Parameter Order!
There are
those of us out there that when we go to create parameters in our families that
we want some organization to the list.
As you well know Revit does not alphabetize or numerically list our
parameters.
If you have
done any research on this you may very well know what I am about to talk
about. It’s a simple tool or key stroke
called the “asterisk”(*,or star).
The first
step you want to do in any planning is to PLAN!
Layout your parameters in the order you want them in. Of course if you don’t know them yet then
this will be hard to do, but let’s try to think ahead and plan on what we will
need.
Let's start with the "Generic Model" in the family editor.
Basic Family type layout.
Basic Family type layout.
Second step
is to create the family file right.
While we are
creating the file, during this process we insert the needed parameters. I want to say start with the last parameter
on your list. Want to know why? Well during the creation of parameters the
program likes to put them anywhere it wants to sometimes, most of the time
right above the one you previously created.
There is not a definite pattern. So . . . the asterisk, mentioned above, allows you to at minimum put in order the parameters you
are using.
For
example let’s put in our first parameter we’ll call it “Par A”.
Our next one
is “Par B”, but we don’t want it placed above “Par A”.
So . . . we remove
the “Par B” and we go modify the “Par A” and call it “Par B” then add another
one called “Par A”.
This is the
simple method of doing things, with a couple of extra clicks that we did not
want to do in the first place, right? But
what happens when you go changing and adding other names that start going under
and above the ones already listed?
Well, the
trick is to select the parameter that is right below the one you want to add
and modify it. In the name of the
parameter add an asterisk(*,or star) before the name, copy the entire name and add a new
parameter.
Paste the copied text into the name field, add
another character to the end, making it different, make your choices for the
data type and then hit ok. You should
see something like this.
As you can
see I wanted to add the “Par A2” below the “Par A” and it would not allow
me. What I did was add the asterisk to
the “Par B” added a 2 behind the new one and it automatically put it above the
old “Par B” parameter. Now what you
would need to do is delete the Par A2 and rename the “*Par B2” to “Par
A2”. Of course go back and modify the
original “Par B” to take out the asterisk and you’re all set.
So you
should be seeing something like this.
Remember
previously I said to plan your list, this is where you will need to do as much
as you can, because it will go very quickly if you do all the copying and
renaming first before you start adding formulas and the parameters to the
geometry. Simply keep adding the same
parameter and adding more characters to the end to keep them in order as such:
 |
| After Renaming |
 |
| Before Renaming |
So while this was a very simple example it can be used in the most populated of families and their lists of parameters.
We at Sterling Systems can help you with your technical issues and your business needs. Just give us a call at (480) 719-4599 and we’ll be happy to assist you!
Steve Coburn, Applications Engineer
