Design Environment For Creating Families; Design Considerations - Autodesk 24000-000000-9860 - Revit Architecture - PC User Manual

The ceiling-based template is for components inserted into ceilings. Ceiling components can include openings,
so that when you place the component on a ceiling, it also cuts an opening in the ceiling. Examples of
ceiling-based families include sprinklers and recessed lighting fixtures.
The floor-based template is for components inserted into floors. Floor components can include openings,
so that when you place the component on a floor, it also cuts an opening in the floor. An example of a
floor-based family is a heating register.
The roof-based template is for components inserted into roofs. Roof components can include openings, so
that when you place the component on a roof, it also cuts an opening in the roof. Examples of roof-based
families include soffits and fans.
The standalone template is for components that are not host-dependent. A standalone component can
appear anywhere in a model and can be dimensioned to other standalone or host-based components.
Examples of standalone families include columns, furniture, and appliances.
The line-based template is for creating detail and model families that use 2-pick placement similar to structural
beams. For information about detail families with 2-pick placement, see
Component Family
The face-based template is for creating work plane-based families that can modify their hosts. Families created
from the template can make complex cuts in hosts. Instances of these families can be placed on any surface,
regardless of its orientation. See

Design Environment for Creating Families

After selecting a template, Revit Architecture starts the Family Editor and opens the commonly used views
for that family creation. In some families, Revit Architecture modifies the view names to make it easier to
create the family geometry. For example, for door families, you will see interior and exterior elevation views
instead of north and south elevations. The renamed views allow for easier orientation of the geometry. Also,
the template includes any common references that are needed to create the family. This includes reference
planes to define the origin and sketching references, common dimensions to help you capture design intent,
and any solid geometry needed or commonly used to complete the family.
Revit Architecture offers several different methods of geometry creation to use when defining your families.
You can combine these methods to create your family. The geometry forms available are lines, extrusions,
sweeps, blends, swept blends, revolves, and regions. You can also add text and tags to the families. For a
complete description on each of the geometry creation methods, see

Design Considerations

Before creating the family, consider the following:
What should the family look like in the different views: floor plan, 3D, elevations?
Typically, when defining a family, the geometry of the component changes, depending on the view of
the building. In plan view, you may want to see a 2D representation of the family. In a 3D view or
elevation view, you may want a fully detailed 3D representation of the family. You have the flexibility
to display different geometry. For example, you could create a door frame and use lines to represent it.
Or you could extrude the door frame, so it has a 3D representation. For more information about visibility
of family geometry, see
How detailed should the family model appear?
In some cases, you may not need 3D geometry. You may only need to sketch a 2D shape to represent
your family. Also, you may simplify the 3D geometry of your model to save time in creating the family.
You decide how much detail is enough.
Are there going to be additional sizes of the family?
on page 1084.
Creating Work Plane-based and Face-based Families
Visibility and Detail Levels
Creating a 2D Line-Based Detail
Family Editor
on page 360.
Design Environment for Creating Families | 343
on page 406.
on page 376.