Issue with changing length of arrayed group in family

[Anonymous]

Hi,

So I'm trying to make an array group's length to be parametric to the overall width of the family. 

The ends of the joists are locked to the appropriate reference planes (the ones 3" off from the total width reference planes).  

Before doing the array, it works fine when I change the width by both dragging the reference plane or changing the value on the properties window.

But as soon as I make the array and change the width on the properties window, I always get an error with the groups or are forced to remove the constraints. It works fine dragging the reference plane though.

What could be the issue? 

[Anonymous]

I was able to get it to work finally! 

Instead of creating the generic extrusion inside the host family, I made a new generic model family just for the joist member and then import that into the host family and now everything works!

I don't know why I haven't tried this one before. 

Thanks All! 

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

Yes, that's what we've been saying. The Array element needs to be a Nested family and it's length needs to be controlled by parameter in the Host.  

[Sahay_R]

Ummm - just what I had said in Post#7.....

[Anonymous]

Oh! I see that now-!

When I saw it beforehand, I was only thinking about the HSS member family that I already had nested-

And all the steps you've outlined is exactly what I was doing with it so didn't know where else to go from it-

[barthbradley]

@Anonymous: You can credit more than one solution. Heck, give yourself one too! 

[Sahay_R]

Aaahhh, the joys of having a loud mouth - or, in this case, a loud keyboard.....

[Anonymous]

That's not what they're asking.