Forums >> Revit Building >> Technical Support >> Change Keynote to an Instance Parameter?

RockFish

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Joined: Mon, Apr 23, 2012
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I am trying to keynote detail components.  I tried to set up the keynote parameter with an ‘if’ formula that would give me one keynote for one instance and another keynote for a different one (i.e. a detail showing up as new vs. existing).  I had the formula referencing a visibility instance parameter for the ‘if’ statement.  The problem I quickly found out is that the visibility parameter was an instance parameter and the keynote was a type parameter and as such could not be referenced and that I would have to create multiple family types to get different keynote inputs.  Since the Revit Family Browser sucks, I try to limit the number of families I have to scroll through and just change things based on instance parameters.

Ultimately I would like to get the keynote parameter for a detail component to be an instance parameter but Revit has locked me out of changing this parameter.  Is there any way around this?  Ways to force the keynote parameter to instance parameter or ways to get Keynoting to reference a different parameter?

I’m working in Revit 2015

Thanks!

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WWHub

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Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
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Why did you start a whole new thread on the same subject?  In your other thread, you answered your own question.

http://www.revitcity.com/forums.php?action=viewthread&thread_id=33361

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RockFish

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Joined: Mon, Apr 23, 2012
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Oh, that’s what happened to my other post, it was deleted, I was wondering where it went.  These posts pose two separate questions.  The other post was, “Can there be an instance parameter within a Keynote Tag” to which the answer is no, tags cannot utilize instance parameters.

This post asks the question, can a Keynote Parameter within a Detail Component Family (not a tag family like the other question) be switched from a Type Parameter to an Instance Parameter, or can a Keynote tag, tag a different parameter that could be set up as an instance parameter?

Isn’t that clear as mud?

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WWHub

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Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
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Simple answer - from your HELP:

"All elements have a Keynote Type parameter. These can be supplied in advance using the Type Properties dialog (see Element Properties), or selected when the tag is placed."

Revit only tells you what it will and can do.  Obviously there are too many items to list to tell you what it doesn't do.

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RockFish

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Joined: Mon, Apr 23, 2012
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Right but I also know there are a bunch of work arounds that Revit also doesn't tell you about in its HELP and that is why I am posting the question to all.

For example, a locked type parameter can often be changed to an instance parameter by changing the family type, changing the parameter to an instance parameter and then changing the family type back again.  This doesn't work with a detail component family because there is no other available family types to change this family to and back from.

I was just curious if anyone knew of another way around this.

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WWHub

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Also, you state:"...I try to limit the number of families I have to scroll through and just change things based on instance parameters.."  I'm not sure what you mean here.   You can select multiple families of different types and change the same instance parameter of all of them at the same time.  .

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WWHub

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Please explain this: "...For example, a locked type parameter can often be changed to an instance parameter by changing the family type, changing the parameter to an instance parameter and then changing the family type back again...."  << Just doesn't seem to make sense.

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RockFish

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Joined: Mon, Apr 23, 2012
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Okay, attached are two families.  One is Revit's out of box base cabinet familiy where every dimension is a type parameter and to alter the size of the cabinet you have to make a new family type to adjust the size.  The next file attached is the same family but with the work around to get the type parameters to be instance parameters.  Since Revit has decided to lock us out of choosing if we want the dimensions to be type or instance parameters in a casework family, I opened the family, changed the family catagory to a Generic Models.  Then I can change all the dimensions to instance parameters, delete all the different family types, then change it the family catagory back to Casework.  The parameters remain instance parameters and the family works the same with the exception I don't have 6 different family types showing up in my family browser and I don't have to create a new family type each time I have a new size.  

So this is what I want to do with the Keynote parameter with Detail Component Families but I am not seeing that I can. 

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WWHub

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Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
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Interesting - I had never seen this done .... BUT -

I think you are missing the reasons for using type parameters instead of instant.  There are reasons to use both but be aware of the consequences.  Here is a good discussion on this subject.  (Pay attention to the file size issue too)

http://www.aecbytes.com/tipsandtricks/2010/issue49-revit.html

In addition, be aware that your families you do this with could "break" on some instance settings.

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