How do I create a Revit Family Template(rft) from a Revit Family(rfa)?

[cwilliamson232RQ]

I tried to just rename the file extension in my windows browser from  a rfa to a rft but that didn't do anything. Wonder if there is a setting in windows to make this happen. 

Or is there another step do make this happen? What is the best way to do this? 

[cwilliamson232RQ]

I want to take the GENERIC MODEL ADAPTIVE Revit Template, Modify it with some custom family types, and create my own version with Different File Name. What are the steps I need to take to do this?  

[hmunsell]

to be clear, your talking about a Family template, correct...

you should just be able to Copy it, Rename it, and add any parameters you want for your personal use. You can create standard family parameters or Shared parameters depending on how you want the family to function and schedule. if you want to use shared parameters, and this is for a specific client standard, i would recommend making a separate Shared Parameter file for that client.

i have done this several time with different families for specific clients needs.

[hmunsell]

you don't.... you copy an existing family template.

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RVT 20XX\Family Templates

[cwilliamson232RQ]

If I copy it and then open it, make my modifications, and then try to save it...it wants to save as a rfa file. 

[cwilliamson232RQ]

But if i copy it ,open it, then try and make modifications to it how do i save it back to a rft file ? It wants to save as a rfa file extension. 

[hmunsell]

correct, then you can use that RFA to create a family with your custom settings using the File > New > Family tool.

[hmunsell]

it seems you have 2 posts talking about similar things.....

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-architecture-forum/how-can-i-copy-a-revit-template-and-create-m...

[ToanDN]

Make sure your browser is not hiding file extensions so that you can rename it correctly.  If not, you are just adding .rft to the file name, not actually changing the extension.

And yes, that is how I turn families to family templates.

[ToanDN]

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@cwilliamson232RQ wrote:

If I copy it and then open it, make my modifications, and then try to save it...it wants to save as a rfa file. 

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Then rename the file extension from RFA to RFT in File Browser.

[RDAOU]

@cwilliamson232RQ 

You do not really need to post same question twice on the same forum!  even when that enhances everyone's copy paste expertise 🙂

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-architecture-forum/how-do-i-create-a-revit-family-template-rft-...

@Discussion_Admin 

[martijn_pater]

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/EN...

[cwilliamson232RQ]

@ToanDN    That doesn't work. It doesn't change. Not sure if there is a windows setting for this or not.  I wish it was that easy. 

[cwilliamson232RQ]

@RDAOU  It's not a copy. It is two seperate questions that are similar. One is how to copy a template to create a template and one is how to take a family and turn it into a template. I can not just re-name it in windows. For whatever reason it doesn't change for me.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

I just rename an rfa to an rft and it definitely works.  Look at the folder setting.

[MostafaElashmawy]

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@cwilliamson232RQ wrote:

I tried to just rename the file extension in my windows browser from  a rfa to a rft but that didn't do anything. Wonder if there is a setting in windows to make this happen. 

Or is there another step do make this happen? What is the best way to do this? 

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What do you mean by that didn't do anything? 

changing the extension will just make the file possible to be used while creating a new family. but the content of the file will not be changed.

[cwilliamson232RQ]

THANKS!!!!!! 😀

[RDAOU]

@cwilliamson232RQ 

Topic of this discussion: How Can I Copy a Revit Template and create my own? 

The discussion is about:  technically speaking, a .RFT is already a .RFT just copy and past it in another folder, rename and it' becomes a new .RFT of its own)...however, the whole discussion is actually about Renaming the .RFA to .RFT

Topic of the other discussion: How do I create a RFT from a .RFA

The discussion is about: Renaming the .RFA to .RFT

You are 100% right, no one can argue about that...they are two different discussions one about Renaming the .RFA to .RFT while the other discussion is about ummm!