Reference level in the Family - Issue

[galganor1]

I am modifying a family that is face based. When i open the family to edit, the bottom of the object's height is set to be a defined distance from the the reference level (the Floor). I want to set the top of the object to be a certain distance from the ceiling. I really want it to touch the ceiling. Can you add a Reference plane that will match the ceiling height? Or could I reference the above Level and offset it the thickness of the slab?

[Sahay_R]

Add a reference plane to the top surface of the object. Constrain it with dimensions to the ref Level. You can change the value of this parameter to the height of the ceiling.

[galganor1]

Is there a way to constrain it to the Ceiling height or the Level above? Doing it this way would mean when you place the item on to the wall; and then have to find spend time finding out the ceiling height and then manually typing it in to the field. Also if the ceiling height changes, you would have to manually know to change the information.

[barthbradley]

Is that a picture of your face-based family? Where's the face?

Can you post the family? It's easier to show you, than to tell you what to do. 

[galganor1]

Yes, that's the "Front Elevation" view

[barthbradley]

So you're offsetting AWAY from the face? 

Can you post the family? 

[Sahay_R]

Switch over to a ceiling based family.

Open your family, CTRL-C, and then CTRL-V into a new Ceiling-based family.

[galganor1]

I want a component that has references to both floor and ceiling. If I switched to ceiling based, I'd be no better off.

[ToanDN]

So you want to place it on a wall and have a control over a certain dimension to the ceiling?

[barthbradley]

What you are describing cannot be done, without user input. 

[galganor1]

My question is can you have a ceiling reference plane and a floor level reference plane in the same Family?

It appears the answer is no. You can either reference the Floor Level, or reference the ceiling, but you can't reference both.

[ToanDN]

You can use a two level family template. But is is not going to host on a wall automatically.

[barthbradley]

LMAO! The OP isn't hosting it to a wall - he's hosting it a floor surface. The component is being offset from the face (floor) in the direction of the ceiling (@ X feet above it)  -- not moving up and down on the face. 

[Sahay_R]

@ToanDN the two Level Family template sounds interesting and worth investigating for my own nefarious purposes....

[ToanDN]

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@Anonymous wrote:

LMAO! The OP isn't hosting it to a wall - he's hosting it a floor surface. The component is being offset from the face (floor) in the direction of the ceiling (@ X feet above it)  -- not moving up and down on the face. 

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I am particularly confused.  So is it a face based or level based family?

[barthbradley]

The OP said Face-Based and confirmed that his screenshot was the Front Elevation View in the family.  

That's the info I'm working with. 

[Sahay_R]

@barthbradley stop confusing @ToanDN !!

The OP has a face based family that he wants to talk to the floor and ceiling.

@ToanDN You're right - the 2 level family would be most helpful to him

[barthbradley]

@Sahay_R: Confusing? I'm just reading what OP wrote and confirmed to me. Look at the OP's screenshot. He says it's a Front Elevation View in his Face-Based family. 

[ToanDN]

So it is a Level based, not Face based family.  Then a two-level based family should do exactly what he wants.

[barthbradley]

His exact words were: "I am modifying a family that is face based." 

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@ToanDN wrote:

Then a two-level based family should do exactly what he wants.

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Only if he puts his ceiling on a level will a two-level do exactly what he wants