topic Re: Control Units in Properties Palette in Revit MEP Forum

Control Units in Properties Palette

mphillipsKKYQF — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 15:35:42 GMT

How do you control the units controlling instance parameters in the properties palette? I have created new Duct Accessory families and would like to show the units in inches instead of feet. I have already tried changing the units within the family, but once I load it back into the project, the units in the properties palette don't change.

Re: Control Units in Properties Palette

iainsavage — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 22:52:19 GMT

manage tab > project units

Re: Control Units in Properties Palette

mphillipsKKYQF — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 12:25:55 GMT

I know I can change my project units, but I don't want to do that in my project because I want all my tags and dimensions to show in feet/inches. But I have noticed that some families I load into the project show units of inches despite my project units being feet/inches. Just wondering how I can make that happen in my own families.

Re: Control Units in Properties Palette

iainsavage — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 17:44:51 GMT

I misunderstood the question.

I'm pretty sure that the units in the browser are the project unit settings so I don't think you can achieve what you are asking for.

Maybe someone else knows differently.

Re: Control Units in Properties Palette

mphillipsKKYQF — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 17:53:16 GMT

I know that it's possible only because I've imported families from manufacturers that have units shown in inches in the properties palette. Even though my project units are feet/inches. And now that I'm looking closer, some parameters are in feet/inches and some are in inches only.

Re: Control Units in Properties Palette

mphillipsKKYQF — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 18:00:25 GMT

Well I just realized that some of these parameters are the "common" discipline and some are "HVAC" discipline. So you were right, it is purely my own project units that's controlling everything. I just didn't look in the other discipline tabs within Project Units. Thanks!

Re: Control Units in Properties Palette

jrobrador19 — Sat, 31 Oct 2020 12:04:52 GMT

Hi there.

@iainsavage is definitely right that the family parameters inherit the Project Units set in your project.

But the format of some parameter data types are different. For example, the Length parameter will display 1' 6" but the Duct Size parameter will say 18". It's the data type that controls the format.

I hope this helps.