Families - things to determine before creating

1. Hosted versus non-hosted - generally most things are non-hosted but note the following:
• if it needs to create an opening in its host (eg. window) be certain that you'll only be doing this with one kind of host as a hosted element can only cut one type of host. For example, a window created this way can only cut eg. a wall OR a ceiling, not both.
• if you're not sure of the above, but want it to move with a wall etc, then place the element and select the 'Moves with Nearby Elements' option so when the host moves, so does the placed element.
• another option is to make the element 'face-based' or nested
2. Family category - critical to choose the correct one
3. Insertion point - determines the location about which the family will geometrically flex;
• important if you expand eg. a table later to fit more chairs - you'd want the insertion point to be in the middle of the face of the table in that case
• the reference level in the Family Editor corresponds to the datum level in your project so determines the visibility of your component in different views
• if you swap this component with another, if the insertion points are the same then its all good...
4. Flexibility - if you're sure you'll need to modify some of the dimensions later when in use, then create some rules first:
• reference planes are the simplest way to add rules - they do not have endpoints so are used to create linear geometric relationships
• reference lines do have endpoints so can be used to control angular relationships