Forums >> Revit Building >> Technical Support >> align nested family

orlando1

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Attached is an example of a kitchen counter with drop-in sink. The sink contains nested families such as foucets. I have created a cut out for the sink and dropped the sink in the counter. However I am not able to lock the sink with the cut out so that they move together if needed. Please advise.

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orlando1

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I forgot the attachment in the previous post. Here is the attachment:

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jlights

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The problem is that you have no reference planes to lock the sink to, to control its placement in the family. In the parent family, create reference planes called something like "sink horizontal centerline" and "sink vertical centerline". Lock the nested sink family to these lines. You'll find when you start the alignment tool that the centerlines of the nested family become available as lockable elements. Then create dimension parameters from the left edge and the back edge of the sink itself, and label these as something like "sink center offset from left" and "sink center offset from back". (if you try to offset the sink from the centerline of the counter itself, it will only move in the direction of the side where the dim line was created, as Revit doesn't like negative distances.) Make these dimensions instance parameters.

Then you can move your sink around by editing the offset dimensions.

BTW, you'll also need an instance length parameter to control the placement of your void extrusion if you want to move it. Even if you don't, Revit best practice is to align and lock all object to reference planes, so you should create ref planes for your void extrusion.  If you think about it you can use the same two offset parameters to move both the void and the sink - in sync. Sorry, couldn't resist.

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orlando1

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Thank you for your response.

One day I hope to get it, but for now my reference planes are not visible in the plan view, I don't know why.

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jlights

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In the plan view window, type VV, and on the annotations tab, turn on reference planes. I highly recommend that you read the Autodesk families guide at http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=13080413. Once you understand how families are designed to work, your Revit life will be much easier.

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Typhoon

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Here you have, you really need to read "Families Guide", it's  a very, very good book....

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I Hope and I Wish to LEARN  more, and more, and more.... REVIT

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orlando1

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Thank you all. But the issue at hand remains unresolved.

Entering VV in the plan view shows the reference planes ON. Searched the suggested book for clues, but no help. Tried other things but REF planes remain unvisible.

Typhoon, I use 2011, could not open the attached, seems to be created with the later edition.

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Typhoon

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In 2011

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I Hope and I Wish to LEARN  more, and more, and more.... REVIT

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orlando1

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Typhoon,

Thank you for the post. It works! I have been trying to decode and replicate how you did it, and the following seem to be the steps (for me to remember):

In the host family, draw ref. planes on all four sides of the nested sink. Dimesnion length and width of the sink and assign them parametes Sk Width and Sk Length. Click on the sink > Edit Type > Type Properties and find Sink Length paramers of the nested sink, click on the grey button on the right and link it to the Sk Length parameter. Create a Void extrusion using interesections of the Ref. planes surrounding the sink and lock it to the planes. Now use the align tool and lock all the four sides of the sink to the Ref. planes. Was fun!

I would appreciate if you could clariy why the ref. planes and Sink Length and Sink Width parameters are not visible in the nested 'class rm sink.rfa' in the plan view...they are visible in the Family Types. New Ref. planes also remain invisible in plan.

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orlando1

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The attached sink 2.rfa has Sink Width and length parameters to make the sink long and wider, they work, but I can see them. When I draw refercence planes (in plan view) they are not visible. Any clues?

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Typhoon

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Just turn on "Show Annotation Categories in this view"

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I Hope and I Wish to LEARN  more, and more, and more.... REVIT

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orlando1

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Oh man, If life was that easy! Thanks.

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