Workflow - Creating a Loadable Family

Depending on the complexity of the family, the creation process can be time-consuming. If you can identify a family that is similar to the one you want to create, you can save time and effort by copying, renaming, and modifying the family to create the new family.

For best results when creating a family, use the following workflow.

1. Before beginning family creation, plan your family. Identify requirements regarding family sizes, how the family displays in different views, whether a host is required, the detail level to be modeled, and the origin of the family

2. Create a new family file with the appropriate family template.

3. Define subcategories for the family to help control the visibility of the family geometry.

4. Create the family skeleton, or framework:

- Define the origin (the insertion point) of the family.

- Lay out reference planes and reference lines to aid in sketching component geometry.

- Add dimensions to specify parametric relationships.

- Label dimensions to create type or instance parameters or 2D representation.

- Test, or flex, the skeleton.

5. Define family type variations by specifying different parameters.

6. Add a single level of geometry in solids and voids, and constrain the geometry to reference planes.

7. Flex the new model (types and hosts) to verify correct component behavior.

8. Repeat previous steps until the family geometry is complete.

9. Specify 2D and 3D geometry display characteristics with subcategory and entity visibility settings.

10. Save the newly defined family, and then load it into a project for testing.

11. For large families that include many types, create a type catalog.


Source: Autodesk site

Roombook Areabook Extension for Autodesk Revit 2013 and Autodesk Revit LT 2013

The Roombook Areabook Extension for Autodesk® Revit® 2013*, Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2013, Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2013, Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2013, and Autodesk® Revit LT™ software helps calculate the surface area of walls, floors and ceiling elements, room circumferences and the total number of furnishing elements within a project. 

In addition to the automated detection of room areas and surfaces, this extension helps users configure these elements manually to local requirements, as well as achieve more accurate model take-offs. Quantified results can be exported to Microsoft® Excel® software and Autodesk® Quantity Takeoff (QTO) software.

*Autodesk Revit 2013 software is only available as part of the Autodesk® Building Design Suite 2013 Premium and Ultimate Editions.

Release Date: 2012-11-01
Source: Autodesk Subscription Page

Revit Structure 2013 Update Release 2

Revit Structure 2013 Update Release 2 is now available for download from Autodesk site. 
Update Release 2 (Build: 20121003_2115) is not a full install; rather it is using service pack technology similar to AutoCAD®- based products. Prior to installing the Update Release 2, please verify that you have already installed the First Customer Ship build of Autodesk Revit Structure 2013 (Build: 20120221_2030) or Update Release 1 for Autodesk Revit Structure 2013 (Build: 20120716_1115).


Link for more details:
Revit Structure 2013 Update Release 2

Source: Autodesk Site

Autodesk 360 Structural Analysis for Autodesk Revit 2013

Autodesk® 360 Structural Analysis for Autodesk® Revit® 2013 enables structural engineers to conduct analysis in the cloud as a part of the BIM process. With Structural Analysis, engineers and designers can extend design models from Autodesk® Revit® 2013 or Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2013 software directly to the cloud helping to minimize disruptions to workflow and allowing users to continue to design as analysis is completed. Once the analysis is conducted, results can then be visualized and explored within Autodesk Revit 2013 or Autodesk Revit Structure 2013 software. To take advantage of the integration, the Autodesk® 360 Structural Analysis for Autodesk® Revit® 2013 plug-in must be downloaded.

Release Date: 2012-03-27
Source: Autodesk Subscription Page

What's New in Autodesk 360

Autodesk 360 is a cloud-based platform that gives you access to storage, a collaboration workspace, and cloud services to help you dramatically improve the way you design, visualize, simulate, and share your work with others anytime, anywhere.

New Features:

- Autodesk 360 Mobile. The new Autodesk 360 Mobile app let's you access your data from your iOS or Android device.

- View Revit and Navisworks files online. Work and collaborate with RVT and NWD files directly in the browser via an interactive viewing experience.

- Commenting on DWF and DWG drawing. Comment within a file you are viewing and reply to comments to have multiple discussion threads.

- Download folders. Download an entire folder and its contents as a single compressed .zip file.

Source: Autodesk 360

Roombook Areabook Extension for Autodesk Revit 2013

The Roombook Areabook Extension for Autodesk® Revit® 2013 software helps calculate the surface area of walls, floors and ceiling elements, room circumferences and the total number of furnishing elements within a project. 

In addition to the automated detection of room areas and surfaces, this extension helps users configure these elements manually to local requirements, as well as achieve more accurate model take-offs. Quantified results can be exported to Microsoft® Excel® software and Autodesk® Quantity Takeoff (QTO) software.

Release Date: 2012-08-15
Source: Autodesk Subscription Page

Structure Generator Extension for Autodesk Revit 2013

The Structure Generator Extension for Autodesk® Revit® 2013, Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2013 and Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2013 software is a capability that helps users create and visualize a physical and analytical model of a structure based on the massing model.


With a parametric approach, common data format, and faster model regeneration, the Structure Generator Extension helps users to create different variants of architectural models and helps them to validate the structure of the model. The extension helps to coordinate models between the architect and structural engineer and can help reduce the number of changes required in the model during the later phases of design.


Note: Autodesk® Revit® 2013 software is only available as part of the Autodesk® Building Design Suite 2013 Premium and Ultimate Editions.


Release Date: 2012-07-30
Source: Autodesk Subscription Page

Timber Roof Framing Extensions for Revit 2013

Roof Framing Extensions for Autodesk® Revit® 2013 software applications is comprised of two extensions that help automate modeling of roofs in Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Revit Structure and Autodesk Revit Architecture software applications. 


The Rafter Framing extension enables the definition and generation of various types of “A” frame roof models. Another extension creates truss roof systems.


Structural elements are created based on a selected Revit native roof object. Generated timber roof structures can be exported to Autodesk® Robot® Structural Analysis software to perform further structural analysis and design tasks.


Release Date: 2012-07-30
Source: Autodesk Subscription Page

eTransmit for Autodesk Revit 2012

The official version of this extension is now out. Visit Autodesk Subscription page in order to download this extension, Release Date: 2012-05-31.

With eTransmit for Autodesk® Revit® 2012 software products, you can copy a Revit model and dependent files to a single folder for Internet transmission. You can transmit any model that has been upgraded to Revit Release 2012 or later and saved. 

With eTransmit for Autodesk Revit, you can:

• Copy and detach a Revit model and associated files to a single folder for internet transmission. This removes the typical error messages when you copy central files using the operating system.

 • Locate dependent files automatically and include them in the transmittal folder, helping to reduce the possibility of error. All dependent files are automatically converted to use relative paths so the dependent files can be located by the model.

 • Choose to include related dependent files such as linked Revit models, CAD files, DWF™ markups, decal images, and external keynote files. You can transmit any Revit (.rvt) model that has been upgraded to be compatible with a Revit 2012 software product or later.

• Transmit models that are using file-based worksharing or server-based worksharing. eTransmit for Revit can also work with non-workshared Revit models.

Source: Autodesk Subscription Page

Pile auto numbering - tip and tricks

I came across a problem with a huge number of piles to be automatically numbered using the Revit Extension Element Positioning module. A word of warning is that, make sure to select first the piles you want to number before starting the Extension Element positioning module. This is to avoid waiting time while the Extension prepares the data. The program will scan the whole project and this might takes a long time if there are a lot of elements in the model.


Secondly, do not group piles, because when you do the numbering using the Extension you will receive an error about group editing and finally you will end up ungrouping the piles you have previously created.

For the procedure on how to use the auto numbering, see my previous article published last April 2011.


Thanks for dropping by.

Codes for Arial

For your quick reference, below are codes for Arial letter type:


© alt + 0169
« alt + 0171
® alt + 0174
° alt + 0176
± alt + 0177
² alt + 0178
³ alt + 0179
» alt + 0187
¼ alt + 0188
½ alt + 0189
¾ alt + 0190
ø alt + 0248

Printed Output FAQ

The printed output of my Revit Sheet is different than the on-screen display.

Click [R] Print (Print Setup). In the Print Setup dialog, under Hidden Line Views, select Raster Processing.

New Autodesk Revit DB Link 2012

For those of you, who did not have the time to visit the subscription page of Autodesk, let me remind you that a new version of Autodesk Revit DB Link 2012 is out since 2012-02-15.

What can this extension serve you in your Revit project?

Import and export data between an Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2012, Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2012, or Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2012 project and an external database, and then more easily maintain relationships of linked data with Autodesk® Revit® DB Link.

- A grid view of the data enables you to make any final edits before import.

- Databases can be updated following internal or external changes.

- The grid control enables you to create Revit shared parameters to add new fields to related tables in the database.

- Changes to new fields within the database automatically update Revit shared parameters upon future imports.

Visibility control using filter

The use of filters in Revit is endless. You can filter families, control object selection, apply filters across linked Revit files and so on, whatever you can think. In this example, I will show you a case where you use a filter to hide view annotations. If your views are well organized in your Project Browser, you can create a filter to hide or isolate its visibility.

For example you get these view annotations in one of your detail views.

You cannot use the hide elements option because it is not available when you right click the view annotation.

Creating a filter to select this view category will do the job.

Go to Visibility Graphics, click the Filters tab and click Add and select the filter just created. The View Filter can be toggled to isolate the object visibility or turn it off as needed.

Try creating your own filters from now on to control the view visibility in your project.

Tunnel Profile

Just came across this question in the forum on how to make a custom tunnel profile. If the cross section is consistent along the length of the tunnel then a simple sweep will do the job.

If you need the profile to flex, introduce parameters. So easy isn’t it?.