Autodesk 24000-000000-9860 - Revit Architecture - PC, User Manual

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There are 2 types of model elements:
■ Hosts (or host elements) are generally built in place at the construction site. Walls and roofs are examples
of hosts.
■ Model components are all the other types of elements in the building model. For example, windows,
doors, and cabinets are model components.
There are 2 types of view-specific elements:
■ Annotation elements are 2D components that document the model and maintain scale on paper. For
example, dimensions, tags, and keynotes are annotation elements.
■ Details are 2D items that provide details about the building model in a particular view. Examples include
detail lines, filled regions, and 2D detail components.
Categories, Families, and Types
Revit Architecture classifies elements by categories, families, types, and instances.
Category : A category is a group of elements that you use to model or document a building design. For
example, categories of model elements include walls and beams. Categories of annotation elements include
tags and text notes.
Family : Families are classes of elements in a category. A family groups elements with a common set of
parameters (properties), identical use, and similar graphical representation. Different elements in a family
may have different values for some or all properties, but the set of properties—their names and meaning—is
the same. For example, six-panel colonial doors could be considered one family, although the doors that
compose the family come in different sizes and materials. Structural members (such as w shapes) are another
family.
Type : Each family can have different types. A type can be a specific size of a family, such as a 30” X 42”(A0)
title block or a 32" x 84" (910 x 2110) door. A type can also be a style, such as default aligned or default
angular style for dimensions. A family can have several types. For example, a table may be available in several
sizes. Each size table is a different type within the same family.
Instance : Instances are the actual items (individual elements) that are placed in the project and have specific
locations in the building (model instances) or on a drawing sheet (annotation instances). Each instance
belongs to a family and, within that family, a particular type.
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