Revit 2009, generic model template I'd like to thank anyone who takes the time to look at this problem in detail; I think it highlights a shortcoming with revit's array command. I'll try to be concise in my explanation. I fully expect this problem to stump anyone who looks at it including both Mr. Spot & Typhoon. I'm trying to make a flexible ships ladder. The parameters I really care about flexing are the width and height while the max tread spacing would be a bonus but not too important. The problem I encounter is when it comes to arraying the treads; everything works up to that point. I'll post 3 files. SHIPSLADDER-rvtcty-before: This file is to the point just prior to arraying the bottom tread. Everything works fine; it flexes in width and the spacing flexes based on a formula to relate to the height. The tread was made in side view with the workplane set to "STRINGER_INSIDE LEFT" and the Extrusion End in the Constraints group in the Element Properties dialog box is set to associate with the parameter "TREAD_WIDTH". I control the tread this way because aligning and locking the ends of the extrusion didn't flex well. SHIPSLADDER-rvtcty-after-2: This file is just after I array the bottom tread along the stringer. Something to note here is that the "TREAD_WIDTH" parameter flexes funny; I'll explain: I change the value of the width parameter, hit apply, the model updates and looks like it didn't work, I hit OK and the treads then adjust to proper alignment and works fine. If you skip hitting apply and go straight to ok, they stay in the misaligned locations shown by the model. So, flexing the width works as long as I hit apply then ok but not if I just hit ok after changing the value. I have no idea why that would matter but it apparently does. Another problem here is that I cannot lock the treads the way I need to in order for the spacing to work properly and for them to follow the stringer. The top stepping part of the bottom tread needs to align to a reference plane named "BOTTOM TREAD_PLATE TOP" and the top stepping part of the top tread needs to align to a reference plane named "TOP TREAD_PLATE TOP" while the front most face of all the treads need to align with the diagonal reference plane named "STRINGER_TOP". I can't lock the first and last elements of the array to these flexing locations. Also note that the array command has somehow un-associated the tread's work plane. Even if you re-associate it, revit will re-un-associate it when you try to flex it again. SHIPSLADDER-rvtcty-after-formula: This file is just after I change the value of the array number to a parameter named "TREAD_NUMBER OF" which is controlled by a formula to achieve consistent and maximum spacing of the treads. The formula is not the problem because simply changing the number value of the array manually to any number besides 2 produces the same results. I've posted it with the formula because that's what I would like this family to have. Well, now nothing works. I can't lock the first and last treads and the width and this family just doesn't flex at all anymore. That's it for my explanation. I hope I'm just missing something in my methods but I fear that the promlem is in revit's array command functioning. It's not the end of the world, it's just a ships ladder but this should just work; software shouldn't limit our creations. Like I said earlier, I just want the end user to be able to enter a height and width and that's it. The max spacing would be a bonus but if it's fixed at 1'-0" as the max, that's fine too. This one's a real challenge. Good luck and thanks in advance for your effort. Dan
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66378_SHIPSLADDER-rvtcty-before.rfa