Add/Modify Family-Parameters across linked models and Worksets in Central models

[Mark.Friis]

We are a company often working with external architects who provides us with a new Revit-model once a month. As an MEP-Engineer I link this model into my own MEP-Model. When designing the Airconditioning in the Building i often need to specify which Doors need an undercut for airflow. The doors are set by the Architect, but the Parameter "Undercut yes/no" is my part as an MEP-Engineer. If the Undercut is one Family and the door another Family then the following problem occures in the schedule: How to see how many type A-doors and how many type B-doors needs an undercut?. This is just one of many types of cases were some linked Family Parameters should be changeable from the host model. Imagine how the construction-engineer could change the type of steel in the walls or the Fire-Protection-expert could change the fire-protection-level of the walls. Right now the architect needs to implement a lot of this Information into his model which is really time consuming. The same goes when working with Worksharing and Central models. You can give families free for other Users to edit but not single Parameters.... Or you give everything free for other users to edit… The only Problem with this is.. how does the architect make sure that the MEP-Engineer dont touch Parameters which he shouldnt edit?, while meantime the Construction engineer adds new Elements to the Central Model, so a Ctrl+Z on the Central model would be catastrophic because work is lost then.

[dustina]

Ability to add parameters to linked model content that can be edited.

One of many examples. In architectural models we have medical equipment positioned, in the MEP that architectural model is linked into we need edible fields for the same equipment families for volts/phase, circuiting and notes specific to electrical work.  

Copy monitor has proven to be unwieldy for these circumstances. 

[cprettyman]

There are times when it would be very helpful to attach a parameter, or a set of parameters to a linked model - it addresses situations where multiple consultants have scope related to the same object.

for example - as security system consultants, we often have scope related to doors.  The doors themselves, and the bulk of the hardware are the Architects scope, and installed by the carpenter.  But card readers, request to exit devices, sensors, etc fall into the security scope, and get installed by a security integrator.  I can tag the doors to show the door number, but it would be fantastic if I could attach at least one separate parameter to the doors with a security device set.

Part of this is because I cannot copy/monitor doors - but I think it would be simpler if I could simply say "this thing in your scope also has this impact in my scope."

[Anonymous]

Could you add a feature that lets you make an edit to a family parameter or instance parameter in linked files? I made an IronPython script (in dynamo) that does this but it would be nice to have it as an integrated feature. 

https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/edit-family-type-parameters-in-linked-files-yes-its-possible/55041 

[RPTHOMAS108]

Interesting approach (creating a new local of the link and synchronising) but this feature would be for work shared files only?

If you unload the link with Python you can open/edit/close the file and reload it perhaps. RevitLinkType.Unload/Reload

[Anonymous]

@RPTHOMAS108  Yeah this script was tailored to the work flow of the company I'm at, which is all work shared files. I agree with you though and feel like your approach of unloading links would be the best way to go about files that aren't work shared. I think there would also have to be some consideration and tweaks to this script for files hosted on BIM360. 

[Orsolya.Balazs]

On behalf of a customer from German let me register the following wish:

Enable editing parameter values for linked elements in host model. The idea would be to be able to fill different values for elements placed by same links multiple time in the model. Eg a window from a link should show at parameter Location value: South in one position and Nort in a different position placed same link. An idea would be to edit this via schedules.

Currently these values are read only, could be edited in the link itself or after binding them.