and Resources
The first step to working in Revit in general and edifice families in specific is to become comfortable with this list of terms. Keep it handy as reference as y'all go along. Simply before you commence on the process of building family content, it should exist noted that in that location are many families included with the software and many more than resources bachelor online. A quick search in Google will turn up hundreds of sites containing tips, tricks and downloadable content. Practice accept the time to explore the out-of-the-box offerings and some of many available sites as well if you accept not already done so.
As has been noted, you cannot create or delete system families. All organization families will already exist in your project file. To add types that are not present to a system family, you either take to duplicate an existing blazon, rename and modify it, or import ane from some other project. To import from another projection, you can utilize Transfer Project Standards (Manage tab) or copy and paste.
To apply a component family from outside the project in your current project, you lot can load it from a family file (RFA) or copy and paste from another projection. To load a family file, use the Load Family button on the Insert tab of the ribbon, or the contextual ribbon tab when a command is active. For example, if y'all click the Door tool (Architecture tab), the Load Family unit button will appear on the Modify | Place Door tab. This lets you load a door family and identify it all in the aforementioned procedure. Likewise, on the Insert tab of the ribbon, on the Autodesk Seek console, yous can run a search from straight in Revit of the online Autodesk Seek website. You can also type seek.autodesk.com into your web browser.
In many cases, a family unit similar to the one you lot wish to create will already be somewhere in the product or online in one of the myriad online resources. Most companies likewise maintain their ain libraries of part standard content on their internal servers. Bank check with your CAD/BIM director to see what your firm offers.
The Recommended Way to Get Started
Practical wisdom says that information technology makes more than sense to begin with something in the library and either apply it as-is, or modify it to adjust your needs. Typically, this will be easier than starting from scratch. In your day-to-day work when you are upward against deadlines, this is by far the best approach. But exist sure to take a trivial time to "vet" any unknown or newly downloaded content to ensure that it meets your office standards before using information technology on a live project.
If yous are new to creating families in Revit, and then I recommend that you create your starting time few families from scratch. By building the unabridged family yourself, y'all volition learn more than than simply modifying one. Furthermore, families can include very complex parameters and constraints that often link to ane another in a chained and sometimes complex or even convoluted way. Even for seasoned family content authors, information technology can exist difficult to dissect these often complex relationships. Therefore, to avoid becoming discouraged, it is recommended that you start with a small-scale simple instance and work your way to more complexity over time.
For example, don't commencement with a Door or Window family unit. These are more complex than they at outset seem. Begin with something small, simple and boxy: similar a simple piece of furniture or equipment.
Family unit Creation Procedures
The bones process for creating a family unit is as follows: determine what type of family you need. This will include deciding what information technology should look like, how much detail to include and whether the graphics or level of detail should change in different views. You tin start by sketching out (yes on newspaper) the family you intend to create and brand notes about its requirements.
Adjacent, create a new family file from the appropriate template or open an existing family file similar to the one y'all wish to create and relieve as. The option of family template is of import. The templates included with the software are provided past Autodesk with the production. Each contains basic settings, behaviors and in many cases some unproblematic geometry or reference planes. The geometry included (like a sample length of wall) is only for reference and does non become inserted with the family when used in a project. While it is possible to change the category of family unit after creation, it is all-time to choose wisely at the start. Try to cull the most appropriate category selecting: Generic Model.rft only if no other suitable category can be determined. Unlike category, the hosting behavior of a family file cannot be inverse after it is created. So if y'all are not certain that you want the family you are creating to crave a Host, it is safer to build it without i. In other words, if you choose Casework wall based.rft as the template, the family unit you create will e'er require a wall in lodge to be inserted. If you call up you might similar to use the cabinet as a freestanding piece of casework, choose the Casework.rft template instead. You tin can always employ the Marshal tool to move the non-hosted cabinet to a wall face subsequently. You cannot later on decide to detach the hosted casework item from its host wall.
Once you take decided what yous desire to build and created a new family file based on an existing file or the appropriate new template, y'all are set up to create your family reference planes, parameters and geometry. It is normally best to start with the framework. If you begin with an existing family unit, delete anything y'all don't need first. And then in both existing and new families, add the Reference Planes y'all volition need. Reference planes provide the skeleton for your family. Some templates already contain basic reference planes. You tin apply these every bit-is or modify them. The proper procedure is to dispense or create reference planes, optionally constrain or assign parameters to these planes, so create geometry and lock it to the reference planes. In this fashion, the reference planes actually drive the geometry. This is the near reliable, all-time-exercise manner to build your family unit files.
Once y'all have laid down your reference airplane framework and assigned parameters and constraints, test the family past "flexing" information technology. This is done in the "Family Types" dialog which yous tin access from the Family Types button on the ribbon. To flex the model, simply try dissimilar values for each parameter and and so apply. If the framework moves the style you lot expect, everything is good. Otherwise, undo, and endeavour to fix the problem. Nosotros will run across several examples below.
When all geometry and parameters have been created, applied and flexed, y'all are ready to salvage the file and load it into a examination project (below I use the 100 Sandbox.rvt file for this purpose). If necessary, return to the family unit editor to make whatsoever adjustments and so reload, otherwise your family file is complete.
Constraints and Parameters
In its simplest class, a family can be a static graphic or symbol. Such a family would be drawn the way information technology was intended to look regardless of the circumstance. The out-of-the-box Chair-Breuer is one such example. There are no types or user-editable dimensions in this family. However, one of the things that make families so powerful is their ability to use variables to assistance them conform to varying circumstances. This is done using constraints and parameters. While each of these terms has several possible meanings, in the context of Revit the post-obit definitions are suitable to our discussion.
Constraint — is a fixed rule that tin can only exist manipulated by editing the family unit file.
Parameter — creates a rule or human relationship that has user-editable properties.
Essentially each of these is a dominion applied to some part of a family's geometry or behavior, but a constraint cannot exist manipulated past the finish user, and a parameter tin. For example, if yous were working with a door family and you wanted to ensure that a vision panel was x" from the door border regardless of the door'due south width, you would use a constraint inside the family unit editor to accomplish this. On the other manus, if you lot want to permit the aforementioned door family to accept varying (flexible) sizes for summit and width of the vision panel, these would be parameters. Past making vision panel width and height parameters and using them to drive the geometry within the family, the user tin can exercise much greater control than would otherwise be possible. However, the location of the vision panel with respect to the door would be fixed.
Solid and Void Form Geometry Types
Geometry in families consists of solid and void forms. Solid forms represent the actual concrete parts of the family and void forms are used to carve away portions of the solid forms. For example, you could create a solid form box, and and then use a void class to cut a pigsty in it like a donut. Both solid and void forms come in five varieties. These include: Extrusion, Blend, Revolve, Sweep and Swept Blend (see Effigy 1). Nosotros will employ an extrusion and a alloy in the tutorial.
An extrusion is a sketched shape pushed along a distance perpendicular to the sketch plane. A blend is similar accept that instead of a single shape, you have both a top and a lesser shape and the 3D course transforms (or blends) from i to the other along the perpendicular height of the grade. A revolve spins a sketch shape around an centrality. The revolve tin be a full 360-degree or a partial arc. A sweep pushes a shape (sketch or loaded contour) along a sketched path. The shape is perpendicular to the path. A swept blend combines features of both the alloy and the sweep. The form morphs between two profiles or sketches every bit in a blend, only can follow a nonlinear path. Unfortunately, the swept blend path can but incorporate one segment unlike the sweep. This means that complex forms crave a spline path. Using a combination of solid and void forms you can create nearly any iii-dimensional shape.
Family unit Types
As we have already pointed out in a higher place, families can comprise types. A blazon is a saved and named collection of values for the parameters within a family unit. You can add as many types as yous wish. Types can be added within the family editor or even later in the project.
Nested Families
You tin can build complex forms using a combination of the solid and void forms available in the family unit editor as noted above. Nonetheless, managing a circuitous form in a single family unit tin become cumbersome. In many cases, it makes sense to break your object into unimposing parts and build the parts as split families. Yous tin can and so insert these simpler families into another family that represents the whole. This is referred to as nested families. When you manage your circuitous families in this mode, you gain more control and flexibility.
Subcategories and Visibility Parameters
Whatever family you lot create or load from a library will belong to a certain category. Each of the elements within the family can belong to a subcategory within the family. Subcategories provide an extra level of visibility and graphical control over the parts of a family. For example, in the door families included with the software, there are several pre-defined subcategories. 1 such subcategory is the Plan Swing. Using this subcategory, it is possible to make door programme swings a lighter pen weight beyond a project regardless of the specific family. This helps enforce standards and simplifies such changes.
Visibility parameters are another fashion to control elements within a family. Sometimes it is useful to come across part of the family just in sure circumstances. For example, you lot could create a casework family unit where hardware was an optional display component. In this instance, a visibility parameter would exist assigned to the hardware elements within the casework family and the visibility parameter could then be toggled on or off past the user depending on whether or not the needed to show it in a given situation.
Tutorial
That completes the introductory materials. The tutorial, accessible by downloading the grade handout, allows yous to follow along with complete step-by-step instructions. Explanations are given in line with the steps, but the steps are highlighted to help them stand out. Many of the concepts discussed in the preceding topics volition be showcased in the tutorial.
Paul F. Aubin is the author of many Revit book titles including the widely acclaimed: The Aubin Academy Series, Renaissance Revit and Revit video grooming at lynda.com. Paul is an independent architectural consultant providing Revit for Compages implementation, training, and support services. Paul's involvement in the architectural profession spans over 25 years, with experience in blueprint, production, CAD management, mentoring, coaching and training. He is an active member of the Autodesk user community, an Expert Elite and is a top-rated repeat speaker at Autodesk Academy, Revit Engineering science Conference and Midwest University. His diverse feel in architectural firms, every bit a CAD managing director, and an educator gives his writing and his classroom didactics a fresh and credible focus. Paul is an associate member of the American Found of Architects and lives in Chicago with his married woman and three children.
Larn more with the full class at AU online: Revit Families: A Step-by-Step Introduction.
Source: https://medium.com/autodesk-university/revit-families-a-step-by-step-introduction-9439f9638062
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