Adding supported families allows Sync to determine the type of a part selected in the model, its properties and its orientation. A family must be setup properly for Sync to recognize it in the model and interact with it accurately. Families for walls, columns, beams and reinforcement must all be added to the list of supported families.
Family Maps List
The Supported Families page of the Settings shows all family maps in Sync and allows adding, editing, deleting, importing, and exporting of family maps:
Add puts a new default family map at the bottom of the list of supported families. Selecting the new row and clicking the Edit button will allow input of the new family map.
Copy will create a new family map that is a copy of the selected one in the list. This is useful for creating a family map that is similar to another. It can be especially useful when creating family maps for families or types with most of the same properties.
Remove deletes the family map from the list.
Edit opens the Properties window for the family map where all properties can be edited.
Import reads an Eriksson Sync Family Map file (*.esfm) that has been previously exported from another family map file and adds the family map to the list.
Export saves the selected family map as an Eriksson Sync Family Map file (*.esfm) to be imported into another family map file.
Edit Family Map
Family maps are edited in the family map Properties dialog box.
A simple example of a family map is a solid panel as shown below:
Family Name is shown in the Revit Properties window when the part is selected in the model.
Type Name is shown in the Type Properties window accessed by clicking on Edit Type in the Revit Properties window.
Family Type is either Precast or Reinforcement.
Category depends on the selected Family Type. If Precast is selected then the category will be a type of precast element such as Solid Panel, Insulated Panel, Column, IT Beam, Spandrel, and so on. If the Family Type is Reinforcement then the category can be Strand, Rebar, Stirrup-Spiral, Stirrup-Tie or Mesh.
Design Type is only available if the Family Type is Precast. The available options are Beam, Column or Wall.
The grid contains all the values that Sync needs to complete the family map. The properties in the rows in the grid depend on the selections above it. As changes are made to the combo boxes the rows will update with the properties necessary to define that particular family map.
A row in the grid is comprised of three values:
Property is the value that Sync needs for the family map.
Parameter/Value is either the name of the property in the family or type that corresponds to the property or is the constant value for that property.
Type describes the type of the parameter. It can be Instance, Constant, or Type. Instance means the parameter is found in the family instance. Type means the parameter is found in the family type. Constant means the value is a constant and doesn’t need to be found in the family instance or type.
All Precast family maps contain at least four common properties:
Family Length Axis is the direction of the length axis for the selected family. Available values are Front-Back, Left-Right or Bottom-Top.
Family Width Axis is the direction of the width axis for the selected family. Available values are Front-Back, Left-Right or Bottom-Top.
Mark Number is the property of the family or type that holds the mark number.
Control Number is the property of the family or type that holds the control number.
The Solid Panel example also shows how to use Parameter and Value types. For that family the thickness of the panel is a constant value of 8” so a value of 8” is input in the Value column and the Type is set to Constant, so that Sync will not search the family for a thickness property and just set thickness to the constant value. The width value is a property of the family and corresponds to the Parameter of DIM_LENGTH in the family instance so the Type is set to Instance so that Sync will pull the width value from the appropriate parameter in the family instance.