Avoid geometric lines Between two genericmodels with a visability parameter

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone.

if the title dont explain it, then what I am trying to do is, in a Revit family, removing the lines between to objects, without joining them, because one of the objects are controlled by a visibility parameter.

så that when i turn it on in the project enviorment, it looks like one solid object.

i have a pic attachment where the red arrows are the vis.paramenters for the blocks, and the yellow highlighted are the lines I'm trying to avoid when the geometry is turn on.

[bin]

I guess you will need to join them, then they will share the same visibility parameter.

What I will do is to duplicate them, join and assign different visibility parameters.

e.g. vis parameter 1 for a big block with no small ones, then vis parameter 2 for a big block with 1 small one,  vis parameter 3 for a big block with 2 small ones... etc,

Please let me know if you find a better way to do this.

[Anonymous]

So have all possible combinations in the family?  what about the visibility parameters? I dont get it.

so just have different nested familys, all connected to the same 20 parameters?

[bin]

I think you are right, it's a bit too much. It's like 15 different combinations. You will need to create 15 extra yes/no parameters with formulas to control each one. 

Let's wait and see if someone comes up with a better solution.

[Anonymous]

Yes, because i need to ad to more, så the combinations sum up to 720, if you take 6*5*4*3*2*1. Not sure its a produktiv way to spend time 🙂

[martijn_pater]

Create a nested (generic) family with vibility parameter and join those, within the family create another parameter to control the visibility for the nested objects/families.

[Anonymous]

I just tried, and its not working for me, not sure if I'm doing it right?

I made a nested family with the needed parameters, and visibility parameter and linked them in  the family but cant join the nested family with the main geometry? 

[martijn_pater]

Can't seem to attach the example I just made, but basically:
1. nest a generic family twice within a main generic family, ie as type 1/2/3...
2. add visibility parameter to the nested family, in my example instance parameter called 'nested_visible'
3. in the main generic family join the nested families
4. add another visibility parameter to (one of the type#1) nested objects visibility parameter under 'other', in my example another instance parameter called ie 'visibility_type#1', repeat for #2/3/4...
5. save/load into project

[ToanDN]

Don't use a visibility box to control the object, use a parametric void. When you want the object visible, reduce the void dimension parameter so that it does not cut the object. When you want it not, extend the void dimension so that it cuts (fully or partially). It is known as the pumpkin carving approach.

[Anonymous]

So both the big object and the small are nested Familys in an empty family?

I will give it a try 🙂

[martijn_pater · Accepted solution]

That should work yes, but don't use the main families visibility under graphics but a parameter which controls the nested families visibility. But actually toad's solution might be easier, not sure.

[Anonymous]

Yes, i know this practis, but then when you select the object in project enviorment, you can se the void hanging outside the object, and I'm already going to use it for void cut on one side, så i would have a total of 8 voids hanging outside. 

and its a lot og "IF" statements i can avoid if there is another way 🙂

[martijn_pater]

It might only work with joining if the small and large objects are based on the same nested family with dimension parameters. Doesn't seem to work with joining the nested family to geometry created in the main family.

[Anonymous]

I works when i look in 3D, but not in the plan view, and cant seem to get it to remove hidden lines in VG/VV

must be a setting some where 😕

[Anonymous]

Hey again Martijn.

Thanks for sending your file, i can make it work in Architectural template, but not in Structual template, and I can't seem to figure out why. it is something with the settings on hiddenlines somewhere.

[martijn_pater]

Strange, initially this didn't seem to work with me aswell with structural, but now it does. Maybe it was the model display setting, I was messing around with view templates...?
If not Toad's solution with dynamic voids might be easier to do... or maybe you could just manually adjust the line work on the drawings to invisible lines, depending on how many you have...

[Anonymous]

Hello again.

Do you have any idea what you did in the settings? 🙂 

I will accept your idea even if you dont know the last thing 🙂

[martijn_pater]

Yes, it's probably in the view range as this solution will not work in section (or hidden line visual style). Not sure if that's what you're after. If you need it in section Toads solution is the best way to go.

[Anonymous]

Can you send the structual project where you got it to work perhaps? 🙂

[martijn_pater]

Well it just changed the view range for me when I switched templates before actually, so same thing there. If you need it to work in (plan) section you should go with the dynamic void cut solution mentioned by Toad, if that's what you're after. By the way if you would go with that solution, you could ofcourse still use an on/off 'visibility' parameter to control the IF statements for the voids. Let me know if you get it working, or if you want I could have a look for you if you send me the family file.