topic Re: Nested family with interchangeable components in Revit MEP Forum

Nested family with interchangeable components

eriktoom — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 08:17:13 GMT

Hey, I am quite new to Revit and have tried to solve one specific problem. I cannot find the solution although I went through quite a few family-related tutorial videos and forum posts. Probably I am just not so familiar with Revit vocabulary?

So I am trying to create a light switch family. Let's say that client wants two light switches installed vertically. Now both of these light switches must fit into that frame. The problem is that you can never know what type of switch is wanted and therefore I want those light switches to be changeable inside the frame. Also would be nice if the frame type would be changeable (3-4-5 place frame) if possible. But probably I have to create separate families for them.

Anyway, if somebody can guide me on how to do that, would be nice. When changing the components it is important that the identity data linked to specific component comes along as well.

It seems that the link below is something I want to do but I still couldn't figure it out.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/ENU/Revit-Customize/files/GUID-1E6281BF-3194-40DB-8590-A60767E03FF1-htm.html

Attached is a capture of my simple nested family if someone wants to get the idea of what I am talking about. Currently I am just trying to get this working by using different shapes inside the frame.

Re: Nested family with interchangeable components

iainsavage — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 07:49:51 GMT

I had hoped someone else would help you with this but I’ll have a go.

create separate families for each frame option (recommend face-hosted family).
create separate families for each switch option, tick the “shared” parameter
open a frame family, load all of the switch families
place instances of a nested switch in the required positions
follow the procedure at the bottom of the link that you posted
repeat for each other frame family.

You could try to have just one host family with all nested frames and all nested switches but the permutations would, I think, become too complex.

Hope this works.

Re: Nested family with interchangeable components

eriktoom — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 10:06:02 GMT

Thank you for the answer. I actually found the solution before your answer but it is indeed the solution if someone struggles with the same obstacle.

I followed two video tutorials>

1) Part 1

2) Part 2

The get the idea what is the end result, see the attached picture below (Example-1).

What I actually tried to achieve at first was to be able to change the component from the properties panel (after making the component active) - see the attached picture Example-2. But that one I couldn't figure out. If someone knows how to achieve that, would come as a bonus knowledge. Why I tried to achieve this is because I once saw a component that had that opportunity. When you hovered the mouse over the switch, it instantly highlighted the component, then after clicking on it, it had a possibility to change the component from the dropdown menu (see Example-2). My switch component only becomes active when I hover the mouse over it and hit TAB button and click on it.

Re: Nested family with interchangeable components

iainsavage — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 11:16:40 GMT

Good to know that you solved it. I was just going through "unanswered" tab and saw this was still there.

You should probably mark your own post as solution to assist others in the future.

Re: Nested family with interchangeable components

eriktoom — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 11:19:49 GMT

Okay, any ideas on the second part? Probably it isn't that important if the 1st solution works already?