Creating a Security Family that can be placed on a surface such as a desk, etc.

[Anonymous]

I'm new to hostable families and I'm not sure what to do? I've created a face based security family and it can be placed on a floor no problem, but I'm struggling on how to figure out how to get it to be placed on desks and/or tables. When I use workplane, it just goes through the desk and hosts to the floor. If I try to host using a surface, it won't host to the desk at all.

[RobDraw]

Make a named work plane (reference plane) that corresponds with the surface and use that for the host.

[barthbradley]

Do you see this contextual tab when placing an instance in the project? 

[ToanDN]

The desk must have the top surface visible to host the device. It maybe set to invisible on plan and shown with just 2d lines or masking region.

[Anonymous]

Yes, and when I select place on face, it places it on the floor, through the desk and not on the desk.

[Anonymous]

While this will work, I feel this is not a good long term solution. I want to know why it's not hosting to the desk. I'd like to be able to just go around and place these devices on any horizontal surface without stopping to make reference planes (that could also become outdated as furniture layouts change, etc) But thank you for the suggestion.

[ToanDN]

Does your desk have a 3d surface? Is the 3d surface visible on Plan view?

[Sahay_R]

@Anonymous - something that you need to watch out for while placing face - based families - the face that the family sees will light up. You can also place the family randomly, and click the Pick New Host button to allow it to host correctly.

[RobDraw]

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@Anonymous wrote:

While this will work, I feel this is not a good long term solution. I want to know why it's not hosting to the desk. I'd like to be able to just go around and place these devices on any horizontal surface without stopping to make reference planes (that could also become outdated as furniture layouts change, etc) But thank you for the suggestion.

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Your OP stated workplane as your first choice and it hosted to the "floor". I think it was probably the level as that was most likely your current workplane. In order to use the workplane option you need to create one at the required elevation and name it in order to be able to make it hostable. 

If you are in a MEP model with the architectural linked in, this is actually a very viable workflow that is preferred by MEP firms that work with architects that can't be counted on to at try to play nice with their models.