Family parameters instead of Family TYPE parameters?

[DanielKP2Z9V]

Is it possible to assign "Family-wide" parameters instead of Family Type parameters? For example I want to assign URL from manufacturer website for a wall tie. This URL points to all "family types" (different lengths of wall ties) manufacturer provides.

My intuition would be that this information belongs to the family itself and not individual types.

Right now I have to assign the same parameter value for each type, which is tedious and seems "semantically incorrect".

Alternatively, do you know a quick way to assign a value to all family type paramaters 🙂 ?

Please let me know if I missed something.

[vitorbortoncello]

Revit lacks a built-in method to assign parameters directly to the family without repeating them for each type. You can use a Shared Parameter for the URL or other "family-wide" data. While it still applies to each type, it’s easier to manage globally across families, reducing long-term redundancy.

[HVAC-Novice]

I think what would be even better if you could enter the URL in the Formula field. And maybe even use "if" and other functions. 

Best idea i have is to enter the URL with the first type I create and each new type will then start out with the same URL. Obviously this isn't great if I change manufacturers later. 

Just as a side note, I only use the highest level company URL and let the contractor find out how to get to the URL of that specific product. the reason is, those sub level URL change around a lot  when manufacturer re-designs their website. Maybe this is worse initially, but ensures easy maintenance and ensures I legally gave the correct URL and not a 404. 

[DanielKP2Z9V · Accepted solution]

Thanks everyone, that's good to know. I prompted chatgpt to write a command to let user write a value of a selected parameter to selected family types to speed up copying it across family types.

It took a bit longer to write than I expected (had to switch to "o1-preview model" after "4o model" run into problems), so I don't think that this one will return its "cost of investment" considering that I could have just manually entered these values. But let's see, it's fun though and I'm glad I didn't miss anything obvious in revit.
final code

[DanielKP2Z9V]

> Just as a side note, I only use the highest level company URL

Interesting, when I was writing dissertation in uni, we only had to add "Retreived at <date>" next to URLs, but I guess if you are contractually tied to ensure correct links then that's the way to go. In this original post URL was just for internal use, so if it expires I assumed that google will still be available 😅

[HVAC-Novice]

Depends on what you mean by requirement. Normally schedules list the name of manufacturer and the model# . Me adding the URL of the manufacturer is just additional information to help bidders/contractors find the product. This is better than adding a link and NOT keeping it up to date. And keeping it up to date would require me to all the time verify those links and correct them. A link also could change during bidding time or while a contract runs. it would require a full time person just updating links 🙂

Better an URL that is not detailed enough than an URL that is wrong. in MY case the link is to help contractors/bidders. 

[DanielKP2Z9V]

> it would require a full time person just updating links

Fairs, in UK there is a professional body providing this service for a fee, which comes in very handy especially when writing specifications (for example standards change a lot as well). Although I wonder if you could write a script to check if all the links in the model return 200 and contain the intended information (I suppose downloading them for offline view wouldn't work, because manufacturer could make an important change that would make them invalid).

[ToanDN]

Type the information in the formula boxes.

[HVAC-Novice]

URL (the actual URL data type) don't accept formulas.... But I just had an idea. Why not create a text parameter and make that look like an URL? That way you can use formulas and can prescribe it for all types in a family at once.

The URL has a functionality and a functioning link. but I never use that linking capability. Using dumb text for URL might be better? 

[barthbradley]

Can't you do this through a NON itemized Schedule? Enter one URL for all? 

[DanielKP2Z9V]

Not in a family editor

[TripleM-Dev.net]

How about a Type Catalog?

Specially if it has a fixed number of values from the supplier + the values are easier to replace in a txt document.

And import all types to overwrite the ones in the project.

[DanielKP2Z9V]

Thanks, I didn't know about Family Type Catalog. I'd agree that if there were more complex changes than copying the same value across all parameters this would come super useful. It's format appears to be csv-like, so maybe you could even give it someone to edit in excel?

However, for this particular question where parameter is the same and you just want to assign it "family-wide" I'd rather do it without having to reopen the family editor. 

[barthbradley]

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@DanielKP2Z9V wrote:

Not in a family editor

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Well then, how about bringing all the Families into a Project Environment, adding the URL via Schedule and then "batch" saving all of the Families out of Project via Save As Library.  

https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-FC6CC53B-0010-4AF9-BFE2-6B044191A645

Seems the least PITA way to go about it.  

[DanielKP2Z9V]

Sorry, too PITA 🙂

the script I mentioned above (marked as answer now) works fine and runs directly in the family editor

[HVAC-Novice]

Just some additional info. Above I suggested to create a new TEXT parameter for URL. That would have the advantage to be able to easily use equations. 

But I just realized using the actual URL parameter type actually creates a hyperlink in the schedule. This hyperlink in a PDF might be useful and you would give up hyperlinking if using a TEXT parameter. 

So, don't do what I suggested unless you are fine without hyperlinking of the web address.