Cannot place family type

[jthompson.70974]

I'm trying to edit a family from outside my document and then place it over the existing family. But when i try, it says "cannot place"...no other explanation. Is there another way to do this?

[Wes Macaulay]

James, try swapping the existing family with a simple placeholder: for instance, you've got a complex window and you've updated it. In the project, swap the complex window with a basic window family. Load and redefine the complex window. Go back to the placeholder window and swap it for the redefined window.

It would seem the redefinition of a family in the Revit project database doesn't always pan out, so it is necessary to do this sometimes. Worst-case scenario is having to swap all the complex families for simple ones, purge the complex one, reload it, then swap the simple families for the new complex ones.

[aaronrumple]

What type of family? You rea trying to put a door on top of a door for instance? Is it a hosted family?