topic Re: Scalable generic family ? in Revit Architecture Forum

Scalable generic family ?

dcarlsen8GY35 — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 18:48:26 GMT

Have searched this - haven't found the straightforward answer yet. Has this been straightforwardly implemented yet ?

Re: Scalable generic family ?

ToanDN — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 19:08:06 GMT

Modify a RCP tree family maybe. Those are scalable.

Re: Scalable generic family ?

SteveKStafford — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 19:18:42 GMT

Assuming by scale you mean arbitrarily making a family x times bigger or smaller and since you wrote straightforwardly... then no.

If you're open to how it can be done, then the planting category can be scaled. There are numerous examples of doing it that way, here's one.

Re: Scalable generic family ?

zhaohui.chen5TEA7 — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 05:18:55 GMT

Thanks.

Is there a way to create scalable annotation families?

Re: Scalable generic family ?

SteveKStafford — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 17:06:39 GMT

Short answer no. Longer answer... you can create different types and use parameters to change the size of graphics and swap one size label (text) for another size. They won't respond to a view scale other than to maintain whatever size you designed into the type you placed.

By design, annotation families are created using a printed size in mind. They are not intended to increase or decrease in size because annotation symbols conceptually should always be the same size regardless of the view scale they are seen in. A North arrow shouldn't be smaller in 1:100 views than in 1:50 views, at least that's a common perspective on symbols.

Btw, asking a specific question like, "I need this thing to do that", instead of deciding in advance what the very broad answer (scaling) should be to solve it, might help provide a better answer.

Re: Scalable generic family ?

zhaohui.chen5TEA7 — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 00:17:09 GMT

Thanks a lot Steve.

If the annotation family is simple like a circle or a square, it's very easy to make the family "scalable".

If the annotation family contains more complex elements, sure it still can be made "scalable" by doing a lot of mathematics and adding complex parameters & constrains to each element. Obviously this is not ideal.

I believe Revit (Autodesk) definitely has the ability to provide such simple functionality. Actually, Revit already has the functionality in itself (such as planting category element), Revit just doesn't give user the ability to control the scaling. Or, there may have some good solutions / work around like using planting category for model family, which I don't know and want to learn from advanced users like you. This is my question coming from.

Thanks & Regards

Re: Scalable generic family ?

ToanDN — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 02:15:46 GMT

What exactly the annotation family is for and what are the circumstances that you need to scale it?

Re: Scalable generic family ?

zhaohui.chen5TEA7 — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 05:41:44 GMT

Thanks ToanDN.

Good question.

A relatively simple example is a star symbol, which may be used for different purpose. Please refer attached image.

Regards

Re: Scalable generic family ?

XXalessio.amodioXX — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 06:26:25 GMT

For this purpose I would suggest you to use the functionality : Detail group.
I had the same issue and It helped me.

Re: Scalable generic family ?

zhaohui.chen5TEA7 — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 07:11:41 GMT

Thanks alessio.amodio.

I think it is a very good solution.

Regards

Re: Scalable generic family ?

XXalessio.amodioXX — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 08:31:35 GMT

Please mark the answer as solution to help further users that might have the same problem.

Re: Scalable generic family ?

zhaohui.chen5TEA7 — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 22:35:53 GMT

I'd like to mark the answer as solution 🙂

However, I couldn't find the "Mark as Solution" button or something like that. Could you show me how to do this? Thanks.

Re: Scalable generic family ?

ToanDN — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 22:40:09 GMT

Only the OP can mark the solutions. Create your own topics then you can mark solutions yourself.

Re: Scalable generic family ?

zhaohui.chen5TEA7 — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 22:49:05 GMT

I see. Thanks ToanDN 🙂

Re: Scalable generic family ?

zhaohui.chen5TEA7 — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 06:11:35 GMT

How do you scale "Detail Group"? I found that the scale button is grayed out when I try to scale a detail group.

Re: Scalable generic family ?

XXalessio.amodioXX — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 07:16:14 GMT

Just edit type and create a new group with desired dimensions.

Re: Scalable generic family ?

zhaohui.chen5TEA7 — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 07:27:18 GMT

Thanks alessio.amodio for your quick response:)

Good tip! I think I can do similar thing in families too.