How to create family types without using parametric changes?

[ale_jablonski]

I'm not sure if I've been clear with my title, in that case I'll give you an example.

Let's say we are creating a rectangular section timber beam. We create the section with base and height, create the parameters and also create the different types, for example: 50x200, 50x250 and 50x300.

Since the family I want to create is more complex to create parameters, I want to create those different types from scratch and add to the list.

I can give you another example, let's say I want to create a geometric solids family with 3 different types: a cube, an sphere and a pyramid. Since I'm pretty sure It's impossible to create a formula to turn one to another, how would we do it? Is it possible?

Thanks!

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

Almost sounds like you are describing the whole purpose of the Family Type Parameter.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/add-choices-your-revit-families-family-type-parameters-paul-aubin

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/ENU/Revit-C...

[mhiserZFHXS]

Either the family types parameter, as said above, or if there are a limited and set number, you can use visibility parameters and hide and show different elements in different types.

[RSomppi]

You need parameters to do what you want. No other options.

[RSomppi]

You're welcome.

[ale_jablonski]

Thanks for your reply @RSomppi , but I think I made it without parameters (well, math/distance parameters 😁), what I did was:

Create all the families separately, create a new family, insert them all on this new file, select one of them and the go to Label > Add Parameter. It will create automatically all other types (if they are set in the same family template). Then create the family types normally.
When you do that, this line shows up on family type box:

Now, I'm not sure if it would cause some specific issues in the future...

[RSomppi]

---

@ale_jablonski wrote:

Thanks for your reply @RSomppi , but I think I made it without parameters

select one of them and the go to Label > Add Parameter. It will create automatically all other types (if they are set in the same family template). Then create the family types normally.
When you do that, this line shows up on family type box:

---

Do you call the line items like "Boxed Column ..."? I'm pretty sure those are parameters.

[ale_jablonski]

Yeah, that's why I mentioned "not math/flexing parameters"