Family type name inserted into family parameter

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I've done quite of bit of searching for this but can't find a definitive answer (probably because it's not possible). 

What I'm trying to do is have the family type name input into a family parameter as I text value which will be displayed by an associated text field.

Why do this? We have a database of family types, managed in Excel, these change regularly so need to be managed externally. I've created a Dynamo graph to create family types based on an external excel but now need a way for the type name to be automatically populated a type parameter.

Any thoughts if/how this is possible?

Many thanks.

[kadmonkee]

it seems like more work than necessary.

Family types are manged in the family itself if you change names (types) what guarantee do you have the family will function as expected?

each type may have different functions and or purposes within the family.

families should be standardized to simplify the workflow and production that promotes consistency.

have you tried using a shared parameter as opposed to a family parameter to manage the data?

if you create a new family with multiple types you do this in Revit , not excel or dynamo.

the text parameter is too open and requires alot of time management.

using excel as a storage for data is ok as a method of identifying what is current.

[Joris.vd.Meulen]

And why don't you do this in your dynamo graph?

Use nodes like TypeName and set.parameterbyvalue etc. or am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

Thank you both for the replies. This is bit of a work-around as what I want to do is create a revit schedule from an external excel spreadsheet. The items in the spreadsheet represent items the end user could select, there could be up to 200, which them display as a text item in the revit model.

I can't think of another way to achieve this other than families with multiple types. It's just the type name and a instance parameter that would be manually added that need to schedule. Adding the instance parameter is straight forward enough but populating the family with a pre-defined list of text items is where I'm stuck. I looked into look-up tables but I believe these are for numerical values only.

Any other options and advise gratefully received.

Thanks again.

[Joris.vd.Meulen]

Are you looking for this functionality?

https://apps.autodesk.com/RVT/en/Detail/Index?id=6290726048826015851&appLang=en&os=Win32_64

Is there a need for a schedule? Since it could be a text-field? 

[Anonymous]

Hi Joris,

This look like a good tool but not quite what I'm after.

Scheduling of the data is required. I've been researching the Dynamo route but even this has it's limitations. Essentially I'm trying to create family types/instances which can driven by an external database.

Many thanks.

[andres_roblesE8NZX]

Were you able to do it? I'm trying to do something similar

[Alfredo_Medina]

It seems to me that what you need is a Type Catalog. Have you read about that topic in the Help documents?