In Revit, one of the software’s most powerful features is its ability to work with a wide variety of “families”—predefined components used across different projects to ensure consistency, accuracy, and efficiency. These families help architects, engineers, and construction professionals create standardized elements that integrate seamlessly within the project. Users may have a familiar question about where specific tools or components, like a “steek rule,” fall within Revit’s family system.
In this blog post, we’ll explain what a “steek rule” is and what it might mean within the context of Revit and clarify how it fits into Revit’s family categories. We will also explore how tools and families function within Revit and how you can utilize them effectively in your projects.
What is a Steek Rule?
First, let’s address the term “steek rule.” There seems to be a bit of confusion surrounding this term, as “steek rule” is not commonly used in Revit or the construction/design industry. You may refer to a steel rule, a tool used for measuring in various sectors, particularly drafting and design, or a stick rule. In traditional drafting, a steel rule is a simple measuring tool for marking or measuring precise lengths, often in millimeters or inches.
Suppose we consider the “steek rule” as a measurement tool similar to a steel rule. In that case, its role in Revit may not directly correlate with a specific tool family because measuring tools in Revit generally rely on built-in tools for dimensions, such as the “Dimension” tool, which does not require a separate family object.
However, suppose by “steek rule” you are referring to a custom or user-defined measuring tool within the context of Revit or another design tool. In that case, we will explore how families and Revit’s system could work with custom measurement or guideline components.
Understanding Families in Revit
In Revit, a family refers to a group of components that share similar properties and behaviors. Families in Revit define the different building elements within a model, such as walls, windows, doors, furniture, fixtures, and many more. Families are categorized into three main types:
- System Families – These are predefined and cannot be loaded or modified. Examples include walls, floors, and roofs.
- Loadable Families – These are created outside of a project but can be imported into the project. Examples include windows, doors, furniture, and lighting fixtures.
- In-Place Families – These families are created directly within the project and are helpful for custom, non-reusable elements.
Each family type has parameters that govern how it behaves in a project. For example, a door family may have width, height, material, and hardware configuration parameters. The user can adjust these parameters to create variations of the same Family, ensuring flexibility in the design process.
How Tools and Families Work in Revit
When working with Revit, tools and families often overlap in their usage. While families define the objects or components in the project, tools help you manipulate these objects within the Revit environment. Tools like the Dimension Tool, Spot Elevation, Spot Slope, Level Tool, and Rebar Tool help users create and adjust specific elements within the model. These tools are typically accessible from the Revit ribbon. While they don’t always require a family to function, they interact with families to define how objects behave and are displayed in the model.
For instance, a dimension is a tool that helps the user specify the project’s length, width, or other measurements of elements. However, these dimensions are not families in and of themselves—they are tools used to display the measurements of existing families. Likewise, spot elevations and spot slopes display specific values or measurements associated with surfaces. Still, these, too, rely on families to function correctly.
The Role of Custom Measuring Tools (e.g., Steek Rule)
If you are referring to a custom measuring tool or a specific element, such as a “steek rule” (perhaps a steel or stick rule), it may need to be created as a loadable family or an in-place family if it is a custom object. Here’s how you could approach this:
- Create a Custom Family: If you need a physical tool, such as a steel rule or a ruler, within your Revit model for measurement reference, you could create a loadable family. This Family would act as a reference object within the model but would not be functional for taking dimensions (as Revit’s dimensioning tools handle that). You would model it as an object with specific parameters like length and material, which you can modify based on your requirements.
- Incorporate Custom Families for Measurement Guidelines: For particular projects, especially those that require a visual aid like a rule for measurement, it may be beneficial to design the rule as an in-place family. This allows you to create a specific object unique to your project that can be used for visual representation within the model.
- Use Revit’s Built-in Dimensioning Tools: If your need for a “steek rule” is related to measuring or annotating dimensions within your project, you would likely rely on Revit’s Dimension Tools rather than creating a separate family. These tools allow you to place precise measurements directly on your model without needing additional physical objects like a ruler.
Practical Example: Creating a Measuring Tool in Revit
Let’s say you are working on a detailed model and want to reference a “steek rule” (steel rule). You can do this by following these steps:
- Create a Loadable Family: Use the Generic Model template to start a new family. Design a simple rectangular shape representing a steel rule.
- Add Parameters: Add parameters like length, width, and material to the Family so it can be adjusted when placed in the model.
- Load the Family into the Project: Once the Family is created, load it into the project. You can place it anywhere in the model to act as a reference.
- Use the Dimensioning Tools: When creating dimensions, use Revit’s Dimension Tool to measure the distances between elements or parts of the Family, ensuring accuracy in placing your “steek rule.”
Conclusion
While the term “steek rule” may not directly correspond to an official tool family within Revit, if we assume you are referring to a steel rule or stick rule used for measurement, it’s essential to understand that Revit relies on its own dimensioning tools for measurement purposes rather than creating an entire family for such objects.
However, you must incorporate a custom measuring tool or visual reference. In that case, you can easily create it as a loadable family or in-place Family to serve as a reference point within your project. Revit’s robust system of families and tools can be used in tandem to create accurate, detailed, and customizable project models while maintaining high levels of consistency and clarity across the entire design.