Shared Parameters in Key Schedules (Have You Tried)

In Revit 2022 you can use shared parameters in a key schedule. This lets you quickly apply and change parameters on elements in your model.

What is a Key Schedule and why should I use Shared Parameters in it?

Key Schedules and Shared Parameters have been around since the early days of Revit. In Revit 2022 Key Schedules and Shared Parameters have been brought together to make both of them more powerful.

A Key Schedule allows you to build key "types" that are made up of groups of parameter values. Instead of assigning the parameters individually to each element, you can assign a key type defined in your key schedule. Once the key type is assigned to the element, all the parameter values making up the key type are assigned to the element at one time. With a key type applied, the parameters are changed using the key schedule. When a change is made in the key schedule, all elements assigned that key type will have the parameters changed.

For example, use a key schedule for elements like doors or rooms. Door hardware selections are unique to a specific door and how it is used. Instead of making family type for each individual door configuration, you could make a key schedule made up of all the door hardware configurations and assign the values to each door with a key schedule. The different finish selections for a room could also be applied to room elements in this way. These are just two examples; with some imagination you can think of other opportunities where key schedules can be used.

Prior to Revit 2022, key schedules were limited. They could not include shared parameters. In 2022, this limitation was removed. This makes key schedules far more flexible because now you can customize the information you include and control with the key schedule. If you have used shared parameters extensively in previous releases, you may not be using key schedules. It is worthwhile to look at them again and see how they can enhance your workflows.

Where do you find the tools?

To use this workflow, you need complete a number of steps:

Add Shared Parameters to a shared parameter file. This is where you create the parameters to hold the information you want to track. See Create Shared Parameter Files, Groups, and Parameters.
Add parameters to your project or families. The parameters are added to the project or families so they will appear on elements in your model file. In order to be used in a Key Schedule, the shared parameter must be added as an instance parameter. Type parameters are not supported. To add a shared parameter to the project see: Create shared Project Parameters. To add a shared parameter to a family see: Add Shared Parameters to Families.
Create the Key Schedule and assign values to the parameters. For additional information see Create a Key Schedule.
Apply the key to elements. For additional information see Apply a Key to an Element.

Review the following video to see an overview of how to use shared parameters in a key schedule.

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Example

In the video we saw an example of how a key schedule is used to assign hardware groups to doors. Each hardware group assign a number of parameter values to each door as it is assigned a hardware group. For our next example we will look at another scenario where a key schedule with shared parameters might be considered for a project. The example is a daycare building that uses different finish packages for each childcare room. The standard finish parameters found on room elements (Base Finish, Ceiling Finish, Wall Finish, etc.) are not adequate for the finish package information needed so finish information for the room will be added using shared parameters.

Create Shared Parameters

In the first step, the shared parameters are defined for the room finishes. Each is added to a shared parameter file. A shared parameter is used because the standard family parameters on room elements do not provided enough information for the way these rooms need to be finished. Shared parameters allow you to add the custom information required. The following shared parameters are created:

Border
Floor Tile
Laminate
Wall Tile
Accent Paint
Accent Tile

Each of these are created as a text type parameter. Each one will hold a letter/number code to describe the kind of finish used. They have been grouped in the shared parameter file under a heading "Room Accents" to keep the shared parameter file organized and make it easier to find specific parameters as the shared parameter file gets larger.

For more information on creating shared parameters and parameter groups see, Create Shared Parameter Files, Groups, and Parameters.

Add Shared Parameters to the Project

Now the shared parameters need to be added to the project and assigned to the Rooms category. This makes the parameter appear on the room elements in your model so you can populate the parameters with values.

Each shared parameter

is added to the Room category

in the project as an instance parameter

and set to group under Materials and Finishes

Note: Shared parameters must be added as Instance parameters to projects or families in order to be able to be used in a key schedule.

For more information on adding shared parameters to your project, see Create Shared Project Parameters.

Create Key Schedule/Set Parameter Values

With the parameters available in the project, they can be added as project parameters as we did above, or they could be directly added to a loadable family that is loaded into the project. You can now create the key schedule. When you create the key schedule, you are selecting the parameters you want to control/assign via the key type. In our example, we will make key types for each room finish package. All the "Room Accents" shared parameters will be added to the key schedule. We will also add the built in parameter of base finish. In this case we are using it for the finish of the room before the accents are added.

When created, the key schedule is completely blank. It is just a selection of parameters you want to include. You need to make a "key" for each key type. The key types with the finish packages for each room type are listed below. There are infant, toddler, and school age rooms of different colors. A data row is added for each unique finish package we will use.

Infant Red
Infant Yellow
School Age Blue
School Age Green
Toddler Blue
Toddler Green
Toddler Purple
Toddler Red
Toddler Yellow

In the key schedule, enter the values for each key type. When a key type is assigned to a room element the values from the key type will be assigned and control the parameters of the room.

For more information on creating a key schedule and assigning values, see Create a Key Schedule.

Apply Key Types to Rooms

The final step is to apply the key types to the rooms. Select a room element, or multiple elements, in the model and on the Properties Palette, use the pulldown under the Identity section of the Properties palette to set the room key type. The pulldown menu lists the key types defined in the previous step. As you set the key type, the parameters for room accents are assigned from the key schedule. The small "equal" sign to the right of the parameter value indicates the parameter value is controlled from the key schedule. If you later remove the key type from the room, the parameter values are retained, but can be individually controlled instead of being controlled from the key schedule.

Note: In this example, a color scheme based on the key type was created to provide a visual indication once a key type has been applied to a room.

For more information on applying a key to an element see, Apply a Key to an Element.