Creating Revit Windows Family 03

Preparation:
Before working on the Revit Windows Family, gather as much information as possible about the windows you are trying to build. The following information will help streamline the Windows family creation process:

1. Type of Windows Frame: Vinyl, Hollow Metal, Aluminum.
2. Generic Windows Head, Jamb, and Sill detail DWG files.
3. List of Window Scheduling Parameters.
4. (Optional) Windows Manufacturer information. 

This guide is formatted based on the above list and will show how the information is leveraged to create the Windows family.

There are three stages in Revit Family creation:

1. Sketching:
   • In this stage, the author lays out all required parameters, family behavior, hand-drawn sketches, rigging plans, and gathers information on details.
2. Rigging
   • In this stage, the author lays out all required reference planes, adds parameters, and applies the parameters to the reference planes to set up the foundation of the Windows Family.
3. Detailing
   • In this stage, the author starts placing 3D objects, adds details to the Windows family, and applies visibility parameters to control the detail level presentation.

Planning:
Before you start creating the family, make sure to gather all necessary information about the windows you will be creating. The following is what I used to prepare for this guide:

Window Type:

• Using Vinyl Window
• Casement Type 

Window Manufacturer: Milgard

 I found Windows Head, Jamb, and Sill detail drawings from a web search (V400 Tuscany Series Casement Windows | Milgard).

Windows Scheduling Parameters:

• Width
• Height
• Rough Width: 0.25” from each side of Width
  • Formula: Rough Width = Width + 0.5”
• Rought Height: 0.5” from Height
  • Formula: Rough Height = Height + 0.5”

Windows Scheduling Shared Parameters:

W_Frame_Offset: Offset from the exterior wall to control window position.

Creating Windows Family Process
Detailing:

This is the stage where you add detail components and modify the visibility settings of objects so that the window family displays accordingly based on the detail level.

1. Go to Annotate > Masking Region and create a masking region. This will be the 2D representation of the bottom window frame.
2. Draw the masking region using Frame/Mullion [Projection] and lock the 3 sides to reference planes as shown below. Then, lock the 4th side with dimensions.
3.  Select the masking and click "Visibility/Graphic Override" from the Properties panel. Then disable the visibility for Medium and Fine detail levels. This will force the masking region to display only in the coarse detail level.
4. Draw another masking region on top of the bottom frame. This masking will be the 2D representation of the Jamb frame.
5. Select the Frame masking and click "Visibility/Graphic Override" from the Properties panel. Then disable the visibility for the Fine detail level. This will force the masking region to display only in coarse and Medium detail levels.                         
6. Open the Exterior Elevation view.
7. Draw a symbolic line using the Elevation Swing [Projection] line type to show the casement window swing hinge.                                                                                                     
8. Add a dimension from the center of the swing line to the top and bottom reference planes to locate the center of the swing line. Lock it to the center with the EQ constraint.  
9. Insert the Family into the project and test the parameters.

About the Author

Sr Technical Support Specialist<br><br> Skilled in AutoCAD, Mixed-use, Renovation, Revit, and Sustainable Design. Strong arts and design professional with a BA in Urban design focused in Architecture from University of Washington.

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