Revit Translation: Naming Families

There are so many names for 'Families' that it is confusing. I'm going to try and make sense of it here. I'll add on as I find new ones. Please feel free to comment:

Family: In Revit you can go to the Insert menu and 'Load Family'.

Components: Looks like this is what Autodesk is mostly calling 'Loadable Familes' inside of Revit.

Component Families: A variation of Components I've seen

Loadable Families: Refers to things like doors which you insert. Found this in the Autodesk 2010 Family Guide.

In-Place families: Nowhere in Revit, that I can see, does it ever say 'In-Place Families'. All I have found is Component-Model In-Place.

System Families: Also referred to as 'Types'.

'Wall etc' Types: System Familes. These can be loaded in through Manage-Settings-Transfer Project Standards

Styles: Sometimes this refers to annotation System Families. I've seen this describing Types as well.

Content: Usually refers to all Families in general.

Detail Components: Annotation Family

Symbol: Annotation Family which scales with the view

When it comes right down to it, pretty much everything is a 'Family' in Revit. I would like to see a little more consistency with these things. Not all the blame rests on Autodesk but I think that they are in a position to help this kind of thing.

File Formats Compatible with Revit

File formats which are compatible with Revit:

Import

Vector:
.rvt Revit Project
.rfa Revit Family
.adsk Autodesk file ie. Civil 3D terrain
.ifc BIM Interchange from ArchiCAD etc...
.dwg AutoCAD and others
.dxf CAD Interchange
.dgn Microstation 2D
.sat ACIS Solids
.skp Sketchup
.dwf Autodesk viewing and markup file

Images: Decals, Materials etc.
.bmp
.jpg
.jpeg
.png
.tif

Export

Vector:
.rvt
.rfa
.adsk
.ifc
.dwg
.dxf
.dgn
.sat
.dwf

Images: 3D Views
.bmp
.jpg
.jpeg
.png
.tif
.targa

other:
.html Room Reports
.txt comma delimited schedule
.avi Walkthrough video, Solar Study

Virtual Architecture Interview

For some weekend fun you might be interested in this fascinating interview. This takes surrealism to a new level. An interview done in Second Life of real-life and virtual architects. Odd thing is, it feels so natural. Of course, Revit plays a big role...

Click Here to View

ORUG Meeting Sept.29 Meet the Author!

Please join us at the next Ontario Revit User's Group meeting September 29th. Come and meet James Vandezande, a co-author of the top selling 'Mastering Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011'. James will be talking about his varied experiences with Revit and other BIM software in 'My Journey with BIM'.

Click Here for ORUG Invitation