The complexity of the content that can be created in the family editor requires a robust testing plan to identify issues before the content is used in actual projects.
The following general guidelines will help you improve the quality of your content. Additional testing may be required for specific family types.
In the Family Editor
- Test all family parameters to ensure that the geometry flexes/adjusts correctly when the family parameters are modified.
Important: Constraints between geometry in the family will behave unpredictably when you adjust parameters. To make the family reliable, be sure to constrain geometry to levels, reference planes or reference lines.
- Test all family types - change the type, apply it, and inspect the geometry to verify that the dimensions and relationships are maintained.
- In a host-based family, verify that the host flexes as expected. Change the host thickness and ensure that the family geometry adjusts appropriately.
- Verify that the family preview image is using the Preview view.
- Check all views to ensure that the family displays appropriately in different detail levels and when different Model Graphics styles are applied.
- Test constraints:
- Test the shape handles on the edge of the geometry to make sure that all geometry is constrained to either a reference plane or a reference line.
- Test the dimension parameter to make sure that the reference plane or line is being adjusted by the parameter and not the actual geometry.
In the Project Environment
- Using a test project, load the family in a project environment and check all views for any issues. (If the family includes a type catalog, use it to load the family.)
- Inspect the family appearance in all views (plan, reflected ceiling plan, elevation, section, 3D) at all detail levels (Coarse, Medium, Fine).
- Inspect the familly appearance in different Model Graphics Styles: Wireframe, Hidden Line, Shaded, Consistent Colors, and Realistic.
- Test all family types - change the type, apply it, and inspect the geometry to verify that the dimensions and relationships are maintained.
- Create new types and modify all parameters, checking all views for issues.
- Modify all material assignments to verify that materials are associated with the geometry correctly.
Tip: To better inspect family geometry, change all material type parameters to glass. If any of the family geometry does not display as glass, then a material parameter is assigned incorrectly.
- Modify category and subcategory materials to verify the family is not using material type parameters.
- For hosted families:
- Place hosted families into the provided host thicknesses and confirm families work in all hosts appropriate to the family's use, including in-place walls and mass elements.
- Modify the host thicknesses by 25% - 400%, and check for unconnected geometry and/or plan representations that may be disconnected from the geometry.
- Re-inspect the family appearance in all views to ensure that the geometry displays as expected.
- Dimension to all references and snap all references to walls.
- Create a test rendering.
- Test the following commands on geometry created in the family:
- Copy/Paste
- Rotate
- Mirror
- Verify that the family preview image is using the Preview view.
- Test the family in an actual project, verify its performance, and ensure that the project matches the design intent of the family.
- Create a schedule to verify that the family schedules as expected.
Family-specific testing
| Family Type | Examples | Test |
|---|---|---|
| Freely-placed | Furniture, entourage | Test in a relevant project context.
For example, place furniture or casework elements on a floor with a texture to ensure that the elements mask the floor. |
| Hosted | Window, door | Ensure that the family interacts properly with a host and adjusts to different host thicknesses. |
| Face-based | Light fixture | Ensure that the family attaches properly to faces and doesn't improperly embed in, or project away from, the face of the object to which it is attached. |
| Detail component | Detail component | Ensure that the familiy snaps to other geometry correctly and that it masks any geometry on which it is placed. |