Workflow: Creating a Loadable Family 6
Understanding the Family Editor 6
Planning a Loadable Family 9
Flexing the Family Framework 9
Testing the Family 11
Choosing a Family Template 14
Creating a Family from a Template 16
Choosing a Category 19
Cuttable Families 19
Non-Cuttable Families 20
Creating Family Subcategories 20
Creating the Family Framework 23
Defining the Family Origin 23
Laying Out Reference Planes 24
Defining Priorities for Reference Planes 26
Using Reference Lines 28
Controlling Angular Dimensions with Reference Lines 30
Dimensioning Reference Planes and Lines 31
Creating Family Parameters 32
Family Category and Parameters 33
Labeling Dimensions to Create Parameters 34
Creating Family Types 35
Creating Instance Parameters 36
Adding Shape Handles to a Loadable Family 36
Using Formulas in the Family Editor 37
Adding Metadata to a Family 37
Creating Family Geometry 39
Constraining Family Geometry 39
Automatic Sketch Dimensions 40
Visibility of Automatic Sketch Dimensions in the Family Editor 42
Duplicating Parameterized Elements 44
Assigning Family Geometry to Subcategories 46
Managing Family Visibility and Detail Level 48
Setting Family Geometry Visibility 49
Annotation Labels 50
Editing Multi-parameter Labels 50
Building a Label 50
Shared Label Parameters 51
Label Parameter Options 51
Edit Label Unit Formats 52
Label Type Properties 53
Label Instance Properties 53
Applying the Label to a Tag in a Project 54
Applying the Label to a Title Block in a Project 54
Lookup Tables 56
Managing Lookup Tables 57
CSV File Structure 57
Revit MEP Components 58
Category 58
Light Source 59
Part Types 60
Working with Connectors 62
Placing a Connector 64
Selecting a Primary Connector 66
Orienting a Connector 66
Linking Connectors 66
Unlinking Connectors 67
Deleting a Connector 67
Advanced Loadable Family Techniques 68
Nesting and Sharing Component Families 68
Nesting Restrictions 69
Nesting Families with Interchangeable Components 69
Creating a Family with Nested Components 69
Creating a Family with Nested and Shared Components 70
Creating a Nested Family with Interchangeable Components 74
Associating Family Parameters 76
Associating Parameters for Model Text 77
Loading Generic Annotations into Model Families 78
Adding a Generic Annotation 78
Creating a Work Plane-based Family 80
Creating Vertical Families 81
Creating Specialized Families 83
Creating a 2D Line-Based Detail Component Family 83
Creating an Annotation Symbol Family 84
Creating a Callout Head Family 85
Creating a Curtain Wall Profile 86
Creating a Detail Component Family 88
Creating a Division Profile Family 88
Creating an Entourage Family 89
Creating and Modifying Lighting Fixtures 90
Creating a Lighting Fixture with One Light Source 90
Creating Lighting Fixtures with Multiple Light Sources 90
Creating a Profile Family 112
Creating an RPC Family 114
Section Head Family 116
Creating a Structural Column Family 116
Creating a Truss Family 121
Creating a New Truss Layout Family File 121
Adding Truss Family Parameters 122
Sketching a Truss Family Layout 122
Creating a Type Catalog 123