conceptual elements in project

[pat.walsh]

Is it possible to create a family that includes conceptual elements AND in place components?. I have created a site fence with 1" dowel pickets as extrusions. The top railings are compound curves so they were created as conceptual elements. I copied the pickets so there are 144 fence rails (I doubt this is a best practice). Is there a way to make the railings and pickets a family, or can I at least make the pickets all a family so there are not 144 fence rails in my project as generic models?

[damon.sidel]

Pat,
I'd create a picket family that had a height instance parameter. Then I'd create a family with those fat posts. Then I'd create a family and load in each of those families as well as the conceptual mass and put it all together. That way you only have three families, thus lightening the load on your project when you load the whole railing into your model. You'll still have 144 pickets and half-a-dozen fat posts, but by creating everything as nested families, your model will be a lot lighter.