Setup Families

The Equipment Data Tool for Revit will allow you to designate your equipment families with a subcategory and then manage a group of parameters for each. The Setup Families tool uses a configuration file created in the Create Configuration step plus associated Standardized Data Tool database and shared parameter file to add subcategory and focused parameter data to a group of RFA files.

Setup Families lets a user select a single subcategory, and any number of RFA files. It will then add the selected subcategory parameter and values, plus any associated parameters to each RFA. For a different subcategory, the Setup Families tool needs to be run again.

Setup Step 1 has four primary sections:

1. Summary of the currently selected configuration.
2. Start from scratch will close the Setup Families tool and open the Create Configuration tool. It is required that a configuration file be created to run Setup Families.
3. Select either a local or Public Library configuration file.
4. Navigation and Action buttons are context sensitive throughout the tool.

Step 2 identifies RFA files to associate with a single subcategory.

1. Add will open a dialog box to select RFA files.
2. The list of selected RFA files can be reviewed here. Individual RFA files can be removed by clicking "X" at the end of the row.

In Step 3, select the subcategory for the RFA files selected in the previous step. Only a single subcategory can be selected per run. The list of subcategories is generated from the Standardized Data Tool database identified in the Create Configuration tool. It will populate in the parameter from the same tool.

Step 4 is the final step and adjustments can be made to the parameter values that are going to be created. Each combination of RFA file, types in that file, and each parameter associated with the identified subcategory is listed here. If a default value was already identified, it will be here. Those values can be individually modified if desired, either manually or by pulling from the associated Standardized Data Tool database.

1. If both the Standardized Data Tool Number and Description are used, this character is used to concatenate the two values.
2. The value to fill in the parameter when created. Manual input in this field is allowed.
3. To use the Standardized Data Tool value, click the ellipsis button, check one of the options identifying if the value should include the Number and/or Description, then click "Choose value from Standardized Data Tool data". This will open the database and allow the desired value to be selected. It will then be copied to Default Value field.
4. Finish and Close will close the Setup Families tool and then have Revit open each RFA file and make the configured modifications. If the parameter already exists in the RFA, the value will be overwritten with the one configured.

For more information, sample files, and downloads, visit the Equipment Data Tool for Revit page on the Autodesk Interoperability Tools website.