Creating curtain panel family with multiple types

[cbt990]

I have been working with a curtain panel file from Equitone which contains a variety of material options. I built a dynamo script which selects the desired panel to apply as Family Types. Now, i would like to modify this a little so that I can explore other colors not specified by Equitone. 

So I select a panel, choose edit family..

But the material is associated with a parameter so I can't change it:

Would I be better off making a new family from template for each panel color? I would prefer to just duplicate these if possible. Maybe I don't get the whole picture on the material parameters though.

[barthbradley]

Associate the panel Material Parameter to an Instance-Type Parameter. 

One panel is all you need.  Each panel instance can have a different material.  

[cbt990]

Like this?

and then I create Type 1, Type 2, etc, specifying the material for each.

But the color doesn't appear in the model:

[barthbradley]

Did you check the Material settings in the Project? 

BTW: You don't need to create different Family Types if the Material is an Instance Parameter. If you want to create Types, then make the Material Parameter a TYPE Parameter.   In any case, the Project Materials rule, so inspect the Material settings of the Project Material.  The Material Settings in the Family don't matter.  

[cbt990]

The color seems to appear in Realistic mode but not Shaded.

[ToanDN]

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@cbt990 wrote:

The color seems to appear in Realistic mode but not Shaded.

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Edit Graphics tab and check Use render Appearance box.

[barthbradley]

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@cbt990 wrote:

The color seems to appear in Realistic mode but not Shaded.

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Yes, the Graphic Tab will provide the Material Color in Shaded View, but initially on Placement, the Panel will use a "Default" Material/color.  You'll need to select the Panel, unpin it and edit the Material Instance Parameter to change the Default Material/Color.  If you use Family Types. you would need to select the Panel, unpin it and replace it with another Type that uses the required Material/Color.