Model Lines not staying locked

[therevitsith]

I've built this grid family to help with layouts, etc., but I can't get the model lines in the arrays to stay locked to any length constraint for the life of me. Any help is greatly appreciated! 

[barthbradley]

How it this to be used?  Walk me through a workflow that uses it.  

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

Regarding your issue:

Create the element that you want to Array in a separate Family and nest it into the Family that does Arraying.  Use Instance Parameters to parametrically drive its Length and Associate that Length Parameter to a Length Parameter in the Array Family that it is nested into. Also, make sure the Line lengthens in one direction - not outward from the middle.  Align and Lock the beginning of the Line to a Pinned Origin Reference Plane.   

[barthbradley]

See if the attached Family helps. 

[therevitsith]

I want to place this to align walls, doors, windows etc. Think of it as a piece of grid paper. I want to use it early in a project to set a module. To be able to set the grid at 3'4 or whatever and have the entire thing change when I change the grid size.

So you're saying I have to have the arrayed model lines as their own family? Just seems crazy that I can't do that in the same family. I have the beginning of the line locked to the origin reference plane and a length constraint tied to it and it works fine but it's when I array that model line(grid line) that I lose the length constraint. Thus when the grid extends in that direction the lines don't stretch with it. Hope that makes sense.

[barthbradley]

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@therevitsith wrote:

I want to place this to align walls, doors, windows etc. Think of it as a piece of grid paper. I want to use it early in a project to set a module. To be able to set the grid at 3'4 or whatever and have the entire thing change when I change the grid size.

Huh?  That's how you want to use this sophisticated and expensive BIM software?  To replace grid paper? 

[barthbradley]

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@therevitsith wrote:

So you're saying I have to have the arrayed model lines as their own family? Just seems crazy that I can't do that in the same family. 

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Are you wanting a solution or an argument?  I provided the former. I won't provide the latter.  

[therevitsith]

The end result is attached. No argument is intended; I am just trying to reach a shared understanding. Thank you for the solution and for looking it over. 

[barthbradley]

You are welcome.  Thank you for the "thank you".