Invalid column unit type

[Anonymous]

Hi, I'm pretty new to revit (Revit LT 2020) and have encountered a problem. I'm creating a detail that needs purlin (Z and C) detail components, I download the components from a source online but i get the following error every time I try to load the family - "Invalid column unit type" followed by "Could not parse column header". What's going on here? Is a syntax issue with the text file that came with the family? How can I trouble shoot this?

[barthbradley]

It's coming from the Type Catalog.  Just load the family w/o the Type Catalog (e.g. do not use "Load Family").  Either that, or move the TC to another folder. 

...if you want to get into the weeds, and figure it out, educate yourself about TCs.  Start here.  

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

...if you want to post the Family and TC, maybe I can determine the problem quickly.  

[Anonymous]

Thanks, but removing the type catalog from the folder means I cannot select the different types of each family? i.e. different beam sizes.

[barthbradley]

like I said, you can post the rfa and txt file here and I'll look at it.  

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Attached rfa and text file

[barthbradley]

Several issues found and fixed.

Should work now.  Attached rvt and txt.  

Make sure to Accept Solution.  

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

I just noticed you sent me a 2014 file. I don't have 2014. I returned a 2019.  Txt file will work after you rename it, but you should follow step #3 listed below.   

Use this workflow to reproduce my work from scratch:

1. Follow these instructions first:

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/202908541-Easy-Editing-of-Type-Catalogues-from-...

2. Open the new txt file created from the csv file above, and then find ##CURRENCY## in the header row and change it to ##OTHER##

3. Open the Family, and then open the Family Types dialog box. Scroll down and expand “Identity Data”. Delete contents of the parameter “Formula” fields. Click OK, and then Save and Close the Family.

[Anonymous]

Great, thanks very much for your help on this one!

[Anonymous]

Hi, i have the same issue and i don't know what to do... 

Their is my rfa files dans my txt file.

Thank you guys ! 

[IGNACIOB-SGM]

I have the same issue

I've used this Revit family and associated type catalog in Revit 2018,19,20, however, when trying to load it inRevit 2021 I received a message saying"invalid column type: gallons_us_per_minute"  and " could not parse column header:design chilled water flow"

Any solutions

[barthbradley]

No issues here.  I can load all types into Project.  No errors.   

[OrmondAllred]

I'm also having issues (with different mechanical equipment than yours) - but I also get similar errors when loading your family ('Invalid column unit type: GALLONS_US_PER_MINUTE,' and 'Could not parse column header: Design Chilled Water Flow').

I'm using a mechanical template (are you also?); maybe we have a setting in our templates that needs to be overwritten or adjusted (our template is from 2016, and upgraded for every new Revit. (?)  Would love a Revit Pro's insight, other than 'works for me'....

[dmoyanoCX7Y2]

I'm also having a similar issue with the above ('Invalid column unit type: GALLONS_US_PER_MINUTE,' and 'Could not parse column header: Design Chilled Water Flow').

I am using Revit 2021. Interestingly, when I load the family to an earlier version of Revit (I tried Revit 2020) there are no issues. 

[OrmondAllred]

Same with me. Supremely frustrating.

[barthbradley]

---

@OrmondAllred wrote: Would love a Revit Pro's insight, other than 'works for me'....

---

Hard to provide "insight" on a non-issue.  If it works for me and not for thee, then maybe the issue is cause by something unrelated, like maybe an Add-In.  But, "works for me" is valuable troubleshooting information.  It helps to point people in the right direction.  

Is it caused by an Add-In? Who knows? 

How to disable add-ins for Revit | Revit Products | Autodesk Knowledge Network

[OrmondAllred]

Perhaps it is an Add-in issue, I'll give it a go-

Thanks for the insight as to a possible cause, or at least something to look in to.👍

[dbassettBPWBK]

I was having this same issue with bringing families into Revit 2021. My error was "Invalid Column Unit Type: POUNDS" and then it would say "Could not parse column header: Operating Weight". I opened the type catalog TXT file and located the header and it looked like this ",Operating Weight##force##Pounds,". I changed ##force## to ##other## and then it loaded the catalog as normal. This is the only one I have tried and cannot say how it will work on others, but I have been searching for a solution for a while now and just trying things out. I hope this will help others

[dmoyanoCX7Y2]

That's interesting. I will have to try that out and see if it works for me.

What we ended up doing as a workaround was load a blank project in an older version of Revit (we used 2018), insert the family there, and save the project. Then we would open that project in Revit 2021 and copy paste the family to our working project. 

[clomedico]

SAME ISSUE HERE.  I AM LOADING FAMILY'S INTO REVIT 2020 AT THIS POINT

[dmoyanoCX7Y2]

Hello,

I found a little workaround, at least for my families-

-I created a dummy project file in a previous version of Revit (in my case Revit 2018), and loaded in the family

-Then I used Revit 2021 to open and upgrade the project. Doing it this way, the family gets upgraded along with the project and I can copy/paste it to the 2021 project I want with no issue.

Hope this helps