Specialty Equipment - Height Parameter not reflected in project

[jbrr27]

I created a semi-recessed toilet paper holder family (attached - it's a nested family, using a manufacturer's face-based family loaded into a wall-hosted family with a void to cut the wall at the recess).  In the family, I created a reference plane parallel to the reference level, put a dimension on the reference plane called mounting height, and locked the nested family's center to the reference plane.  In the family, if I adjust the Mounting Height parameter, it works as expected.  Load it into the project, though, and it doesn't respond to that dimension at all - the only value that will control its height is an instance parameter called "Elevation from Level" that does not exist (or at least is not visible/editable) in the family.  This is a problem, as the "Elevation from Level" parameter measures to the lowest point in the family, and this should be measured to the centerline.  It's also a problem because I want all my dispensers at the same height, by default, rather than having to set each one--an instance parameter overriding my type parameter dimension messes that up.  I know there are workarounds for this, but I'm looking to find a solution to the fundamental problem--why this Mounting Height parameter does not affect the height in the model when it works in the family.  Is this something unique to specialty equipment families?  Is there a way to get it to work as expected, or is there no way to overrule the "Elevation from Level" parameter that doesn't serve well here?  Or am I missing something else entirely?

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

Add a ref plane at Level, lock it to the Level and set it to Origin.  See file.

ToanDN_0-1663389272740.png

[jbrr27]

I'm not sure what you mean, but I found this in the family:

josh_0-1663389387675.png

It was not checked, but checking it and reloading into the family did not change its behavior in the project.  Was this what you meant, or were you referring to something else?  I also found that this option was checked for a reference plane at Reference Level in the nested family, so I tried unchecking this option, but it also didn't affect the behavior. 

[jbrr27]

Ok, for some reason I didn't get your full response before my last reply.  I went into the family you edited and saw what you did, now it works.  Thank you!

[barthbradley]

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@jbrr27 wrote:

This is a problem, as the "Elevation from Level" parameter measures to the lowest point in the family, and this should be measured to the centerline. 

Set the centerline RP as Origin then. 

Centerline Origin1.png

Centerlin Origin 2.png

[barthbradley]

That solve?  

[jbrr27]

Marking the centerline reference plan as origin didn't work, but creating a reference plane at Reference Level, setting that as origin, and snapping the Mounting Height dimension from the new reference plane to the centerline reference plane as Toan suggested did.  I've never created a family that way, but I guess that's why a lot of OOTB families come setup like that.  I wasn't familiar with the "defines origin" option, so I hadn't messed around with that at all.

[barthbradley]

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@jbrr27 wrote:

Marking the centerline reference plan as origin didn't work, 

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Huh???  

Well, it works here - as evidenced by my screenshots above. I guess my Revit is better than yours.  Eat your heart out. 😉

[barthbradley]

Yep... just tested again. Works like a charm on my Revit. You must have the junior version of Revit. 😉  

Family:

Centerline Origin4.png

Project: 

Centerline Origin3.png

[jbrr27]

It worked for you in a project, not just in the family?

[barthbradley]

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@jbrr27 wrote:

It worked for you in a project, not just in the family?

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Say what???  

Okay. Whatever. 

Live long and prosper, dude.