Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 6
Parameters
The Autodesk
®
Revit
®
platform is sometimes referred to as a
parametric
change engine
. Parameters are the very core of what makes Revit MEP such
a powerful design and modeling tool. Parameters hold the computable data
that defines the properties of not only model components but also everything
that makes up a Revit project. They are the characteristics of all elements of a
Revit project that ultimately determine behavior, appearance, performance,
and information.
Parameters and properties are often considered synonymous, but it is the
parameters
that hold the information we store in elements; they determine
thepropertiesofacomponent.Propertiesmaybestatic,butparametersallow
for change to be propagated throughout the project.
When you realize the power of parameters in Revit and understand the types
of things you can achieve with them, you will have a better understanding of
why Revit can improve your workflow processes and the efficiency of your
design projects.
In this chapter, you will learn to do the following:
• Manipulate the properties of parameters
• Work with type catalogs
• Work with shared parameters
• Use parameters in project files
Understanding Parameter Basics
Before you can understand how to use parameters to drive the properties of
yourobjects,youneedtounderstandthepropertiesofparameters.Whenyou
create a parameter to hold some form of computable data, you want to define
the way in which it will do so.
Figure 6.1
shows the Parameter Properties
dialog box accessed from within the Family Editor. Other versions of this
dialog box that contain additional settings are discussed later in the chapter.
