Making generic annotation in a project into a model family for others to view

[Anonymous]

Hello guys,

I'm working a project with several teams and I just found out that the annotative symbols I used are not showing up in their views. I usually do have 3D objects with annotation included, but I went ahead and created all new symbols for this project without any 3D item included and they are just plain generic annotations without thinking it was going to be a problem. The question I have is can I convert or add an object to the already existing symbols I have placed in the project so that they can view my work? I'm trying to avoid starting from scratch creating or using a model family then loading the annotative symbol I created and placing them all over again. Or better yet, if there is a way for all other teams to view the generic annotation I placed in my file? Thanks in advance.

[ToanDN]

Yes. They need to set view to show the link (your file) using Linked View, and choose the view that you draw the symbols.

[Anonymous]

Do I need to create a view template on my end for this to work? At the current moment, I have all my symbols on a workset. If I change my detail level to coarse or fine, the symbols still show.

[ToanDN]

First, symbols and annotation do not belong to workset but that does not matter. Same as Detail level such as Coarse, medium or Fine. You don't need to create any extra view template either. Actually there is nothing need to be done form your end if you want other teams to see your views exactly as you draw them. Just tell them to use Linked view from their end.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/EN...

[Anonymous]

This is what was last said to me below from another team.

Unfortunately generic annotations are view specific and you can only swap out families of the same category, which in this case would just be another view specific generic annotation. 

If you want anyone else to see your content in their models, it needs to be swapped out for a model family.

[ToanDN]

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@Anonymous wrote:

This is what was last said to me below from another team.

Unfortunately generic annotations are view specific and you can only swap out families of the same category, which in this case would just be another view specific generic annotation. 

If you want anyone else to see your content in their models, it needs to be swapped out for a model family.

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No it is incorrect.  That is the whole point of set the linked model to display by Linked View.  Please read the link I sent carefully.

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much for your help. It really cleared up a lot of confusion on my end.

[Anonymous]

This is the last response I got back from the other team regarding the problem I'm having. Would you happen to know how I can resolve it? Thanks for the help and I really appreciated it.

The issue is that we aren’t utilizing linked views on this project.  We are referencing and customizing each other’s models in view templates.  It’s a different workflow that is based on 3D content rather than annotative content.

[ToanDN]

Well, you can create model families under proper categories and insert the applicable symbols families in, then they will see them.

[Anonymous]

Much appreciated. I'm trying avoid having to drop all this in the drawing from scratch. Will I be able to just select all in the entire project and change them that way?  

[Anonymous]

Would you happen to know if there is a way for me to swap out a symbol in the entire project for a model family? I can't seem to have the option to select a newly created model family. I only see all my other annotative symbols I have loaded in the drop down. 

[SteveKStafford]

Using Dynamo I think you can extract the location coordinates for the annotation family and then use those same coordinates to place a model family. The issue will be understanding the coordinate values related to specific views of the project versus the "single" model location that might be represented by several annotation families, that also are probably not in the "same place"?

[s.borello]

Just nest the annotative families you created into the appropriate model family.