Video: Select a Family Template

Select a family template that contains the appropriate geometry and behavior to aid in creating your model.

This video demonstrates the following:

1. Understand why selecting an appropriate family template is important.
2. Create a new template family.
3. Select the correct category for a family.

Note: This video was recorded using Revit 2016. When using a newer software release, you may notice differences in functionality and user interface.

Transcript

When you create a family for use in your models, it is important to select the correct family template. The family template defines the category of the family, as well as family parameters and default settings. It will also contain geometry, reference planes, host elements, constraints, and materials or notes to help you create the family.

To create a new family, select New on the Recent Files page, or on the application menu, select NewFamily. The default family templates are named by category. Use the preview section of the dialog to get an indication of the content included in a template. For example, a column template includes multiple reference planes and constraints, while a door template includes geometry placed in a host wall with an opening. A generic model template contains only reference planes which define the origin of the family.

Each family template dictates how the family will be used in a model and how it will be documented. For example, there are 3 lighting fixture templates: Lighting Fixture Ceiling based, Lighting fixture wall based, and Lighting Fixture. How the lighting fixture is placed and where it is used will help you decide which template to use.

The category you select controls how the family is scheduled. For example, if you change a category of a window to a door, it will no longer show in the window schedule, but in the door schedule. It is not possible to make a change to the hosting behavior of a family after it has been created. Other examples are the profile families that define a specific use like a stair nosing or a rail profile. Different than the hosted or level-based templates, a line-based template would be used to repeat geometry attached to the length of a reference line in between 2 points. An adaptive family might have multiple selection points needed for placement.

Use the appropriate template when starting your family to make sure the family category and behavior match your needs.