Link Global Parameters to Built-in Revit Properties

During my research on Global Parameters in Revit, I have compiled a list of built-in (system) properties that you can directly associated to Global Parameters.  For each category, there are certain parameters that have the little 'link' button to the right of the property value - this is used for linking.  If there is no button, then it cannot be directly linked.

This list is not something that we have any control over - each parameter has to be 'enabled' by the software developers.  Below is a list of built-in parameters that I have found, which can be directly associated to Global Parameters (in v2016 R2 & v2017 in red). This list only shows the categories that appear when the discipline is set to Architecture;  there may be other structural and MEP parameters that are also available (but not listed here);  there may also be other parameters that only show up when you change certain settings - so I might not have discovered them:

Category                             Parameter

o   Areas                   -

o   Area boundary    -

o   Casework            -

o   Ceilings                            Height Offset From Level

o   Columns                           Base Offset (v2017)
                                             Top Offset  (v2017)

o   Curtain Wall Grid            -

o   Curtain Panel                   -

o   Curtain System                -

o   Curtain Wall Mullion       -

o   Door                                 Sill Height    (v2017)
                                             Head Height   (v2017)
                                             Height   (v2017 instance or type parameter)
                                             Rough Height  (v2017 instance or type parameter)
                                             Width   (v2017 instance or type parameter)
                                             Rough Width  (v2017 instance or type parameter)
                                             Thickness  (v2017)

o   Electrical Fixtures  -

o   Floor -

o   Floor Slab Edge    -

o   Furniture     -

o   Generic      -

o   Level                                 Computational Height

o   Lighting Fixture      -

o   Line  -

o   Mass -

o   Mechanical Equipment -

o   Parking       -

o   Planting      -

o   Plumbing    -

o   Railings        -

o   Railings: Supports -

o   Railings: Handrails -

o   Railings: Top Rails -

o   Ramp                                 Width

o   Roofs           -

o   Roof Soffits                      Height Offset From Level

o   Roof Fascia           -

o   Roof Gutter           -

o   Room          -

o   Room Separation  -

o   Shaft Opening      -

o   Site   -

o   Site: Property Line -

o   Specialty Equipment  -

o   Stairs                                 Actual Tread Depth

o   Stair Run                           Extend Below Riser Base      (only on lowest run)

o   Stair Landing         -

o   Stair: Support         -

o   Struct. Column                Base Offset (v2017)
                                               Top Offset  (v2017)

o   Struct. Framing              Start Join Cutback
                                               End Join Cutback
                                             y Offset Value
                                             z Offset Value

o   Structural Truss      -

o   Str. Beam System            Elevation
                                               Fixed Spacing / Maximum Spacing / Clear Spacing

o   Struct.Foundations             

o   Toposurface          -

o   Wall                                   Base Offset  (v2017)
                                               Top Offset  (v2017)

o   Wall Reveal                      Offset From Wall
                                              Offset From Level

o   Wall Sweep                       Offset From Wall
                                              Offset From Level

o   Window                            Sill Height  (v2017)
                                              Head Height  (v2017)
                                              Height  (v2017 instance or type parameter)
                                              Rough Height  (v2017 instance & type parameter)
                                              Width  (v2017 instance or type parameter)
                                              Rough Width  (v2017 instance or type parameter)

There is one parameter missing from this list that would be invaluable to be able to associate:

      Floors                            Height Offset From Level

If you would like this one to be enabled, please put in a change request to Autodesk (the more requests, the more likely it is to be done).  Alternatively you could use the latest method of voicing your opinions or wishlists - currently the Autodesk Revit Ideas forum  .  I have posted a wishlist idea here - please vote for it

Understanding Parameter differences in Revit

As part of my upcoming presentation on  Global Parameters - "Power to the People" (Session 1.4 at 3.15pm) at RTC NA in Scottsdale, Arizona on 14 July 2016 I did a lot of research on exactly how each kind of parameter works in Revit.  It is a lot more complicated than I first thought (even though I knew from experience it was not simple).

I thought I would share some of my findings here, as they could be useful for reference generally - regardless of whether you are using Global parameters or not.  I will be referring to some of this research in my presentation, but won't have time to go into detail as the main focus will be the exciting possibilities Global Parameters.

Understanding Different Kinds of Parameters in Revit

System Family built-in Parameters – these are properties that are hard-coded into Revit software, and can be used where available. They can usually be scheduled and sometimes tagged, but not always. They can apply as instance (&/or type) data to:

• system families: walls, floors, ceilings, stairs, railings etc
• Project info
• View and sheet parameters
• Areas, Rooms and Spaces

Custom family custom parameters – user defined (type or instance)

Custom family built-in parameters – system defined (type or instance)

Project Parameters – exist only in the project; user defined; have to be assigned to categories, and hence to families; and cannot include calculations

Shared Parameters – derived from an external master list; can be scheduled and tagged

• can be used for Family (custom) or project parameters, but not for Global or system/built-in parameters

Global Parameters – exist within a project; allow calculations outside the family

Reporting Parameters – extract a length or angle from a model, for use in calculations within families or global parameters; have many limitations within custom families

Calculated Value - these are properties (not real parameters) created within a schedule or tag family (from Revit 2017) - they can include formulas or just be static values for use in other formulas or scheduling;  they are not available anywhere else except the schedule or tag that they are created in.

Key Schedule Parameter - a special kind of schedule can be created that works like a lookup table;  a very few built-in parameters can be included in a key schedule, in which case they are available for tagging;  user created key schedule parameters cannot be Shared Parameters, which makes them of very limited usefulness.  If this latter functionality could be fixed, then Key Schedules would become a very important part of Revit, instead of languishing in the backwaters of arcane uselessness.

The Matrix

There are many limitations and inconsistencies in the way that each type of parameter works in Revit. Here is a matrix (or two) to help to understand the differences: