Creating a Basic Window Family

I am asked often how to go about creating a basic family. I created a 2 part video last year for a colleague who was learning Revit. They wanted to know how to build a basic window family. See below for the method I use when creating this family. Over the next few months, I may expand on this example and slowly build varying complexity into the same family. 

Creating a Basic Window: Part 1 (Geometry)

Creating a Basic Window: Part 2 (Materials)

Video's created by Damien Ferlazzo.

Drawing Technologies

Revit Schedules: Grouping Headers

We can group headers in Revit schedules to create a new header above. It would look something like the image below.

Example 1

To do this, select multiple header cells > Group (from the Titles & Headers panel). This will create an empty cell above the selected cells that will allow you to type any text. Some examples can be seen below.

Group Headers

Example 2

Example 3

To remove the group header, select the cell > Ungroup (from the Titles & Headers panel). 

Revit, A Step by Step Guide

If you are starting out on Revit, there is something I try and teach all my students, clients and colleagues and that is to take it slow. It sounds obvious, but it is something you really need to remind yourself of each time you use Revit because trying to use the software quickly and skipping vital steps will only lead to problems & frustrations.

Revit requires a step by step approach. Sometimes you need to do things in a certain order for it to work properly. When starting out, read all the warning messages and strange dialog boxes, and make your way through menu's top to bottom to understand all your options available to you, don't just rush to the 'APPLY' button. 

The speed will come, but your understanding of the software needs to come first. Give it 3 months, you will wonder how you ever got by on 2D CAD software.