Adding rotation parameter to a truss family

[j.pilot]

I'm in the process of learning the ins and outs of Revit Structure right now, but i found that there was a great example for creating a truss family through Revit Building that i adopted and modified slightly for a wooden floor & roof truss.
I would like to apply my modified wooden truss to a pitched roof, the problem lies in that the truss family created is oriented vertically and i would like to create a parameter to rotate the truss profile about its neutral axis.
This action is done easily when using a beam, as you can rotate the section by accessing the properties menu for the member and inputting your desired rotation. I tried to follow how this parameter was set by accessing the beam family for editing, but to no avail.
the wooden roof truss is slightly more complex than, say dimensional lumber, and i'm curious if anyone has come accross this problem when attempting to apply a sectional rotation parameter to a family they've created??

[whittendesigns]

I haven't checked mine yet, but it wouldn't be something as simple as hitting your space bar would it? I know some of my families I rotate items using that principle.

[cphubb]

Jamie,

can you post an example of what you are trying to do? Do you want to rotate the truss around the z axis or turn it sideways? If your are trying to change the span direction use the rotate tool and rotate the beam.

[j.pilot]

Its not the span direction that i have a problem changing, its rotating the truss family about the z-axis as mentioned earlier. I had noticed that in some families, rotation about that axis was already set as a parameter. When i try to set that parameter to my family though, i run into problems with constraints. If there is an easier way to accomplish this, i'd sure like to know. My truss family is the same as the example of creating a truss family in the tutorials

[whittendesigns]

Well, I just loaded up one of my trusses and used the space bar to rotate it. I'll ask again, is it as simple as hitting the space bar to rotate your truss?

If not, I got my trusses from RevitCity. There's plenty there to download from

[j.pilot]

I understand that when you bring in a beam member or a truss member, that you can rotate the beam/truss 90 degrees about the Z-axis before placement by hitting the space bar, the problem for me though, is that i have parallel chord roof trusses on a pitched roof slope (2/12), and i would like to show the roof trusses bearing on their respective support beams properly. In order to do that, i need to rotate the trusses approx. 9.5 degrees for the bottom chords to be shown bearing correctly on its support beams. If there is a way to specify the amount of rotation on the member when hitting the space bar, then that would solve my problem, but i'm under the impression that you can only rotate 90 degrees, if i'm wrong on this, then please let me know!! thanks so far for interests and responses

[dbaldacchino]

Haven't had a hange to try this, but what if you nest the truss family into another beam family, connect the parameters and create a new rotation parameter for your nested truss?

[j.pilot]

Well, I just loaded up one of my trusses and used the space bar to rotate it. I'll ask again, is it as simple as hitting the space bar to rotate your truss?

If not, I got my trusses from RevitCity. There's plenty there to download from

just wondering, are you loading your trusses into your project as a detail component, in which case there is no problem adding rotation during/after placement? my roof truss is a structural family, and can only be placed into my project in plan view, and there is no way to rotate it from there. thats why i noticed with other structural components, there are rotational parameters, which i'm trying to incorporate into my truss family i created

[whittendesigns]

hehe, sorry. I get a little testy sometimes. I'm posting the truss I have. I got it from RevitCity. When I import it into my drawing it comes up under structural>component.

I think I'm getting a little confused about how you want it rotated. You say z-axis, but it sounds like you want the bottom chord sloping like a rafter slopes. I hope I'm not confusing anyone. I'm surely confusing myself

[j.pilot]

yeah, i'm sorry, i guess i wasn't very clear as to what i wanted to do with the roof truss, i'm completely new to this software, and it'll take a while for me to grasp all the jargin...but yes, what i want the truss to do is slope at the same pitch as the supporting beams, this way it will not only show accurately the structural layout for the architect to then apply sheathing & roofing material, but it will show how the trusses will bear in actuality

i'll take a look at the truss that was uploaded, thanks so far for being patient with me