Revit Type Naming from Parameters – Native Feature Request

[kris.kencevski]

One of the biggest sources of error in BIM is manual type naming. A simple yet powerful improvement would be a native Revit feature that allows users to auto-generate Type Names by concatenating selected parameters.

For example, a window type name could be built from:

[Width] - [Height] - [Frame Material] → 1200 - 1500 - Alum

This would:

• Reduce manual errors
• Enforce consistent naming
• Make schedules and tags more reliable

Ideally, the Revit template could select 2–3 parameters in the Family Editor or Type Properties dialog, choose a separator, and have Revit build the name automatically. 

BIM is only as good as the data we put in — and naming mistakes shouldn't compromise that.

Would love to hear if others see value in this or have workarounds without dynamo work arounds. 

[Anonymous]

Along with the combo box dropdown lists within the family editor suggestion that has already been made, it would be really useful if we had the ability to concatenate parameters to fill in other parameters such as description or material specification d also need the ability to add common text elemets in "" to make the concatenated field read correctly.

Example

We have the following parameters in a flashing family, Flashing Girth, Flashing thickness, Material, Colour. To fill out the description we would put the formula =Flashing Girth & "GIRTH, &" Flashing thickness & "THICK " & "Material & "FLASHING, COLOUR" & Colour

would produce = 250mm GIRTH, 0.7mm THICK HPS200 PRE-COATED STEEL FLASHING, COLOUR MOONSTONE RAL 7035

Darren

[Anonymous]

I would like the ability to add parameters to the title-block family which can then be strung together to form the drawing name, or CAD file name, etc.  With the dinosaur drafting practices (rolls eyes at unintentional pun) of the oil-gas industry, many clients dictate the naming convention of drawings to include:  project number, plant number, unit, sheet size, discipline code, and finally the sheet number.  We don't want to reference anything but the the last few digits of that ridiculously long drawing number in our sections.  BUT, I do need the full drawing number to show up in other ares like a drawing list.  

There are two issues here:  

The limited number of text parameters available in the title block family, and the inability to add to them

The inability to concatenate text parameters throughout REVIT.

[lionel.kai]

Same/similar concatenate ideas:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/concatenation-of-parameters-within-families/idi-p/6339606

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/combined-value-in-schedule-improvement/idi-p/6497591

but why can't you just add a custom shared parameter to your title block? have that "long" one be shown in the border, then have the "short" one be the REAL sheet number that's shown in section cuts and view references (or the other way around - create the custom one in your view refs). Sure, you'd have to manually keep the two coordinated, but as long as you make the custom parameter shared, you could use a schedule to help with that. Or maybe BETTER YET: don't include the "short" sheet number in the "long" file name, and just use the Label to concatenate them. That way there's nothing to manually coordinate.

[Anonymous]

Adding the function to parameter formulas which enables the ability to concatenate text would be wonderful. Ex:

x = RTU

y = FIVE

z = concatenate(x ,y) = RTUFIVE

[Anonymous]

Concatenate text cells with formulas by analogy with Exel to combine different test values into one field when creating families.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. Being able to drive text descriptions of length/integer parameters in families would be incredibly powerful.

[crapai]

We need this, sometimes schedules require the concatenation of information into one parameter in a family. Please add this.

[RIPENG]

Over three years in from the first date of recommendation and concatenation of strings in family formulas has not been addressed. Concatenation of strings is a fundamental programming tool that should reside in a program as sophisticated as Revit. These types of shortfalls on fundamental elements cost content developers an unnecessary amount of time, and as a result, money.

By content developer I mean anyone engaged in the task of creating and/or modifying Revit families.

[Anonymous]

https://github.com/google/re2/wiki/Syntax

Regular expressions allow the ability to selectively 'pull out' information from character strings. For example, 12" Pipe could be reformatted to read Pipe - 12" by using the syntax =regex(param1,"\s.*$")&" - "&regex(param1,"^.*\s")

Concatenate would allow multiple parameters to combine into one parameter

Civil 3D even has a basic watered down regular expression editor to adjust point labels styles.

[Anonymous]

While we can now do this in Schedules, I do wish for the abilty to do this in the family editor. I wish to add these concatinated  values to 3D Text inside the families as a automated label system that we can use to review inside of Navisworks.

It would esintianly be the same function that we use in the schedule editor where we add the parameter to combine and then choose a seperator. The other otion would be the same as the tag label editor module.

In addition it would be helpful to use the string result as a means to drive a formula result. Curently text is not a means of formula validation.

[Anonymous]

This would be very helpful indeed

[andrewU93WN]

Need this asap!! When I export trimble points, I want the readout on deck to be as comprehensive as possible via coded parameter values. The coded parameters would work best if I could concatenate several existing parameters. This would leverage an existing revit model's parameter values and allow us to discover huge untapped efficiencies...

[Jim.Gleeson]

I've been waiting on this for years. Good to see I'm not alone.

[paulo.belesa]

Did AD implemented this?

[Anonymous]

@paulo.belesa, I have not seen a solution for this yet. For now I do a crazy work around in my look up tables. I create code systems and static values. It takes a while to build but it works very well at the end user /project level.

[akihiro_kono]

日本からもぜひこの機能をお願いします!!!。

I would like this function from Japan as well.

[crapai]

Why would you want this feature when you can have generative design tools? Look at these cool design tools, don't look over here at this basic functionality gaps.

[bwoolmer]

6 years and counting...…

It's ludicrous that this has not been implemented yet. Manufacturers having to manually type out type descriptions for every one of their products. 

Can we have an update from AD?

Thanks,

Ben

[paulo.belesa]

Please update!

[marcus.s.s]

a fine idea indeed