Revit Plugin for Nested Family Parameter Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer-aided design (CAD) software like Autodesk Revit faces challenges in managing complex parameter sets for fabrication-level content, leading to difficulties in tracking relevant parameters and generating accurate documentation due to the sheer number of combinations and lack of integration with fabrication workflows.
Innovation Solution
A plugin that provides a custom dialog display to act as an intermediate layer between users and Revit parameters, allowing users to select options linked to nested family parameters, thereby simplifying the process of understanding and setting relevant parameters for assemblies, and enabling auto-generated fabrication documentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If nested families are used to reduce storage space for large families of related assemblies, then storage efficiency is improved, but parameter tracking and understanding becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that translates between simplified user-facing parameters and the underlying nested family parameters. This intermediary layer allows users to work with manageable parameter sets while the system handles the complexity of nested family parameter inheritance and propagation automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the parameter management system into distinct layers: host family parameters, nested family parameters, and derived parameters. This segmentation allows each layer to manage specific aspects of parameter control, reducing the cognitive load on users while maintaining storage efficiency through nested families.
2Manufacturing precision
If more parameters and values are required for fabrication-level content, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates fabrication documentation by deriving it from the parameter data already captured in the nested family structure. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual documentation while ensuring accuracy, as the fabrication data is automatically populated from the structured parameter information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary parameter validation and organization within the nested family structure before fabrication documentation is needed. By pre-defining parameter relationships and constraints in the host and nested families, the system ensures that fabrication-level precision is achieved without requiring complex manual intervention at the documentation stage.
3Loss of information
If REVIT displays a vast number of parameters, then information completeness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by presenting different parameter sets to different users based on their specific needs and context. The system filters and prioritizes parameters locally at the user interface level, showing only relevant parameters to each user while maintaining complete parameter information in the underlying data structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The parameter display is made dynamic, adapting to user actions and context. As users navigate through assemblies and make selections, the system dynamically updates the displayed parameters to show only those that are currently relevant, while the complete parameter set remains available in the nested family structure for comprehensive information management.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods presented herein provide a plugin to REVIT or a similar program that allows for utilizing nested families for related parts and assemblies. Assembly families can include an inheritance tree where an instance of a host family implements child and sub-child families. The child and sub-child families can inherit parameters from the host family. To manage parameter values associated with the nested structure, the plugin can provide a custom dialog that acts as a middle layer between the user and the parameter settings of the computer-aided design program. The custom dialog can associate user selections with permissible values for parameters related to the host family.