Problem with window - arrays of nested families

[janunson]

Ok, this thing is driving me crazy.

I've got a gang of windows with mullion settings, etc. It works great, flexes great in the family editor, but when i load it into a project, i can get it to do all kinds of screwey things, just turning off the outer mullions, or changing the width after its loaded into a project breaks the thing, but it doesn't break in the family editor...

can anyone give me advice?
Thanks,

[roy.70844]

Ok, I've only got whispers and rumours at this point so I may be wrong, but...
I think the way constraints work is slightly different in 8.0, in fact it is more like 5.1.
In 5.1 I was taught to create my refplanes first, constrain these with dimensions and then add the geometry to the refplane framework. in 7.0 (i think) we were allowed to constrain geometry directly with dims. I think we have returned to the refplane controlled method, something to do with the order in which constraints are processed. Try adding more ref planes and locking the objects to these.
We had similar problems with the UK content in the upgrade from 7 to 8, and this is the rumour I heard.
Perhaps someone from the factory could shed light.

Roy

[aggockel50321]

I've never been able to array nested hosted family and not have it break down in a project.

There is a way to do it, though.

Create your window to be nested as an unhosted family
Load it into a window family template, then array it there.

Check this thread.

There's a mulled window there that you can look at for pointers on how to set it up.

[janunson]

That's what i've done. The breaking doesn't involve error messages or anything, just with the arrayed elements not constraining to the reference planes they're locked to. I tried locking alignment and that didn't work, so i switched to locking dimensions of 0... still, i can flex the model in family editor and everything looks great, but when it's in a project, the same parameter changes cause the arrayed elements to appear unevenly spaced, move vertically when no vertical distances were changed, etc.

I've been changing all the params in family editor and 'saving as' as a workaround for a current project... that's why i can't figure out the problem.. behavior is correct for me in family editor, but same changes in the properties dialog in a model after it's inserted.... kaboom.

(saving as, not making types in the family because there's just too many possible types to actually create all that are necessary.)

[aggockel50321]

That's what i've done. The breaking doesn't involve error messages or anything,

Your nested family that you call "_Standard Double Window - no opening" is a hosted family. The wall is it's host.

Recreate the objects in that family (frame, sash, glass, mullions, etc) in a non-hosted family template, ie, either the generic or specialty equipment template.

Then nest that family into your window family.

The array will behave & stay constrained then.

Hope this helps...

[janunson]

Ahhh... i get it...
that sucks.. i have to build the whole thing over again...

Was encountering the same problem building curtain wall door to match a standard door... no copy, no change family type, must start over... bummer.

It's almost as if it would be smarter to start EVERY family as a generic model and then embed it into other families so that i don't have to keep starting over eh?

[Doug]

I have been down this road ... see this thread
http://forums.augi.com/showthread.ph...0&page=1&pp=10

There seems to be an error or bug in Revit... so say the factory... suppose to be fix in the next major release.

Let me know if you can get it to work

Doug

[aggockel50321]

Doug,

I just tried both of the problem windows discussed above, and can confirm that you got correct information from the factory.