disassociate symbolic line

[mpukas]

Is it possible to disassociate symbolic lines from a work plane in a family? In Revit's OOTB wall cabinet family, there are symbolic lines that are not associated to a work plane. In the OOTB family, new symbolic lines drawn are not associated to a work plane. But if they are changed to a work plane, they cannot be disassociated. 

In a new casework family, using the Casework Wall Based family, new symbolic lines are associated to a work plane, and cannot be disassociated. I cannot find a way to set a work plane in a family, as can be done in a project. I cannot find a way to draw symbolic lines so they are disassociated. 

Is this a feature that has long been discarded yet still remains present in the decades-old Revit OOTB family? This feature would been quite useful in some situations. 

[barthbradley]

Symbolic Lines are drawn on the Detail Plane (e.g. the Plane closest to you).  In a Family, you can uncheck "Draw in Foreground" though.  That would host it to a Level  -- or to a named Reference Plane/Workplane.  

[mpukas]

I understand what you're saying, in theory. But that's not how it's working in Revit for me. When I start a new family using the casework template, and create a symbolic line, whether or not the Draw in Foreground box is checked the line in drawn on a reference plane. The symbolic line cannot be disassociated. 

Only in the Revit OOTB upper cabinet family are symbolic lines disassociated. 

[barthbradley]

[mpukas]

Yes, I already understand that. 

How can a symbolic line be disassociated from a work plane? 

[mpukas]

[barthbradley]

[barthbradley]

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@mpukas wrote:

Yes, I already understand that. 

How can a symbolic line be disassociated from a work plane? 

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I don't know what else to say.  I have explained it above the  best I can.  With words and pictures.  

[mpukas]

What did you do to get the <not associated> option? That is not available for me in nay of the tests I've been doing. 

[mpukas]

The only family that's available in is the OOTB upper cabinet family, for both existing symbolic lines and newly drawn symbolic lines. And once a symbolic line is associated to a work plane, it cannot be disassociated. 

[barthbradley]

Select line and press Convert twice. 

[mpukas]

@barthbradley what file did you do that in? A new file using a new template, or the OOTB upper cabinet file I uploaded? 

[barthbradley]

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@mpukas wrote:

@barthbradley what file did you do that in? A new file using a new template, or the OOTB upper cabinet file I uploaded? 

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The one you uploaded.

[mpukas]

That doesn't work in new files 

[barthbradley]

Well, regardless of what the Work Plane says, the Detail Line is not associated.  It's being drawn in the foreground, just as it's supposed to.  It's easy to verify. Drop the View Range (Top, Cut, Depth and Bottom) below the Ref. Level, select the line and uncheck Draw in Foreground.  It'll disappear because Ref. Level is not within the View Range.  

[SteveKStafford]

Symbolic Lines are 2D graphic and are not associated with a work plane, they "belong" to the view orientation they are placed in. Model lines are associated with workplanes.

[barthbradley]

Yes, but 2D Symbolic Lines can be associated to a Work Plane by unchecking "Draw in Foreground" and then assigning a named Work Plane/Level to it.  That Level/Work Plane can be outside of the current View's View Range. 

[mpukas]

As @barthbradley just stated, symbolic lines can be associated to a work plane. The visibility of symbolic lines in a project can be controlled to read above, or hidden by, other elements depending on the work plane height and the state of the draw in foreground checkbox. 

[SteveKStafford]

I must be remembering something from long ago. FWIW, when I open the family you shared initially the view Floor Line does not have a work plane associated with it, it reports <not associated> when you use Set Workplane...so if you sketch a symbolic line in that view it too is <not associated>. If a workplane is assigned to the view then the symbolic line inherits it too. Once the view is assigned a workplane there is no option to disassociate it either. Seems like the family's view being disassociated is the quirky "feature" here.

[mpukas]

@SteveKStafford You're onto exactly my initial inquiry and cause of confusion. I suspect that OOTB upper cabinet family is ancient and never updated, and has just been kicked down the line as-is, as many OOTB families. I was thinking that having a symbolic line disassociated with a work plane may be beneficial, but perhaps not. Other elements, such as sweeps, can be disassociated from a work plane, but not symbolic lines. Symbolic lines have the Draw in Foreground option, which in essence gives similar control over visibility when relating to other elements in a project. Mindnumbing to get a grasp on, to say the least...