Check the libraries:
Hint: Set Windows Explorer to view as Icons to see images of family files. Drag from Explorer into Revit to load.
Use something similar you can replace later:
Revit families can be updated by reloading revised files with the same name.
They can also be replaced by using reload and selecting a file with a different name.
USE FAMILY CREATION CHECKLIST
Fill in the checklist as you go to ensure you cover all requirements.
Family Creation Guide-Check List.pdf
Before starting spend a few minutes thinking about what you need to make.
Traditional Family or Adaptive Component:
Generally use traditional families. Only use Adaptive Components if there is a compelling reason.
For more information on why NOT to use Adaptive components refer to this blog post.
Which Category:
Every family belongs to a Category. Its category governs how it will display and how it will schedule.
Although it is possible to change a family's category after it has been created, it is not recommended practice.
Family's whose category has been changed may not inherit all functionality of their new category, and all existing subcategories will be deleted.
Keep in mind some categories will NOT be cut by a section (they will display as an elevation when cut).
You can identify which categories behave like this by looking at the Object Styles dialog box. Categories that have Cut Line Weight greyed out will not be cut.
However do NOT base the category you choose on whether it will cut or not. Base it on whether the family needs to be scheduled along with other similar families.
for example if you create a piece of furniture as Casework because you want it to cut in section, it will not hide along with other furniture, not will it appear in Furniture schedules, and not be taggable with a furniture tag.
Categories that are NOT cut:
In-place or family file:
Generally a family file is better than an in-place family (this guide if for family files), particularly if the family will appear more than once in a project.
But if the object shape is based on building geometry (e.g. follows walls), and is a one off, in-place is appropriate.
Hosted or not:
Decide if your object will ALWAYS be hosted on a wall, ceiling or roof.
Unless there is a special reason do not host to floors, non-hosted objects usually end up level hosted which is equivalent to floor hosting.
Face hosted families host to any face of any object, but their creation has special considerations not included in this guide.
You can NOT turn a hosted family into a non-hosted family. But you can nest on non-hosted family into a hosted family.
If you are unsure create a non-hosted family.
Where does it need to be visible:
Does you object need to be visible in elevation and section views as well as plan views?
Do you want the plan view to be simpler than the view of the 3D object from above.
How do you want it to appear in 3D views?
Level of Detail in plan & elevation:
Is a diagrammatic representation adequate.
What scale will plan and elevations be.
Do you need to show door swings, direction arrows etc. in plan, in elevation.
How parametric:
Will there be multiple sizes of the object.
Will there be parts that may or may not be included.
Will it be scheduled.
Use custom templates in preference to AutoDesk templates:
Template files ending in ANT are pre-populated with reference planes, parameters and sub-categories.
Choose the right Template:
Each category has its own template. Although it is possible to change the category of a family, it is not recommended practice.
Category templates contain settings and set-ups appropriate to it category.
Hosted families have different template files. You can not change how a family is hosted so choose carefully.
DRAW THE RIGHT WAY UP
Revit is aware of Front / Back, Interior / Exterior:
ALWAYS create objects in your family facing the right way.
Some templates have text showing which is which.
Note that the direction differs between hosted and non-hosted family files.
Why:
Every time you draw something Revit locks it to something near it. You can not stop this behaviour.
Revit prefers to lock to reference planes, but only if they are already existing.
It can be extremely difficult to get parameter driven reference planes added later to work properly.
Dimensions also prefer reference planes. Including them makes dimensioning more reliable.
How many Reference planes:
Draw enough to define the main dimensions of you object (Depth, Width, Height, Thickness).
If you are going to add dimensional parameters create reference planes to define each parameter.
Make sure there are reference planes where you will want to dimension from after the component has been placed in a project.
Name your reference planes:
Any reference plane that might end up being the workplane for an object MUST have a name.
Also name reference planes close to each other, or any whose purpose is not obvious.
It is also a good way to ensure important reference planes are not deleted, as NAMED REFERENCE PLANES SHOULD NEVER BE DELETED.
Set Is Reference:
Identify which Reference planes and Reference Lines will be used for dimensioning after the family has been placed.
Make sure their Is Reference setting has a value:
- if extents of object use Front, Back, Left, Right, Top, Bottom.
- if centre lines are likely to be dimensioned use Center (Left/Right), Center (Front/Back), Center (Elevation).
- otherwise use Weak or Strong Reference. (see below for explanation of difference).
Set all other reference planes to Not a Reference.
When Weak and Strong references are combined with instance parameters you see grips in the project environment. You can drag the grip to alter the family dynamically.
If you use the Align tool on a weak reference the family "moves" toward the alignment edge. If you use the Align tool on a Strong reference the family "stretches" instead.
Note that Front, Back, Left, Right, etc. are Strong references.
Dimensioning:
Dimensions are a handy way to get your reference planes in the right spot, even if you don’t intend to make them parametric.
Don’t dimension from Ref Level (i.e. in elevation), make sure you dimension from a reference plane locked (or locked dimension of zero) to the Ref Level instead. Parametric dimensions from the Ref Level don’t work.
Reference lines:
Reference Lines should only be used for line based families and where rotation parameters will be used.
How will parameters grow or shrink
If your family is driven by dimensional parameters it will grow and shrink about its origin.
For example casework normally put up against a wall will want to grow from the wall, chairs against a table will want to grow from the table edge.
Don’t try and be clever and set an origin to one side (e.g. left or right). Although it may work better in some situations it causes confusion in all others, particularly if objects are flipped.
Set the insertion point:
The origin is defined by the intersection point of two reference planes.
By default the Center (Front/Back) and Center (Left/Right) reference planes define the origin in plan view, the Ref Level in elevation.
Each reference plane has a Defines Origin parameter. But only one vertical and one horizontal reference plane can have this parameter ticked.
If you tick this on a different reference plane the previous one will automatically be unticked.
VERTICAL (in plan) origin should be at the centre of your family (i.e. Center (Left/Right) reference plane).
HORIZONTAL (in plan) origin should be where your family is normally attached (e.g. Back reference plane), otherwise at the centre (i.e. Center (Front/Back) reference plane).
Nesting is when you insert one family into another.
For example a Door leaf loaded into a door family, or a plan representation into a furniture family.
It can be a quick way to create quite complex families, however only do it if there is a clear advantage (like saving time or ensuring a complex object like trolley wheels move together).
Keep to one level deep:
Nested families actually slow Revit down a bit, the deeper the nesting the worse the problem becomes. So avoid nesting into a family that you then nest into another family.
Make sure nested families have been purged and compacted:
Nested families should be nice and clean so they don’t bloat your family.
Open each family you are going to nest, purge them, and then Save As, hit the Options button, and tick Compact File.
Don't use Instance Parameters in Nested Families:
When a nested family is constrained in a way that has an effect on an Instance parameter in a nested family Revit stretches the parameter rather than move the whole nested family.
This can break the family.
If you find there are instance parameters in a nested family make sure they are assigned to a parameter in the host family.
Lock Nested Families:
Lock nested families to appropriate Reference planes in your family, in both vertical and horizontal directions.
If these reference planes have parameter dimensions the nested family will move with them.
Match Parameters:
Parameters of Nested families can be assigned to parameters in your family.
Only do it to parameters that you family needs to move (you may need to create new parameters in your family to do this).
Parameter names in the family and nested family don’t have to be the same, but doing so avoids confusion.
Create 3D elements if you have decided you need to see it as 3D object, or your family must be visible in elevations and sections.
Forms to use:
Use Extrusions where possible. Extrude from Ref Level (i.e. in Plan view) unless there is a clear reason to do otherwise. An example is a door panel that may have holes cut into it.
Sweeps are preferable for framing objects (door frames, window frames etc.)
Revolves can not end at a point (like a Cone), you need a small flat point at the apex (no less than 1.6mm).
It is better to do multiple objects and Join them than make an overly complicated single shape.
Minimize voids:
Voids slow Revit down.
Use Openings instead of voids for walls, floors, roofs etc.
NEVER create a void that could end up not cutting anything – it will corrupt your family.
Parametrics:
You can add parametric dimensions to sketch lines while creating a form. This is not recommended practice, but is practical for small dimensions like rebates etc.
Joining:
Joined objects will all have the same material and share the same visibility settings. If you change settings of one object it changes all the others as well.
Add 2D representation if you only need to represent your object in 2D, you have a complex 3D object, and/or you want a different representation in plan and/or elevational views.
In Plan:
Use Masking Regions if you need to hide things below your object.
Generally set the workplane for Masking Regions at Ref Level, unless it will need to hide things above that level, e.g. a table hiding chairs.
Masking Region sketch lines are drawn on a sub-category (e.g. Hidden – see below), so you don’t need Lines as well as a masking region (although Masking Regions are only visible in 2D views – see below).
Hiding the subcategory of lines used in a Masking Region doesn't hide the Masking Region. If you want to hide a Masking region give is a Visibility on/off parameter. Or for control in views (as opposed to everywhere) consider using Detail Level (Coarse, Medium, Fine) to hide the Masking Region.
If you want to hide what is below in 3D views, or give your 2D object a colour, you have to make a very thin Extrusion just above Ref Level (e.g. 1mm).
Use Symbolic Lines for lines you ONLY want to see in plan, use Model Lines for lines you want to see in plan as well as 3D views.
Text and dimensions will not be visible when a family is inserted into a project.
In Elevation:
Any 2D representation will ONLY be visible in views perfectly perpendicular to the view in your family. If your family is ends up in a view which is not perpendicular IT WILL NOT BE VISIBLE.
2D representation done in elevation must be hosted to a reference plane, usually Center (Left/Right) for side views, Front and Back for other views.
Subcategories are user defined names that work in a similar manner to layers in AutoCAD.
They can be used to globally and within individual views to control visibility, pen weight and pen style, and material.
Generally use subcategories to manage project wide settings, and family parameters to control individual object settings.
Creating Subcategories:
DON’T MAKE UP YOUR OWN SUBCATEGORIES. Always use pre-existing ones or refer to the office standard list.
Subcategories are created under Manage > Object Styles, New button under Modify Subcategories heading.
The office template file contain standard subcategories.
List of standard Subcategories can be found here at Master SubCategory list.pdf
3D Forms:
All 3D forms have a Subcategory parameter. By default it will be None, which puts it on the Category itself (e.g Furniture).
Don’t overdo subcategories for 3D objects or your project will end up like AutoCAD, with thousands of layers.
2D Representation:
Subcategories are more important for 2D representation. Used properly you can, for example, turn off all casework door swings in a view, or make all door swings center line style across the whole project.
Make sure all your symbolic lines, model lines and Masking Region sketch lines are on a suitable subcategory.
Note that lines within a Masking Region have a subcategory, but the Masking region does not. Therefore if the subcategory of lines in a masking Region are hidden in a view the lines will disappear but the Masking region will still be there masking what is below it (apparently this is a "feature" according to AutoDesk)
View Direction:
Each 3D object has controls over whether they display in specific view directions.
Plan/RCP and When cut in Plan/RCP for floor plan and Ceiling views, and Front/Back and Left/Right for elevations and section views.
If you are using only 2D representation in plan you must untick both Plan/RCP and When cut in Plan/RCP for all 3D elements.
If you are using only 2D representation in elevation views you must untick both Front/Back and Left/Right for all 3D elements.
If you are using your 3D objects for views instead you can use these visibility settings to simplify your family in those views:
- Untick Left/Right for objects that will be very thin in side elevations, like architraves, or not normally shown, like door handles.
- Untick Plan/RCP for objects that are not visible in plan view or make the plan view overly complex.
Detail Level:
Both 3D objects and 2D representation have control over whether they are visible at different Detail Levels (Coarse, Medium, Fine).
Assume Coarse means a large scale (>1:200), so untick Coarse for things that would not be readable at large scales, for example Architraves.
Untick Coarse for annotation type 2D representation like door plan and elevation swings.
Visibility parameters:
Both 3D objects and 2D representation can have a parameter that controls their visibility in the model (i.e. all views).
You click on the grey box on right side of the Visible tick box parameter.
This can be used to make your family more flexible and increase the number of types it can make.
Flips Controls mirror the whole of your family about its origin after it has been inserted in a project.
Don’t add flips in directions not required:
It confuses users because although it may not obvious it has been flipped, Revit will behave differently if it has (particularly dimensions).
Don’t put more than one in the same direction.
Don’t add vertical flips to Doors or Windows:
Revit only remembers rooms on either side when a door or window are first inserted. Flipping shows them oriented differently, but Revit hasn’t changed the Room To and Room From parameters. So it is best practice to just not include a flip control in the family.
Keep reasonably close to your object:
Plan Regions require flip controls to be within their boundary to display correctly.
You may decide to not add parameters. If your object is only one size there is little point.
But if you do make sure they work properly by testing them.
Parameters that don’t work are dangerous if people assume they do work.
REMOVE PARAMETERS THAT DON’T WORK OR ARE NOT USED FOR ANYTHING.
Parameter Names:
Use parameter names that will be understandable by others. Don’t use A, or X, or Yelkolf.
Parameter names are case sensitive – Width is a different parameter to width. This is critical to remember if you are making more than one family.
Don’t use mathematical symbols in parameter names (-, +, /, *, ^) or brackets ().
Don’t use math acronyms as a name (log, sqrt, cos, sin, tan, acos, asin, atan, abs, exp).
Put parameters designed to be changed by users under Dimensions, parameters driven by formulas under Other, secondary dimensions that drive parts of your family (like architrave width) under Model Properties.
Type or Instance:
Type parameter affect all objects of that Type, Instance parameters only effect one object of any type.
Generally make parameters Type unless there is a clear reason not to (e.g. Length of a bench).
Exception is Material parameters. Generally make these Instance. That way parameters can be used to control individual objects, Category and Subcategory settings for controlling all objects.
Schedulable (shared):
Only shared parameters (and built in system parameters) can appear in schedules.
Custom template files (with ANT suffix) are preloaded with standard shared parameters.
As shared parameters can be added to a project, you only need to included shared parameters that you will use on objects in your family (e.g. A_Opening Clear Width.DO).
DON’T make up your own shared parameters. Use the standard Office’s shared parameter file, SharedParameters.txt found at:
S:\Revit Settings\Shared Parameters
Create at least one type:
Create at least one Type for a family. Revit will create on with the same name as the family file name if none exists.
If there are lots of Types:
If your family will have lots of different Types create a Type Catalogue file.
Use Descriptive names:
There is no need to repeat information contained in the family’s filename.
Most flexible name format is the type’s size.
User zero prefixes so types order alphabetically.
Format & Order is:
0000d x 0000w x 0000h
e.g. 0050d x 0600w x 2100h
Create Preview view 3D Family:
Duplicate a 3D view, rename it Preview.
Set Visual Style to Shaded with Edges.
Turn off hosted elements, Dimensions and Reference Lines (if they exist).
Set the view to Top / Front / Right via the View cube.
Click on the down arrow next to the View Cube and select Save View.
Create Preview view 2D Family:
Duplicate a Plan view, rename it Preview.
Set Visual Style to Hidden Line.
Set Detail Level to Fine.
Turn off hosted elements, Dimensions, Text, Reference Planes and Reference Lines.
Zoom Extents.
Purge:
Purge everything.
Refer to naming convention for appropriate name:
Is it 2D, simplified 3D or full 3D
Identify appropriate folder:
Generally your projects Family Library, under a folder named after its category.
Set Options:
Before saving (or doing a Save As) click on the Options… button bottom right.
Change Maximum backups: to 1 (one)
Tick Compact File
Under Preview Source: list box select either 3d View:Preview or Floor Plan: Preview.
Tick Regenerate if view/sheet is not up-to-date.
Click Save and you are done!