System Family: Viewport

[Bobby_Harris]

Hello All,

I am having issues in creating a custom title for my view ports. Here are the steps that I have gone through and I hope that I am doing something wrong.

I have created a custom family from the template file M_View Title.rft. In that that family I have created a couple of parameters on how I would like the title to respond. For instance I would like to be able to hide a reference bubble when it is not needed. So for that I have created the yes/no parameters under graphics. I have also created a length parameter that controls the justification of the scale in the label. Along with the spacing between the end of the title and the reference bubble. When I load it into my project I cannot get the parameters to respond or find out how to actually add them to the project.

Is there a way to add parameters to the viewport title and if so how to I add them to the project?

Any help would be appreciated.

Bobby

[dhurtubise]

Not sure what you did wrong, can you psot thefamily please?

[Bobby_Harris]

As Requested

[Richard at AA]

First, make your parameters all type parameters. Second, make the various family types (Such as, No Bubble, No Scale, Title Only, etc.). Place your viewport and open its Edit/New dialog. At the top there is a family parameter called "Title" - this is where your custom family types are listed. Simply select from the list and rename as appropriate.

[Bobby_Harris]

Thank you for the reply Richard.

I do not think I understand you.

I understand that I can make different titles under the same family, some with the bubble and some without. However; I have created the LineUp parameter in the hopes that I can enter the distance within the project and not within the family editor in order to save me time and extra steps. I cannot seem to get that LineUp parameter to show up in the project and was wondering if there is a way to do this.

Bobby

[dhurtubise]

First create types in the family for example with and Without Bubble
Then create several types of View Title in the project
See the attached images

[Bobby_Harris]

Thank you dhurtubise for the reply.

Again I may not be making myself clear here. I am trying to find away to add the LineUp parameter into the project. I would like to be able to edit that parameter from within the project and instead of the family editor.

I am starting to think that is may not be possible. Thank you for all of the help so far.

Bobby

[dhurtubise]

You won't be able to modify the value of the length parameter from within the project. What you could do is create some types and create different types of viewport.
But i honeslty really suggest that you stic to Revit's way, bubble on the left. You will save a lot of time

[Richard at AA]

I think I understand now.

You will need to make a separate family with your "Line-Up" parameter that you can import into the new view title. This family must be flagged as "Shared" so it will appear independantly in the Project Family list. Once you import it, create another distance parameter and make it equal to the imported families existing "Line-Up" parameter. This would change all instances throughout the project. We use this method to place a North Arrow (in leiu of a number) for all plan views. The North Arrow has a Rotation parameter that we change and in all view-titles where it is visible, it updates to True North. One thing I do not think you can do is use the default view title parameters in any family other than a view title family. So any elements you wanted to "Line-up" (like Detail Number) would have to be done with Shared Parameters and may be even messier.

[Jmickledesign]

once you place that viewport into your project you also have to place the shared parameters into the project. Go to shared parameters under manage and assign them to your title block/view port which ever ends up working and then you should be able to manipulate what you need.

[Bobby_Harris]

Thanks for all of the help so far.

Now I am having a issue creating a "shared parameter" in my family. That option is greyed out, is there a way to turn it on?

Bobby

[twiceroadsfool]

You cannot place a Shared Parameter in a View Title Family, and you cannot do what you are trying to do (in spirit), in Revit.

Its been tried in many many fashions over the years: Nesting in other families, instance parameters, yadda yadda. You cant do it. Technically you sort of can, but heres the deal:

You cant access any parameters, instance/type/shared, of the View Title Families, after placing the view title. The View Title Type, ISNT the Family Type. It USES a Family Type.

So problem 1:

You would have to make every possible size as a View Title Type, then make every VIEWPORT type to correspond, and select the appropriate View Title Type for every imaginable size. This means a ton of extra overhead time and effort, all of which goes out the window if someone in your office tries to make a one-off viewport size.

Another +1 for do it Revits way, left justify everything and use the ****** extension Line.

Problem 2:

Even using the above prescribed methods: You cant lock the Labels (the view fields) to the moving Reference Line. You can basically only do it for Filled regions/Masking regions/Nested Detail Components. So after allllllll that work to get stuff to right justify on a manually handled effort..... You STILL cant get your scale over there.

Unless of course you try to DEFEAT the actual scale field of Revit by putting in a BS one, that is an annotation object that you can Justify to the reference line. Heres what that means, you ready?

Now, for every size VIEWPORT type you made, AND for every size View Title Family Type you made, youll need to create duplicates for every single possible scale you may use, and list them alllllllll in the project. It also means youve one hundred percent defeated the fact that Revit makes sure your actual view scale is what is displayed in the title, and you are back to manually coordinating all of that stuff on your own dime.

*******

Basically, what im saying is this: When youre going through the process of how to set up your office in Revit, ask the question "If Revit wont do it my way, what is Revit doing that will benefit me instead?" instead of asking "Why cant i get revit to draw it my way?"

Youll pull your hair out a lot less, and get way more ROI. :)

[nancy.mcclure]

Old post, but my issue is a continuation of this stream (or vent?). Shared parameters not possible to add to Viewport types. Frustrating.

Now here's the new Q: How is the default Viewport Type set? New office has customized their types, but modified what was the default to a 'no title' version, so now every viewport has to be CHANGED to show the title. As there are many variations now I don't want to rebuild them all, would just like to change the default. Anyone know where/how to do so?

[peterjegan]

I believe you can't actually change the default, but here is how to get the job done:

Find the Viewport type that is coming in as default and record its type properties, particularly the "Title" property. Find the Viewport type that you want to set as default and record its type properties.

Rename both Viewports, swapping the names. Set the type properties to match the new names.