REVITMODELCONTENTSTYLEGUIDE

December2009

Version2.1
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CONTENTS
FeedbackontheGuide7

Audience7
Definition:QualityRevitContent7

Contents8
SupplementaryFiles8
AdditionalFiles9

Section1:PlanningRevitModelContent10
RecommendedRevitReleaseandDisciplineforContentCreation10

1.1DeterminingDesignIntent11

DeterminingtheTemplatetoUse11
FamilyRepresentations12

1.2BalancingPerformanceandDesignComplexity16

DesignIntentvs.Performance16

RecommendedFamilyFileSizes18

LevelofDetail19

ElementVisibility20
AreastoAvoidforOptimumPerformance20
ExamplesofFamilieswithAppropriateandcomplexLevelsofDetail21

ConsiderationsforNestingFamilyContent22
NestingRecommendations:22

1.3AutodeskExchangeFormat(.ADSK)23

AECExchangeEnvironment23
CreatingIntelligentConnectors23

SimplifyingtheGeometricRepresentation24
Publishingtothe.ADSKformat24

reading.ADSKfiles25
ImportingintoRevitFamilies25
Limitations25

1.4UsingImportedContent26

RMCSG4 Version2.1

 SupportedContent26

Limitations26

1.5PlanningaRevitModelFamily27

Section2:ModelContentCreationStandards28

2.1WorkflowforModelContentCreation29
Prototyping30

2.2FamilyUnits30

2.3FamilyNamingConventions31

2.4TypeNamingConventions33

2.5CategoryandSubcategoryStandardsandUsage35
AddingSubcategoriesToModelFamilies35
SubcategoryNamingConventions36

2.6AutodeskApprovedParameterUsage37

AddingManufacturerDatatoFamilies38

CSIOmniClassTable4938

CSIClassificationCodes39
AssigningtheMasterFormatandUniFormatClassificationinRevit39
AssigningtheOmniClassclassificationinRevit(Revit2010andlater)40

2.7ParameterNamingConventions41

2.8MaterialNamingConventions44
Guidelines44
FormatForIndividualFinishMaterials(StoredInsideProjects)44
FormatForIndividualFinishMaterialsUsinganExternalImageFile45
FormatForIndividualMaterialsImages(StoredOutSideofRevit)45

2.9PreviewImageStandards46

CreatingAutodeskStandardFamilyPreviewImages47

2.10TypeCatalogStandardsandUsage52
TypeCatalogStandards52

2.11MaterialApplicationinModelFamilies54

Option1ApplyMaterialswiththeMaterialParameter54

Version2.1 RMCSG5

 Option2ApplyMaterialstoFamilyGeometrybyCategoryandSubcategory55

Option3ApplyMaterialswithCustomInstanceorTypeMaterialParameters55
Example:AssigningMaterialstoaTableFamily56

2.12BestPracticesforAddingConnectorsinRevitMEPFamilies58
AddingaConnector58
SystemTypes59
ConnectorDirection60
PrimaryConnector60
LinkingConnector61
ConnectorMapping62
ConnectorDescriptions63

Section3:TestingGuidelines64

3.1GeneralFamilyTestingGuidelines65

FamilyEditorTestingCriteria65

ProjectTestingCriteriaforRevitArchitecture66

3.2FamilySpecificTestingGuidelines67

RMCSG6 Version2.1

INTRODUCTION
ThepurposeofthisguideistodefineAutodeskguidelinesandstandardsformodelcontentcreationinRevit
Architecture,RevitMEP,andRevitStructure.Modelcontentreferstothetwodimensionalandthree
dimensionalstandardcomponentfamiliesthatareusedtocreateelementsthatrepresentmanufacturedcontent
(forexample,windows,furnaces,heatpumps,andstructuralsteelmembers).

Byfollowingtheguidelinesandstandardsinthisguide,contentcreatorswillensuretheportabilityand
performanceoftheircontent,andfulfillthenecessarydistributionrequirementsfortheAutodeskSeekweb
service.TheAutodeskSeekwebservicerequires:

theuniformdisplayofproductsofferedbyasinglemanufacturer
complete,consistent,andaccuratepresentationofproductdataacrossmanufacturers
thefulluseofAutodeskSeeksearchcapabilities

FEEDBACKONTHEGUIDE

PleasesendyourcommentsontheRevitModelStyleGuideandsupportingdocumentationto:

rmsg.feedback@autodesk.com

Wecantrespondtocommentsindividually,butfeedbackwillbeconsideredinfutureversionsoftheRevitModel
ContentStyleGuide.

AUDIENCE

Thisguideisintendedformanufacturers,contentserviceorganizations,andothercontentcreatorswhohave
advancedknowledgeofbothRevitsoftwareandRevitmodelcontentcreation.

DEFINITION:QUALITYREVITCONTENT

QualityRevitcontentbalancesperformancewithdesignaccuracyandrequiredlevelsofdetail.Qualitycontentis
easytousebecauseitfunctionsreliablyinarangeofprojectsandprojectphases,whiledeliveringmanufactured
contentinaformatappropriateforarchitectureandengineeringdocumentationdeliverables.

QualityRevitcontentiscreatedwiththefollowingconsiderations:

Designintenttheauthorhasconsideredhowthefamilywillbeusedinaproject.
Appropriatelevelofdetaildesigned
Adequatenumberoftypescreated
Flexibleuseofparameters
Accuracycomplete,consistentpresentationofproductdata.
StandardsadherestoindustryandAutodeskstandards.
Namingconventions
Graphicguidelines

Version2.1 RMCSG7

 Parameterusage
Performancecontentdesignedtoreducetheperformanceimpactofthefamilyonaproject.
Testingthoroughtestingofthefamilyparametersandtypesindependentlyandinaproject
environment.

CONTENTS

Section1:PlanningRevitModelContent

Explainshowdesigncomplexityinfamiliescanaffectprojectperformanceandoffersguidelinesfor
reducingperformanceimpact
DetailstherecommendeduseandlimitationsofcontentcreatedwithotherCADsoftware
Providesbestpracticesforplanningmodelcontent

Section2:ModelContentCreationStandards

Describesbestpracticesformodelcontentcreation
ContainsAutodeskstandardsforunits,namingconventions,subcategories,parameters,previewimages,
andtypecatalogs

Section3:TestingGuidelines

Containsgeneralandfamilyspecifictestingguidelinesformodelcontentfamilies.

Notincludedinthisguide:

Detailedfamilycreationinstructions
Standardsforannotationorsystemfamilycreation
Categoryspecificguidelinesforfamilycreation
Indepthbestpracticesforfamilycreation

SUPPLEMENTARYFILES

Thefollowingdocumentsandfilesarereferencedforusewiththisguideandareincludedinthedownload
package.

RevitMasterParameterList.xlsincludesAutodeskapprovedRevitmastersharedparameters
RevitMasterSharedParameterFile.txtincludesAutodeskapprovedsharedparameterstouseinyour
projects
RevitMasterSubcategoryList.xlsincludesAutodeskapprovedRevitsubcategories
RevitMasterPartTypeList.xlsincludesAutodeskapprovedRevitparttypes
RevitModelContentSampleFilesincludessampleRevitmodelcontentandimages
CategoryspecificModelContentGuidesincludescreationguidelinesforspecificcontent
SharingRevitContentonAutodeskSeekincludesdistributionrequirementsfortheAutodeskSeekweb
service.

RMCSG8 Version2.1

ADDITIONALFILES

ThefollowingresourcesareavailableforworkingwithbothRevitmodelcontentandAutodeskSeek.

AUTODESKMETADATASTYLEGUIDEANDPRODUCTWORKBOOK

TheAutodeskMetadataStyleGuidedefinesstylesandformattingrulesthatmanufacturers,contentservice
organizations,andcontentspecialistsmustabidebysothatthecontentthattheyproducecanbeloadedintothe
AutodeskSeekstagingenvironment.

Downloadat:http://seek.autodesk.com/participate.htm.

DOCUMENTATION

FormoreinformationonRevitfamilycontentcreation,seethefollowingreferencemanualsandtutorials:

RevitArchitectureFamiliesGuide
Downloadatwww.autodesk.com/revitarchitecturedocumentation.

RevitArchitecture,RevitMEP,andRevitStructureTutorials
Downloadat:
www.autodesk.com/revitarchitecturedocumentation
www.autodesk.com/revitmepdocumentation
www.autodesk.com/revitstructuredocumentation

DISCUSSIONGROUPS

AUGI(AutodeskUserGroupInternational)
Accessatwww.augi.com.

AutodeskSeekDiscussionGroup
Accessatwww.autodesk.com/contentsearchdiscussion.

Version2.1 RMCSG9

SECTION1:
PLANNINGREVITMODELCONTENT
InordertoensureRevitmodelcontentisdevelopedefficientlyandtoAutodeskstandards,contentcreatorsshould
followAutodeskapprovedbestpracticeswhencreatingRevitfamilies.

Byfollowingtheguidelinesinthissection,youcan:

createRevitfamilycontenteasilyandwithfewererrors
ensureconsistencyandstabilityofRevitfamilycontent
createcontentsuitablefordeliveryonAutodeskSeek

RECOMMENDEDREVITRELEASEANDDISCIPLINEFORCONTENTCREATION

Note:AllsamplefamilyandprojectfileswerecreatedbasedontheRevitPlatform2009release;therefore,they
cantbeopenedinearlierversionsofRevit.

RECOMMENDATION:Toensurethatcontentisavailabletothelargestnumberofendusers,createthecontent
usingAutodeskRevit2009.Contentcreatedinrelease2009canalsobeusedinlaterversionsofRevit.Ifthe
contentrequiresfunctionalityavailableinalaterrelease,thencreatethecontentinthatreleaseofRevit.

UsetheRevitproduct(RevitArchitecture,RevitMEP,orRevitStructure)thatisappropriateforthecontentyouare
creating,forexample,foraDoorfamily,useRevitArchitecture,foranAirHandlingUnit,useRevitMEP.Ifthe
contentcrossesdisciplines,forexample,alightingfixtureorplumbingfixture,usetheproductthathasthemost
requirements,inthiscaseRevitMEP.

RMCSG10 Version2.1

1.1DETERMININGDESIGNINTENT

WhencreatingaRevitfamily,theintendeduseofthefamilyinaprojectenvironmentdeterminestheextentto
whichitisdesigned.Youcandesignallfamiliestoincludeanumberofrepresentationsforuseindifferentproject
viewsandprojectphases.

Thetypeandsizeoftheprojectthatafamilyisintendedforuseinisacriticalpointtoconsiderwhendeciding
whatrepresentationsshouldbeincludedinthefamilyandwhatlevelofdetaileachrepresentationshouldhave.
Themoredetailedafamilyis,thelargeritsfilesizewillbe.Thelargerthefilesize,theslowertheperformance,
loading,andregenerationtimeofthefamilywillbe.Whenconsideringthedesignintentofafamily,usethe
followingguidelines:

Forlargercommercialorinstitutionalprojects,inwhichhundredsofelementsmaybecreatedwitha
singlefamily,designthefamilytobeassmallaspossibletominimizeprojectsizeandperformance
impact.
Forsmallerresidentialprojects,whereelementscreatedwithasinglefamilyarenotusedubiquitously
andwheretheoverallprojectsizeissmaller,designthefamilytoincludemoredetail.

Thenexttopic,BalancingPerformanceandComplexity,addressestheissueoffamilysizeandcomplexityinmore
detail.

DETERMININGTHETEMPLATETOUSE

Forobjectstypicallyhostedbyothercomponents,suchasawindoworlightfixture,startwithahostbased
template.Forexample,forawindowordoor,useawallbasedtemplate,suchasWindow.rftorDoor.rft.Howthe
familyishosted(orwhatitdoesordoesnotattachto)determineswhichtemplateshouldbeusedtocreatethe
family.Ingeneral,thechoiceofatemplateisdrivenbythehostoftheobject,withthefollowingexceptions:

Floorbasedobjectstypicallyusealevelbasedtemplateunlesstheyarerequiredtocutthefloor.For
example,Furnitureobjectsarecreatedwithalevelbasedtemplate.

Forobjectsthataredesignedtobeusedinmorethanonediscipline,suchasplumbingorlightingfixtures,
useahostbasedtemplatethatallowsthegreatestflexibilityforalldisciplines.Forexample,alighting
fixtureusedexclusivelyinanarchitecturaldisciplinecouldbecreatedwithaceilingorwallbased
template,butforanengineeringenvironment,afacebasedtemplateisrequiredforthemodellinking
workflow.Therefore,foralightingfixturethatwillbeusedinbothdisciplines,useafacebasedtemplate.

Version2.1 RMCSG11

FAMILYREPRESENTATIONS

Dependingontheintendeduseofafamily,itmaycontainthefollowingrepresentations:

Schematic(genericcontent;typicallynotmanufacturerspecific;mayincludemultiplelevelsofdetail)
Designdevelopment(manufacturerspecificcontent;typicallyCoarselevelofdetail)
Constructiondocument(manufacturerspecificcontent;typicallyMediumlevelofdetail)
Highqualityrendering(manufacturerspecificcontent;typicallyFinelevelofdetail)

Dependingontheusecaseforthecontent,the3manufacturerspecificrepresentations(Designdevelopment,
Constructiondocument,andHighqualityrendering)maybedevelopedin1or2familyfiles.Forexample,one
familyfilemaycontaintheDesigndevelopmentandConstructiondocumentationrepresentationsofthecontent
andasecondfilemaycontainthehighqualityrenderingrepresentation.TypicallyMEPcontentdoesnotincludea
highqualityrendering,soforthistypeofcontentonefamilyfilemaybecreatedcontainingtheDesign
developmentandConstructiondocumentationrepresentations.

SCHEMATIC

Schematicrepresentationsarecreatedfromtwodimensionallineworkandrepresentthefamilyobjectinitsmost
basicappearance.Theycanbeconsideredplaceholdersforelementsthatwillbeincludedinmoredetailed
designdrawings.Schematicrepresentationsdonotusuallydisplaymaterials.

RMCSG12 Version2.1

Schematicrepresentationsofatoiletfamilyandofatablefamily

DESIGNDEVELOPMENT

Designdevelopmentrepresentationsincludemoredesigndetailthanschematicrepresentations,aswellas3D
forms.Theymayalsoincludebasicmaterials.Dependingontheelementthatwillbecreatedfromthefamily,the
designdevelopmentrepresentationmayincludethefollowingviews,aswellasappropriatelevelsofdetail:

Model
Plan/ReflectCeilingPlan(RCP)
Section/Elevation
TypicallyCoarselevelofdetail

Designdevelopmentrepresentationofawindow:displaysminimaldetail,mullionsarerepresentedbymodellines

Version2.1 RMCSG13

Designdevelopmentrepresentationofawatersoftener:displaysbasicshapesofthesoftenerandshows
connectors

CONSTRUCTIONDRAWING

Constructiondrawingrepresentationsareusuallysymbolictwodimensionalrepresentations.Dependingonthe
elementthatwillbecreatedfromthefamily,theconstructiondrawingrepresentationmayincludethefollowing
viewsaswellasappropriatelevelsofdetail:

Plan/ReflectedCeilingPlan(RCP)
Section/Elevation
TypicallyMediumlevelofdetail

Constructiondocumentationrepresentationofawindow:includesmullionsandswing

RMCSG14 Version2.1

Constructiondocumentationrepresentationofawatersoftener:displaysamorerealisticrepresentationofthe
softeneranditsconnections

HIGHQUALITYRENDERING

Todefinetheappearanceoffamilyelementsinhighqualityrenderings,materialsmustbeassignedtofamily
geometry.Materialpropertiesandlightingmustbedefined.Therenderingistypicallycreatedfroma
representationwithFinelevelofdetailthatincludesobjectsnotusuallyshowninconstructiondrawings,suchas
thehardwareorinlayinthetablebelow.

Highqualityrepresentationofatableinashadedviewandinarenderedimage

Version2.1 RMCSG15

1.2BALANCINGPERFORMANCEANDDESIGNCOMPLEXITY

ThedesigncomplexityofafamilycanaffectitsperformancewhenitisusedtocreateelementsinRevitprojects.
Thisisanimportantconsiderationwhencreatingfamiliesthatincludealotofgeometry,multipleparametric
relationships,and/oralargenumberoffamilytypes(sizes).Efficientgeometrycreation,judicioususeof
parametricconstraints,andcarefullyplanneddetailandvisibilitysettingscanreducetheperformanceimpacta
familywillhaveontheprojectsinwhichitisused.

Inthissection,youlearnto:

Identifypossibleperformancegainsandimpedimentspriortofamilycreation
Managedifferentperformancefactors,includingparametricrelationships,detaillevel,andvisibility
settings
Createefficientfamilies

DESIGNINTENTVS.PERFORMANCE

Themorecomplexanddetailedafamilyis,thelargeritsfilesizeandimpactonperformancewillbe.Before
creatingafamily,determinethefollowing:

Thedesignintentofthefamily:Whataretherepresentationsthatthefamilymustcontain(schematic,
designdevelopment,constructiondocumentation,highqualityrendering),andhowdetailedmusteach
representationbe?

Thetypeofprojectinwhichthefamilywillbeusedandhowfrequentlyitwillbeused:Willthefamily
createonly10elementsinasmallresidentialproject,orwillitbeusedtocreatehundredsofelementson
manyfloorsofalargecommercialbuildingmodel?

RMCSG16 Version2.1

Thefollowinggraphdisplaysthegeneraltrendfortheimpactofdesigncomplexityonfilesize.Generallythemore
representationsafamilyhasandthemoredetailedtheyare,thelargerthefamilyfilesize.Thelargerthefamilyfile
sizeis,themoreofanimpactitwillhaveonperformance(longerloadingandregenerationtimesandgreater
increaseinprojectfilesize).

ImpactofDesignComplexityandProjectSizeonFamilyFileSize

Forexample,awindowfamilythatisintendedtobeusedhundredsoftimesinalargecommercialprojectwillhave
asmallerfilesizeifitcontainsonlybasicschematicanddesigndevelopmentrepresentations.Impactonthe
projectsizewillbeasminimalaspossible.

Conversely,adifferentwindowfamilyintendedforuseinasmallresidentialprojectmaycontainahighquality
renderingrepresentationthatwillincreaseprojectfilesizewhenthefamilyisadded,butbecausethewindowsit
createsareaddedtotheprojectonlyafewtimes,theincreaseinfilesizeismanageable.

Version2.1 RMCSG17

RECOMMENDEDFAMILYFILESIZES

Toprovidecontentcreatorswithatangibleguidelineforfamilyfilesize,somecommonfamilytypesandtheir
recommendedfilesizesarelistedbelow.Usethefilesizesbelowasarecommendation,asactualsizemayvary.
Large,complex,and/orunusualfamiliesmayexceedtheserecommendations.

Application Element ComplexityLevel FileSize

RevitArchitecture Casework Simple 200300K
Complex 500K

Door(singlepanel) Simple 300400K
Complex 600K

FurnitureSystem Simple 200300K
Complex 500K

Window(singleunit) Simple 300400K
Complex 600K


RevitMEP AirHandlerUnit Simple 300400K
Complex 800K1000K

Chiller Simple 300400K
Complex 800K

Fan Simple 200300K
Complex 400K

PlumbingFixture Simple 300400K
Complex 600K


RevitStructure WShape Simple 180200K
Complex 300K

IMPORTANT:Tohelpreducethefilesize,inRevit,clickFilePurgeUnusedtodeleteitemsthatarenotinuse,
clickFilemenuSaveAs,andverifythattheCompactFileoptionisselectedwhensavingthefile.

RMCSG18 Version2.1

LEVELOFDETAIL

Detaillevelsdeterminewhichpiecesoffamilygeometrydisplayindifferenttypesofprojectviews.WhenaRevit
elementiscreatedwithafamilyandaddedtoaprojectview,thecurrentdetailleveloftheview(coarse,medium,
orfine)displaystheappropriatefamilygeometry.

INTENT:Theintentistobuildthefamilybasedontheexpectedfinerepresentation,thenremovedetailtocreate
thelowerlevelsofdetail.Thisapproachimprovestheperformanceofthefamilyinlowerlevelsofdetailviewsin
theproject,butstillprovidestherequiredgraphicsforproperdocumentationofaproject.Theintentisnotto
buildeachlevelofdetailincrementallyoradditionally.

AwindowdisplayedinbothCoarseandFinedetail

Familiesthatincludeintricatelevelsofdetailcanimpedeperformancewhenusedinprojects.Foroptimalfamily
performance,onlythenecessaryfamilygeometryshouldbemodeledandtheuseofhighlydetailed
representationslimited.

Whendecidingwhatlevelofdetailshouldbeshown,usethefollowingrecommendations:

Dontmodelgeometrythatwillnotbevisiblewhenthefamilyisaddedtoabuildingmodel.
Forexample,foratablefamilythatincludesadrawer,modelthefaceonly,nottheentiredrawer.

Dependingonthetypeoffamily,usethefollowingguidelinewhenmodelinggeometry:

Ifthegeometryis Setthedetaillevelto
Smallerthan1 Fine
13 Medium
Largerthan3 Coarse

Donotduplicategeometrythatcanbeusedfordifferentlevelsofdetail.

Version2.1 RMCSG19

ELEMENTVISIBILITY

Typically,thegeometryofanelementcreatedbyafamilywillchangedependingonthecurrentprojectview.The
visibilitysettingsofthefamilydetermineinwhichprojectviewselementscreatedwiththefamilywilldisplay.

Inaplanview,youmaywanttoseea2Drepresentationoftheelement.Ina3Dorelevationview,youmaywant
todisplayafullydetailed3Drepresentationoftheelement.Inotherviews,youmaywanttohidetheelement.
Limitingthevisibilityofhighlydetailedfamilygeometrytoonlycertainviewscanimproveprojectperformance.

AREASTOAVOIDFOROPTIMUMPERFORMANCE

Usethistableasaguidetoimprovetheperformanceofyourfamilies.

CommonMistakeWhenCreatingFamilies
Lackofplanningpriortofamilycreation
Unnecessaryparametricrelationships
Useofgeometryinsteadofsymboliclinesinplanviews
Highlevelsofgeometricdetailandunderuseofvisibility UsetheguidelinesintheLevelofDetailandElement
settings
Overuseofvoids,formulas,andarrays
Useoftoomanynestedfamilies(familiesimportedinto Nestfamiliestocreategeometryinotherfamilies only
otherfamilies)
Largefamilieswithmanytypesthatdonotincludetype Themoretypes(particularlyunused)theheavierthe
catalogs
Inadequatefamilytesting
RecommendedApproach
Beforecreatingafamily,usetheguidelinesoutlinedin
1.4PlanningaRevitModelFamily.
Beforeaddinggeometrytoafamily:
Plantheparametricrelationshipsandcreatea
familyskeletonthatfeaturesthemain
parametricrelationships.
Buildonlytheparametricfamilybehaviorthat
youneedtoavoidoverconstrainingthe
model.
Flextheskeletontotesttherelationships
beforeyouaddgeometry.
Inplanviewrepresentations,geometryusuallycanbe
representedwithsymboliclines,ratherthan(solid)
geometry.Usinggeometryinsteadofsymboliclineswill
createanunnecessarilylargerfamily.
Visibilitysectionsofthisguidetoavoidunnecessarily
largefamilyfiles.
Extensiveuseofvoids,formulas,andarrayswilladdto
theoverallfamilysizeandaffectitsperformancein
projects.
whennecessary.Onlyusenestedcontenttoshare
objectsamongmultiplefamilies,forexample,door
hardware,muntinpatterns,andsoon.
family.Createtypecatalogsforfamiliesthatcontain6
ormoretypes.See2.10TypeCatalogStandardsand
Usage.
See 3.1 GeneralFamilyTestingGuidelines.

RMCSG20 Version2.1

EXAMPLESOFFAMILIESWITHAPPROPRIATEANDCOMPLEXLEVELSOFDETAIL

ThepurposeofcreatingRevitfamiliesformanufacturedcontentisnotforthemanufacturingprocess,butfor
architectureandengineeringdocumentationdeliverables.Itisimportanttocreatethefamilycontentatan
appropriatelevelofdetailfortheintendeduse.Thefollowingexamplesofawindowfamilyillustratethisguideline.
Ineachofthefollowingimages,thewindowontheleftincludesanappropriatelevelofdetailandthewindowon
therightincludesmoredetailthanisrequiredorusefulfortheproject.

PLANVIEW

NOTE:Theaboveimageshowstypicalgraphicqualityforaplanviewscale.Noticethemuddyqualitytothe
windowontheright.

PLANVIEWENLARGED

SECTIONVIEW

Version2.1 RMCSG21

CONSIDERATIONSFORNESTINGFAMILYCONTENT

Anestedfamilyisonethathasbeenloadedintoanotherfamily.Insomecases,itcanbeconvenienttorepresent
partsofthenestedfamilyseparatelyfromthemainfamilymodel.Forexample,youcouldcreateawindowsill
familyandnestitinawindowfamily.Thisallowsyoutobuilduponpreviousworkwhilecreatingfamiliessuitedto
yourneeds.

IMPORTANT:Itisimportanttounderstandthatnestingfamiliesincreasesthefilesizeandaffectsperformance,
specificallytheregenerationprocessofthefamilyviews.

NESTINGRECOMMENDATIONS:

Insteadofnesting,considercreatingallofthenecessarygeometryinthefamily.Usereferencelinesand
labelstolockgeometryinplace.

Limitnestingto2levelsThedeeperthatfamiliesarenested,thelongertheytaketoupdateinthe
projectfile.

Onlynesthighvaluecontentthatmaybeusedinseveraldifferentfamilies,suchasadoorhandle.

Becarefulwhenchanginganestedcomponentthatissharedbymorethanonefamily.Whenyoureload
thecomponentintotheprojectfileitwillupdateallofthefamiliesinthefilesharingthesamenested
family.

RMCSG22 Version2.1

1.3AUTODESKEXCHANGEFORMAT(.ADSK)

Startinginthe2010releaseofAutodeskproducts,theAutodeskExchangeformat(.ADSK)providesanimproved
methodformanufacturerstoleverageDigitalPrototypestoproduceRevitFamilies.TheInventor2010AEC
ExchangeenvironmentprovidesmanufacturerswiththeabilitytoprovidetheirexistingDigitalPrototypesas.ADSK
files,whichcancontainasimplified3Dgeometricrepresentation,intelligentconnectors,andotherproduct
metadatathatcanbereadbyRevitArchitecture2010,RevitMEP2010,AutoCADArchitecture2010,andAutoCAD
MEP2010software.ByreusingtheinformationfromexistingCADdesigns,manufacturersandtheircustomerscan
avoidthetimeandexpenserequiredtoremodelthisdata.

AECEXCHANGEENVIRONMENT

TheAECExchangeenvironmentisavailableinInventor2010andlaterversions,andthecommandsforpreparing
andpublishingcontentareavailabledirectlywithintheInventoruserinterface.Thecontentpreparationand
publishingprocessinvolves:

Creatingintelligentconnectors
Simplifyingthegeometricrepresentationoftheproductdesign
Addingproductmetadatainformation
Publishingthedesigntothe.ADSKformat

CREATINGINTELLIGENTCONNECTORS

TheAECExchangeenvironmentsupportsthedefinition
ofpiping,ducts,andelectricalconnectors,whichallow
theAECApplicationUsertoconnecttheADSKsourced
contenttoBuildingServicesintheirdesigns.

Theseconnectorsareassignedpropertiesthatare
relevanttotheirusage(e.g.,flowdirectionand
quantityofairflowforaduct),whicharerequiredfor
connectiontotheirrespectiveBuildingServices.

Version2.1 RMCSG23
Figure1 ElectricalConnectorsonanHVACUnit
SIMPLIFYINGTHEGEOMETRICREPRESENTATION

AsthetypicalDigitalPrototypeismodeledaround
manufacturinglevelofdetail,itissuggestedthata
modelsimplificationworkflowbeusedtodramatically
simplifyandreducethelevelofdetailthatisprovided
toAECCustomers.

Withoutmodelsimplification,thehighlevelofdetail
thatcanbepresentinaDigitalPrototypewillhavean
adverseimpactonmodelperformanceintheAEC
application.Userscancontrolthelevelof
simplification,rangingfromremovalofkeyinternal
detailstoacompleteshrinkwrapthatrepresents
onlytheouterenvelopeoftheproductdesign.The
shrinkwrapprocessenablesthecreationofa Figure2DetailedGeometryofanHVACUnit
simplifiedgeometricrepresentationofthebuilding
productwhileretainingtheinformationthatisdesiredbyarchitectsandengineers.Theprocesscanalsohelp
protecttheIntellectualpropertythatmanufacturersdonotwishtodisclosetodownstreamcustomers,byallowing
forselectivedeterminationoffeaturesandgeometrytobeincludedorexcludedduringtheprocess.

Figure3Simplifiedrepresentation

PUBLISHINGTOTHE.ADSKFORMAT

Thepublishingprocessinvolvesexportingtherelevantgeometry,connectors,andproductinformationtothe
.ADSKfile.Usershavetheoptiontoexportrelevantproductmetadata(e.g.,producttype,model,manufacturer,
cost,andcustom).TheproducttypeclassisbasedontheOmniClassTable23AECIndustryTaxonomy.Direct2D
viewrepresentationsofthe3Dgeometrycanalsobeincluded.

RMCSG24 Version2.1

READING.ADSKFILES

The.ADSKformatcanbereadbyRevitArchitecture2010,RevitMEP2010,AutoCADArchitecture2010,and
AutoCADMEP2010softwareversionsorlater.Informationfromthe.ADSKfilecanbeincorporatedintothe
receivingapplicationandsavedoutintheapplicationsnativeformat.

IMPORTINGINTOREVITFAMILIES

ADSKfilesthencanbeimportedintoRevitFamiliesforsomepostprocessingtohelpmeettherequirementsofthe
RevitModelContentStyleGuide.Thisprocesswillbediscussedinmoredetailinafutureappendix.

LIMITATIONS

TherearelimitationstoADSKsourcedcontentwhichshouldbeunderstoodinordertomaximizethevaluefor
manufacturersandtheirspecifyingAECcustomers.Notethatsomeoftheselimitationscanbemitigatedwithpost
processingoftheADSKfilesafterithasbeenconsumedbyRevit.

AsaresultofthemodelsimplificationprocessinInventoranddifferencesbetweentheInventorandAEC
productsParametricgeometryhandling,thegeometrythatiscurrentlyproducedforAECapplications
throughtheAECExchangeEnvironment,isstatic,andcannotbeediteddirectlybytheAECuser.Itwill
appearasimportedgeometry.
ADSKfilesdonotcurrentlycontainvisualappearanceinformation,andthereisnowaywithinRevit
productstomanuallymodifytheirappearance.
ADSKfilesdonotcurrentlysupportRevitHostingbehavior,andthereforethecontentcannotbeplaced
onFacesofBuildingElements,orhaveholescutinthem.IntegratingthecontentintoaRevitfamily(.rfa)
filecanhelpremovethislimitation.
LightSourceDefinitionscannotcurrentlybedefinedinADSKfiles,andthusmustbemanuallyaddedin
theRevitenvironmentifneeded.IntegratingthemintoaRevitfamily(.rfa)filecanhelpremovethis
limitation.

Asaresultofcurrentlimitations,ADSKfilesaremosteffectivefordeliveringconfiguredengineeringproductsthat
donotrequireahighlevelofvariabilityforusebytheenduser.

Version2.1 RMCSG25

1.4USINGIMPORTEDCONTENT

ContentcreatedinotherCADformatsmaybeimportedandusedtocreateRevitfamilycontent.Importedcontent
mayincludegeometry,metadatasuchasproductperformanceinformation,connectors,andviews.Theuseof
suchimportedgeometrydoesnotofferallofthecapabilitiesavailablewiththe.ADSKformat(seeSection1.3)but
isanoptionif.ADSKdataisnotavailable.

WhenimportinggeometryfromotherCADformats,foroptimalresultsandintegralfamilyfunctionality,itis
recommendedthattheimportedgeometryisusedasaguideforfamilycreation,notasthefamilygeometryitself.

NOTE:ItisacceptabletouseimportedgeometryforcontentthatisdifficulttocreategeometricallyinRevit,such
aspeople,trees,cars,etc.

SUPPORTEDCONTENT

RevitfamiliessupporttheimportofcontentcreatedinthefollowingCADfileformats:

.DWG (AutodeskAutoCADformat)
.DXF (AutoCADDrawingInterchangeFormat)
.SAT (SpatialCorporationStandardACISformat)
.SKP (GoogleSketchUpModelformat)

LIMITATIONS

Ifyouimportcontentintoafamilyanduseittocreatethefamilywithoutmodification,theresultingfamilytypes
willbeaddedtobuildingmodelsasstaticelementsthatdonotsupportthedynamicparametricrelationships
inherentinRevitbuildingmodels.Familiescreateddirectlyfromimportedcontentdonotsupportdirect
assignmentofmaterialsandotherparameters,limitingtheiroveralluseintheprojectenvironment.Imported
contentmayalsohaveadverseeffectsonprojectperformance.Insomecases,theselimitationsmaybe
acceptable,buttoconformtostandardbuildinginformationmodelingpractice,itisrecommendedthatmost
importedcontentshouldberecreatedasafullyfunctionalRevitfamily.

RMCSG26 Version2.1

1.5PLANNINGAREVITMODELFAMILY

Beforefamilycreationbegins,carefulupfrontplanningofthefamilyshouldbeperformed,evenforthesimplestof
families.Planningfamiliespriortocreationcansavetimeandpreventerrors.

Willthefamilyneedtoaccommodatemultiplesizes?

Forawindowthatisavailableinseveralpresetsizes,orabookshelfthatcanbebuiltinanylength,create
astandardcomponentfamily.

Howshouldthefamilydisplayindifferentviews?

Thewaytheobjectshoulddisplayinviewsdeterminesthe3Dand2Dgeometrythatyouneedtocreate,
aswellashowtodefinethevisibilitysettings.Determinewhethertheobjectshoulddisplayinaplanview,
elevationview,and/orsectionalviews.

Doesthisfamilyrequireahost?

Forobjectstypicallyhostedbyothercomponents,suchasawindoworlightfixture,startwithahost
basedtemplate.Howthefamilyishosted(orwhatitdoesordoesnotattachto)determineswhich
templatefileshouldbeusedtocreatethefamily.

Howmuchdetailshouldbemodeled?

Insomecases,youmaynotneed3Dgeometry.Youmayonlyneedtosketcha2Dshapetorepresentyour
family.Also,youmaysimplifythe3Dgeometryofyourmodeltosavetimeincreatingthefamily.For
example,lessdetailisrequiredforawalloutletthatwillonlybeseenininteriorelevationsfroma
distance,thanforadoorwithraisedpanelsandasidelightthatwillbeseeninaninteriorrendering.

Whatistheinsertion/originpointofthisfamily?

Theinsertion/originpointisthepointatwhichyouwanttoplacethefamilyinaproject(indicatedbythe
cursorposition).Theinsertionpointmaychangebasedonusecase.Forexample,theinsertionpointfor
windowsanddoorsisthecenterofthegeometry,sothatthecontentparametricallyexpandsfromthe
centerout.Foracountertop,theinsertionpointisatacornerandthecontentexpandswiththeinstance
lengthinonedirection.Determiningtheappropriateinsertionpointwillhelpusersplacethefamilyina
project.

Version2.1 RMCSG27

SECTION2:
MODELCONTENTCREATIONSTANDARDS
InordertoensureRevitmodelcontentisdevelopedefficiently,consistently,andtoAutodeskstandards,content
creatorsshouldfollowtheAutodeskapprovedstandardsinthissectionwhencreatingRevitfamilies.

Usethetopicsinthissectionto:

ensureconsistencyandstabilityofyourRevitfamilycontent
ensureaconsistentuserexperience
createcontentsuitabletoshareonAutodeskSeek

RMCSG28 Version2.1

2.1WORKFLOWFORMODELCONTENTCREATION

Beforeyoucreateamodelfamily,reviewthestandardsinthissection,andthenusethebestpracticeworkflow
belowtocreateyourcontent.Thisworkflowhelpstoensurethatyourcontentiscreatedinthemostefficientand
leasterrorpronemanner.

1. Createanewfamilyfile(.rfa)withtheappropriatefamilytemplate.

2. Definesubcategoriesforthefamilytohelpcontrolthevisibilityofthefamilygeometry.

3. Createthefamilyskeleton,orframework:

Definetheorigin(theinsertionpoint)ofthefamily.

Layoutreferenceplanestosnaptowhenyousketchcomponentgeometry.

Adddimensionstospecifyparametricrelationships.

Labeldimensionstocreatetypeorinstanceparametersor2Drepresentation.

Test,orflex,theskeleton.

4. Definefamilytypevariationsbyspecifyingdifferentparameters.

5. Addasinglelevelofgeometryinsolidsandvoids,andconstrainthegeometrytoreferenceplanes.

6. Flexthenewmodel(typesandhosts)toverifycorrectcomponentbehavior.

7. Repeatpreviousstepsuntilthefamilygeometryiscomplete.

8. Specify2Dand3Dgeometrydisplaycharacteristicswithsubcategoryandentityvisibilitysettings.

9. Savethefamily,andthentestit.

10. Forlargefamiliesthatincludemanytypes,createatypecatalog.

TIP:Formoreinformationonthestepsinthisworkflow,downloadtheRevitArchitecture2009FamiliesGuide
(www.autodesk.com/revitarchitecturedocumentation),andseetheCreatingStandardComponentFamiliestopic.

Version2.1 RMCSG29

PROTOTYPING

Ifyouneedtocreateanumberofsimilarfamilies:

1. Planandcreateasingleprototypefamily.

2. TesttheprototypefamilyintheFamilyEditorandinaprojectenvironmenttoidentifyanyerrorsor
inconsistencies.
SeeSection3:TestingGuidelinesfortestingcriteria.

3. Correctanyerrorsandinconsistenciesandretestthefamilytoensureitisworksproperlybeforecreating
theadditionalfamilies.

2.2FAMILYUNITS

Althoughfamiliescanbecreatedasunitspecific(imperialormetric),Revitsoftwarestoresallcoordinatesin
universalunitsanddisplaysspecificunitsaccordingtouserpreference.Thismeansthat:

Unitscanbesettodisplayasnecessaryforatargetaudience(i.e.,displayasdecimalunitsforacivil
engineeringdrawingorfractionalunitsforanarchitecturaldrawing).

Familiescreatedinimperialunitsmaybeloadedintoandusedinmetricprojectsandviceversa.

Forinformationonchangingthedisplayofunits,seeProjectUnitsintheRevitHelp.

Touseanimperialormetricfamilyinaprojectwithdifferentbaseunits,useoneofthefollowingoptions:

Loadthefamilyintheprojectwhereitwillusethecurrentprojectunits.
However,anyimperialormetricspecifictextinthefamilyname,typenames,andparameternameswill
stilldisplayasmetricunlessexplicitlychanged.Standardssizesmayalsoneedtobeadjusted.

Duplicatethetypeswithinametricorimperialfamilytocreatebothimperialandmetrictypeswithinthe
family.

Openthefamily,saveitasanewfamily,andchangetheunits.

RMCSG30 Version2.1

2.3FAMILYNAMINGCONVENTIONS

FamilynamesaretheprimarymeansofidentifyingfamiliesinAutodeskSeekandintheRevitsoftware.Autodesk
familynamingconventionsensurethatfamiliescanbeidentifiedinAutodeskSeekandtheRevitsoftwarebythe
realworlditemsthattheycreate.Thenamingconventionsincludedescriptorsthatallowtheusertosearchfor
familiesbyelement,bymanufacturer,and/orbaseunits.

GUIDELINES:

Createuniquenamesforeachfamily.
Forexample,afixedwindowfamilyandafixeddoorfamilycannotsharethesamename.
Usenaturallanguagetonamethefamily.
Thefamilynameshoulddescribehowthefamilyisidentifiedintherealworld(i.e.,incatalogs,by
manufacturer,etc.).
Ifpossible,donotincludethefamilycategoryinthefamilyname,unlessthefunctionaltypeisthesame
asthecategory(e.g.,window).
Usetitlecasing(aswiththetitleofabook)forfamilynames,astheyarecasesensitive.
Keepfilenamesasshortaspossible.
FamilynamesmustdisplayindialogsandintheTypeSelector.
Whenaddingoptionaldescriptorstofamilyfilenames,considertheorderinwhichthedescriptorsare
listedtoensurethatthefamilyfilesdisplayintheProjectBrowserinthemostlogicalandintuitiveorder.
Do not use spaces between words in file names. To separate words within a syntax element (e.g.,
ManufacturerorDescriptor),usetheunderscorecharacter(_).
If a hyphen () is used to include a performance range, enclose the range in parentheses, for example,
(230250_Ton).
Ifatypecatalogistobeusedwithafamily,namethetypecatalog(.txtfile)withthesamenameasthe
family.Seesection2.10foradditionalinformation.

FORMAT

<FunctionalType><Subtype><Manufacturer><Descriptor1><Descriptor2><2Difnecessary>

Note:RefertotheRevitMasterPartTypeList(includedinthedownloadpackage)forinformationonapproved
FunctionTypesandSubtypes.

Descriptionoffields:

Field/Component RequiredorOptional Description

FunctionalType Required Namestheelementthatthefamilycreates(forexample,
DoororWindow)
Subtype Asneeded Namestheparttype,forexample,foraWindow the
subtypecouldbeCasement.
Manufacturer/Generic Optional Manufacturername,genericfamiliesmaysubstitute the
ManufacturernamewithGeneric.
Descriptor Asneeded
2D Required Useonlyfor2Dfamilies

Version2.1 RMCSG31

Examples

WindowDouble_HungAcmeTilting_SashClad.rfa
ChillerAir_CooledAcmeLow_Profile.rfa
FountainDrinkingAcmePolished_Chrome.rfa
WindowDouble_HungGenericWood.rfa
ChillerAir_CooledAcmeScroll(75100_Ton)Pkgd.rfa

RMCSG32 Version2.1

2.4TYPENAMINGCONVENTIONS

Allfamiliesmustincludeonepredefinedtype.Forfamiliesthatcreaterealworldobjectsthatareavailablein
standardsizes,predefinedtypesshouldbegenerated.Unlesstheyrepresentnominalsizes,typenamesshould
includeunitsorcapacity,andincludeaunitindicator.

Whennamingafamilytype,usetheformatandrulesbelow:

GUIDELINES

Donotincludethefamilynameorcategoryinthetypename.
Typenamesshouldmirroractualusage.
Typenamesshouldindicatethekeydifferencesbetweentypes(size,count,material)and,when
applicable,reflectstandardsizes.
Insomecases,youmaybasenamesonsizedifference,butusecommontermsratherthannumbers.
Whentypesarenamedbysize,usedimensionsonly.
Avoidtheuseofcharactersorwords.(h,w,d,orheight,width,depth).
Typenamesshouldincludeunitsorcapacityandaunitindicator,unlesstheyrepresentnominalsizes.
Metrictypesshouldreflectthelocalunitstandard,unlessthetypesareintendedtobegeneric.
Keeptypenamesasshortaspossible.
TypenamesmustdisplayindialogsandintheTypeSelector.

FORMAT

Unlessthereisamarketspecificreasontodootherwise,usethefollowinggeneralorderintypenames:

Fordoorsandwindows: <width>x<height>

Forcaseworkandfurniture: <width>x<depth>x<height>

Forotherelementtypes: <width>x<depth>

Version2.1 RMCSG33

 Forunitspecificfamilies:

Forimperialfamilytypes:

Inmostcases,sizeshouldbeexpressedininches.Useonlyoneoftheconventionsbelowwithinafamilyand
forrelatedfamilies.

Forfamilieswithmostsizesunder10: XXxYY

Forfamilieswithmostsizesover10: XXYYxAABB

Formetricfamilytypes:

Foralltypesinmetricfamilies: XXXXxYYYYmm(orlocalmetricunitindicator)

Forfamiliesthatfeaturenominalsizesorindustrystandardterms:

Intypenames,dropthedimensionindicators(,,ormm)and/oruseindustrystandardnamingconventions.

Brick(industrystandardnaming): Common,Norman,CSR,MetricModular

Lumber(nominalsizes): 2x4

Structure(industrystandardnaming): W12x204

EXAMPLES

TYPESFORANIMPERIALWINDOW:

16x24
16x48
24x24
24x48
24x72
36x24
36x48
36x72

RMCSG34 Version2.1

2.5CATEGORYANDSUBCATEGORYSTANDARDSANDUSAGE

Allfamilies,includinggenericfamilies,mustbeassignedtoappropriatecategoriesandsubcategories.Whena
familyiscreated,itisassignedacategory.Thecategorydefinesitstoplevelofidentification(forexample,Door,
Window,orCasework)withintheprojectenvironment.Whenthefamilyisusedinaproject,thefamilycanbe
locatedintheProjectBrowserunderitscategory,andelementscreatedbythefamilytypeswillschedulebyits
category.Thelineweight,linecolor,linepattern,andmaterialassignmentofthefamilygeometrycanalsobe
assignedtobycategory.

Todisplaydifferentlineweights,linecolors,linepatterns,andmaterialassignmentsfordifferentgeometric
componentsofthefamily(forexample,theframe,sash,mullions,andglassthatcompriseawindow),the
componentscanbeassignedtosubcategorieswithinthefamilycategory.

CategoriesarepredefinedinRevitsoftwareandcannotbecreatedorchangedbytheuser.Subcategoriesare
predefinedinsomefamilies,butothersubcategoriescanbecreatedinfamiliesasneeded.

ADDINGSUBCATEGORIESTOMODELFAMILIES

Ifyouneedtoaddsubcategoriesinyourfamilies,usethestepsbelowtoensurethatyoursubcategoriesadhereto
Autodeskstandards:

1. OpenthelistofAutodeskapprovedsubcategories,RevitMasterSubcategoryList.xls(includedinthe
downloadpackage).

2. Selecttheworkbookthatcorrespondstothecategoryofthefamilythatyouarecreating.
Thefirsttablecontainsanypredefinedsubcategoriesthatareestablishedbythefamilytemplate.The
secondtablelistsadditionalsubcategoriesthatyoucanuse.

Version2.1 RMCSG35

 3. Determineifanyoftheadditionalsubcategoriesfityourneeds.

4. Ifthelistdoesnotcontainthesubcategoriesthatyouneed,createnewsubcategoriesusingthenaming
conventionsinthenextsection.

5. SubmityoursubcategoriestotheAutodeskSeekteamforapproval.Aftertheyareapproved,the
subcategorieswillbeaddedtothemasterlist.

SUBCATEGORYNAMINGCONVENTIONS

Createuniquenamesforeachsubcategory.
Usenaturallanguagetonamethesubcategory.
Thesubcategorynameshoulddescribehowthesubcategoryisidentifiedintherealworld(i.e.,in
catalogs,bymanufacturer,etc.)
Donotincludethefamilycategoryinthesubcategory.
Keepsubcategorynamesasshortaspossible.
Capitalizetheleadinglettersofthewordsthatformthesubcategoryname.

RMCSG36 Version2.1

2.6AUTODESKAPPROVEDPARAMETERUSAGE

Familiescontainparametersthatnotonlycreatethefamilygeometry,butidentifyorclassifytheelementsthatare
createdbythefamily.Allfamilieshavepredefinedparametersthatyouassignvaluesordatato,butyoucanadd
parametersthatarenotpredefinedinRevitsoftware(thatarenotsystemparameters).

IMPORTANT:Ifyouwanttodisplaythenamesandvaluesofcustomparametersinaschedule,theymustbe
definedassharedparametersinatextfilethatisindependentoffamilyandprojectfiles.

REQUIREMENT:Topromoteconsistencyinmodelcontent(particularlyformanufacturercontentthatissharedon
AutodeskSeek),useparametersastheyareexplicitlydefined(includingtheGUID)intheapprovedshared
parametersfile.Ifarequiredparameterisnotinthefile,addittoyourcontentasnecessary.Itisalso
recommendedtoincludethesharedparameterfilecontainingtheadditionalparameterswithyourcontent
package.Whencreatingcustomparameters,referto2.7ParameterNamingConventions.

Refertothemastersharedparametersfile(RevitMasterSharedParameters.txt)forthelistofAutodeskapproved
sharedparameters.Thisfilecontainsmostofthesharedparametersthatyouwillneedtoaddtoyourfamilies.A
spreadsheet(RevitMasterParameterList.xls)thatliststheseparametersbyfamilycategory,alongwithapplicable
predefinedsystemparametersisalsoavailableforyourreference.

WindowscategoryintheRevitMasterParameterList

Version2.1 RMCSG37

ADDINGMANUFACTURERDATATOFAMILIES

IdentityDataparametersinfamiliescanincludemanufacturerdata,includinginformationsuchasthemodel,
description,assemblycode,cost,andmanufacturerURL.Whenelementsarecreatedwiththefamilyinaproject,
theparametersandassociatedvaluescanbeincludedinschedules.

Identitydataparametersforawindowthatincludevaluesformanufacturerdata

ParameterName Description TypeofParameter

Manufacturer Manufacturername System

Model Modelnameornumber System

ProductPageURL URLtoproductpage Shared(seesharedparameterlist)

ProductDocumentationLink URLtoproductdocumentation Shared(seesharedparameterlist)

URL URLtomanufactureswebsite System

CSIOMNICLASSTABLE49

FamilyparameterscanreferenceOmniClassTable49properties,althoughRevitparametersandOmniClass
propertiesmaynotmatchperfectly.SeeRevitMasterParameterList.xlstoviewthemappings.

RMCSG38 Version2.1

CSICLASSIFICATIONCODES

OnAutodeskSeek,contentfamiliescanbelocatedbytheappropriateCSI(ConstructionSpecificationsInstitute)
code.Forbestresults,includeinformationin3formatstandards:

MasterFormat200450divisionsthatstandardizeinformationinconstructionprojectmanuals.

UniFormatII(AssemblyCode)Organizingpreliminaryconstructioninformationbasedonitssystemsand
assemblies.Usedforpreliminaryprojectdescriptions,performancespecifyingandcostestimation.

OmniClass1.0Consistsof15tables,eachrepresentingadifferentfacetofconstructioninformation.

Formoreinformationonthestandards,refertotheCSIWebsite,http://www.csinet.org/s_csi/index.asp.

ASSIGNINGTHEMASTERFORMATANDUNIFORMATCLASSIFICATIONINREVIT

TheMasterFormat2004andUniFormat(AssemblyCode)shouldbeassignedtoeachfamilytype.

1. OpentheFamilyTypesdialogforthefamily.

2. UnderIdentityData,forKeynote,entertheMasterFormatcodeappropriateforthefamilycontent.Refer
totheCSIWebSiteforalistofclassificationcodes.

3. UnderIdentityData,forAssemblyCode,clickintheValuefield,andclickthebrowsebuttontoselectthe
appropriateAssemblyCodefromthedialog.

4. Repeattheprocedureforeachtypeinthefamily.

Version2.1 RMCSG39

ASSIGNINGTHEOMNICLASSCLASSIFICATIONINREVIT(REVIT2010ANDLATER)

TheOmniClass1.0codeisassignedtothefamily.Youdonotneedtoassignittoeachfamilytype.

5. InRevit,OpentheFamilyCategoryandParametersdialog.

6. UnderFamilyParameters,forOmniClassNumber,clickinthefield,andclickthebrowsebuttontoselect
theappropriateOmniClasscodefromthedialog.

NoticethattheOmniClassTitlevalueisaddedautomatically.

RMCSG40 Version2.1

2.7PARAMETERNAMINGCONVENTIONS

ConsistentparameternamingenableseasierandmorecomprehensiveparametricsearchinginAutodeskSeek.
Createparametersonlywhenvariationcreatesmeaningfullydifferentiatedtypesthatrepresentrealworld
possibilities.

GUIDELINES
Usestandardapprovedparameternameswhenavailable.

Keepparameternamesasshortaspossible.

Avoidabbreviationandtruncation,whenpossible.

Usetitlecasing(aswiththetitleofabook)forparameternames,astheyarecasesensitive(e.g.,
CoefficientofPerformance;PointofShipment;HighandLowPressureGasConnectionDiameter).

Parametersmustdisplayindialogs.

DonotchangelabelnamesprovidedbytheRevitfamilytemplates.

Parameternamesthatyoureusetocreateequalitiesshouldbecarefullycheckedfornamecoherence.

Usethemostcommondescriptorforagroupofparametersasthefirstpartofthenamesothatthe
parameterssortlogically(e.g.,FilterFaceArea;FilterEfficiency).

Parametersforsubsequentitemsshouldincludeanumberinthenamebeforethefinalpartofthe
description,butdonotincludeanumberinthenameforthefirstitem(e.g.,ActualHotGasFlow;Actual
HotGas2Flow).

Avoidusingsymbolsinparameternames,including:+/\*()<>|^${}[].

Donotincludeunitsinthenameofaparameter(e.g.,SupplyAirFlowCFM).

UsingthetermsActualorDesign:

o Actualdescribestheactualvaluethesystemdefinitionrequires.Actualparametersarelinked
toconnectorsandareoftenusedforparametersthatdefineflowrates,forexample,Actual
SupplyAirFlow;ActualChilledWaterFlow.
o Designdescribeswhattheproductisdesignedtodo,forexample,DesignVentilationAirFlow;
DesignReturnAirFlow.

NameYes/NoparameterssotheyimplythattheyreturnaYes/Novalue,forexample:
o HasHandle
o IsEnergyEfficient

o ShowHoods

Version2.1 RMCSG41

FORMAT

<Function/Object><Typeofmeasurement/Descriptor>

<Function/Object> requirediftheparameterappliestoasubcomponentratherthan
theentirefamily.

<Typeofmeasurement/Descriptor> requiredforallparameterstodescribethevaluebeingpassed.

EXAMPLES

PARAMETERSTHATAPPLYTOTHEENTIREFAMILY

Format:<Typeofmeasurement/Descriptor>

Casementwindow:

Height

DefaultSillHeight

Width

WindowInset

RoughWidth

RoughHeight

Engineeringequipment:

ActualHeaterGasFlow

TotalHeatingCapacity

FullLoadCurrent

CompressorType

PARAMETERSTHATDESCRIBEAMEASUREMENTVALUEOFASUBCOMPONENT:

Format:<Function/Object><TypeofMeasurement/Descriptor>

HeatPumpCoilFaceArea

HeatPumpCoilFaceVelocity

ExhaustFanBladeSpeed

ExhaustFanDrive

ExhaustFanMotorSpeed

RMCSG42 Version2.1

PARAMETERSTHATDESCRIBETHELINEARDIMENSIONOFASUBCOMPONENT(CONNECTOR)

Format:<Function/Object>Connection<TypeofMeasurement/Descriptor>

HotGasBypass2ConnectionDiameter

CondenserWaterConnectionDiameter

SupplyAirConnectionWidth

SupplyAirConnectionHeight

Version2.1 RMCSG43

2.8MATERIALNAMINGCONVENTIONS

Finishmaterialnamingconventionsorganizethematerialbymanufacturer,andgeneraldescriptiontomore
specificdescription.Dependingonthetypeofmaterial,afinishmaterialnamemayincludeacolor,code,finish
type,oridentificationnumber.

GUIDELINES

Finishnamesshouldindicatethekeydifferencesbetweenmaterials(manufacturer,type,color,
finish)and,whenapplicable,reflectstandardsizes.
Insomecases,youmaybasenamesonsizedifference,butusecommontermsratherthannumbers.
Metricfinishnamesshouldreflectthelocalunitstandard,unlessthematerialsareintendedtobe
generic.
Keepfinishnamesasshortaspossible.

RECOMMENDATION:Tooptimizethefilesizeforfamilieswithalargenumberofavailablematerials,provideonly
themostcommonmaterialsinthefamily,andprovidetheremainingmaterialsinaseparatefinishlibrary.Seethe
Finishesparttypeguideformoreinformation.

FORMATFORINDIVIDUALFINISHMATERIALS(STOREDINSIDEPROJECTS)

<FinishType><Manufacturer><Code><Descriptor>

EXAMPLES

PaintAcmePaintAC440VintageBrownMatte

GlassAcmeGlazingSeries1205Clear

AluminumAcmeMetalAC120Anodized(Clear)

FabricAcmeFabricsACF820HoundstoothBlack/White

StainAcmeWindowsNaturalWoodFinish

RMCSG44 Version2.1

FORMATFORINDIVIDUALFINISHMATERIALSUSINGANEXTERNALIMAGEFILE

Materialsrequiringexternalimages,bumpmapsandcutoutshouldbestoredinalocationthatcanbesharedby
multipleRevitProductinstalls.

ForWindowsXP:
C:\DocumentsandSettings\AllUsers\ApplicationData\RevitManufacturerLibrary\Materials\<MFG>

ForWindowsVistaandWindows7:
C:\ProgramData\AllUsers\ApplicationData\RevitManufacturerLibrary\Materials\<MFG>

GUIDELINES:

Createuniquenamesforeachuniquematerialimage.
Capitalizetheleadinglettersineachportionofthefamilyname.
Donotusespacesbetweenwordsinfilenames.Toseparatewordswithinasyntaxelement(e.g.,
ManufacturerorDescriptor),usetheunderscorecharacter(_).
Acceptablefileformatsformaterialimagesinclude:bmp,jpg,jpegandpng.
ProvideareadmetodescribewheretheimagefilesmustbelocatedandhowtomapRevittotheRevit
ManufacturerLibraryfolderintheRenderingOptionsdialog.

FORMATFORINDIVIDUALMATERIALSIMAGES(STOREDOUTSIDEOFREVIT)

MaterialImage:

<FinishType><Manufacturer><Code><Descriptor>+fileextension

Bumpmaps:

<FinishType><Manufacturer><Code><Descriptor>bump+fileextension

Cutouts:

<FinishType><Manufacturer><Code><Descriptor>cutout+fileextension

EXAMPLES

ImageFile:
PaintAcme_PaintAC_440Vintage_Brown_Matte.jpg
StainAcme_WindowsNatural_Wood_Finish.jpg

BumpImageFile:
bump.jpg
StainAcme_WindowsNatural_Wood_Finishbump.jpg

Cutouts/Perforations:
cutout.jpg
AluminumAcme_FencingAC120Anodizedcutout.jpg

Version2.1 RMCSG45

2.9PREVIEWIMAGESTANDARDS

Afamilypreviewimageisareducedthumbnailimageofa2Dor3Dfamilyviewthatgraphicallyidentifiesafamily
beforeitisdownloadedoropened.Previewimagesdisplayin:

ThumbnailsviewinMicrosoftWindowsExplorer
AutodeskSeeksearchresults
thePreviewwindowinRevitOpenandLoadFamilydialogswhenafamilyisselected

BycreatingpreviewimagesthatadheretoAutodeskstandards,userscanviewconsistentpreviewsacrossfamilies,
ensuringaconsistentuserexperiencebothinAutodeskSeekandinRevitsoftware.

FamilypreviewimagesinAutodeskSeek,WindowsExplorer,andRevitOpenFamilydialogs

RMCSG46 Version2.1

CREATINGAUTODESKSTANDARDFAMILYPREVIEWIMAGES

Tocreateapreviewimage,beginbycreatingafamilyviewtouseexclusivelyforthepreviewimage.Althoughyou
cansaveanyfamilyviewasthepreviewimageview,thebestpracticeistocreateaviewthatcanbesetto
consistentlydisplayasisrequiredforthepreviewimage.

Afteryoucreatetheview,setAutodeskstandardgraphiccontrolsinthepreviewimageviewtoensurevisual
consistencywiththepreviewimagesofotherRevitfamilies.Differentgraphicstandardsexistforthefollowing
typesoffamilypreviewimages:

Detailcomponentandannotationfamilies
Hostedmodelcomponentfamilies
Nonhostedmodelcomponentfamilies

NOTE:Althoughannotationfamiliesarenotcoveredinthisguide,similarstandardsforannotationpreview
imagesexist.

IMPORTANT:Whenmodificationstothepreviewimageviewarecomplete,savetheviewandsetthefamilytouse
thecurrentviewasthepreviewimage.Eachtimeyousaveandclosethefamily,youmustensurethatthepreview
imageviewistheactive(open)viewsoitwilldisplayasthepreviewimage.

CREATINGADETAILCOMPONENTPREVIEWIMAGE

Foraneasilyidentifiabledetailcomponentpreview,setthepreviewimagetodisplaythe2Dviewthatfeatures
onlythecomponentlineworkandfilledregions.

Turnoffvisibilityofdimensionsandreferenceplanes/linesintheview,astheseelementsmayobscurecomponent
geometryiftheydisplay.

Version2.1 RMCSG47

TOCREATEADETAILCOMPONENTPREVIEWIMAGE:

Createaviewtouseasthefamilypreviewimage

1. Ifnecessary,openthedetailcomponentfamilyforwhichyouwanttocreateapreviewimage.

Turnoffvisibilityofdimensionsandreferenceplanes/lines

2. ClickViewmenuVisibility/Graphics.
3. IntheVisibility/GraphicOverridesdialog,clicktheAnnotationCategoriestab.
4. UnderVisibility,clearDimensions,Levels,ReferenceLines,andReferencePlanes.
5. ClickOK.

SetstandardviewcontrolsinthePreviewview

6. OntheViewControlBar:
Clickthecurrentviewscale,anddependingonthefamilyunits,click11/2=10or1:5.
ClickDetailLevel,andclickFine.
ClickModelGraphicsStyle,andclickWireframe.
7. ClickSave.

RMCSG48 Version2.1

CREATINGAHOSTEDORNONHOSTEDMODELCOMPONENTPREVIEWIMAGE

Dependingonthetypeofmodelcomponentthatapreviewimagedepicts,itmaydisplaya2Dorisometricview.If
thepreviewimageiscreatedforahostedfamily,hostelementsmayormaynotdisplayinthepreview.

Thistopicpresentsgeneralguidelinesforcreatingpreviewimages.Foradditionalguidelines,refertothecategory
specificdocumentationformodelcomponentpreviewimages.

Createpreviewimageviewsaccordingtothefollowinggeneralguidelines:

Doorandwindowpreviewimagesshoulddisplaya2Dfrontexteriorelevationviewofthefeatured
component.Visibilityofthehostelement(usuallyawall)shouldbeturnedofftobetterdisplaythe
windowordoor.

Thispreviewimageofawindowfamilyisagoodexamplebecauseithasanappropriatelevelofdetail,isa2D
frontview,andisrepresentativeofthecontent:

Thispreviewimageofawindowfamilyisapoorexamplebecauseitisa3Dviewthatincludesthehostobject
(wall)whichmakesthewindowdifficulttosee:

Othermodelcomponentpreviews,suchasfurnitureorcasework,shoulddisplayinasoutheastisometric
view.

Version2.1 RMCSG49

Hostbasedfamiliesotherthandoorsandwindows,suchaslightfixtures,mayincludehostelements
(wallsorceilings)inthepreviewimage.

Turnoffvisibilityofdimensionsandreferenceplanes/linesintheview,astheseelementsmayobscure
componentgeometryiftheydisplay.

TOCREATEAMODELCOMPONENTPREVIEWIMAGE:

Createaviewtouseasthepreviewimage

1. Ifnecessary,openthefamilyforwhichyouwanttocreateapreviewimage.
2. IntheProjectBrowser,selectaviewofthefamilythatyouwanttouse:
Foradoororwindowfamily,selectanelevationview(preferablyfront).
Forothermodelcomponentfamilies,selecta3Dview.
3. Rightclicktheviewname,andclickDuplicateViewDuplicate.
4. Renametheduplicateview:
IntheProjectBrowser,rightclicktheviewname,andclickRename.
TypePreviewandclickOK.
ClickNotoretainthenamesofcorrespondingviewsandlevels.
5. Ifnecessary,opentheview.

Setastandardpreviewimagevieworientation

6. Dependingonthetypeofcomponentthatyouarecreating,setthevieworientation:

Foradoororwindowfamilyinanelevationview,ontheViewCube,click .

Forotherfamiliesthatdisplayina3Dview,ontheViewCube,click tosetasoutheast
orientation,rightclick,andclickSetCurrentViewasHome.

Turnoffvisibilityofdimensionsandreferenceplanes/linesandifnecessary,setthehostvisibility

7. ClickViewmenuVisibility/Graphics.
8. IntheVisibility/GraphicOverridesdialog,clicktheAnnotationCategoriestab.
9. UnderVisibility,clearDimensions,Levels,ReferenceLines,andReferencePlanes.
10. Ifyouarecreatingapreviewforahostbasedfamily,setthehostvisibility:
Forfamilypreviewsinwhichthehostshouldnotdisplay,suchasdoorsandwindows,clearall
hostcategories.

RMCSG50 Version2.1

 Forfamilypreviewsinwhichthehostshoulddisplay,selectallhostcategories.
11. ClickOK.

SetstandardviewcontrolsinthePreviewview

12. OntheViewControlBar:
Clickthecurrentviewscale,anddependingonthefamilyunits,click11/2=10or1:5.
ClickDetailLevel,andclickFine.
ClickModelGraphicsStyle,andclickShadingwithEdges.

Setthepreviewimagetodisplaythecurrentview

13. ClickFilemenuSaveAs.
14. IntheSaveAsdialog,inthelowerrightcorner,clickOptions.
15. IntheFileSaveOptionsdialog,underPreview,forSource,select3DView:Preview,thenselect
Regenerateifview/sheetisnotuptodate.

IMPORTANT:Thissettingdisplaystheselectedviewasthepreviewimage.Itisalsorecommendedthatthe
activeviewwhenyousavethefileisthesameastheselectedpreviewview.

TIP:SelecttheCompactFileoptiontohelpreducethefilesize.


16. ClickOK.
17. ClickSave.

Version2.1 RMCSG51

2.10TYPECATALOGSTANDARDSANDUSAGE

AtypecatalogiscommadelimitedTXTfilethat,whenplacedinthesamedirectoryasafamily,displaysalistof
familytypesbeforethefamilyisloadedintoaproject.Youcanselectandloadonlythefamilytypesthatthe
currentprojectrequires,avoidinganunnecessaryincreaseinprojectsizefromunusedtypesandalonglistoftypes
intheTypeSelector.Thetypecatalogalsoprovidesanexternalmeansofeditingthefamily,asyoucanremoveand
addparametersandtypesinthecatalogfile(TXT).

TYPECATALOGSTANDARDS

Usethefollowingstandardswhencreatingtypecatalogs:

Useanytexteditortocreatetypecatalogs.
Createtypecatalogsforfamiliesthatcontainsixormoretypes.
Nameatypecatalogfile(.txt)withthesamenameasthefamilyfile(.rfa)thatitsupports.
Ensurethatparametersintypecatalogsaretestloadedbythefamilyforwhichyoucreatethetype
catalog.Iftheparametersarenotused,thefamilywillnotload.

IMPORTANT:InTypeCatalogs,inordertoincludefeetandinchmarksinthetypename,youmustincludeamark
afterthefootorinchsymbol.

Todisplaythetypename Inthetypecatalog,enter
48x60 48x60
36 3 6

Forinformationoncreatingatypecatalog,seeCreatingTypeCatalogsintheRevitHelpandFamiliesGuide.

UNITSPECIFICFAMILY

Atypecatalog(TXTfile)foradoorfamily

RMCSG52 Version2.1

Dialogdisplayedbythetypecatalogwhenthedoorfamilyisloaded

STRUCTURALCONTENTINDUSTRYSTANDARDNAMING

Atypecatalog(TXTfile)forasteeljoistfamily

Dialogdisplayedbythetypecatalogwhenthesteeljoistfamilyisloaded

Version2.1 RMCSG53

2.11MATERIALAPPLICATIONINMODELFAMILIES

Materialscanbeappliedtofamiliestodepicttherealworlddisplayofelementscreatedwiththefamilyinshaded
andrenderedviews.

IMPORTANT:Whenapplyingmaterialstoafamily,rememberthatmaterialsincreasethefamilysize,whichin
turndecreasesitsperformancewhenitisloadedandusedinprojects.

Dependingonhowyouapplymaterialstoafamilysgeometry,youcancontroltheusersabilitytomodifythe
materialsofelementsthattheycreatewiththefamily.Usetheseguidelinestoapplymaterialstofamilygeometry:

Ifyouwantto Then

usematerialsthatwillnotneedtobechanged Applythematerialdirectlytothefamilygeometryby
assigningittotheMaterialparameter(Option1).

changethematerialforthefamilycategory Applyamaterialtothefamilycategory.
and/orforsubsetsofgeometriccomponentsin
thefamily Createsubcategories,assignmaterialstoeach
subcategory,andassignsubcategoriestogeometry

(Option2).

changethematerialforageometriccomponentin Createaninstanceortypematerialparameterand
afamilybyinstanceortype assignittotheappropriatefamilygeometry(Option3).

NOTE:Thisisthemostflexibleandpreferredmethodof
materialassignment.

Ifpossible,usethematerialsthatareavailableintheRevitsoftwarewhenassigningmaterialstofamilygeometry.
Ifyouneedtocreateamaterial,makesurethatthematerialnameconformstothenamingconventionsdescribed
intheMaterialNamingConventionstopic.

OPTION1APPLYMATERIALSWITHTHEMATERIALPARAMETER

YoucanapplymaterialsdirectlytosomeorallofthefamilygeometryintheFamilyEditor.Eachpieceoffamily
geometryhasadefaultMaterialparametertowhichyoucanassignmaterials.

USETHISMETHODWHEN:

Thematerialofthefamilygeometryisunlikelytochange,suchasforamanufacturedcomponentthatissupplied
withasinglestandardmaterial.

RMCSG54 Version2.1

RESULT:

Whenyoucreateelementsinaprojectwiththefamily,youcannot:

changetheelementmaterialswithouteditingthefamily
changethematerialforinstancesortypesofthefamily
changethematerialsbyassigningamaterialtotheelementcategory

OPTION2APPLYMATERIALSTOFAMILYGEOMETRYBYCATEGORYANDSUBCATEGORY

Youcanapplymaterialstoallorselectpiecesoffamilygeometrybysubcategory.Subcategoriesarecategoriesthat
existwithinthefamilycategory.Youcanassigndifferentpiecesoffamilygeometrytoeachsubcategory,andthen
applyadifferentmaterialtoeachsubcategory.Toapplymaterialtogeometrythatisnotassignedtoa
subcategory,youcanapplymaterialsbythefamilycategory.

USETHISMETHODWHEN:

Youwanttobeabletoapplydifferentmaterialstodifferentfamilycomponentsbycategoryorsubcategory.

RESULT:

Whenyoucreateanelementinaprojectwiththefamily,

youcanchangethematerialsassignedtoeachsubcategoryorcategory.

OPTION3APPLYMATERIALSWITHCUSTOMINSTANCEORTYPEMATERIALPARAMETERS

Youcancreateandassignacustominstanceortypematerialparametertofamilygeometry.

BESTPRACTICE:Thisisthemostflexiblemethodofmaterialassignmentthatyoucanprovidetheuser.

USETHISMETHODWHENYOUWANT:

toallowtheusertochangefamilymaterialsbyinstanceorbytype.
bysettingthematerialparameterto<bycategory>thisoptioncanalsoallowtheelementstobeupdated
bysubcategoryorcategory.

RESULT:

Whenyoucreateanelementwiththefamilyinaproject,theparametergivesyoutheoptiontochangeamaterial
foraninstanceoftheelementorforeachtypeofelementthatyoucreate.

Version2.1 RMCSG55

EXAMPLE:ASSIGNINGMATERIALSTOATABLEFAMILY

Inthisexample,acombinationofmaterialoptionsisusedtoapplymaterialsinasimpletablefamily.

Materialassigneddirectlytogeometry(Option1):Thehardwarewillnotneedtochangewhenthisfamilyisused
inaproject,soamaterialisapplieddirectlytotheknobforthetabledrawer.IntheElementPropertiesdialogfor
theknobgeometry,underMaterialsandFinishes,theMaterialparametervalueissettoMetalChrome.

Materialsassignedwithtypematerialparameters(Option3):Twotypematerialparametersarecreatedinthe
tablefamily:

LegMaterialassignedtoablackpaintfinish

TopMaterialassignedto<ByCategory>

RMCSG56 Version2.1

Thematerialforthetablelegscanbechangedasrequiredbytheuserintheproject.InElementProperties,the
MaterialpropertyforthetablelegsgeometryisassociatedwiththeLegMaterialfamilyparameter.Thematerial
forthelegsthereforeisdeterminedbythematerialassignedtotheLegMaterialparameterintheFamilyTypes
dialog.

Thematerialforthetabletopcanbechangedbytheuserasrequiredtomatchotherfurniturecomponentsinthe
project.TheMaterialpropertyforthetabletopgeometryisassociatedwiththeTopMaterialfamilyparameter.
ThematerialforthetabletopisthereforedeterminedbythematerialassignedtotheFurniturecategoryinthe
ObjectStylesdialog(inthisexample,Walnut).

Byusingamaterialfamilyparameterandassigningthevalueof<ByCategory>toit,yougivetheusertheflexibility
ofusingthedefaultmaterialappliedtothefamilycategoryorchangingtheparametervaluetoamaterialoftheir
choice.

Version2.1 RMCSG57

2.12BESTPRACTICESFORADDINGCONNECTORSINREVITMEPFAMILIES

InRevitMEP,theconnectorconnectsthesinglefamilycomponentwithothercomponentstocreateMEP
systems.Withoutaconnector,anRMEfamilywouldjustbeastaticplaceholder.

InRevitMEP,thereare3kindsofconnectors:

ElectricalConnector
DuctConnector
PipeConnector

ADDINGACONNECTOR

1. Clickthetoolfortheconnectoryouwishtoadd(ElectricalConnector,DuctConnector,orPipe
Connector).
2. Clicktoplacetheconnectorinthedrawingarea.

RMEprovidestwowaystoplacetheconnector,placingitonafaceoronaworkplane.Ifyouselectthe
PlaceonFaceoption,theconnectorisautomaticallyaddedtothecenterofthefaceofthegeometryand
moveswiththeface.Ifthegeometryisdeleted,theconnectorisalsodeleted.

BESTPRACTICE:Placeconnectorsonafaceratherthanonaworkplane.

RMCSG58 Version2.1

SYSTEMTYPES

Thefollowingtableprovidesanoverviewoftheapplicationscenarioforeachsystemtype.

SystemType ApplicationScenario Example

HydronicSupply Familiesinclosedwatercirculationsystems Boiler,Chiller,
PipeConnector

HydronicReturn CoolingTower
Sanitary Plumbingfixtures Lavatories,
DomesticHotWater WaterClosets.
DomesticColdWater
FireProtectionWet Thethreesystemsarematchingthethree Sprinkler,
FireProtectionDry sprinklersystems,sprinklerwet,sprinklerdry, DryValve
FireProtectionPreAction sprinklerpreaction.
FireProtectionOther Otherfireprotectionsystemsexceptthethree Cabinet,Hose
above,suchasstandpipe Connection
Fitting PipeFittings Elbow,Tee
Global Familiesthatwillbeinmultiplesystems Pump,Valve
Other Familiesingas,refrigerant systems, Gasconnectorof
Placeholderforpipesystemsnotincluded Waterheater
Unsupported StromDrainage ,SanitaryVentilation
SupplyAir HVACAirdeliverysystems AirConditioner,
DuctConnector

ReturnAir DustCollector
ExhaustAir
OtherAir Placeholderforairsystemsnotincluded
Fitting DuctFittings Elbow,Tee
Global Familiesthatwillbeinmultiplesystems Fan
Unsupported FreshAir
Data Automaticallyormanuallycontrolthe DataOutlet
ElectricalConnector

transmitting,receiveorsendingofdata/voice
signals.
PowerBalanced Equipment,deviceorfixtureoperatesin Generator
PowerUnbalanced powersupply/distributionsystems. PanelBoard
Telephone Telecommunicationdevicesusedtotransmit Telephoneoutlet
andreceivesound.
Security Bearmedanddetectsecurity/accessproblem SmokeDetector
FireAlarm Alarminitiatingdevicesoperatetocontrol WaterFlow
alarmsignals Indicator
NurseCall Keycomponentinaddressingpatientcare CallPoint
needs.
Controls Normallyusedforremotecontrolinsome ControlValve
specialcircumstances
Communication Devicesincommunicationsysteminbuilding, Speaker
usedtotransmitting,receiveorsend
communicationsignals

Version2.1 RMCSG59

CONNECTORDIRECTION

Forduct/pipeconnectors,anarrow,perpendiculartothesurface,displays.Thedirectionthatthearrowispointing
isalsothedirectioninwhichtheconnectingduct/pipewillbedrawn.Asthepictureshows,verticalductcanbe
drawnfromanupconnectorinanairterminal.

NOTE:Thearrowdoesnotrepresenttheflowdirection.

PRIMARYCONNECTOR

Bydefault,thefirstconnectorineachdomainisassignedastheprimaryconnector.Inthefollowingimage,youcan
easilyidentifytheprimaryconnector(connector1)bythecrosssymbol.TheReassignPrimarytoolallowsyouto
reassigntheprimaryconnector,asrequired.

Theprimaryconnectorofpipeandductfittingsshouldbelocatedatcoordinates(1,0,0).Inthefollowingimage
oftheplanviewofaPTrap,connector1istheprimaryconnector.

RMCSG60 Version2.1

Forotherfamilies,thelocationoftheprimaryconnectorisnotimportant.

LINKINGCONNECTOR

Whentherearemorethanonepipe/ductconnectors,thereisachoiceforlinkingconnectors.

Linkedconnectorsonlyhaveaneffectwhenthesystemtypeissettoglobalforequipmentorfitting.
Linkingconnectorsonequipmentmakesitpossibletopropagateengineeringdata,allowingyoutouse
equipmentasaninlinecomponentinasystem.
Linkingconnectorsonfittingsshouldincludetheprimaryconnector.

Version2.1 RMCSG61

CONNECTORMAPPING

EditElementPropertiesfortheconnectortodefineparametersfortheconnector.

Forpartparameters,clickingabrowsebuttondisplaysadialogthatmakesiteasytomapconnectorparametersto
familyparameterswiththesameunits.Connectormappingmakestheconnectorparametricwiththefamily.

RMCSG62 Version2.1

CONNECTORDESCRIPTIONS

Inthefollowingexampleofcomplexequipment,itwouldbedifficulttodeterminethefunctionofeachconnector.

Tomakeiteasiertoidentifythefunctionofconnectorsinthefamily,addconnectordescriptions.These
descriptionsdisplayintheSelectConnectordialog.Inthefollowingimage,descriptionsareunderlinedinredfor
illustrationpurposes.

Version2.1 RMCSG63

SECTION3:
TESTINGGUIDELINES
ToensurethequalityofRevitfamilycontent,thoroughlytestfamiliesbeforeusingtheminproductionorsharing
themonAutodeskSeek.Testfamilieswiththeguidelinesinthissectionto:

verifythatnewfamilycontentmeetsAutodeskstandards
ensurefamilyparametricrelationships
ensureaconsistentuserexperience

Twosetsoftestingguidelinesareincluded:generalguidelinesandfamilyspecificguidelines:

Usethegeneralfamilytestingguidelinestotestallfamilies.
Usethefamilyspecifictestingguidelinestotestspecificcriteriaperfamilytype.

Inaddition,categoryspecifictestingguidelinesareavailableforsomefamilycategories.Thesedocumentscontain
specifictestingguidelinesthatyoushouldusewhenavailable.Beforetestingafamily,determinewhethera
categoryspecificdocumenthasbeenpublishedforthecategoryofthefamilythatyouaretesting.

RMCSG64 Version2.1

3.1GENERALFAMILYTESTINGGUIDELINES

Performgeneraltestingonafamilywhenitis:

openintheFamilyEditor
loadedintoaproject

Usethecriteriainthechecklistsbelowtotestfamiliesineachoftheaboveenvironments.
Whentestingfamiliesinprojects,itisstronglyrecommendedthatyou:

Testfamiliesinprojectscreatedwiththegenericmetricandimperialtestingtemplateprojectsthatwere
includedinthedownloadpackage.
Testfamiliesinprojectsthatmatchthedesignintentofthefamily.
Forexample,testawindowfamilythatisdesignedtobeplacedinalargecommercialbuildinginalarge
commercialproject.
ContentthatisdesignedtoworkinmorethanoneRevitdisciplinemustbetestedinallapplicable
disciplines.Forexample,foralightingfixture,testtheconnectorsinRevitMEP,andverifythatthefixture
castslightasexpectedwhenrenderinginRevitArchitecture.

TIP:Forlargecontentcreationprojects,itisrecommendedthatspotcheckingorrandomtestingof10%ofthe
contentbeperformedbyatesterwhoisnotthecontentcreator.

FAMILYEDITORTESTINGCRITERIA

R Testallfamilyparameterstoensurethatthegeometryflexes/adjustscorrectlywhenthefamily
parametersaremodified.

R Testallfamilytypeschangethetype,applyit,andinspectthegeometrytoverifythatthedimensions
andrelationshipsaremaintained.

R Inahostbasedfamily,verifythatthehostflexesasexpected.Changethehostthicknessandensurethat
thefamilygeometryadjustsappropriately.

R VerifythatthefamilypreviewimageisusingthePreviewview.

R Checkallviewstoensurethatthefamilydisplaysappropriatelyindifferentdetaillevelsandwhen
differentModelGraphicsstylesareapplied.

R Testconstraints:
o Testthehandlesontheedgeofthegeometryandmakesurethatallgeometryisconstrainedto
eitherareferenceplaneorareferenceline.
o Testthedimensionparametertomakesurethatthereferenceplaneorlineisbeingadjustedby
theparameterandnottheactualgeometry.

Version2.1 RMCSG65

PROJECTTESTINGCRITERIAFORREVITARCHITECTURE

R Usingatestprojectoroneofthetestingtemplateprojectsavailablefordownload,loadthefamilyina
projectenvironment,andcheckallviewsforanomalies.Ifthefamilyincludesatypecatalog,useittoload
thefamily.

R Inspectthefamilyappearanceinallviews(plan,reflectedceilingplan,elevation,Section,3D)at
alldetaillevels(Coarse,Medium,Fine).

R InspectthefamilyappearanceindifferentModelGraphicsStyles:Wireframe,HiddenLine,
Shading,andShadingwithEdges.

R Testallfamilytypeschangethetype,applyit,andinspectthegeometrytoverifythatthedimensions
andrelationshipsaremaintained.

R Createnewtypesandmodifyallparameters,checkingallviewsforanomalies.

R Modifyallmaterialassignmentstoverifythatmaterialsareassociatedtothegeometrycorrectly.
TIP:Tobetterinspectfamilygeometry,modifyallmaterialtypeparameterstoglass.Also,ifanyofthe
familygeometrydoesnotdisplayasglass,thenamaterialparameterisassignedincorrectly.

R Modifycategoryandsubcategorymaterialstoverifythefamilyisnotusingmaterialtypeparameters.

R Forhostedfamilies:

R Placehostedfamiliesintotheprovidedhostthicknessesandconfirmfamiliesworkinallhosts
appropriatetothefamiliesuse,includinginplacewallsandmasselements.

R Modifythehostthicknessby25%400%,andcheckforunconnectedgeometryand/orplan
representationsthatmaybedisconnectedfromthegeometry.

R Reinspectthefamilyappearanceinallviewstoensurethatthegeometrydisplaysasexpected.

R Dimensiontoallreferencesandsnapallreferencestowalls.

R Createatestrendering.

R Testthefollowingcommandsongeometrycreatedinthefamily:

R Copy/Paste

R Rotate

R Mirror

R VerifythatthefamilypreviewimageisusingthePreviewview.

R Testthefamilyinanactualproject,verifyitsperformance,andensurethattheprojectmatchesthe
designintentofthefamily.

RMCSG66 Version2.1

3.2FAMILYSPECIFICTESTINGGUIDELINES

Dependingonthetypeoffamilybeingtested,theremaybespecificcriteriatotestinadditiontothegeneral
testingthatshouldbeperformedonallfamilies.

Usethistabletodetermineifafamilyrequiresanyspecifictesting:

REVITFAMILYSPECIFICTESTING
FamilyType Example Test
FreelyPlaced Furniture,entourage Testinarelevantprojectcontext.

Forexample,placefurnitureorcaseworkelements
onafloorwithatexturetoensurethatthe
elementsmaskthefloor.

Hosted Window,door Ensurethatthefamilyinteractsproperlywitha
hostandadjuststodifferenthostthicknesses.

FaceBased Lightfixture Ensurethatthefamilyattachesproperlytofaces
anddoesntimproperlyembedin,orprojectaway
from,thefaceoftheobjecttowhichitisattached.

DetailComponent Detailcomponent Ensurethatthefamilysnapstoothergeometry
correctlyandthatitmasksanygeometryonwhich
itisplaced.

Version2.1 RMCSG67