How to leave an empty model text

[danezeq]

hey again 🙂

I'm editing a family type of sign.

i placed model text on both sides. the text come from parameter.

Sometimes the back side will have no text at all, the thing is the model text value has to include something otherwise revit wont accept the value.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H6gS-LJBVg

is there a possible sulution for that? 

[ToanDN]

Create a y/n parameter to turn it off?

[danezeq]

Well i have a y/n parameter for "Both sides sign". when it's off -> the visible value of the back model text connected to this parameter is set to not visible. (as well as a text label on plan view that disappears when its off).

But nevertheless, the model text value always exist and has, or has not text in it.

if it has not text in it, revit will display this message anyway (and halt)

[ToanDN]

If the model text is turned off then there is no need to empty it.

[danezeq]

But the parameter exist even if its turn off:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPCWWGfAa9E

[ToanDN]

Yes the parameter exists but the model text is turned off so there is nothing shown on the back of the sign. Is that not what you want?

[danezeq]

yes - i want that.

But revit don't accept empty text field. he say there must be some text. even if the visible parameter set to no, it want text. did you see the erroe message on video?

[ToanDN]

No you don't have empty text field. The field still say "Empty" or whatever but the model text is turned off so it doesn't matter what the field says.

[danezeq]

My project has lots of signs which has empty back side - thus - the "back text" parameter is empty in all of them.

are you saying that i should change the "back text" parameter on all of them from " " to "empty"? thats what you meant?

[ToanDN]

Yes.

[danezeq]

This family im building now will be used by some more workers, if they leave this field empty (which is a reasonable thing to do) they'll get error messages, I'm trying to make the family files as user friendly as i can.

there's no anyway i can handle this problem?

[RDAOU]

@danezeq 

If you are afraid that the users blank out the Text Parameter, control it with an IF statement … 

Edit...When back text is visible, is it always similar to that of the front?

[danezeq]

Back text is usually different from Front text

[martijn_pater]

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@danezeq wrote:

My project has lots of signs which has empty back side - thus - the "back text" parameter is empty in all of them.

are you saying that i should change the "back text" parameter on all of them from " " to "empty"? thats what you meant?

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Are these pre-defined texts on the back/front?

[danezeq]

What is "pre-defined" text?

[martijn_pater]

When the text is defined in advance as fixed options instead of user input... the user chooses "a", "b", "c" for example, instead of being able to type in "d"... but you can build the family in different ways i suppose, it is not entirely relevant/interesting for you here maybe. Well, it could be... not sure.

[RDAOU · Accepted solution]

@danezeq 

Why don't you use 2 different families

1. Type A single sided
2. Type B double sided

Then you wont need to have anything empty !!

[danezeq]

at this point, after you all helpt me build the almost perfect family, it'll be so much hassle. But i think it's a great idea, im saving it, maybe ill change it the future.