Share Parameter

Shared parameters are parameter definitions that can be used in multiple families or projects. Shared parameters are definitions of parameters that you can add to families or projects. Shared parameter definitions are stored in a file independent of any family file or Revit project; this allows you to access the file from different families or projects. The shared parameter is a definition of a container for information that can be used in multiple families or projects. The information defined in one family or project using the shared parameter is not automatically applied to another family or project using the same shared parameter. In order for information in a parameter to be used in a tag, it must be a shared parameter. Shared parameters are also useful when you want to create a schedule that displays various family categories; without a shared parameter, you cannot do this. If you create a shared parameter and add it to the desired family categories, you can then create a schedule with these categories. This is called creating a multi-category schedule in Revit. Shared parameters are saved in a text file that can be placed in a shared area on the network to allow others to access it. You can create shared parameters in the project environment or in the Family Editor. Shared parameters are organized in groups that you create to assist with categorization. For example, you might create a group called electrical for specific electrical parameters or a hardware group for specific hardware parameters. You can create as many groups and parameters as desired. Your session of Revit can reference only one shared parameter file at a time. If there are other shared parameters in a different file that you want in the active shared parameter file, you need to export the parameters to the active file. The shared parameter file stores the definitions of the shared parameters. 1. Click Manage tabSettings panel (Shared Parameters). The Edit Shared Parameters dialog opens. 2. Click Create. 3. In the Create Shared Parameter File dialog, enter a file name, and navigate to the desired location. 4. Click Save. 5. Add groups: a. In the Groups box, click New. b. Enter a name for the parameter group, and click OK. 6. Add parameters: a. From the Parameter group drop-down menu, select a group. b. In the Parameters group box, click New. c. In the Parameter Properties dialog, enter a name, discipline, and type for the parameter. Type specifies the format of the information you can enter for the parameter value. You can select: Text Integer Number Length Area Volume Angle Slope Currency URL Material. Allows you to select a material from the Materials dialog when you edit the parameter value in the Properties palette or Type Properties dialog. Yes/No. A check box appears for the parameter value in the Properties palette or Type Properties dialog. . If you select this option, the Select Category dialog opens where you can select the family type. Note: You do not specify the parameter to be instance or type. You decide that later when you add the parameter to a family or a project. d. (Optional) Under Tooltip Description, click Edit Tooltip. In the Edit Tooltip dialog, enter the tooltip text, up to 250 characters, and click OK. e. When finished creating parameters, click OK.

Suppose you want to make a piece of furniture (call it box), then you need to insert it into your project and there to make a schedule which controls not only the number of furniture pieces (as the Type and Instance allow)but also their dimensions, areas per unit and per total, volume....If you want this you have to use Shared Parameters. Lets make first, a Furniture Family...a simple box with three parameters: WidthS ,DepthS and HeigthS -(like in image 01),

check Shared from Parameter Type - click Select Edit Shared Parameter >Shared Parameter File> Create >Save in> save the Text file into a location in your computer under a suggestive name - image 02

Then from Edit Shared Parameters >Groups>New... call it Box shared parameters...and OK...image 03

from Edit Shared Parameters >Parameters >New.. create a series of length parameters...width, depth and height....image 04 and 05

Then, create the object, the Box ( all the constraint were applicated to the reference planes before and the box sides are attached to the reference planes) - image 06

then, load the family object (the Box) into the project In Project , made a Furniture Schedule ....the Box object will appear in the schedule...but it can be seen in Fields>Avalable Fields some new fields : the shared- WidthS , DepthS and Heights....image 07 ....ad these to the schedule - image 08

Now in the schedule I can create other Calculated Parameters as Area or Volume....for instance the total upper surface of the boxes or the total volume of them....image 09 and 10

These parameters can now used for other objects that you want to appear in schedules