scheduling shared parameter for families from linked models

[Anonymous]

hi,

 I added shared parameter to all of my families(its like more than 1000 familes) and loaded it to individual revit files, by hoping that i can shedule it when i linked it to a the master file. There are more than 10 people works in the same project. all of them did the same. so there is no turning back for us now. And when i try to shedule it the shared parameters are not appearing in the shedule at all.I read some where that all of these shared parameter information will be appear in the linked host file as a read only information. is this true?. Is there any way to make shedule for the shared parameter in the masterfile?

[L.Maas]

You can schedule parameters from linked files

You can not change things in a linked file. To make modifications to a file that is linked you have to open that file by itself.

[JasonLLINDNER]

Not completely true...shared project parameters added in the link model cannot be scheduled in the host model. (Even when u check that box...) 

i have been working on this assignment where we need to link a model which we were previously working on (in the link model we had previously added some shared parameter which was scheduled fine in the link model when it is open) but if you start a new project (host) and link that into it...the host model (using only Revit) seems to have no way of scheduling the shared parameter set in in the link model. It is kinda what @Anonymous called it "read only" the host sees them and displays them in the properties panel but can not write it into the schedule.

if you say it is doable please make a screencast to show how...that would be so great

[L.Maas]

We have to separate a few things. Partners was writing that he added shared parameters to the families. So he was not talking about project parameters.

It is logical that project parameters do not automatically pass through, as they belong to the linked 'project'.

However when you add the same shared project parameter to the linked file but also to the host file you should be able schedule them.

Sorry, no time to make screencasts.

[Keith_Wilkinson]

Where possible we always add the shared parameters to the family rather than just adding in a project parameter (we only use this if we are being pushed to get info out the door or if it's a system family that requires addition data to be recorded against it).

As @L.Maas has stated the OP has indicated that the shared parameters have been added to the families so his solution should work.

[JasonLLINDNER]

@Keith_Wilkinson I tried that already...the shared parameter is in all three files! in the family which is inserted into the Link and it is in the link as well as the host...when scheduling in the host the shared parameter from the link as well as the family are pulled through and I can read them in the properties panel of the host model (but all gray). In the schedule produced (in the host) I can add the shared parameter to the schedule but it does not get filled out. It comes out as an empty column. this is why i suggested he adds a screencast

@L.Maas I thought for an expert, such an easy task as you made it sound should not take more than 5 minutes but agaian maybe it is more complicated than it sounds

[Keith_Wilkinson]

What @L.Maas has suggested will work - I've done it myself on many projects where I have linked files.

Believe it or not we have jobs to do as well as come on here and give up our time to try and help those that are stuck.. a little politness wouldn't go astray when someone has taken the time to try and help.

[JasonLLINDNER]

@Keith_Wilkinson I am not really sure what does this have to do with your job! Everytime someone asks a question you bring your job up? Adding the parameters takes 3  minutes if not less! That is roughly the time it took you to reply so I am not sure how your job is relevant! Besides who said what was proposed by Ellent was not appreciated...unless you find asking for clarification is offending!

[Keith_Wilkinson]

Are you for real?  You do realise everyone on here is giving up their own time to try and help people like yourself who are stuck?  We don't get paid for this we do it to try and help nothing more.  As for bringing up my job - forgive me, it pays my wages, but as far as I'm aware it's the first time I've mentioned it.

Tell you what, as it's so quick and easy why don't you make a screencast of what you have tried and then we can look at it and tell you where you are going wrong?

And for clarification it's the manner in which you ask for clarification - I'm simply suggesting you try being a bit more polite instead of inferring that it should just be done for you as a matter of course.

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous

What is the category of family you are trying to schedule and what kind of schedule are you trying to create?

If it is a "Room Aware" family (ie furniture and doors) and those objects are in the linked project, but the rooms are in a different project, then they will not schedule.

For example, the interiors group want to have a linked model of the architectural building in their furniture and equipment model.  Because the rooms are in the linked architectural model, their furniture and equipment won't schedule at all as rooms are not link aware. 

Shared parameters in a family will follow into a project.  I keep my shared door families in the template so that I have access to all the parameters and the schedule is pre-created and in the template file, along with any other families I have the schedule pre-created. The only time that this is not true is Titleblocks, as the same shared parameters in the titleblock have to be added to the project too.  This can be done at the template level so it doesn't have to be done with each project.

Oh, and yes, parameters in a linked file are indeed read only in the project.  So if you have to modify something you have to edit the other project.  

[ToanDN]

You can schedule shared parameters from linked files in a host file if the host file, the link files, and the families using the same shared parameters.  Same means they must be from a single share parameter txt file.  I have attached here a host file with a schedule and a link file with a casework.  They are 2016 version.

Disagreement is a nature of public forums.  Just keep in mind that we all spend our personal time to help other fellows, for free.  So please be more considerate in the future.

[RDAOU]

Hey everyone;

Lots of thoughts shared on one topic and all are true to the extent that I can neither agree with all nor disagree with any!

Back to the OP and your question...to be accurate; my reply would stand somewhere between what @Anonymous mentioned and what @ToanDN showed in his screencast. It is possible to schedule shared parameters (definitly text type are) from a link; however, there are certain instances where it may not be possible to schedule some shared parameters in the link of families hosted in the link...one example is the instance which mpwuz refered to another would be if you are forcing to extract a certain parameter which Revit does not normally report or schedule ie: using other means such as a Macro'ed Script or Dynamo to extract/report Hosts of families in a linked model (I'm not sure if in such cases it is better said that it is not Revit which is doing the scheduling)

I am not sure how one can give a definit answer when no detailed information on what types of parameters are being discussed or in question. Best would be if @Anonymous uploads the family + shared parameter in question then it would be more possible for everyone to know what everyone else is talking about. It might be something very easy to do for someone familiar with Revit and it could also be too complicated even for a Revit expert!

[Keith_Wilkinson]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

If it is a "Room Aware" family (ie furniture and doors) and those objects are in the linked project, but the rooms are in a different project, then they will not schedule.

For example, the interiors group want to have a linked model of the architectural building in their furniture and equipment model.  Because the rooms are in the linked architectural model, their furniture and equipment won't schedule at all as rooms are not link aware. 

---

 This is very timely as I'm just looking at ways to optimise our models for our healthcare projects.  We end up with a LOT of generic components (using Activity Database (ADB) families / plugin) and it would have been helpful to have these in a linked file, but it's critical they schedule by room... 

Does anyone have a good workflow for dealing with this issue?

[L.Maas]

Keith they can schedule by room. Only the rooms have to be in the same file as the items that are room based.

What you can do is copy the rooms to the project with your room aware items. In the project with the room aware items link the building and make it room boundary so that the rooms size to the right volumes/areas

Hereunder a screenshot

-Some items are in the host (File 1)

-Building is in a separate linked file (File 2)

-Some items are in a separate linked file (File 3)

-Room A1 is created in File 3

-Room B1 is created in File 1

-Building is linked in File 1 and File 3 and in both files room bounded.

Note that the shared parameter Dim_Mass is coming through properly from the linked files

[Keith_Wilkinson]

Hi Louis,

It's the 'copying' of the rooms that's the issue and ensuring that information stays up to date as the project develops.  Not to mention the fact that we would have two models with duplicate info which for me is a fundamental issue and something I try to avoid.

It serves to highlight one of the main underlying issues that i have with Revit in that the 'collaboration' side of it is poor.  There needs to be much better integration between models so that data isn't having to be inputted twice and can be interogated correctly when required (see my other thread regarding selecting elements in a linked file from a schedule).

[L.Maas]

I agree with your points, do not like to duplicate data too. Enough outstanding wishes

For me it is an alternative solution. Depending on the project, the parties and responsibilities involved it is sometimes the only possible/workable solution.

[Keith_Wilkinson]

Agreed.  Hopefully this is something that Autodesk have a longer term strategy for dealing with as collaboration is key.

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I was not able to get this to work. We are working with consultants.

We have the Shared parameter in our file and the parameter shows up. The Consultants imported the parameters own parameters and placed it in their file and Sheet family.

When I create the schedule showing all sheets and the custom Shared parameters, it only shows up for your files.

Has this been tested recently? Any idea what I could be doing wrong? Perhaps the Sheets family is an exception?

[ToanDN]

Did you tick the box [Include elements in Links] under Fields tab?

[Anonymous]

yes I did. The Sheets come in but the tick box is missing on the linked files. Can't really show images due to the confidential nature of the project.