Parametric Window Families

[Anonymous]

Hi, I am fairly new to Revit but I do have a fairly good grasp on how to use and navigate the program. What I am trying to do is create a facade for the side of my building that is made up of parametric windows. I have created parametric constraints that surround an opening to what could be a window. These are made up of various extrusions that protrude from a basic window family. Currently, I have an opening of where a window should be and I would like to be able to insert a variable awning window that could also be constrained with parameters. The problem that I am having is that Revit does not recognize the solid protrusion from the wall as part of the wall thus I cannot insert a "window" into the opening that I have. I am wondering if I am going about this the right way or if there is an easier way to achieve the same result. Ultimately I want to be able to manipulate the "parametric window" that surrounds the opening, which I can already do, as well as manipulate the awning window within the opening of my window/wall facade. Is this something that is possible to do with parameters or is there a better way of going about this in general. 

I am currently working within a window family.

Thanks for any help that anyone can offer!!

[ToanDN]

You don't necessary need the awning window as a wall bases family.  Create it as a stand-alone family so that you can place and constrain it anywhere you want in your parent window family.

p/s:  if you want to re-use a wall based awning window then it can be done as well.  But you need to "release" it from the wall in the awning family and set an offset distant in order to control its location manually in the parent family.

[barthbradley]

if I'm reading you right, the host wall (in the real world) is framed with a recess in it -- like you're showing in your second image. Correct? How about modeling it that way? It's more accurate. Then your window will host fine. 

[Anonymous]

You don't necessary need the awning window as a wall bases family.  Create it as a stand-alone family so that you can place and constrain it anywhere you want in your parent window family.

p/s:  if you want to re-use a wall based awning window then it can be done as well.  But you need to "release" it from the wall in the awning family and set an offset distant in order to control its location manually in the parent family.

Okay! I am doing my best to understand what you're saying! 

How would I go about making a stand alone family? Do you mean that the awning window family is not constrained within a wall because if that is the case, I feel like that is what you are implying in your second option by releasing the window from the wall. If you could explain how to release a window from a wall and set the offset distance so that it aligns with my protrusion, that would be great! Otherwise, your first suggestion leads me to believe that I am simply inserting a window into the opening of my protrusion - I'm guessing that a stand alone family would no longer be constrained to having to attach to a wall? 

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

If I understand you, you are saying that my facade design should be recessed from the "wall" rather than extended as a protrusion. If this is what you mean, I simply misrepresented my design in the photo. In actuality, what you were seeing was technically the interior. I have attached a floor plan view which I think represents what you are trying to convey... Ignore the placed awning window on the interior (which confuses me since there is nothing but a void there and yet Revit recognizes a wall and allows a window to be inserted).

Thank you

[Anonymous]

If I understand you, you are saying that my facade design should be recessed from the "wall" rather than extended as a protrusion. If this is what you mean, I simply misrepresented my design in the photo. In actuality, what you were seeing was technically the interior. I have attached a floor plan view which I think represents what you are trying to convey... Ignore the placed awning window on the interior (which confuses me since there is nothing but a void there and yet Revit recognizes a wall and allows a window to be inserted).

Thank you

[barthbradley]

Here's a rather exaggerated version of what I'm seeing as the as-built condition  -- a recess in the wall. Everything here is, but the Windows, are System Families (e.g. Walls and Floors). The OOTB Windows used are hosted to the back inset wall. This is how I interpreted what you described.