Revit 2010 Can you Tag groups/Window Types

[ablaydon]

I am oporating on Revit 2010 and in my building model, I am using Pella Architect Series window components (units) in my building model. These Units are placed together to form my window types which my consist from a pairing of 2 to 6 units (please see attached PDF).

For ease of duplication and global changes, the pella window units are grouped together to create a grouped window type which is copied from room to room.

My question, can I Tag a group? I have not been able to figure out how as of yet. Grouping seems to be the best and most efficient way to deploy these window types throughout my model. The project as a whole only has 10 window types in this fashion. When I attempt to tag a window type, the tag associates itself with one of the individual window Types.

I do not want to create new families for each window type as I want to maintain the control and parameters embodied in the Pella window components.

Does anyone have any suggestion? Let me thank you in advance for any information and help.

[cliff collins]

You can not tag groups. You can tag individual families which are contained in groups.

However, you might try this instead:
Create new "nested families"--and make sure that the individual window familes are "shared" under their Type parameters before "nesting" into an overall family.

Start by creating a new family, using the window family template. Save-as and create a new "nested window family". Then, open each individual window family and make sure they have shared parameters. Then load in the individual window familes into the new nested window family. You can make Types that have only certain window combinations visible within the nested window family. This offers a lot of flexibility once loaded into your project.

As a family, it will be a bit more stable when copied multiple times, mirrored, etc. than Groups would.

When you load the nested window family into your project you will be able to tag them individually with window tags and schedule them.

cheers..........

[ablaydon]

Cliff, that sounds rather intriguing, I haven't thought of that... I will try and let you know of the results.

[ablaydon]

Cliff, I am having trouble understanding the ins and outs of nesting window families... is there a good tutorial you could refer me to on this topic? any help would be much appreciated.

[cliff collins]

Look under Help>Families Guide.

There is a nested window family example there.

Not sure how far you can take the nested family idea with visibility settings,
but tagging and scheduling should be a snap.

cheers......

[ablaydon]

Cliff, you are amazing... I have a copy of the book "Mastering Revit Architecture 2010" and between your suggestion and the explanation of Nested Families in the book I am on track... I was able to export (save) the window unit types I had created in my project file, as new revit families and then load thesse families into the new "nested window family" so that all of the window unit "types" i had created, came with. Now it's just a matter of creating nested family files tiled Window 1, Window 2, etc... building them with the units type sizes I had already defined in the project, and then loading the new nested families into my project. They only tag once, and I can dimension the centerpoints of the shared mullions just like I had on my example PDF... it's amazing...

If you were here i'd buy ya a beer..,. thanks again Cliff, you are a life saver.

[cliff collins]

Excellent!

Glad to be of help.

Nested Families are very powerful, but hard to get a grasp on, with shared parameters,
formulas for driving dimensions, etc.

Just think of the possibilities this offers for other families as well..........

cheers