How to modify families without opening it?

[brennenRCY3Z]

I am new to Revit from Autocad and I was wondering if it is possible to adjust a family like you can adjust a block in AutoCAD?  For instance, I have a security camera I am trying to change viewing angles of once I place the family in the floor plan but can't seem to edit it without opening the editing window of that family and changing it. Thanks for any help provided.

[RobDraw · Accepted solution]

Absolutely yes but what you can change is a function of the family. Instance and type parameters can be changed without editing the family. These parameters need to be written in to the family in order to be available.

[s.borello]

You sure can... you can adjust instance and type properties without editing the family; assuming this functionality is built in to said family... similar to a dynamic block in AutoCAD.  

[hmunsell · Accepted solution]

Revit does not have a Edit In Place function like AutoCAD does. to physically edit a family, you need to open it in the family editor session by double clicking on it or opening it from the File Open options. once open you can make a change and Load to Project.

That said.... as @RobDraw & @s.borello  have stated. if the proper parameter information is in the family from the start, you should only need to edit the instance or type properly of of the family. i usually recommend duplicating the type prior to making a "Type" parameter change. otherwise it will change all the families in your project of that same type.  

[RobDraw]

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@s.borello wrote:

You sure can... you can adjust instance and type properties without editing the family; assuming this functionality is built in to said family... similar to a dynamic block in AutoCAD.  

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Isn't that pretty much exactly what I said?

[s.borello]

Yes... didn't see your comment or I would have given you a like and kept on moving as I usually do.

[brennenRCY3Z]

Ok, so I created a Viewing Angle Instance parameter along with an extruded viewing angle piece that has the length and overall angle dimensions locked so they don't change.  When I go to change the angle of the instance parameter I get an error.  How can I rotate the viewing angle while keeping the length and overall angle of it the same?

Also, I placed a model text C in the center but I can't get it to show in this view, but it will show up in almost all other views.  Is there a way to have the C carved out of the top extrusion and show up, I did not see it under Void Forms.  Thank you again for any help.

[hmunsell]

honestly, your probably better off putting this question in a new post vs a continuation of this existing post.

[iainsavage]

You probably need to create a separate family for the field of view, nest it into the main family and then rotate the whole field of view as one object.

This thread might help: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-mep-forum/in-dire-need-of-help-rotating-a-component-freely-in-3...

As for the model text, I don’t use it much but what I’ve done before is have it project above the plane by just one millimetre which makes it visible.