Family Parameters and Formulas

[john.laine]

I had a question that I couldn't quite tell if it was answered before. I was looking at having a Family with a formula for a moving a group of objects to either left or right side then also having it so that each objects individual viability, within the group, can be toggled. So instead of having 6 check boxes for 3 objects on either side just having 4 check boxes where you only have to deselect the object to hide its visibility from either side and one check box to switch sides. I've never worked with formulas in revit before I assumed that this would be the formula-

"if(visibility,[not((Left Mounted),(Right Mounted ))],[or((Left Mounted),(Right Mounted))]"

-Or at least something similar. The formula was for a group of objects that had already been selected and grouped together and had  [=not(Left Mounted)] as its formula on the Right Mounted visibility.

The other point would be that each object would need to be grouped, was there a way to group objects to have separate visibility settings and setting the group to have a specific yes/no option while the individual objects within it have their own individual. If you got this far I thank you for reading through my rambling, and any answer/comment you have.  -Thanks

[barthbradley]

Be easier to follow if you could post the family.  Want to?  

[john.laine]

Here is the family. 

[barthbradley]

Well, that doesn't help.  Do you think you could illustrate or diagram what you are trying to do and post that?   

BTW: You are pretty close on your formulas. Check out this reference and keep it handy:

https://www.revitforum.org/tutorials-tips-tricks/1046-revit-formulas-everyday-usage.html 

...you know, after re-reading your post several times, I'm thinking that this may be a perfect application for Arraying. Are you familiar with Arraying?  

[bin · Accepted solution]

I will not group them because the instance parameters in group will change all together. 

To achieve your goal, you need to create 6  yes/no visibility instance parameters for each element, 3 extra yes/no parameters with number(eg. No.1, No.2 and No.3), as well as 2 yes/no instance parameters for Left and right(eg. Left, Right)

leave blank for parameter Left. 

Not(Left) for Parameter Right. 

Use and() condition for the formulas of visibility Parameter. eg. The formula of visibility Parameter of the first left element to be and(Left, No.1)

Eventually you can have the 6 visibility parameters and the Right Parameter in the “other” category and put the Left, No.1, No.2, No.3 in a category like constrain or construction so appears at the top of properties. 

Let me me know if you still have questions. 

[barthbradley]

Seems like a lot of work to me. I think you could do same thing a lot easier with an parametric Array.

@bin: The problem I'm having, is that I can't visualize exactly what the OP is describing.  It seems you do.  Maybe you could build the OPs family to do what you are describing and post it here?   That way I can see if I'm right about the Array approach I am touting.   

[bin]

https://youtu.be/isDULLg48_Q

Here is a short video of this exercise. What Op need is the and() condition in the formula, but the example he/she gave is a bit confusing. Took me a while to understand. 🙂

[barthbradley]

Thanks @bin. Yep, I was completely confused about what @john.laine wanted to do.  I was thinking of something like this family (an Array based on number of cabinets and spacing):  

2017 file is attached if anyone is interested.