Detail Item - No text showing in Project

[Anonymous]

I know of the issue with text in a detail item not showing up when placed in a project. I thought the workaround was to create a generic annotation family with the text and nest that in the detail item family. But, I do this and the text still does not show up when placed into a project. Any solutions?

Thanks.

[fabiosato]

Hello,

As long as I know, Detail Items can´t have text, but you can tag them, which seems to be a better workflow.

[rudi.roux]

Hi @Anonymous, 

Hope you are well 

Your workflow/workaround is correct: To the text in a separate generic annotation family, and then nest that annotation family into the Detail component family. Then the text or label will show up in the project.

I attached a sample file for you, below is the steps which I took. You might have reasons for wanting to use Text in Detail Items, I must say that I prefer to use Labels and Tag them. Nevertheless, below is something similar to what you want to achieve... 

End Result: (Text Nested in a Detail Item, visible in a Project)

Detail Item with Text Nested: (Note: Make sure that when you select the Text, make sure the Visibility Checkbox is ticked)

The Generic Annotation (Text), set to the Generic Annotation Family Category prior to loading it in the Detail Item.

I hope this helps! 

[Anonymous]

I did basically the same thing and my annotation would still not pull through. When I get a moment today. I will rebuild it and see what happens. Then post any issues that occur. 

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Just got to testing this out a little. So, there is no problem if I use that detail item in a project. I believe the issue is that I'm using the detail item as a symbol in a lighting fixture family. The text does not pull through the detail item, through the lighting fixture family and into the project. 

[rudi.roux]

I'll have a look at it. 

[rudi.roux]

Hi @Anonymous, 

I'm only in front of my desktop now which has Revit 2017 installed.  

Ok, the Generic Annotation (Text Note) nested in a Detail Item, which is then nested in a Lighting Fixture Family Type will not do the trick. With a Label, yes, it will be possible. (Tested it, just to confirm my statement).

So what I did was to nest the generic annotation and detail item into the lighting fixture family separately, I then also assigned Yes/No Visibility Parameters to each of the nested items to better control it in the project. 

Below is a Screencast which runs through a couple of things and I also attached the project for you to reference from. 

I hope this helps! 

[Anonymous]

I like what you did here. But, the issue is that I need to place the detail item and "text" in the front view of the lighting family. The fixture will be on a wall. I need the symbol to show up coming off the wall. I cannot place an annotation in the front view.

 

[rudi.roux]

Hi @Anonymous, 

I'm just curious as to why you're looking to go this route opposed to using Tagging? Tagging can be powerful and a lot more practical, flexible and it is schedulable. I created a screencast for you which might be of some use to you. You can achieve what you're after by using tags and does not matter in which view, section, elevation or even locked 3D view you're in, you'll be able to use Tags. 

I also attached the Tag which I used in the Screencast. (It's metric, sorry. I know you use imperial units). 

I hope this helps! 

[Anonymous]

I totally agree with you. The text I'm showing is nothing more than a part of a symbol though. All I am trying to accomplish here is to have a symbol for a specific light fixture show up on a face based family. Inside that symbol there is a "J" indicating a junction box. 

[rudi.roux · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous, 

If it is a "one-time thing" which you're trying to achieve in order for you to indicate junction boxes in families, then why not open the Detail Item, and instead of text, draw a "J", that is option 1.

Option 2 is to create two different tags using two different labels. (You can tag elements more than once). 

Option 3 would also be to use two different tags. The one, let's say the one which would represent the Junction box, would use symbolic lines in the tag which can also represent the "J" and the other tag would be your standard tag for lighting fixtures. So basically 2x Families, even Family Types can be used to achieve this by means of using visibility controls. 

I hope this helps! 

[Anonymous]

Option one is what I've done already. I've talked with engineering. We figured out a different way to just not have the "J" in the symbol. At this point I was just curious why the text does not work in this manor. Thanks for all the suggestions. 

[rudi.roux]

Darn limitations!!!  Luckily, there are workarounds in most cases!

[kennin_groenewaldGJSXY]

Hi Rudi, that's all and well. But That Generic annotation that gets nested into the detail item actually scales when loading it into a project. I want the Text to remain the same size when scaling the project view.

[kennin_groenewaldGJSXY]

Hi Rudi, that's all and well. But That Generic annotation that gets nested into the detail item actually scales when loading it into a project. I want the Text to remain the same size when scaling the project view.

[zefreestijl]

Hi, I've the same problem,

is it possible to control the scale / size of Generic Annotation

just as how Tag works in a Project?