creating window along with sill and lintel

Example of the Window Family built inthis tutorial

Revit Families: Creating a simple WindowFrom TOI-Pedia

Contents■ 1 Introduction■ 2 Family Basics■ 3 Family Parameters

If you need a quick fresh up for the Revit Interface, please refer to Getting startedwith Revit: Interface.

IntroductionIn this tutorial you'll create a simple Revit Window Family. The tutorial has two main parts:

■ Creating the base family with few Family Parameters■ Modifying the Family to be more flexible, using Family Parameters

This will be a simplified window, with low detail in the profiles of the windows frame. Theaim is to have a sketch-level window that can be used in the early stages of the design process.Of course you can always add more detail later.

Family BasicsTo create a new Family, you can use one of the templates that are shipped with Revit. Thismakes sure the required references and properties are present in your Family.

■ Click the Application Button, New, Family■ The 'New Family - Select Template File' Windows opens:

■ Find and select the Metric Window.rft file (In C:\Program Data\Autodesk\RAC20##\Family Templates\English)

■ Click Open.

This template already has some predefined Parameters, or 'Types Properties'. These are used toconfigure the Family, in this case our Window, so you don't have to create a new Family for

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different types of the same Window. You can imagine that there's really little differencebetween a window that's 1000mm in width and one that's 1200mm.

The Metric Window Family Template already has width and height parameters. In the Planview you can see the dimension line for the width. There's also a dimension with Equality(EQ) enabled that makes sure that no matter which width you choose, the window is alwayscentered.

And in Elevation (exterior in this case), you can see the Height, as well as the Sill heightdimension:

■ Save your Family in your Documents folder.

Sketching the opening

There is already an opening from the Family Template that is linked to the width and heightproperties, but it creates a straight cut into the wall. For our family we want an opening that isa little more detailed, so we can accommodate a Sill ('dorpel' in Dutch).

At the left below you see the default opening as is in the Family Template, at the right theopening we want.



We're going to remove the default opening cut:

■ Go to the Plan view (Ref. Level)■ Move your mouse to the interior side of the wall where the opening is and select the

Opening Cut

■ Press Delete. The opening is removed; the cross hatch from the wall will appear.

To create the new opening, we're creating a Void Sweep. By drawing a cross-section and thepath (rail) along which this profile will be swept, you can create more intricate openings. Let'ssee how that works:

■ First we make sureour Reference Plane is set properly. On the Home tab, in the

Work Plane panel, click (Set Work Plane). Select 'reference Plane : Exterior'.■ Revit may prompt you to go to another View. Select 'Elevation: Exterior'.

■ In the Home tab, Forms Panel, click (Void Forms), choose (VoidSweep).

■ In the Sweep Panel, click (Sketch Path)■ Draw the path along which the sweep will be created. In this case a single straight

line along the lower horizontal reference line (green dashed line). Click Modify



twice or press Esc twice to end drawing lines.

This path is suited for the current width of the window. But what would happen if we changedthe width? Our path would be too long or too short. To fix this, we'll constrain the path to theLeft and Right reference planes (dashed green lines).

■ In the Modify panel, click (Align)■ Click the Right reference plane■ Click the end point on the line of the path you sketched; a blue dot appears at the

end when you're close.■ An open lock icon appears, indicating this alignment is unconstrained. Click the lock

icon, so it closes and becomes a constraint:

■ Repeat for the other side.■ We also want to constrain it to the lower horizontal reference plane. Click the lower

horizontal reference plane, then click the line of our path and click the lock iconconstrain the alignment.

■ When you select the line, it should look like this:

■ Click (Finish Edit Mode)

That is part one: Revit now knows along which line the profile (cross section) should be sweptand this path is constrained to the proper reference planes. Next you need to draw the profile.When you Finish drawing the path, the Profile Option Menu appears:

■ Click Edit in the Profile Option Menu.



Example of a profile (cross-section) forour opening Void Sweep

Our finished opening in 3D

■ Revit will ask you to change view to be able to draw the profile (which isperpendicular to the path). Choose Elevation: Left.

■ From the Draw panel, make sure the (Line) tool is selected.■ Draw the cross section for the opening. Use the image at the right as a reference.

Make sure the line is neatly closed. For now extend the opening at the exterior side(which accommodates the Sill) 70 mm beyond the reference line.

Just as we did with the path, we need to constrain our profile as well:

■ Align and lock the top line to the top horizontal reference plane,■ ...the left line to the exterior reference plane,■ ...the right line to the interior reference plane,■ ...thebottom line at the height of the lower horizontal reference plane to that plane.■ To constrain the line that is below the lower reference plane, we need to create a

dimension. Go to the Annotation tab. In the Dimension panel, click (AlignedDimension)

■ Click the lower horizontal reference plane, then click the lower line of our profile(that sits 70mm below the reference plane). Position the dimension at the left sideand lock it:

■ In the Edit Profile tab, click (Finish Edit Mode)

Our Profile is now ready. Finish the Void Sweep and make sure it creates an opening.

■ In the Modify | Sweep tab, click (Finish Edit Mode)■ Go to the Plan view (Ref. Level)

■ In the Geometry panel (Sketch Tab), click (Cut Geometry)■ First click the Wall■ Then click the Void Sweep■ The wall is now cut and has a neat opening. Go to a 3D view to confirm.

Save your Family.

Creating the Window Frame

Next we're going to create the Window Frame. This is done using Sweeps. But before we'regoing to create them, we're first setting up a Reference Plane that will determine the depth at



Example of the Reference Plane in place

End result when the path is selected afterthe steps in this section

End result of the profile

which the frame sits in the opening (dag or negge in Dutch), measured from the outside of thewall to the outside of the frame.

■ Go to the Plan view (Ref. Level)

■ On the Home tab, Datum panel, click (Reference Plane)■ Draw a horizontal line between the exterior side and the wall's center to indicate the

position of the Reference Plane. Position it about 60mm from the exterior side of thewall. Click Modify twice when finished.

■ Select the Reference Plane you drew and make sure to give it a name in theProperties Panel, eg 'Outside Frame' or 'Negge' (Dutch).

■ Create an Aligned Dimension (Annotate Tab). In the Option Menu, select 'WallFaces' for Place Dimensions. Select the exterior face, the click the Reference Planeand position the Dimension. Don't forget to lock it.

■ The result should look something like the example at the right.

Next we're going to create the left, right and top Window frame parts.

■ Make sure our Reference Plane is set properly. On the Home tab, in the Work Plane

panel, click (Set Work Plane). Select 'reference Plane : name you specified inthe previous steps'.

■ Revit may prompt you to go to another View. Select 'Elevation: Exterior'.

■ In the Home tab, Forms Panel, click (Sweep)

■ In the Sweep Panel, click (Sketch Path)■ Draw the path along which the sweep will be created. Start at the lower left end.

Click Modify twice or press Esc twice to end drawing lines.

■ Align and lock the three line segments to the corresponding reference planes.■ The end result, when you select the path, should look something like the example at

the right.


Now it's time to draw the profile (cross-section) of the Window Frame.

■ Click Edit in the Option Menu to edit the profile

■ You'll be prompted to switch view. Go to the Ref. Level Plan view.■ In the Draw Panel, click (Rectangle).■ Draw a rectangle starting at the red dot. Make it 80mm high, and 70mm wide. Click

Modify twice when finished. If you didn't get the dimensions right straight away,you can click any line and change thedimension numerically.

■ Align and lock the two sides that run at the position of reference planes to thereference planes.

■ CreateAligned Dimensions for the width and depth, and lock them.■ Theend result should be something like the example shown at the right.



The result in 3D

End result, when path is selected, afterthe steps in this section


Finish the Sweep and check the result

■ Click (Finish Edit Mode) to finish the Sweep.■ Save your Family.■ Go to a 3D view and check the result.

The next to do is to draw the bottom part of the Window Frame. Most Window Frames have aslightly different profile for the bottom part.

■ Make sure the Reference Plane is set properly. On the Home tab, in the Work Plane


■ Revit may prompt you to go to another View. Go to the 'Elevation: Exterior' view.


■ In the Sweep Panel, click (Sketch Path)■ Draw the path along which the sweep will be created. Click Modify twice or press

Esc twice to end drawing lines.

■ Align and lock the line to the three corresponding reference planes, just as you didwith the path for the opening.

■ The end result, when you select the path, should look something like the example atthe right.


Draw the profile (cross-section) of the Bottom Window Frame.


■ You'll be prompted to switch view. Go to the 'Elevation: Left' view.■ Draw a line starting at the red dot, going clockwise. First segment goes up. We want

to create a profile with a slight slope (for the water to run of). The total height willbe 70, so draw the first line (front of the frame) up 50mm. Click Modify once tofinish this single line segment.

■ Next draw a new line for the back end of the frame. Use the lines of the existingframes as a reference for the horizontal position. Make this line 70mm high. Nowfinish the rest of the shape to your own preference. Use the example at the right as aguide. Be sure to create a neatly closed line. Click Modify twice when finished.

■ If you didn't get the dimensions / shape right straight away, you can click any lineand change it.



End result of the bottom profile

The result in 3D

End result, when path is selected, afterthe steps in this section

■ Align and lock the two sides that run at the position of reference planes (front andbottom) to the reference planes.

■ Create Aligned Dimensions for the width and depth, front height and glass depth,and lock them.Note that you may have to use the TAB key to select the object you want and thatsometimes the lock icons apear outside your screen, so you may have to zoom andpan to find them.

■ The end result should be something like the example shown at the right.



■ Click (Finish Edit Mode) to finish the Sweep.■ Go to a 3D view and check the result.

■ On the Geometry Panel, click (Join geometry) to make a nice join betweenthe bottom frameand the rest of the frame.

■ Click the bottom frame sweep■ Click the left/top/right frame sweep■ The result should be something like the example at the right.■ Save your Family.

Last thing that needs to be done, is adding the glass panel.

■ Make sure the Reference Plane is set properly. On the Home tab, in the Work Plane


■ Revit may prompt you to go to another View. Go to the 'Elevation: Exterior' view.


■ In the Sweep Panel, click (Sketch Path)■ Draw the path along which the sweep will be created. In this case it's a horizontal

line at the top of the bottom frame and between the left and right frame. ClickModify twice or press Esc twice to end drawing lines.

■ Align and lock the line to the top of the bottom frame and the inner sides of the leftand right frame. UseTAB to make sure you select the 'Joined Solid Geometry :Reference' (top of the bottom frame).

■ The end result, when you select the path, should look something like the example atthe right.


Draw the profile (cross-section) of the Glass Panel.



End result of the glass panel profile

The result in 3D


■ You'll be prompted to switch view. Go to the 'Elevation: Left' view.■ Draw a rectangle starting at the edge of the sloped edge of the frame. Make the

rectangle 10mm wide and go up to the bottom edge of the top frame.

Click Modify twice when finished.■ If you didn't get the dimensions or position right straight away, you can click any

line and change it.■ Align and lock the top end bottom edge to the top and bottom window frames. Use

TAB to change selections where needed.■ Create Aligned Dimensions for the thickness of the glass and the horizontal position

within the frame, and lock them.■ Theend result should be something like the example shown at the right.



■ Click (Finish Edit Mode) to finish the Sweep.■ Go to a 3D view■ Select the sweep of the glass panel■ In the Properties Panel, change the Material to Glass by clicking the small button

after '<By Category>'

In the Associate Family Parameter window you can add a Parameter to your Family to set thematerial for this object. This allows you to easily set the material through the Window's typeProperties in your Revit Project when you use this Family.

■ Click on 'Add parameter...'



Finished Sill in 3D

■ Specify a Name, eg: 'Frame Panel Material'

■ Click OK■ Click OK

■ To set a default for this Parameter, on the Properties panel, click (FamilyTypes)

■ For the Frame Panel Material, use the small button in the Value field to set a defaultvalue. Choose Glass.

■ Click OK.■ You may repeat these steps for the Window Frame. For now a Default Material is

fine.■ Save your Family.

Note that by setting a default value for the Family Parameters that, in this case, control thematerial of the frame and panel, does not mean is cannot be changed within a project. On thecontrary. By using a Family Parameter, it becomes something you can control from 'outside'the Family when you apply the family in a Revit Project.

Adding the Sill

Adding the Sill ('dorpel' in Dutch) is similar to the Windows Frame and Glass Panel. Youshould be able to create one yourself, using the example below as a reference. Use the ExteriorReference Plane and don't forget to constrain your path and profile.

Family ParametersSo now you have your Window Family. Let's see what it can and what it cannot (yet) do:



Different types of our Window Family:variations in size

Because we've used the Metric Window template, there are already a few parameters in ourfamily that can change the window when using it in a project, without having to load adifferent version of the family. These are:

■ Width■ Height■ Default Sill Height (vertical position)

If you completed all steps, you've already added a few parameters yourself: the material forthe components of your window (frame, frame panel and sill)

These Parameters are Type Parameters that can be specified when you've loaded the family inyour project and click Edit Type.

So that's nice: you don't have to modify your Family file, save it in another name just tochange the width or height of the window. But remember the distance between the outside ofthe wall and the window frame ('negge' in Dutch)? You've created a reference plane with alocked dimension for that in the first steps of Creating theWindow Frame. It would be nice ifyou could change that directly as well (make it a Parameter). Let's do that:

■ On theHome or Modify Tab, click (Family Types)

■ On the right side, under Paramters, click Add...■ Enter a name: 'Frame Depth', or 'Negge' (dutch). As this is a distance, the type

'Length' is fine.

■ Click OK■ It's recommended to give it a sensible default value (60 in this case)■ Click OK to close the Family Types window.

But we're not there yet. You have to let Revit know that this Parameter should control thedimension you created that positions the Outside Frame (or however you named it) referencePlane from the outside of the wall. You do this by Labeling the dimension.

■ Go to your Plan view Ref. Level.■ You should find the dimension there. Click to select it.



■ In the Options Bar, you should see the options for the dimension:

■ Open the Label Pull-down. You should find 'Frame Depth' (or however you namedthe parameter) there:

■ Select it.■ The result should look something like this:

Now, the distance of the Reference Plane to the outside of the wall is controlled by the 'FrameDepth' Parameter and you can change this in the Type Properties of your Window when youapply it in your project. This makes the Family even more flexible.

There's only a small problem: when you change the Frame Depth (or: 'negge') parameter: theopening in the wall won't change accordingly. In the example below the Frame Depth has been

changed to 30 (change this in the (Family Types) window) and you can see the openingin the wall hasn't updated, resulting in a gap behind the sill:

You have to change the constraints on the Void Sweep that created the opening:

■ In the Left Elevation, select the Void Sweep that creates the opening (you may haveto use the TAB key)

■ In the Modify | Void Sweep Tab, Click (Edit Sweep)■ Select the profile of the sweep.■ In the Options Bar, click Edit■ Align the profile, so the Opening is correct



■ Create a Dimension so you can lock the position of the recess of the opening to thereference Plane that controls the horizontal position of the Window Frame. Lock it.

■ On the Modify | Sweep > Edit Profile Tab, click Finish (Finish Edit Mode) tofinish editing the profile

■ On the Modify | Sweep Tab, click Finish (Finish Edit Mode) to finish editingthe sweep

Now you should be able to change the Frame Depth in the wall, and end up with a logicalresult.

Some problems may still occur: If the front of the Window Sill sticks out too much or toolittle, you didn't constrain the front edge of the sill (horizontally) properly to the outside of thewall. Change the Sweep Profile of the sill to fix this.

Other problems areprobably of the same nature. When you make your Family more flexibleby using Parameters, you need to get your constraints just right. You might call it an art(maybe)...

The way to get this right is to change ('Flex') your family by changing Parameters and seewhat happens. Analyze the problem and with a little logic you should be able to fix it.

You can improve your family further by adding more parameters as needed. In this case youmight consider adding a parameter for the distance the Sill sticks out beyond the edge of thewall. Or...

... but don't overdo it!

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