Can't edit Revit family template (.rft) file ?

[scottwadd345906]

Is there a way to do this?

I want to edit the .rft files in the library to contain our standard office object styles (i.e. giving the detail component .rft a lineweight 1 through 9 instead of Thin, Medium, and Heavy).

Thanks!

[kathy71046]

I'm pretty sure you can open as a family from the original template, save it as a family after you modify it, then rename it ti an rft.

[scottwadd345906]

Ah that's it! Thanks.

[davidcobi]

I'm pretty sure you can open as a family from the original template, save it as a family after you modify it, then rename it ti an rft.

I typically rename the rft to rfa FIRST, make the changes I want, save the rfa... then rename the rfa to rft. I remember trying Katika's method and had trouble deleting elements later.

[kathy71046]

heh, I was just repeating something I read on here ages ago

The only one I changed I think was a generic annotation, mostly cause I got sick of changing the default font name and size.

It is possible that the template loses something when creating the family, I'll have to investigate that when I get time, unless of course the upcoming release actually allows for template saving.

[d.stairmand]

Kathy
This is a Revit 2009 Bug! in 2008 - you could open up the Template & then do a Saveas ontop of itself - rft was on the Drop down list of the Saveas dialog box. In 2009 the factory removed this option - Who knows why is anybodies guess. Hopefully they have restored it in 2010 as it is a real pain to have to do it manually in Windows Explorer!

[markusb]

Just tried doing this in Reft 2010, and you you still cannot open an .rft file. I did the method explained here, but when added the .rft on the file in the windows explorer it did not modify the file type, so I cannot create a family from the modified template. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

[twiceroadsfool]

You probably have Windows Explorer set to not show File Extensions, so you are adding the .rft to the file name. Go in your settings for Windows explorer (Tools > Folder Options > View) and UNCHECK the box for "Hide common file type extensions."

This assumes you have permission to touch, lol...

[TJP1979]

Revit 2011, still have to follow this procedure. Anyone know if 2012 let's you make your own family templates WITHOUT this obnoxious workaround?

[Avatart]

Revit 2012, obnoxious workaround still in force...