Understanding Revit Parameters – Part 3, Project Parameters

Revit comes with built-in system fields attached to its objects as standard, and these fields can be shown in schedules and applied to filters to format its views to suit.

However, there is often a need to assign additional data fields to schedules, or to other objects such as views or sheets to facilitate easier organisation. This can be quickly achieved using Project Parameters. Project parameters are data fields you can attach to a Revit Project, they differ from Shared parameters in that they cannot be transferred to other projects or shown with tags. They have an advantage in that they can be added quickly to multiple object types for filtering or schedule purposes.

Shared Parameters are defined in an external text file and can be used to ensure consistent naming of properties in different families and projects. They can also be shown via tags in drawing views.

However, in certain situations Shared parameters may not be required, or time doesn’t permit the editing of multiple families.

Using the lighting fixture schedule as an example, it may be necessary to have a date showing the date of when the fitting was last checked. The standard Revit fields may not be adequate and a prompt solution is necessary.

Within the schedule properties a bespoke parameter can be added and a name, format and discipline set. This will control where the bespoke data can be located within the property’s palette. Also, whether the parameter is of an instance or type.

The bespoke parameter is added to all elements of Lighting Fixtures and can be scheduled or highlighted with a view filter as desired.

Project parameters can also be employed to organise data within the Project Browser, making the access of views and sheets on larger projects much easier.

In the example image above, a project parameter describing the view purpose makes view management within a Revit project much easier. A similar parameter could also sort sheets and schedule views.