Change Image in Revit Title Block

There's been some discussion on AUGI on tying a Parameter to an Image so things like stamps can be changed in the title block.  This can be done, except that you have to insert an image into a family...generic annotation family is a nice one to use.

I would like to give credit to Aaron Bergmann for pointing out this can be done in this AUGI post.  Thanks Aaron!!

Here's the steps you'll need to use to make this happen...

• Start a new Family and use the Generic Annotation.rte
• Insert an image into the Generic Annotation family.
• Go to Settings->Family Category and Parameters.
• Check the box for Shared in the bottom pane.

• Save it with an appropriate name and load it into your Title Block family.
• Use the Symbol Tool to insert the new Image Family. 
  • !!NOTE!! You may not see the image when you initially bring it in.  Place it near where you want it, then move or align it.  There should be a dot for the insertion point of the family when you go to move or align.

• With the image family selected, go to Element Properties.

• When in Element Properties, select the gray box for Visible.  Add a new parameter to control the Visibility of the image family.  Give the parameter name something similar to the image you want to control.  Don't call them Image 1, Image 2, etc.  I also made mine Type based so I can change the visibility across the board instead of each individual title block.
• If you have multiple images that you would like to turn on/off, repeat the same process for each image family.
• Once the image families have been set with a Visibility Parameter, go to Family Types.  Uncheck what you do not want to see and check what you want to have on by default.  If you want a blank space, leave them all unchecked.
  • !!NOTE!!  The images will not change visibility in the Family Editor.  Testing whether or not you've attached the correct parameter to the correct family will have to be done in a project.
• Save the Title Block family and Load it into your project.
• Once the title block family is loaded in the project, all you have to do is select one of the title blocks and go to Element Properties.  Go to Edit/New to access the Type Parameters and check and uncheck away.

Extra little tip...controlling the size of the image.  Since the image has to be adjusted in the generic annotation family, measure the distances (area) in the title block that you want the image to fit into.  You can then either re-create this area in the annotation family or, copy-clip and paste the lines that make up the area for the image into the annotation family.  Just remember to remove the lines when you're done sizing the image. :)

And...if you want to use formulas to help aid in not having more than one image on at a time, here's something I did for this example.  If you have two checks in the top parameters, no logo will be displayed.  The lower parameters (under Other) are the actual Parameters tied to the Families.  The Parameters under Graphics are ones I created in the Family Types to drive the others.

Changing Parameters from Type to Instance - Revisited

I was reading a post by Brian Renehan @ Revit Fix about changing parameters that are in the out-of-the-box families.  As I previously posted, you don't have to go through these steps to change from Type to Instance...there is a check box you can use in the Options Bar.

This got me thinking and testing as well...since you can modify one of these "system" parameters based on Brian's post, what happens if you try to delete or modify the name.  Well, here's what I found...

The image below is what I did when I changed the Category to Generic Model and modified the Height Parameter.  I changed it to say "Height Test", made it Instance Based and changed the parameter category to Other.

 

Then, I changed the Family Category back to Casework and took a look at the parameters again.  Interestingly the Height parameter came back... as a Type Parameter and without a Value.  The Height parameter that I had modified was still present with the changes that I made, and was the parameter that was being used for the dimension label.

So the parameters that you see in the templates are really built into the programming of the family category.  If you really want to see what parameters are built into a family, start a family as a Generic family and then change it to another Category.  The Generic family basically only consists of the parameters in Identity Data and when you change it to another Category, the parameters built in will appear.

Changing a Parameter from Type to Instance

For the most part, if you want to change a parameter from Type to Instance (or vice-versa) you can edit a parameter in the Family Types.  But there are some parameters that you can't modify on the Family Types that come out-of-the-box.  Take the door family for instance; if you go into the Family Types and select the Thickness parameter, you can't select the Modify button under Parameters on the right side (see pic below).

In order to change a parameter like this from Type to Instance, you actually do it outside the Family Types dialog.  Go to the view where the dimension is labeled and select the dimension.  Now look up at the Options Bar...you'll see a check box where you can make that Label (parameter) Instance based.  This works for ANY parameter tied to a dimension.