Notes In Family

If you have created a Family and would like to inform users of any special conditions that they should be aware of when using or altering the Family. Then you could think about adding some notes in the family.

All you have to do is create a Text Parameter in the Family.

It is very important that you select the correct ‘Group parameter under’ this will ensure the parameter is grouped with the parameters that it is trying to highlight.

To insert your information text, just type it in the formula column, ensuring that you use “quotation marks” or it will give you an error.

Creating New Floor Plans

If you would like to create a new plan view of your model, you could duplicate an existing plan view, but this will bring with it all of its views properties. This could be acceptable for your requirements, but I always like to start fresh and then apply the view parameters I require.

The only trick is that when I go to the View ribbon, select the Plan Views tool, and then the Floor Plan tool, the resulting Dialogue box, usually does not show any of the levels, because they are already in use.

To show all of the available levels, just un-check the ‘Do not duplicate existing views’. This will bring up the available list of Levels. The select the Level and create the new view.

Nested 'If' Statement Generator

I have been using this excel formula generator for a while now and it has come in very handy from time to time. It originated from Chris Price (Cadway and Xrev) and was distributed at an RTC (Revit Technology Conference) a while ago.

When you are using formulas in you families and you have to produce an ‘if’ statement with many nested conditions then having to type all the information can take a while. This simple excel document can shortcut all of the manual input.

All you have to do is cut and paste the resulting formula (in Column E), into your formula parameter in your family…..

You can alter or build on the information in the excel table as required.

Nested If Generator