I recently replied to an AUGI posting from a user who was struggling with a test case for building a Type Catalog.
Type Catalogs are great tools for families that need many types, each with new parameter values, such as dimensional drivers (ie: Width, Length, Height), but also for customized parameters or manufacturer info, etc.
The user created the catalog, and was puzzled as to why it wasn’t feeding in the proper values into the family.
The problem was simple: The user didn’t understand the process of a Type Catalog. The family itself does NOT hold all the various types – it’s sort of a ‘prototype’ version, with all the parametrics set up to RESPOND to the catalog. It is in the loading of the family into a project file where Revit will automatically open the catalog, allowing the user to select the types desired. In the loading process, Revit will create the unique types, and apply the specific parameter data. Voila!
This is a HUGE benefit for content that requires many type variables (full product lines of equipment, furnishings, etc), without the tedious process of creating the types within the family itself. Suppliers of the Type Catalog/Prototype Family package have a LOT more control of their content as delivered to the end user, and updates are faster, and more accurate.
Contact me for guidance on creating advanced Type Catalogs for your customized Revit family content: info (at) apertedesign (dot) com
