Revit Edit Family

[Eliz Mettert]

Iam 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.

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.

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.

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.

I got this Family and it has something I have not seen before the object says its a plumbing fixture but it is not editable in anyway. wanted to clean it up and remove the text on the family. If someone can explain what is going on that would be wonderful. When you right click on it edit family is greyed out.

Yeah I just seen that to in the import categories what is throwing me through a loop is that it has parameters assigned to it as well as being called a plumbing fixture without it being a family? I just need to hide the text some how. Also even if you import something it is usually a wire mesh or something and called out as a import.

When you create a family, save it as .rfa, then rename it to .rft (Revit family Template), then create a new family based on this family template file, then save it to .rfa, open that family, then you cant remove or edit the geometry in this family.

I'm trying to edit a dining set I found and when I double click, it opens in the family editor with what looks like a section box around it, and I can't click on individual components. Is there a way to edit families that come in like this?

I think that is not a native Revit object but rather an imported CAD object. If you select it, what does the properties windows say? "Imports in Families"? and at the top of the screen, is there an "Edit Family" or an "Explode" button?

Thanks--Properties says 'Imported symbol Dining room 2dwg.' In Type properties it says System family: Import Symbol. The family is surrounded by what looks like a section box. If I right click the image/family, I have an option to do a full or partial explode. So I guess it's an imported CAD object. Is there a way to edit the various components?

Use a 3D view to export to a CAD file, edit in Acad, Rhino, or Sketchup, then import back in and delete the old one. If you can, use the DWG format and bring into Acad before you import it in. Revit understands Acad solids better than any other file format.

Revitcity is where you find these families that are *mostly* imported sketchup files. You cannot change the materials on a CAD import and it has to be a native Revit object to receive materials. Acad imported solids can be exploded to become native objects that may accept a material.

Manufacturers' websites are a good resource. Also, Revit's own library is good to get you started. You may need to venture into the international content for a different selection of items not included with the standard "local\US" library. I know the Italian furniture is popular ... it's all online, and you access it via the "Load Autodesk Family"

I noticed that some families (downloaded) does not allow the user to delete or edit elements (all kind of elements: solids, dimensions, lines, reference lines and planes, connector elements, nested families etc.).

You can see the same behavior in any OOTB RFA which is built on an OOTB RFT. Start a New Generic Model RFA , for instance, and it uses the Generic Model RFT as the template. That template has two Ref. Planes in it which cannot be deleted from the RFA.

I searched about creating family templates and I couldn't create one to test. Do you know if it is still allowed in Revit 2019? Besides, do you know if there's a way to enable the editions in this family?

Editions are not prevented -- deletions of RTE elements are. If you want to modify the family, it's going to require modifying the RFT. To do this, you need to change its file extension to RFT, then open that file and modify it and save it. Then Open a NEW Family (RFA) using that modified RFT. Name it and save it and load into your project. The thing is, you're never going to get to a condition where every element in the RFA is autonomous -- unless you rebuild the family from scratch.

Just curious: what is it that you're are trying to delete from or modify in this Manufacturered component? Are you a competitor of the Manufacturer whose building its own BIM content library? That's what I would do.

Replying your curiosity: I am not a competitor of this manufacturer. I use its families in projects. But when I opened this family in Revit 2019 the Connector Elements were not in the place they should be. So, since this kind of element can not be realocated I need to delete and create new ones.

When you say "change its file extension to RFT" does it means write ".rft" in the end of the name of the family? Because if that's so it is still being opened as a family. Furthermore, I can not open family templates (I've tried in 2019 and 2017).

@carolina.machado: Well, I must apologize. Apparently the workflow I described is impossible. I could swear it once was -- but my research isn't validating that belief. While it is possible to create an RFT using the method I described; it doesn't work in reverse. That is, I can create a RFT from an RFA, but I cannot open that RFT to modify it afterwards. I can only create a new RFT from an RFA (via renaming the dot extension from .rfa to .rft in Windows).

Sorry about that chief. I stand corrected. Still, I believe that's exactly how the Manufacturer created its Family -- from their own RFT. Perhaps the workaround for you isn't DELETING content, but instead, HIDING and ADDING content.

I missed that the height dimension changes decided not to join me into the "Edit family" -mode. After hours of editing (and learning) I was satisfied and clicked "Load into Project and Close"...

Since I edited another height it looks totally wrecked as you can see. I do understand that it would require advanced hacking to make the details flow dynamically with different heights. But at least, can I change the dimension in the "Edit family" view so I can make it look good with just the specific height I need? I have tried to click around on the element without finding any dimension properties?

My personal suggestion (of you are going to learn the Family Editor) is to start with a blank sheet (ie Generic Model Template) and build some basic geometry. Trying to backward-engineer a complex ready-made Family can be infuriating.

Could this possibly be about editing TYPE Parameters and not INSTANCE Parameters? In other words, when you edit TYPE Parameters, every instance of that FAMILY TYPE in the Project inherits the same Parameter Values. Get my drift?

Hi! Yes I have made a copy of the family. Of course the correct way of learning would be to start from scratch. Probably you are right, I could stay in project environment and modify the custom window frame and then just duplicate that object as many times as I like.

Yes, while in project view I am editing the instance parameters. I would like to edit the family type parameters. When clicking edit family and browsing through the objects, I do not find such a parameter however.

Maybe this is not the way professionals do it - but its a quick way to take a completed family that looks OK, duplicate it and adjust some details for making it look "good enough" for i.e. a house-front drawing.

I'm using Revit 2012, and lately I've been encountering this error message whenever I do a model component in place. I have no idea what it means, or what settings in the family I should edit to prevent this from happening. Any suggestions?

This last time it happened, I was simply trying to model a single wood panel on a wall. I was using the generic model family type, set to working plane. I've done this kind of things hundreds of times before, but lately I keep getting that error, and it won't let me finish the family until it's resolved or I "delete type."

Sorry for the incorrect terms. I had both updates downloaded for 2012. I'm suspecting that the problem arose with the installation of 2014. I have since upgraded the offending model to 2014 and am not running into the problem any longer. Thanks for the help.

Hi dpijon, I know it's almost a year later, but I just got in the same problem and figured out through the link posted below, which is similar to my situation. So in case someone else finds him/herself in this situation, here's what worked out for me:

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