Project Spark

[#1]

Hello Spark Programmers,

I don't know if this is possible, but I thought I'd ask:

How to Add Door Elevations to Door Schedule Automatically, How to Adjust Door Trim & Header Trim & show them on Schedule

Let's break it into 2 parts:

HOW TO ADD DOOR ELEVATIONS TO DOOR SCHEDULES AUTOMATICALLY:

Most architects of commercial architecture who also become architects of custom homes are used to being able to include detailed elevations of their doors and door frame trims on their Door Schedules.  It would be nice if these parameters could be added to the properties of each door so that a too-scale image could be included for door & door frame types.  If this feature is already part of this program, this is simply my ignorance of its features speaking.  Please guide me to how to accomplish this.  If this is not yet available, this would be a good feature for you to add and improve the functionality of this aspect of Spark.

HOW TO ADJUST DOOR TRIM & INCLUDE ON THE DOOR SCHEDULE:

In addition to simply having a property that allow a single dimension to be indicated for door and window trims, some of us architect actually might want to make the sill or head trim different.  It would be nice if you had input fields conveniently allowing this.  Also, depth.  For instance, I often use 1-1/2" thick trim out of 2x material.  Thank you for considering.

[#2]

Elevations can not be added to the schedule.  I understand this is often done in architectural documentation.  You can include the elevation of a door element in a legend.  This may help resolve the issue in some cases.

Door trim dimensions could be adjusted and scheduled if you altered the door family to include this as a parameter.  The door objects that are part of the Spark installation are just really examples to get you started.  You can edit an existing door and add the parameters to have control over the trim.

Family editing can be a complex topic we do have a guide specifically dedicated to authoring families.  This guide is for Revit  but Spark will use the same basic techniques.

Families Guide

[#3]

Hello Jeff; I read the page where your link connected.  It sounds like I would have to download some more complicated family editing guide.  Hmm.  Probably over my head right now.  Please let me if you have some simple step-by-step method for me to add additional parameters into door and window property boxes that would allow me to adjust jamb, sill and head trims as being different from each other.  Thank you. 

[#4]

Making families is an advanced topic and can take some time to learn.  Adding parameters would be pretty straight forward if you only need them to show up in a schedule or tag.  If you need parameters to control geometry/representation in a family that is much more complex.

Here are a couple of links to wiki pages that explain how to add parameters to a family.  They do not cover how to make those parameters control geometry.  That is what is covered in the families guide.

Creating Parameters

Adding Shared Parameters  (You need to used shared parameters if you want the value to show in a tag.)

[#5]

Thanks for the information,. Jeff.  This is way over my computer technical skill level. I am an architect, not a software programmer.  If you Spark programmers might consider doing something for your architect users, we would sincerely appreciate you adding the parameters of trim width and thickness for jambs, sills and heads, independent of each other, for actual geometry seen as well as in schedules.  Thank you for your consideration.