Repeated Adaptive Component Orientation

[reubeno_peddlethorp]

Attempting to create a workflow for modelling development recession planes along site boundaries. My steps for that workflow are:

1. Created a mass using the boundary as the profile.
2. Added a spline along the face which will follow the z values of the topography.
3. Divided the line into max segments (1000mm).
4. Added my component to the fist segent and applied the repeater.

It mostly works as I had hoped but I cannot figure out why some components in the repeat have flipped their orientation. Ticking the 'flip' box has no effect. Lines instead of splines generates the same problem. Had a play with the 'Orients To' parameter but 'Instance (xyz)' still seems the appropriate option. Tried the component on the front/back and left/right axis - same issue.

I am now stuck for ideas. Anyone else?

Planar ComponentMass

Revit 2018.3 on Windows 10.

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

I can see how that would happen along a spline.  Can you don't it without a spline?  

[reubeno_peddlethorp]

Not sure how i would do that. I need something to host the component onto surely(?). I tried it with straight lines in lieu of the spline but it's the same issue only worse as it's not smooth.

[ToanDN]

Can you share the family?

[barthbradley]

Check this family out. Drill down to nested family and note how Lamppost family  is hosted to a Ref. Point that is driven by Adaptive Point. Also note "Orient to" setting.  

...be easier to help you troubleshoot if we could work with your family.  Want to post it? 

[reubeno_peddlethorp]

Family attached.

[reubeno_peddlethorp]

I'm still working in 2018 so I can't open that lamppost family, but what you describe sounds like how I've constructed mine. Maybe I've made a mis-step along the way...

[barthbradley]

is this the family you are repeating along a divided spline?   

[reubeno_peddlethorp]

Yes. I'm manually matching the spline to the elevation of the topography along each boundary. A sort of 3D property line if you like.

The dvelopment controls state a height above the boundary and then a recession plane at a given angle (both change depending on the zoning). Hoping to make one family with types so other int he office can relatively quickly create the planes in 3D when we start site massing. I was considering tryinng to do it as a railing so it oculd just host directly on the topography, but this seemed potentially more straightforward.

[barthbradley]

Actually, your railing idea is a good one. Essentially that's what you're doing here in a roundabout way. 

Could you possibly post a file that shows this approach/family failing. 

[reubeno_peddlethorp]

I migth spend some more time on that as well but I can't achieve a zero-thickness plane that way. I'll just have to make it very thin and live with the tiny inaccuracy. It's primarily a visual aide anyway.

I started with the railing option but couldn't work out how to create a panel which wasn't flat as it seems like it's intended to be an extrusion in elevation, not plan or section.

[ToanDN]

Why don't you create a form from the profile family and the property boundary instead of repeating it?

[reubeno_peddlethorp]

Profiles are always perpendicular to the path are they not? This 'profile' has to remain vertical as that's how the restriction is calculated. I thought the adaptive comp. woudl allow me to keep it vertical no matter what.

[barthbradley]

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@ToanDN wrote:
Why don't you create a form from the profile family and the property boundary instead of repeating it?

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I was just going to ask the same thing.

[reubeno_peddlethorp]

Yeah it's fine on the flat but the baseline follows the topography. It works on a straight line (maintains consistent orientation) albeit the upper section doesn't stay vertical like it does with the spline.

[reubeno_peddlethorp]

Rail profile is much much quicker to apply, but gives fairly poor results, especially on steep terrain.

[barthbradley]

Agreed. Not a good result. 

[FAIR59]

for the Adaptive Points set the [ Orients to ] parameter to [ Global (xyz) ] 

[FAIR59]

disregard my answer, it doesn't respond to changes in direction.

[barthbradley]

Sure it does.  Here's an example of two Adaptive Point Families using different "Orient to" settings placed on a sloped floor in the Project.