- I suggest that you keep your dimensions outside of sketch mode where they are clearly visible at all times. It is quicker to see the relationships between geometry and to isolate any problems if you do so.
- Develop a practice of dimensioning in one plan and one elevation view only, within the family. The only exception is of course if the element you are wanting to reference to is not visible in those views. It saves a lot of time fixing a family if it is over constrained if you can see all the constraints in 2 nominated views (one plan view & one elevation view), rather than hunting for other dimensions in sketch modes or other views. I like to refer to “Ref. Level” and “Front Elevation” wherever possible. Nominate preferred dimensioning views in families as an office standard.
- Sort the dimensions that you want your documenters to have easy access to in the Project file under “Constraints” or “Construction”. These two group categories are at the top of the menu list, within the Family properties menu in the Project file, making it easier for users to edit the parameter they need without trying to hunt for the parameter they wish to edit.
- Use formulas where you don’t want values to be editable in a Project file. They will be visible and will schedule but will be greyed out in the Project leaving the content creator in control of certain values. This is a good practice for protecting critical values or data. See Formula section.
© Copyright Reserved by Michelle Louw (Excerpt from My speaker notes at National Revit Technology Conference 2008.)
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