Modification functions
Last updated
Last updated
Change Value. You can change a value either by typing it directly into a cell or by selecting one or multiple cells and clicking 'Change Value'. This will show an additional dialogue box that will allow entering the new required value.
Values can be changed even for Material, Assembly Type, and OmniClass values.
Copy Value. Copy values from one parameter to another. Select one or multiple cells in one column with the values you need to copy, choose 'Copy Value', and then select which parameter to copy to. Note: you can only copy to parameters that are displayed in the modification table.
Rename Family. Rename the selected family.
Modify Category. Opens the category selection window for the selected family.
Note: once modifications have been run, the family file (.rfa) will be deleted from its original location.
Create Subcategories. Creates subcategories in a family. This command will prompt a new dialogue box to choose the subcategory list file. The list of subcategories comes from an external text file, which can be easily modified in accordance with company or country standards. The default list of subcategories comes from ANZRS.
The families in the table will change color if you add a task to create subcategories.
Add Type. A new family type will be created according to the selected type. This command will copy the Family Type with all of its parameter values.
Rename Type. This command will prompt a dialogue box where the type name can be changed.
Rename Type by Rule. Change single or multiple type names by predefined rules. It can be used on multiple cells from the 'Type Name' column. This command will prompt a new dialogue box to create the configuration for type names. Suffixes and prefixes can be added.
For example, letʼs rename types as “Height x Width mm” instead of the original “Width x Height mm”
Sort Mark. Runs the Sort Mark tool for the selected cells. More on this in the "Sort Mark in Family Modification" article.
Add Shared Parameter. Adds the shared parameter to the selected families. This command will prompt a dialogue box to select a shared parameter file. A table of the shared parameters will open. To add a new shared parameter, it has to be marked as 'Selected' in the last column. Selected parameters will be displayed in green. By default, the new parameter will be added as a 'Type' parameter, and the user can select it to be an 'Instance' in the table. The parameter group must be chosen as well.
Note: new parameters will be added only to the families whose cells were selected. Any cell belonging to the family may be selected to select that specific family.
Add Family Parameter. Adds family parameter. It can be applied to one or multiple families. This command will prompt a dialogue box to create a new Family parameter.
Note: new parameters will be added only to the families whose cells were selected. Any cell belonging to the family may be selected to select that specific family.
Add Selected Parameter. Copies an already-existing parameter from one family to another. It can only be applied to missing parameters (indicated as gray color cells). The new parameter will have the same properties as the selected parameter. It can be applied for both the Family and Shared parameters.
Select a missing parameter to activate Add Selected Parameter.
Rename Parameter. Rename the selected parameter for the families whose cells were selected. This command will prompt a new dialogue box where the parameter name can be changed.
The parameter name will change for one or multiple families depending on whether one family cell was chosen in the table, multiple cells, or the whole column.
Modify Parameter. Modifies selected parameter settings. This command will prompt a dialogue box similar to 'Add Family Parameter'. Except in this one, only parameter grouping and Type/Instance settings can be changed.
Note 1: Only the selected parameter in the selected family will be modified.
Note 2: In certain cases, Revit does not allow changing parameters' Instance/Type setting. Smart Browser does not keep track of this information and might give a modification error only a er changes have loaded.
Rearrange Parameters. Rearrange parameters for the selected family. Rearrangement is done to families one by one. A dialogue box will open, showing all family parameters in the order they currently appear in the family. Use the arrow key or drag and drop to rearrange the parameters inside their group. To run parameter rearrangement, keep a tick mark on for the column 'Rearrange Parameters'.
Remove Parameter. Deletes the selected parameter from the family. It can be applied to one or multiple families and parameters at a time.
Replace with Family Parameter. Changes the chosen shared parameter as the family parameter.
Replace with Shared Parameter. Changes the chosen Family parameter with the selected shared parameter. A new dialogue box will open to select a shared parameter file and the parameter from it. Only the parameters of the same type as the chosen parameter will be shown in the table.
Add Formula. Adds a formula to the selected parameter. Formula text must be in quotes. In Type parameters, the formula will be applied to all Types even though it will show up only in the selected cell. A er entering the formula, the resulting value will show up only a er the modifications have been applied to the family. To preview the entered formula, either hover over the cell or select 'Modify formula'. Note: The entered formula has to provide consistent units to work in Revit when loaded. Smart Browser will not check for unit consistency.
To enter a formula, type in the formula.
To enter text as a formula, use quotes, like this:
Use the 'Parameters' and 'Function' buttons to:
Parameters – See the list of usable parameters whose units correspond to those of the parameter being modified.
Function – See a list of more complex usable functions.
Modify Formula. Modify an already existing formula. The same rules apply as with 'Add
formula'. It can be applied only to parameters that have formulas.
Remove Formula. Removes formula from the selected cell. The formula value remains.
In Type parameters, the formula will be removed for all Types even though it will show up as removed only in the selected cell. May be applied only to parameters that have formulas.
Lock Parameter. Locks the selected parameter.
Select Column. Selects the entire column for later modification.
Filter by Selected Data. Filters elements in the table according to the selected cell values. Multiple cells can be selected at once for filtering.
Distinct Values in Column. Select distinct values from a list of all possible values for the selected parameter.
Remove All Filters. Removes all previously applied filters.
Sort. Sort the table according to the selected columns. Additionally, sorting can be done by clicking on the parameter name in the table.
Copy to Clipboard. Copies selected cell value to the clipboard.
Delete Family. Removes the selected family from the library.
A er running saved modifications, the modified family will have a list of subcategories, which can easily be assigned to solids.
Delete Type. Deletes one or multiple selected types.