Creating A Column Family; Starting A Column Family - Autodesk 24000-000000-9860 - Revit Architecture - PC User Manual

Creating a Column Family

You create column families by defining what the column looks like in plan view, elevation view, and 3D
view.
Before reading this topic, you should already have read
The following image shows what a column might look like in a 3D view.
3D view of architectural column

Starting a Column Family

When you start creating a column family, you see one of 3 views: a front elevation view of a lower reference
level tag and an upper reference level tag with reference planes, a plan view with reference planes and 2 sets
of equality dimensions, and a 3D view. The view in which you start creating geometry does not matter. You
can define geometry in any of these views. You may want to add an overall width and depth dimension to
the plan view and label it. This is useful if you are going to have a list of different-size columns.
When you create a column, Revit Architecture automatically adds a rotation control symbol to the lower
left corner of the geometry in the plan view. You notice it when you add the column to a project. You can
rotate the column in the plan view by clicking Modify, selecting the column geometry, and then dragging
the rotation control arrow.
The following procedure is a general procedure for creating a column family. Your steps may differ based
on design intent.
1 Click File menu
2 In the Open dialog, select column.rft from the templates folder, and click Open.
3 In the plan view, use the tools on the Design Bar to create the geometry for the family. For more
4 If desired, label any permanent dimensions that you may have added. Place the cursor over the
5 Set the reference planes and sketch lines properties for Defines Origin and Is Reference properties.
6 Add any additional family types by using the Family Type command on the Design Bar.
426 | Chapter 8 Creating Your Own Components (Families)
New
information on creating solid geometry, see
dimension text and right-click. Click Edit Label and enter a name for the dimension. This name
appears in the properties of the family. You can modify the name to change all occurrences of
that family type in the project or you can use it to create other family types with varying sizes.
Family Editor Basics
Family.
Solid Geometry Tools
on page 341.
on page 380.