Defining line length in a generic annotation family

[psuba344467]

I have been trying to make a fake section cut for the times when I want to show devices on a wall as a typical. I have the head and the tail of the section cut coming out correctly with no problem. However, I want to be able to put a connecting line between them that I can stretch to be as long or short as need be for the application.

The problem is that Revit only lets me define the distance between 2 parallel lines, but not the distance between the 2 ends of a single line. I really hate drawing a square then making 3 out of the 4 sides invisible to accomplish this. So, does anyone know how to do this in a cleaner way? It have been messing with this on and off today and yesterday without finding anything online or via trial and error.

[Alfredo Medina]

Welcome to the forum.
Can you post what you have done so far?

[Dimitri Harvalias]

You can use a reference line in the family and then snap your length parameter to the ends of the ref line. Draw the connecting line using the 'pick' option so it is associated with the ref line.
Can you not accomplish what you want without the fake section family by using the 'reference other view' option when you add your section? (or am I misunderstanding what you're after?)

[Joshua Kohl]

I assume your trying to make an annotation family.

With what I know (someone please correct my if I'm wrong) an annotation symbol, since you can not place new or copy the existing reference planes in them they can not be stretched per say with shape handles.

You could put a parameter from one end of the line to the other and assign it a length parameter. The only thing with that is since it's an annotation symbol and it scales with the view automatically the "Length" parameter would need to be inputed as paper units not model units and you still couldn't "stretch" it, the parameter would be changed from the Properties Palette.

I would upload a sample but for some reason either on my end or AUGI's it giving me problems uploading.

[psuba344467]

I have attached the very rough family I started cobbling together. I usually clean up the graphics after I know the parameters all work correctly.

I can use the "reference other view" option if we were consistent from job to job, but the firm I work for is relatively new with Revit. Most of the standards haven't been established and are in transition (also, the different departments don't always agree on symbology even now). Everything I am creating right now is being done in Revit 2011 because it is the lowest version we are currently using, and it is easier to upgrade while being impossible to downgrade.

The lack of reference planes in annotation families is the sticking point for me. Although I have been using the program for 4 years, I never had to make new families until now. So, I will probably be popping on and off the forum as I come across issues that can't be resolved via Google searches.

[LP Design]

You were just missing the alignment locking. I have attached the revised family. All I did was delete some superfluous reference lines, alignment locked the detail lines, then re-labeled the dimension with the parameter you had already created.

Hope this helps,
-LP

[tedg]

I have been trying to make a fake section cut for the times when I want to show devices on a wall as a typical.

I'm sure there's a good reason you wanted to create the fake section cut marker, and I didn't look at what you created.

But I found a way in REVIT to do what you described without having to create a section marker from scratch:
When cutting your section you can "Reference Another View" and it places a dummy section marker referencing the view you chose.
I use this all the time with typical sections and similar sections I don't want to re-detail. Also great when you bring in AutoCAD details in a drafting view and place them on a sheet.

BTW, found this out here in AUGI, changed my life.