Forums >> Revit Building >> Technical Support >> Window Family - Keeping an Arrow Symbol Centered within a Glass Panel

aaltoid

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I'm using Revit 2012.

I created a simple window family of a slider window, so one window panel behind the other. Both panels have a horizontal mullion centered along the glass panel, giving the look of a four-square window.

I was asked to indicate the slider direction, which I did by drawing an arrow using symbolic lines on a reference plane on the glass surface... I then created a model group for the symbolic lines which I called "arrow". 

I'm now trying to keep the (left/right oriented) arrow centered inside one of the four window panels (bottom sliding panel). I tried dimensioning to the arrow from the horizontal mullion and from the sill, and then hitting the EQ sign to show it centered. Which is fine, except once I test a new window size, Revit gives me the "need to remove constraints" message. Once I undo the constraints, the arrow no longer centers in the panel. 

So I guess the question I should ask is this: Can you dimension a symbolic line to stay centered without constraining dimensions/locations of actual architectural elements?

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Mr Spot

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Parametric Families 101:

Don't constrain elements to other geometry.  Always constrain to reference planes.  For open indicators I typically create a separate family as a detail component (as I will use the same symbol in many different families), then load it into the host family, in this case a window and dimension it from reference planes and constrain the symbol at its origin with an EQ dimension.

If you post the family I can show you what I mean, its difficult to explain.

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Chris.

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aaltoid

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I understand what you mean... and the bit about reference planes also makes sense.

The window family was built a little while back, and I suspect that the parameters make not be working ideally, so I hesitate to post it. I think I will just rebuild it... this time, keeping all of the reference planes in order, and then trying out the arrow (open indicators) a second time. 

Thanks for the help. I'll post a reply if my second try doesn't work.

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aaltoid

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I tried out Mr. Spot's methond on another window family and it worked just fine. But now I'm trying it in one particular window family and the dimension constraints seem to turn funky, as soon as I switch/test into another window size. Maybe something is turned/checked on in the parameters that shouldn't be done so.

There is a detail component in the window family called "KSR - open indicator arrow". I even added reference lines to the arrow which I planned on aligning to reference planes in the window family.

I think the window family might have to be rebuilt... I hoping I can avoid that.

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Mr Spot

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I've updated your arrow symbol.  In my original post I said you must constrain the arrow by its origin.  Please note the change I made to the centre left/right reference plane and set it to origin.  Then when I placed in your window family and flexed it correctly adjusted.

As a such issue the muntins have some constraint issues which are easily resolved.  But I'll leave those up to you.

HTH

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Chris.

Co-Founder | BIM Consultant | Software Designer  B. Arch)

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