Updating Families in multipe projects

[gcummins]

Hi, I have created a whole series of families each with their own specific parameters.  These families have been loaded into many, many projects.  If I change a parameter of any of the families, how do I get those changes to take effect to the many projects already created.  My brain is saying that if I update a family, those changes should ripple through all of the projects that contain those families (much like the principles behind an X-ref).  However, I am finding that I have to open up every single project and then load in the updated family to reflect the most current changes.  Im sure there is an easier way and would love some advice!

Thanks!

Greg 

[L.Maas · Accepted solution]

Your brain gives you the wrong information. 🙂

As you probably have experienced. In Revit you load your families inside the project. This means that basically all data is living inside your project.

After loading the family there is no link to the family in your library. So whatever happens to the family in your library will not effect the family in your project (and vice versa).

While I can imagine your wish for 'linking' to your families this would create a whole potential mess. Imagine the problems when someone updates a family and what potential  problems this could cause in other projects. Further this could give headaches when moving or sending projects. I assume this is the reason this strategy was chosen.

So basically you are right and have to open the project and reload the family. You might be able to do things with the Revit API (basically automating the opening of projects and reloading the families) but beyond that no this is the process to follow.