[Discussion] Idea Collection on Adding New Family Categories

[starry.cui]

Dear Revit users,

Feature Description:

our team is recently considering about adding new family categories. We are particularly interested in learning how you use Generic Model/ Specialty Equipment and assign it to family categories. 

One of the Focused Scenarios:

you create specific elements with Generic Model template and then assign them to family categories. In this process, you notice that existing family categories cannot fulfill your needs.

Requested Area of Feedback:

•  what is your current job role and your industry?
•  please list which family categories you think are necessary and need to be added.
•  please briefly explain in which scenarios you would need those categories mentioned above and why.

You are also welcomed to provide a link of former discussion on similar topics as well.

Thank you very much.

[David_Knight · Accepted solution]

I would very much like to be able to create families (not model-in-place families) in the "Wall" categorys.  A bonus if it could host a door or window.  As of now, I have to create subcategories for precast panels in the "generic model" family. then create a handful of subcategories to make it work how I would like.  I do a lot of warehouses with precast panels.  I have a complicated panel family with a lot of parameters that has options to add a man door, dock door, louver, or clearstory window, adjust the heights, width, and all reveals.  It would be extremely beneficial if it showed up as a wall. 

[Mohamed-Nassar]

Hello, i Have wrote this idea before we need to have a new family categories like for BMS systems, as you know if we work with full project of BIM some time we need to add BMS system to our project deliverables, it's very important to client, so it will increase users of Revit i hope we can add some thing like this also. 

Thanks

[martijn_pater]

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@David_Knight wrote:

I would very much like to be able to create families (not model-in-place families) in the "Wall" categorys.  A bonus if it could host a door or window.  As of now, I have to create subcategories for precast panels in the "generic model" family. then create a handful of subcategories to make it work how I would like.  I do a lot of warehouses with precast panels.  I have a complicated panel family with a lot of parameters that has options to add a man door, dock door, louver, or clearstory window, adjust the heights, width, and all reveals.  It would be extremely beneficial if it showed up as a wall. 

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Is this with curtain walls?...

[David_Knight]

No, we did not like the outcome with curtainwall panels.

This is a  generic model family that is a single precast "panel" with types.  But sure do wish i could have it be a wall family 😁

[martijn_pater]

Perhaps place the generic model in an in-place family in the wall category, which is sort of in-place 'nesting' that might work...

[syman2000 · Accepted solution]

Couple of things that need to be done with the family template.

1. Ability to change host type from wall, ceiling, level, face and etc. In the past when you change host of the family, you are stuck and have to recreate new family that is non-hosted. It means the family need to be recreated and it takes time to make the family works

2. Why is the adaptive always set to shared while traditional family is set to non-shared. There is need to be consistency with all family template

3. Make certain object cutable or not with a checkbox. Most often when I want to cut thru a bathtub, I have to make my family generic model and then placed it in plumbing fixture to make it schedule properly. It would great if plumbing fixture allow you to cut if you simply check ON/OFF much like making object shared or not

4. New Category/Subcategory I like to see for Model Category

• Opening cut. Shaft opening is a category but not wall opening, floor/roof cut.
• Allow Curtainwall panel to set as railing or generic model
• Road category in Revit is an interesting one. It is there but no one is able to use it. So why added there when no one has an ability to change to that category. It seems like a useless category. Road should merge with Site as a subcategory. That way user is able to make certain object to be part of the road
• Barges - Since Revit focus on building. However it has expand to different building typology for the future. Some buildings are built on barges and on water.
• Space Station. We have to expand beyond building only on earth. Maybe in the future we may see building built on Moon or Mars. So it is better to be prepare for new space typology.

5. New Category I like to see for Annotation Category

• Camera (make Camera and walkthrough show up on plan, section, 3d, elevation

6. Category I like to see improved

• Text - Add the ability to override color in the visibility and graphics

[Mark.Ackerley · Accepted solution]

Hi,

BIM Lead at Architecture Firm (UK)

Obviously the Revit families cover the majority of cases for me.

As hinted at, unfortunately everything else tends to get lumped into Generic Models.

Furniture not being cuttable means that a lot of that becomes Generic Models as well.  I think that in general, restrictions on family categories is a bigger issue than the types themselves.  There is also some API functionality which could be added (create ceilings, roof by face).

So here's my list of odd things in a Typical project of ours:

Prefabricated Balconies. Right now I am using a Column family, because it is room bounding.

Lifts

Reception Desks

Refuse Chutes

Pipes... RWPs, SVPs etc.

Movement joints, fire barriers etc.

That these are very project (firm) specific is inevitable.  Probably not the road everyone wants to go down.

So, can you allow users to create a custom category? (yes I know we can create sub-categories).

Hopefully that is useful,

Mark

[matheuspalmd]

As mentioned by @Mark.Ackerley it should be great if we could create a custom category. This way we could expand the boundaries even further. As an example, we could create a custom category for decoration, improving the workflow for interior design. This is only one example and i'm sure that everyone had needed this at least once.

Creating a specific category like you say would only postpone the problem. We would still be bound to the default.

Creating a custom category is the key to give users freedom to create and expand revit even further.

[martijn_pater]

Probably a custom family category would be just another generic family category. So you would be able to create additional generic family categories which could be renamed. Perhaps it is actually adding sub-sub-categories then... 

[matheuspalmd]

The point is to this custom category show up on the VG this way i can hide the elements in a more precise way. We would have a much bigger control over the families

[starry.cui]

Hi,

Thanks for reply. Could you please specify which new family categories that you want to add for BMS system?

Thanks

[martijn_pater]

Just a thought. Maybe have paint/painted surface as a model (sub)category, would make it easier to use perhaps... Or option to create painted surfaces within a custom subcategory ie.

[martijn_pater]

Another thought, it would be nice so see more categories for Adaptive components. I was thinking along the lines of Structural Framing/beams/columns i.e. Not sure why it's limited to below categories actually...

Available AC family categories

[Mark.Friis]

A category for "Openings" -> to use with Floors and Walls, and within other families.

I create a lot of Families myself, and some of them include Openings with symbols and these families needs to be Tag-able to show Size and Position for the People at the Building Site. But The Opening visibility should be control-able in the VG.

Im an MEP-Engineer in Germany

[Anonymous]

I'd really like to see grade beams be split off into their own foundations category. Also a seismic category for expansion joints and dampers. Lastly, Revit needs to implement post-tension systems.

Maybe some 4D categories as well for scaffolding and cranes and temp offices.

[martijn_pater]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I'd really like to see grade beams be split off into their own foundations category. Also a seismic category for expansion joints and dampers. Lastly, Revit needs to implement post-tension systems.

Maybe some 4D categories as well for scaffolding and cranes and temp offices.

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You could explore using subcategories perhaps for those...