Annotation symbol in Front view of family

[matt__w]

I've got a home-grown, face-based family and would like to put an annotation symbol on the front view (since this is what is seen in plan views). The annotation symbol needs to react to the scale AND it also must have text showing. Unfortunately, I'm not able to get this work in a plan view. Is this NOT possible in a front view of a family?

Or do I just bite the bullet and rebuild it so it's a non-hosted family?

Thanks in advance.
Matt

[cporter.207875]

I've got a home-grown, face-based family and would like to put an annotation symbol on the front view (since this is what is seen in plan views). The annotation symbol needs to react to the scale AND it also must have text showing. Unfortunately, I'm not able to get this work in a plan view. Is this NOT possible in a front view of a family?

Or do I just bite the bullet and rebuild it so it's a non-hosted family?

Thanks in advance.
Matt

For face based families, place the annotation symbol in the Floor Plan: Ref. Level view. This is the type of view in which you will display the symbol in your project.
The geometry in the family does not follow this rule. Model geometry is not restricted to the family's particular views, since the host face in the project can occur in any plane.

Basically, the face based family's views are directly and statically related to the project's views only when dealing with generic annotations. The geometry can rotate all around the reference.

If your family will be hosted to vertical faces in the project and you want the family to resemble this one-to-one in the family editor, try doing the following. Before modeling the geometry in the family editor, rotate the embedded host in the family template so that it is vertical instead of horizontal. I haven't tried this approach, but if it works then it should make it easier for you to see what you are doing.

[matt__w]

For face based families, place the annotation symbol in the Floor Plan: Ref. Level view. This is the type of view in which you will display the symbol in your project.
That's what I initially did, but it's not working. :\

I've attached a simple face-based family (2009). If you could, please tell me where I'm going wrong. This is starting to bug me.

Thanks!
Matt

[cporter.207875]

That's what I initially did, but it's not working. :\

I've attached a simple face-based family (2009). If you could, please tell me where I'm going wrong. This is starting to bug me.

Thanks!
Matt

First, you need to change it to the appropriate family category. Right now it is a Generic Model. Generic Models do not behave quite the same as other categories. Second, after you change it to be an electrical fixture, you will get a new parameter under the Categories and Parameters dialogue that will allow you to "Maintain Annotation Orientation." This parameter needs to be checked in order for the annnotation to remain visible in floor plan views, regardless of the plane of the geometry. Otherwise, if left as is, you would need to host the family to a horizontal face or horizontal work plane in the project, in order for the annotation to be visible.

[matt__w]

Ahhh... cool! Thanks for the help!

Matt

[JoelLondenberg]

One note to add, if you are working on a face based "Light Fixture", the option for maintain annotation orientation is not there. If this is required, you will have to use "Lighting Device" instead. See http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=85868&highlight=lighting+device for more info on "Lighting Devices"

[mjdanowski]

A similar thing goes for electrical equipment. I have all my disconnects, motor starters, VFCs and ECBs as electrical devices.

Why they can't add that stupid parameter to all families is beyond me.

[cporter.207875]

Why they can't add that stupid parameter to all families is beyond me.

I think the assumption is that the industry generally uses symbols to display devices like switches and receptacles, but we use to-scale representations for things like elec. equipment and lighting fixtures. Of course, this isn't all-inclusive (what standard is?) but it covers the crowd pretty well, I think.