topic Re: Altering component dimensions with parameters in Revit MEP Forum

Altering component dimensions with parameters

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 14:36:58 GMT

If you'd add a component into Revit, I wonder if you could change dimensions of that component by altering certain parameters. If so: how?

Thanks in advance!

Re: Altering component dimensions with parameters

L.Maas — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 15:19:35 GMT

Revit families can make use of parameters. Parameters can be attached to dimensions of the family. In that case you can change the dimensions by changing the diameters.

So if you can change the dimension of a family/component is dependent on how that family is modeled.

If the family does not have parameters to change the dimensions you possibly can edit the family to add this functionality

You would need to get familiar with family creation/editing. Best would be to get some courses on Revit/Family creation (books, video course, classical).

Re: Altering component dimensions with parameters

stever66 — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 17:09:33 GMT

Here is how:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApGvNL73IZw

Its really pretty easy.

Re: Altering component dimensions with parameters

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 06:47:25 GMT

@stever66 @L.Maas

You're right but I realized I'm a bit of an idiot and didn't word my actual question properly.

My real question is whether you could load a component into a family (so, a family into a family) and then use parameters to change dimensions of that component in the family.

Re: Altering component dimensions with parameters

ToanDN — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 06:53:16 GMT

Sure you can.

link: Associate Family Parameters

Re: Altering component dimensions with parameters

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 07:41:28 GMT

That seems to be the tutorial I'm looking for.

Except, at step 6 it says:

"Follow the steps for creating a new parameter of the same type as the parameter you want to control in the nested family."

I have no idea what these steps are.

Re: Altering component dimensions with parameters

ToanDN — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 07:49:30 GMT

It means, for instance, you can change a length parameter of the nested family directly in the host family by associating it to a length parameter of the host family. Do a search on YouTube for associate parameters in Revit and you can watch ton of video for more clarifications.

Re: Altering component dimensions with parameters

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 08:22:51 GMT

Am I supposed to be using shared parameters here? I'm constantly running into "Invalid Shared Parameter File" when I press that button. I was thinking that may not be the way but now I'm not so certain.

Re: Altering component dimensions with parameters

ToanDN — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 08:31:07 GMT

If you need to report the parameters value in a schedule in project then you do need to use shared parameters. If you only need to control the geometry of the family then no.

Re: Altering component dimensions with parameters

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 09:41:22 GMT

I managed to find a way.

Thank you!