components hosting correctly

[mpa-marc]

I continually have trouble inserting certain components; I cant' get them to host or orientate correctly.  My most recent example is when I was trying to insert a faucet for a bathroom vanity.  the faucet would get placed on the floor, instead of the vanity top.  If I use the pick plane option (selecting the vanity top) the faucet would get placed facing down (below the vanity).  I've tried nesting the faucet into vanity family (both fam's are kohler).  It too wasn't working.  Over  the yrs I've had this sim issue with other components.  I eventually make it work, by going to various views and moving the component.  this is not always successful, and I have to believe there's an easier way.  ie something that I've been missing.  I would very much appreciate any help. 

[barthbradley]

Well, the next time it happens, post the problem family and we'll help you figure it out.  You can post that faucet family right now if you want.  

[ToanDN]

Place it in a 3d view so you can see the surface of the vanity. 

[mpa-marc]

Please see the attached.  I appreciate your willingness to help figure this out.

[mpa-marc]

Thank you.  Knowing that workarounds are a SOP is helpful.  I'd still like to figure a way to handle this in the plan view.

[barthbradley]

Note the Placement Options.  

...This is a Face Hosted Family. FWIW.  

[mpa-marc]

So I'm gathering that one must go to a 3d view to insert faucets.  If I must, then so be it, but it doesn't seem logical, and it's a bit troublesome to locate the fixture properly - ie snap it to the holes in the vanity top.  Again, I could be missing something.  In the below image, I wasn't able to snap to the center hole; and then I wasn't able to easily rotate the faucet.  I realize the faucet is face-based, but I still have to believe this process of placing the faucet could be easier.  Both the vanity and the faucet families are from kohler.  One would logically place the vanity in plan, so then why can't the faucet be located in that view?  If I'm asking to much, please let me know. 

[barthbradley]

The reason it is failing in Plan View is likely because the Host is invisible in Plan View.  Open the Family and check the Visibility Settings of Element that you are trying to host the Faucet to in the Project.  I'll bet that Plan/RCP is unchecked, meaning that what you are seeing in Plan View is a 2D Symbolic Representation.  

...when you check the Visibility Settings in the Family, be sure to select the geometry. This is easy if you select it in a 3D View. 

[mpa-marc]

Please see the below.  Did I select correctly?  FYI - I'm gathering that 3D views should be used more often.

[mpa-marc]

eureka!!!  I realize my mistake with the last post.  this should correct it.  Thanks a million.

[mpa-marc]

Just confirming - it does work.  It's now easy-peasy.  Thank you for the help.  Not that I'm going fret over it...but is there a reason why such an element (ie integral to it's use/purpose) of a family would NOT be visible?  Just wondering.  Again, thanks for the help.

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

If you want to change it, then go ahead and make the geometry visible in Plan View and delete the existing Masking Regions and Symbolic Line work.  It's more a preferential thing these days.  

[ToanDN]

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@mpa-marc wrote:

Just confirming - it does work.  It's now easy-peasy.  Thank you for the help.  Not that I'm going fret over it...but is there a reason why such an element (ie integral to it's use/purpose) of a family would NOT be visible?  Just wondering.  Again, thanks for the help.

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Some people prefer to present families in simplified forms instead of true forms on plan so the 3d elements are set to not visible on plan/rcp and 2d linework/regions are used for such presentation.