Families - hosted components

That is, things that require a wall/door etc like a window component.

New Window
New, Family, Metric Window template
This template is basically an opening in a wall which you manipulate
First you change the opening (only if you want to change it):

• select the opening, Edit sketch, sketch shape of new window opening

Then make the frame:

• create reference planes for the outside and inside of the frames if you are going to change the dimensions at all in the future (even if you're not, it's easier this way) - that is, you can then lock the reference planes so the frame thickness remains even if you make the opening bigger/smaller
• use the offset function - pick tool, then alter the offset distance, pick the opening...etc...
• remember to label the dimensions: Annotate, Aligned dimenion, then while this is still active, go to the properties and add a label (eg. Width, Height etc).
• extrusion, set plane (pick a plane, centre line),
• pick lines tool, trace opening then pick lines tool again and then set offset for frame thickness
• extrusion properties = start 50, finish -50
• materials, click on the formula icon, add parameter, give it a name you can easily find (eg. materials - frame)
• properties, identity data, subcategory, choose 'frame/mullion' so Revit knows what it is
• click done

Then make the glass:

• extrusion, pick lines tool, trace inside opening
• extrusion properties = start 5, finish -5 (or whatever you want for glass thickness, this will give 10mm)
• this time, for materials, just choose the default glass setting rather than steps above
• properties, identity data, subcategory, choose 'glass' so Revit knows what it is
• click done

The above steps creates a type parameter. One you can only change globally (unless 'edit type', 'duplicate').
Below are steps to create one-off components you can change on the fly with handles

Instance parameters - components

Select the dimension, (eg. in an elevation view) and check the 'instance parameter' in the options bar


NB. test this using the 'blue box' icon (family types icon) to change the width and height - see test window example in my project