instance family dimensions

[belyo]

i have created a series of casework families and made the basic width, depth, height dimensions instance parameters. on friday everything seemed to be working okay. i'd bring in a base cab, it would default to 4' wide and i could change the width and copy around.... today for some reason, all my casework is inserting at weird widths and depths... anyone know what is going on.. is there a way i can get an instance dimension parameter to always insert at a certain dim?

thanks,

B

[Justin Marchiel]

i would assume that the default dim in the family would be the default for insertion. the only thing i can think is that you are using the duplicate button which wuold copy the exact same parameters as the orginal.

Justin

[belyo]

thanks, but nah... i'm just going to "component"

i created a countertop family, base cab and upper cab... all with instance dims. i just did some more testing and, say i go to component.. find my countertop, insert, change the dims. - i go back to component, find my upper cab, insert... while i'm placing it, it's the default size... as soon as i click to place it, it resizes to the upper to the size of the coountertop i just placed... it does that for all my casework components... if i resize my upper, then go to place a tall storage, it'll resize to the size of the upper...

weird...

[Justin Marchiel]

weird. i have not experriened this with other families, and my casework has fixed dims (the way we do casework).

Hopefully someone else can add to this.

Justin

[belyo]

well, we're kind of going round and round with whether we want a bunch of families/types that you have to choose from, or very few that are parametrically/instancely changeable... it's far faster/easier for the few that have tried it this way, to layout and design - what has your experience been with having to flip through several sizes?

[Justin Marchiel]

well our system notes the size in the name so you if you wanted a base cabinet you would select a c97 which means c=under counter 9= 900mm wide 7 means type.

Once you understand the system and have used it some it becomes easy to select the things you need. all our familes have some coding that you would need to know (ie doors a7 is a type a door with a 6-3/4" psf) otherwise the names become very long and as you not hard to pick what you need.

I also start each family with a big word like DOOR - 3'x'7 A7. this helps in the sorting some what as well, especially when you get into componants and detail componants (ie PLUMB - Toilet, FURN - table, or DIV 6 - 2x4 etc.)

You will just have to find a system that works for you and your users. my is not necesarrily the best, but once you understand the code (which is also how it is documented) you can press thru fairly quicky. then once you see a schedule or a tag with the name (C97 for casework) you know exactly what the item is.

Justin