Windows in Model Don't Match Window Types in Legend

[ThomasQDAAQ]

Hi Everyone,

So I am relatively new to Revit (Vectorworks is my bread and butter), and I am having a lot of issues, but let's start off with the one that is driving me the craziest of all.

I took over the drafting duties for an architect, so I am using her template. I wanted to set the model up so I could create a window schedule and window type legend (showing the window elevations) with relative ease. All the windows were already assigned to types that the architect created, though they were all edited in the model to reflect different sizes. I duplicated the window types and renamed them to reflect the size and then gave them a unique mark.

When I created a window legend, and dragged the family types that I created into the legend, the windows all defaulted to the original family and size.

Please help!

[barthbradley]

Are the Parameters that drive the Windows' sizing of the Instance kind or Type kind? 

[ThomasQDAAQ]

@barthbradley well the window sizes appear to be adjusted in the model, so I suppose that may be the instance kind, however, the types seem to maintain the original or default sizes. I thought I would have fixed it by duplicating the type and then editing the parameters, but that didn't work either... in fact, when I edit the type, the rough width and height are blank, and then when I add in the dimensions to reflect the intended size, it still doesn't change.  So what happens is I can insert windows in the a model, and change the size, but when I want to create a legend, then the new types that I create, just look like the original one I created the new type from. 

[ThomasQDAAQ]

@barthbradley For example, I go to the families>windows>Rectangle 1x1>42x24 (this is the new window type I created), the properties show that the rough opening is 3'-4"x2'-0", which is what I set it at. When I right click on this window type and select all instances, then all of the windows in the view that are of that type become highlights. Then when I drag the exact window type from the family into the model, the window is the original size at 3'-0"x4'-0" and the parameters are not even the same in the properties as the one that lives in the families. 

[barthbradley]

I'm not following.  Can you share the file?  

[ThomasQDAAQ]

@barthbradley I'd like to avoid sharing the file if possible. Maybe these images will help. Window Instance shows the window in the model that has the dimensions adjusted. You can see in the project browser that it's there, but when I click on the one in the families you will see in the image Window Type, that the properties change, though the rough dimensions are what it should be. AND THEN, you will see in the 3rd image, that when I drag the window type from the project browser into the model, the window is not the same at all, but has reverted back to the original window type that I had duplicated to create " Rectangle 1x1 42x24". I hope that helps.

[barthbradley]

Looks to me like your Height and Width Parameters are Instance Type. Meaning that each Instance of Rectangle 1x1 42"x 24" Window in the Project can have a different Height and Width.  So, your Legend is  going to use the default Height and Width of the Family - regardless of what the Instance is set to in the Project.  Get it?  

Instance Parameter – Enables you to modify the parameter value separately for every instance.

Type Parameter – Enables you to modify the parameter value, which applies to all elements of the family type.

To verify this, open the Family Types Editor in the Family. Does "Height" and "Width" have "(default)" next to them?

[ThomasQDAAQ]

@barthbradley no, but it only shows the "rough" width and height parameters, with doesn't appear to change if I add in dimensions. When I drag the window type from the project browser into the model, the parameters change and there is height and width dimensions that I can alter, not "rough" dimensions showing now. Also, even the mark (window ID), is different from when I look at the properties of the window type while in the project browser versus when I drag it into the model. It's as if the window type is pretending to be what I set it as in the project browser, but when I drag it into the model, it just shows up as the original window type.

[cbcarch]

Edit one of the Window Families.

Go to Family Types, select "Height" parameter.

Click Edit Parameter (pencil icon at lower left).

See if "Type" or "Instance" radio button is selected.

[ThomasQDAAQ]

@cbcarch 

I don't have the option to edit those parameters. All I can do is change the rough opening size which doesn't change the window size. The default window size isn't a parameter I can edit.

[cbcarch]

Sounds like your families are complex and there might be a Formula driving those parameters then? This is where Revit families get really complicated, but also very powerful--if you need that power then use it, if not you could try deleting the formulas and then your basic Height and Width parameters will be editable.

You might also try creating a new window family as a test--keeping it very simple at first, to get a fundamental understanding of basic geometry, reference planes, dimensions with applied parameters for driving the sizes.

[barthbradley]

Wow. Day 2 and you are still troubleshooting this issue.  You know, the offer of yesterday stands: you are welcome to post your file here. Even just the Window Family would be helpful. I know you have reservations about doing that, but it sure would help us to help you.  

[ThomasQDAAQ]

@barthbradley I appreciate the offer. I think I may have figured it out, in that the creator of the file is using complex window families with formulas that dictate what parameters I can edit. Now I just have to figure out how to revert the window family into something I can edit.

[francoisv]

Thank you for this info, i will give this a try to change the values from instance to type. Best regards