Subcategory for detail components?

[stephanschneller]

Hi,

Is it possible to specify a subcategory for a detail component?

I have setup a baseplate (generic model) and nested a detail component (bolts) which I would like to put in a subcategory in order to switch them off/ on.

Setting up the subcategory is not a problem, changing the baseplate (extrusion) to this subcategory is fine but I cant figure out how to apply the subcategory for the bolts?

Any ideas?

Regards.

Stephan

[rkitect]

You will need to do set the subcategories up in the bolt detail component family and reload it into the base plate family.

The other option is setting up an On/Off (Yes/No) parameter to toggle the detail components on and off which, based on what you are saying may be the better option.

[stephanschneller]

Rkitect,

Thanks for your reply, both options work.

The (Yes/ No) parameter option seems to work better as the 'subcategory option' leaves a gap were the botls used to be when switched off.

The only disadvantage with the 'yes/ no' option is that it's 'global' meaning you cant adjusted this per view.

Regards,

Stephan

[davidcobi]

I don't have Revit in front of me but, if you want the same instance to display differently in two views you could try setting the visibility of the bolts off at medium and coarse detail level but on in fine detail level. Then you go to your views and set the detail level accordingly in the VG settings.

We use detail level on a number of families to control visibility of the same instance in different views. The only drawback is that VG will set detail level for all families in the same category. We could use a detail level option in the view-specific element graphics overrides so we can override individual elements in each view.

[stephanschneller]

Dduarte,

Thanks for your replay that helps a lot... Im almost there with my 'perfect' family'...there is just one more thing that Im struggling with.

If I create a section in the project through the baseplate family (host family) with the nested bolt family the bolts appear as they should.

But if I create the section infront of the baseplate (effectively being an elevation) the bolts (nested detail items) dont show up...any idea why?

Regards,

Stephan

[cliff collins]

Make sure the nested bolt family is shared.

cheers.......

[stephanschneller]

Hi Cliff,

How would making the bolt family a 'shared' family make a difference to the visibililty?

Anyway I've changed it to shared and tried to load it into the baseplate family but Revit then comes up with a message:

'While loading family 'CR-Bolts_Elevation_shared': Shared detail components cannot be used in 3d model families.'

hmm..... as I said the funny thing is the bolts appear if I create the section through the host family....?

Regards,

Stephan

[rkitect]

It shows up in section because nested detail components only show up when the family they are nested in is cut.

In order for the bolts to show up in the base plate you will need to create symbolic projection lines in the base plate family itself. Placing these on "Bolt" subcategories in the family will allow you to turn them off per view.

The error message you are getting after making them shared is due to the fact that the family is already loaded into the project as non shared. You will first need to delete the family from, or rename the non shared version in the project and then reload the shared version.