How? Copy/change beam to column

[rprivittB3TTG]

I have some Structural Framing that was customized by one of our company users. We needed specific parameters for generating drawing schedules. These are just simple Square HSS Tubing shapes.

They don't show up for use in Structural Columns. I thought it was a simple matter of copying the Family in a Windows directory, loading them into Revit and then changing the category from Structural Framing, to Structural Columns. But this didn't work. I get this message:

Can someone advise me on the proper method for changing a shape Type Category? I was attempting to do it though this Family Category and Parameters dialog:

[ToanDN]

You cannot change a placed element from one category to another category.  You will need to replace the structural framing with structural columns manually. 

[rprivittB3TTG]

I am new at Revit and don't know what you mean by a "placed element". The only parts I have assembled in my project is C-Channel. 

[ToanDN]

"Placed element" means an element that you (or someone) already placed in the model.

[rprivittB3TTG]

Thank you for that response.

I am still stuck. The family was "Loaded" into the open project. But I was never able to add any members to the project.

I went back and deleted the Square Tubing from my Structural Column under the Project Browser. I then opened that Family Change changed the Tubing back to Structural Framing. But now I cannot insert it as a vertical column.

I need a step by step method of copying or converting a shape into a different Type Properties.

[ToanDN]

No you are still doing it wrong.  Do not edit beam or structural column families and change their category.  That would make a huge mess.  Just load a structural tube steel family in the project and place it where you want, then delete the beams that someone put there incorrectly.

[rprivittB3TTG]

I cannot find any Square HSS Tubing for Vertical Columns in our standard libraries. Thus, another user has created a whole series of structural shapes that have custom parameters that fill out our Schedules that way we need them on our drawings. However, he apparently created all of these in the Beam category.

Does he need to start from scratch and do them over again in the Column category?

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

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@rprivittB3TTG wrote:

I cannot find any Square HSS Tubing for Vertical Columns in our standard libraries. Thus, another user has created a whole series of structural shapes that have custom parameters that fill out our Schedules that way we need them on our drawings. However, he apparently created all of these in the Beam category.

Does he need to start from scratch and do them over again in the Column category?

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No you don't need to create anything.  Structural framing and structural columns should be included if you downloaded and installed Autodesk Content.  

If you don't have it.  Download and install:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit/troubleshooting/caas/downloads/content/autodesk-revit-2...

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit/troubleshooting/caas/downloads/content/autodesk-revit-2...

Use Load Family button, navigate to the family and select one.

Then select the types you need from the type catalog to load them in your project.

[rprivittB3TTG]

Thanks Toan!

That was what the problem was all along. Those Families were never loaded to my PC. I had IT install Revit. They apparently don't participate in that step. Since I am just beginning Revit, I didn't know what I needed.

I loaded the HSS Structural Columns and it works as it should. Now, I just need to get the other user involved to setup the parameters and formulas that we needed for our reports.

I wish I had know about those links 3 weeks ago. A LOT of time has been wasted.

Thanks.

[korfe_keira]

I can't place beams because I don't know what family to use, can someone help please?

[jay_colcombe]

Structural Framing

if you have no content installed like the original poster, try this!

https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2023/ENU/?guid=GUID-ADE60F13-53C8-4700-A67F-1202A06E7516