Re: Revit 2017 Window Family Creation - Custom Test Results for Glass

Anonymous · ‎10-11-2016

Hello all,

I am an engineering CAD technician for a local window and door manufacturing company and I have been recently been put in charge of creating Revit families for our window products. This responsibility includes entering in the specific test results for each window type and size given the type of glazing (and coatings) used. Using the standard Revit window family template, a set of analytical properties are given but I am unable to manually enter in the "Analytic Construction" (or glazing type) with our test results. I have attempted to create a window family from scratch using a generic, wall mounted, family template but am unable to create a parameter for the types of glazing of the window products.

If anyone has any suggestions or tips, your help would be greatly appreciated.

Anonymous · ‎10-11-2016

A bit more information is probably necessary. What types of parameters are you creating?

barthbradley · ‎10-11-2016

Eric: Are you talking about modifying Analytic Construction info found at: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit 20XX\en-US\Constructions.xml ?

barthbradley · ‎10-11-2016

Just to be clear on my previous reply...this is the file (Construction.xml) you want to modify or append so those changes will show up in the drop box under the Analytic Construction parameter in the Window Family. This is what you're trying to achieve, right?

Anonymous · ‎10-12-2016

@Anonymous wrote:
A bit more information is probably necessary. What types of parameters are you creating?

I am creating parameters for the Heat Transfer Coefficient (metric and imperial), Visual Light Transmittance, SHGC, Thermal Resistance, Air Leakage, Water Penetration, and other NAFS (Canada) related ratings and testings.

Anonymous · ‎10-12-2016

It sounds like these should likely be new Shared Parameters. If so you will need to first create these new shared Parameters from the manage tab. Once these new parameters exist (it will make you create an external Shared Parameters text file if you don't yet have one) you will need to use these new parameters both in your projects schedules and also in the families. This should get them to to "talk" between each other.

Hope this helps.

Anonymous · ‎10-12-2016

@Anonymous wrote:
Just to be clear on my previous reply...this is the file (Construction.xml) you want to modify or append so those changes will show up in the drop box under the Analytic Construction parameter in the Window Family. This is what you're trying to achieve, right?

Thank you for telling me about that file; I was not aware that the file was there as an editable item. But yes, I would not mind editing the drop box items though I am wondering if it is possible to achieve the same results without changing the Constructions file.

Anonymous · ‎10-12-2016

I'm not sure what you mean by constructions file. When editing shared parameters you don't edit the text file (in fact don't ever manually change that text file). You have to edit it through the Shared Parameters button on the Manage tab of Revit. There are quite a few videos that go over the process online (youtube for example). This should help explain it a bit better than I can here.

Anonymous · ‎10-12-2016

@Anonymous wrote:
It sounds like these should likely be new Shared Parameters. If so you will need to first create these new shared Parameters from the manage tab. Once these new parameters exist (it will make you create an external Shared Parameters text file if you don't yet have one) you will need to use these new parameters both in your projects schedules and also in the families. This should get them to to "talk" between each other.

Hope this helps.

The autodesk Help catalogue does not go into great detail for the shared parameter but would I be able to add the specific test results via the text file created? Additionally, would the shared parameter file be applied to a Type Cataloque for multiple window sizes?

Anonymous · ‎10-12-2016

Yeah, the help file is pretty awful at times when explaining things. Youtube is your best bet. There are a few steps that are necessary to create the new parameters and then plug the new params into your schedules and into the families. Every step necessary must be met before it's going to work as you want them to.

Keep researching it and find some vids that demonstrate it first-hand. It took me a while to wrap my mind around the process and the help file was not very helpful at all. Good luck, it's not that difficult once you get into it but explaining it in text like this is a bit too much.

barthbradley · ‎10-12-2016

EricaPaal wrote: "Thank you for telling me about that file; I was not aware that the file was there as an editable item. But yes, I would not mind editing the drop box items though I am wondering if it is possible to achieve the same results without changing the Constructions file."

The answer your question depends on how this data will be used. Is it to be used in Energy Analysis of the model? You say that you are working for a window manufacturer; are you, by chance, developing BIM content for Architects/Designers? But, the short answer to your question is: Yes; through Type Parameters and Type Catalogs. But, I don’t know if that approach is the right approach. Depends.

Anonymous · ‎10-14-2016

@Anonymous wrote:
EricaPaal wrote: "Thank you for telling me about that file; I was not aware that the file was there as an editable item. But yes, I would not mind editing the drop box items though I am wondering if it is possible to achieve the same results without changing the Constructions file."

The answer your question depends on how this data will be used. Is it to be used in Energy Analysis of the model? You say that you are working for a window manufacturer; are you, by chance, developing BIM content for Architects/Designers? But, the short answer to your question is: Yes; through Type Parameters and Type Catalogs. But, I don’t know if that approach is the right approach. Depends.

I am indeed. My company is wanting to be more inclusive towards BIM users with our window products. In particular, I need to create window sizes for specific NAFS ratings. Yesterday I managed to figure out how to add MIN and MAX restrictions to the widths and heights but I am still trying to figure out how to effectively use the Type Catalogues

barthbradley · ‎10-14-2016

sounds like fun. Have you downloaded and inspected other Window Manufacturer BIM Content (Marvin, Pella, etc.) to see how they use Type Catalogs? If not, that may help you. There might even be some Canadian Manufacturer, NAFS-08 compliant, content out there. Just a thought. Good luck to you.