Forums >> Revit Building >> Tips & Tricks >> A Super Flex Door Family?

cwsharp

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Joined: Sat, Jun 2, 2007
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I am wondering what everyone's experience has been (if any) with creating super flexible door families? We are getting ready to build our door models (why they aren't already in Revit I don't know) that show frames, windows, etc.).

It would seem to me that for a flush door, for example, you could create one that had a variable swing, a frame of varying depth, a vision glass of variable size and visability, and a threshold of variable depth and visibility. It would also seem that you would only need two flush door types... one where the frame wraps the wall and the other where the frame sits inside the opening (a masonry wall, primarily).

Does anyone know if you can use visibility to either cut or not cut a 3D solid?

Do you think that all schedulable values should be Instance Parameters or Type Parameters?

What are the advantages of including mutliple types in a family and/or creating a catalog? (Seems like finding which file had what you wanted and maintaining catalog text files could be a chore).

Suggestions or comments anyone?

TIA

Craig

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WWHub

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Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
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Compelexity creates problems .... the kiss principal will work much better for you.  Flexibility in size and swing are fine.

You will find that you really need several types of doors to be flexible enough to do different projects.  These families would be based principally on the door elevation.  Soild doors, half lite, full lite, bi-fold etc - just like what comes with the package.  Most of us don't bother to truely model the frame because that can be a scheduled / detailed element and you will find that when you add that level of complexity to your model, you will really suffer in speed and operation. 

The same goes for windows.    Don't model the complete frame with all of its trim/gaskets etc.  You want something that will simply render and approximate your element at the coarse setting.  Keep the details for the fine setting in detail views only.  

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cwsharp

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Joined: Sat, Jun 2, 2007
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Yes, I understand that... but essentially setting much up as a Type Parameter would achieve the same thing yet allow the quality of the product, the predictability of each view, etc. to be controlled by the design of the family, it would seem to me.

So, you can create a door family that has a threshold modeled in it, for example, as a Type Parameter and if you want an exterior flush door vs. an interior flush door you can sinply select it from the type.

What I'm thinking is that it's a simple check and fill in the blanks for the designers to use in creating their projects but that they don't have to get into editing families...

C#

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I'll stand by my previous answer but you can do as you wish.

As far as the threshold, that can be a yes/no instance rather than a type and you can give it its own object style so you can control its visibility in different plans.  Again though, this may be just a couple of lines acroos your opening rather than some parametric/fully rendered family element. 

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