Family Editor - Default Ref Levels

[good_man_27]

Hello All,

I'm creating my VERY first family on Revit.

I need to use the default upper and lower ref levels, 0 and 4000 respectively, to set up a read-only parameter (Total Height):

Question-1:

When creating an instance of this family in the Revit model, are these the ref levels that get set by (Base Level/Offset) and (Top Level/Offset), so the instance gets its total length?

Quesiton-2: 

I know I can create new parameters and lock them up to the defaul ref levels and use those for the Total Height formula I wish to create, but I was wondering, since those default levels are already there, is there a way to read their values directy?

[ToanDN]

Those levels are for you to assign to the family when placed in the project. 

[good_man_27]

So you mean, Revit automatically sets the Lower and Upper Ref Levels in the family instance when created in the model, accoding to the Base and Top Level/Offset  constraints I give to it in the Property Panel?

[barthbradley]

Columns are a lot like Walls.  Compare the properties of a Column and a Wall placed in the Project and you'll see what I mean.   

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

---

@good_man_27 wrote:

So you mean, Revit automatically sets the Lower and Upper Ref Levels in the family instance when created in the model, accoding to the Base and Top Level/Offset  constraints I give to it in the Property Panel?

---

Yes. 

[good_man_27]

Got it, thank you. Next question please, and I do realise I'm asking very basic questions about building families, so please bear with me.

I created a Height parameter in the family editor:

However, when creating an instance in the Revit model, the Height is not shown in the Type Properties window, but rather in the Properties pallet only. Is there a way to display the Height in the Type Properties as well?

[barthbradley]

You don't need it, but if you want it, make it a Reporting Parameter. 

[good_man_27]

It is already, still it doesn't appear in the Edit Type window in Revit

[barthbradley]

If you want Height in the Project, then set TOP LEVEL to the same as BASE LEVEL, and enter the Column's designated Height under TOP OFFSET.  So, if BASE OFFSET = 0'-00'   and TOP OFFSET=9'-0", then TOP OFFSET=HEIGHT. Get it?

[barthbradley]

What do you mean it ain't showing? I see it in your screenshot.  

...Ah! Because it's an INSTANCE - not TYPE - Parameter.  

...Any Parameter Name that has "(Default)" at the end of it, is an INSTANCE Parameter.  Those Parameters are found on the Instance Properties Pallet - the one that you see initially when you select a Family that is already placed in the Project.  

[barthbradley]

Difference between Instance and Type Parameter - Revit – Cadline Community

[ToanDN]

If you want see the Height from the family then create it as a reporting shared instance parameter.

[good_man_27]

Thanks a lot for the great insites.

Changing the Height paramter to a Type parameter instead of Instance, it had it appear in the Edit Type window, just like the other parameters - Base Radies, Base Height, etc.

However, when I tried to set it to the total column height dimension in the family editor, it gave me an error:

[barthbradley]

You don't want to do that. Sir (e.g. make "Height" a Type Parameter).  You're dumbing down the Family.  

---

@good_man_27 wrote:

Thanks a lot for the great insites.

Changing the Height paramter to a Type parameter instead of Instance, it had it appear in the Edit Type window, just like the other parameters - Base Radies, Base Height, etc.

[barthbradley]

If you want a "Height" TYPE Parameter, then remodel the Column in a different Family Template - not a two-level Template.  Model it in a Generic Model Template and Recategorize it to "Column". 

[good_man_27]

Guys, I ALWAYS appreciate your help. This has been incredibly insightful for me, so thanks a lot.

Please let me rephrase the issue plain and simple.

I built the column family, basded on metric column family template. In its basic form, the column looks like this:

Creating an instance in Revit, gives the right outcome, and I can control its level constraints on the Property pallet, and also its dimensions in the Edit Type winow :

As I do have a job requirement to fulfill - so it's not related to my liking really, I need the Edit Type window to show a read-only parameter that displays the total height of the column, from the bottom of the column base to the top of the column capital. Please explain how to get that as in over 3 hours I practically tried everything and nothing worked.

The family file is attached.

Thanks in advance

[ToanDN]

See post #5.

[good_man_27]

Post-5 says "yes"!

[ToanDN]

---

@good_man_27 wrote:

Post-5 says "yes"!

---

Yeah the post # all screwed up after new posts added.  Here is it.

"Shared", "Reporting", "Instance" are the keys.

[good_man_27]

@ToanDN 

Apologies that I did not respond to this particular post. Lesson learnt! 🙂

When I said I spent over 3 hours trying, I actually meant I was trying almost ALL possible combinatons when creating a Shared, Reporting Instance, and nothing worked!

Here is how I set it up:

Clicking ok on all, and placing the new Height parameter to a dimension, it does show correctly in the family editor:

However, I still can't see the Height in the Edit Type window in the Revit model - which what I really, REALLY need, but rather on the properties pallet only:

How can I make it show in the Dimensions area, where I'm placing a question mark? PLEASE HELP!