Mastering Autodesk

Revit MEP 2016

CHAPTER 6: Parameters

CHAPTER 6: Parameters
Parameter Properties
• Naming
– Important for ease of use
– Consistency is key
• Type Parameters
– Define properties related to family
types
– Changes to type parameters affect
every instance of that type
• Instance
– For properties of a specific
instance of a family, regardless of
family type

CHAPTER 6: Parameters
Parameter Properties
• Discipline
– Allows for specific types of
parameters and units to be applied
• Type of Parameter
– Based on discipline chosen
– Preset list of options
• Grouping
– Determines where the parameter
will be displayed in the Properties
Palette or Family Types dialog box

CHAPTER 6: Parameters
Parameters in Families
• Dimensional Parameters Parameter value is
editable when
– Editable in the drawing area of the dimension is
Family Editor selected
– Can be locked to prevent
accidental movement when
working in drawing area
• Parameter Types
– Type Parameters assigned a value
that remains for the family type
Instance
– Instance Parameters can have a parameters
default value for use during
placement

CHAPTER 6: Parameters
Parameters in Families
• Type Catalogs
– Can be used for families with many
family types
– Specific types within a family can
be loaded into projects
– Reduces number of unused family
types loaded
– Easily editable using spreadsheet
.csv file format

CHAPTER 6: Parameters
Parameters in Families
• Formulas Mathematical formula

– Mathematical and Boolean

operators can be used to derive
values from other parameters
• Lookup Tables
– Used by pipe and conduit fitting
families for proper sizing
– Can be set to industry standards

CHAPTER 6: Parameters
Shared Parameters
• Management
– Shared parameters are parameters
with their settings stored in a .txt file
• Allows for consistent use in families
• Helps avoid duplication of
parameters that provide the same
information
• Shared parameters file
– In a central location accessible by all
users
– Should not be edited with text editor
– Organized by groups of parameters

CHAPTER 6: Parameters
Using Parameters in Projects
• Project Parameters
– Easy way to add a
parameter to all elements
of a project within a specific
category, or multiple
categories
– Can be added from Shared
parameters file
– Revit automatically adds
the parameter to all
elements in the selected
category

CHAPTER 6: Parameters
Using Parameters in Projects
• Parameters in Schedules
– Parameters used in schedules must
be Shared, Project or hard coded
• Family parameters cannot be
scheduled
– Parameters can be added while
working in schedule creation dialog
box
• Similar to creating a Project
parameter
– Calculated value parameters can be
created in schedules but do not
appear in the element properties

CHAPTER 6: Parameters
Using Parameters in Projects
• View and Sheet Parameters
– Since views and sheets are system
families, Shared parameters
should be used
– Project parameters used for
titleblock information that appears
on every sheet
• Applied to the Project Information
category

CHAPTER 6: Parameters