HELP! How can I tag the suspension length of my pendant fixtures?

[lindsayb901397]

I have spent hours upon hours trying to figure out how to use shared parameters to create a tag that indicates the suspension lengths of the pendant fixtures in my model. I have not figured it out, and I don't know where else to look.

Can someone please give me step-by-step instructions that might help me solve this problem?? Yes, I know I can just use text and manually type in the information next to each light fixture, but that will get so monotonous and might become a huge inconvenience as I expect for the lengths to be adjusted a few times before my team and I finalize our design & documentation. I want my tags to automatically update as suspension lengths are adjusted--I do NOT want to have to click on each of my hundred+ fixtures and create each one's annotation manually.

Any help will be much appreciated... Please respond ASAP as this issue is pertinent to my progress!

[contact.andrewk968454]

First off, are your light pendants parametric so that they can adjust in suspension length?

[lindsayb901397]

Yes, they are. And I have no problem adjusting the suspension lengths themselves-- I just can't seem to figure out how to create a smart annotation that reflects that length.

[beaker]

Hi Lindsay

if you create a shared parameter it can be done.

eg:

great a shared parameter for (pendant length) as a length,
tip: or keep the naming generic for use in other families.

load the shared parameter into your light family, and use that to drive the length parameter in you family.
(or you can load the shared parameter, and in the formula = (parameter name) of the length parameter you are currently using in you lighting family.

create an annotation tag family, and load your same shared parameter into the label.
(i used a generic anno for use with many familys,)

load both into your project, and you should be able to tag the fitting, and displays the length.
works for all sorts of stuff.

i hope that makes some sense, have upload a rough test, it worked here so hopefully will be enough for you to disect.
let us know how you go.

[lindsayb901397]

I am unable to open your files--I have Revit 2011. Could you possibly save them as 2011 and repost them?? I think analyzing them will help.

Thank you for taking the time to respond--I really appreciate it!

[lindsayb901397]

I think that what I'm not quite understanding is, if my fixtures already have this property called "SuspensionLength" (which in my fixture properties show up under "constraints"), and if changing the value of this property successfully adjusts the suspension length of my fixtures, why is it that I have to create a shared parameter?? I feel like there must be some way to create an annotation that simply reflects this value.

It may help you understand where I'm at if I tell you what I've tried and where I'm apparently not doing something right.

I've followed step-by-step instructions and created a shared parameter called "Suspension Length" in a parameter group that I called "SL." The parameter Properties are as follows:

Name: Suspension Length
Discipline: Common
Type of Parameter: Length

This parameter shows up in my "Shared Parameters" dialogue box, as well as under the properties of my light fixtures. This makes me think I did something right.

However, it still appears to me that the parmeter I created doesn't actually serve a function, as typing a value into the fixture properties does nothing, and from beginning to end of its creation, I saw no property or option that makes the parameter relate to the actual suspension length of my fixtures. I thought you solved this for me by telling me "in the formula = (parameter name) of the length parameter you are currently using in you lighting family," as it seems that this would connect the shared parameter I created and the actual suspension length property that already exists in my fixtures. But now I'm confused again because I've tried entering "=SuspensionLength" and "=(SuspensionLength)" into the text box, and I get a message saying "The following string is not recognized" SuspensionLength. Formulas cannot refer to other parameters."

Am I missing something??

[beaker]

No problem, have remade in 2011.

ammendment from my description above, the tag family is a multi catagory tag, (not a generic annotation) to allow the shared parameter label

in the example, i have used the shared parameter for the family length adjustment parameter in the lighting family, as well as in the label.

if you post up your pendant family, so i can see how you made it, should be easy enough to create the shared param. to suit

[lindsayb901397]

Thank you.

You'll find one of my light fixtures attached. I didn't create the fixture from scratch--It was created by Focal Point Lighting, and I changed a few things about its appearance. I'm also attaching the tag I tried to make, which seems to link back to the SuspensionLength parameter that I created, but again, that parameter doesn't seem to relate to the "SuspensionLength" property under Constraints. (Does that make sense? You'll see two "SuspensionLength"s under the fixture's properties--one that actually controls the suspension length, and the one I tried to create as a shared parameter which doesn't seem to function at all.)

[beaker]

i wasn't able to open the lighting family.
keep getting error message (Attempt to access light linear flourescent.rfa past its length)
are you able to purge, and remove all but one family type and repost it?

your tag family looks correct tho. so step 1 complete.

in order for the tag to display the info you want, the family now needs to have the same shared parameter loaded (not just the same named parameter)

step 2. load the shared parameter into your lighting fitting (i think you said you have done this)

step 3. in the formula part of the shared parameter.. type the name of the parameter that is currently controlling the suspension length (it may help if these are named differently)

the shared parameter should now grey out, and display the same length as the actual parameter driving your suspension length. so what you have created is parameter that the tag (and schedules) will recognise in the project, and display accordingly

step 4, load both the light and tag families into your project.

step 5. from the annotate ribbon, chose multicatagory tag, and tag your light fittings.

hopefully now, your tag will display the suspension length.