Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
These parameters vary depending on the category you choose for the family.
The system parameters under the Identity Data group are common to
component families and are also included in system families within a
project.
There are, however, a few that do not appear in the Family Types dialog
box when you're working in the Family Editor but do appear in the Type
Properties dialog box or the Properties palette after the family has been
loaded into a project. The most notable of these are the Type Mark, Offset,
Level, Host, Mark, Phase Created, and Phase Demolished parameters. The
TypeMarkparameterisoftenusedtoidentifyacomponentwithatagorina
schedule.Becausethisparameterdoesnotexistinthefamilyfile,youcannot
use it in a type catalog. One way to avoid creating a custom parameter that
does essentially the same job as the Type Mark parameter is to have your
type catalog create family types named with the same value you would use
fortheTypeMark.Thenyoucantagorschedulethattypeparameterinstead
oftheType Mark parameter. To appear in a schedule or a tag, theparameter
has to be a shared parameter.
Lookup Tables
Lookup tables are designed to drive instance parameter values via an
external CSV file. They are similar to type catalogs in that they store
parameter values. But type catalogs are meant for type parameters (even
though in recent versions of Revit MEP you can control instance parameters
with them as well). Perhaps the main difference between type catalogs and
lookup tables is that type catalogs are accessed by Revit MEP when you are
loading a family, while lookup tables are loaded when the software launches
and Revit MEP uses all of their data all the time. In addition, type catalogs
must reside in the same folder as the family; lookup tables are located in a
different location than the family. Lookup tables are mostly used for pipe,
duct, conduit, and cable tray fittings. But they can be used for anything
else that requires constant referencing. When you install Revit MEP 2015,
