Formula Issues

[jdperry80]

I am trying to create a formula using the "Start Reaction - Total" parameter and I am getting an error because the parameter name has a "-" sign in it. Unfortunately, Autodesk created this parameter and third party software vendors use this parameter. So I cannot rename it. Any ideas on how to make a formula work with it? From what I read, it may not be possible since Autodesk advises against using mathmatical symbols in parameter names, but they created the parameter. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[kmarsh]

Hi Jason,

I'm looking into this but I haven't had any success either. I'll let you know what i find out from the developer.

Thanks,
-Ken

[Dimitri Harvalias]

Can you create a 'proxy' parameter and assign it to a formula for the Start Reaction - Total parameter? You can then use your proxy parameter in the formula for the calculation.
I've tested this in principal since I don't know where that particular parameter is present.

[kmarsh]

Hi Dimitri,

I was thinking something along the same lines but then couldn't figure out how to get the value that's in "Start Reaction - Total" into the proxy. (needs a formula) In theory you could do this with the API. I believe that we added the "Start Reaction - Total" parameter as a holder for analysis partners to store that information for use in connection design or to tag on plans for the fabricator to use in connection design (north American typical workflow). I think, ultimately the thing to do would be to remove the minus sign form the paramter name but there are a lot of people potentially using that parameter to store returned information from analysis.

I was wondering if putting the parameter name in quotes would work but Revit doesn't seem to like that either.

[Dimitri Harvalias]

So the reason I couldn't find it is because it's not visible ;)
Is this parameter only available at the system level or is it visible in some family templates?
What are you doing up this late Ken? (other than trying to solve Revit problems)

[kmarsh]

I'm actually on the other side of the world so just about to start thinking about dinner.

I'm starting to question my sanity though, I thought for sure this parameter was added by analysis software as a shared parameter on update from analysis. I cannot seem to find it either now that I'm looking. (even after running a Robot analysis) I want to say I remember sitting in the meeting where we decided to add it.

Jason, where did you find this parameter? (and which version of Revit are you using and what are you using for analysis?) Is the parameter there in the family before you run analysis?

Thanks,
Ken

[jdperry80]

Ken,

It is a shared parameter created by Autodesk. On my Windows 7 x64 machine, it is located in C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RST 2012\Libraries\US Imperial\Annotations\Structural\Structural Framing Tag-w-Reaction Parameters.txt. My understanding is that the 3rd party programs (e.g. RAM, RISA, ETABS) will add that parameter to the family when the model transfers occur.

Thanks for looking into this. If you can figure it out, it will really help me with a couple of issues.

Thanks,
Jason