Can I re-organize my families file folders without affecting the project that is using them?

[ConstantineC]

I would like to re-organize my families folders. Not the one from Revit but those that I gathered for a while and I keep them separately.

If I move around their location on the disk will the project that is using them be affected?

[jay_colcombe · Accepted solution]

it will not have any impact on the model as families are placed within the model directly and not linked to the model so do not share a file path.

It Is sometimes a common misconception that editing a family would update all existing models where that family was used!

The only thing that may need to change is the File Path in Revit > Options > File Location > Places if you use this to path to your Families Folder when inserting components.

[L.Maas · Accepted solution]

When you use loadable families, Revit pulls (a copy of) them into the project. You can change the location of that family on the harddrive, rename it or modify it without any impact on that project.
When the family is in the original location and yoiu do a reload, Revit rememebers the last location where it was. When you try to reload a moved or renamed family, revit can not find the family and you have to poinbt them to the new location or to the one with the new name.
When you reload a renamed or modified family it will overwrite the one in hte project with the new name/modifications.
So there is no direct link (besides last location) besided the family inside the rpoject and the one in you harddrive folder

[ConstantineC]

Ok, thats great to hear! I really like that Revit loads the families inside the model, makes things more flexibile!