Everyone knows the initial excitement, but also the pain, of creating his first window. The quality progresses, but so do time constraints. There's simply 'not enough time' to create top-notch windows for semi-repetitive projects. Even if there was, you'd still like to make better windows in less time, without losing control of how they look and act.

This will not be a specific howto, because windows are created differently everywhere. I'll just give a few basic pointers.

Most windows and doors will be square. The default window template has a hole in a wall. Now add a reference plane and a parameter to control the offset from the outside of the wall. Name it, because this is going to be a work plane.

Now create line-based families, one for every type of profile you'll be using. Load them into the project. Use the reference plane you created as the work plane. Draw away, using the line-based families, as if you were drawing a floor plan.Constrain, use parameters, et cetera. Join the mullions together (this WILL go wrong if the profile contains multiple levels of detail; it will show only one profile no matter what).

Fillings like door panels, glass, et cetera are line-based families with an instance height parameter, or generic models with instance height and width parameters. You get to choose.

If you want to have more control, add parameters to the loaded profiles and link them to your window parameters. One parameter controls all other for your loaded profiles. Add parameters where you see fit.

Voila, you created a window template that, with some work, will enable you to make consistent windows that will look and act right. No two windows will have different conventions, and trickier things like plan swings will act like you want them to (without the trouble of drawing and adjusting them over and over again).

Not sure about something? Comment/ask/PM.