Creating and managing Family Symbols in Revit can sometimes present unexpected challenges, especially when dealing with face-based families and their visibility in different views. A common issue arises when users expect annotation symbols to behave consistently across front and plan views, only to find discrepancies. This article addresses a specific query regarding annotation symbols in face-based families and clarifies the correct approach for ensuring visibility in plan views.
For face-based families, the key to displaying annotation symbols correctly in project plan views lies in understanding where to define these symbols within the family editor. Unlike model geometry, which can adapt to various orientations of the host face, annotation symbols in face-based families are governed by a specific rule related to project views. To ensure your annotation symbol appears as intended in plan views, you must place it within the Floor Plan: Ref. Level view of your family.
This designated view, Floor Plan: Ref. Level, is the reference point Revit uses to determine how the annotation symbol will be displayed when the family is viewed in a plan view within your project. It’s important to note that the behavior of model geometry differs; it is not constrained by these view-specific rules and can rotate freely with the host face. This distinction is crucial for understanding why annotation symbols might not appear as expected if placed in a front view of a face-based family.
If your design involves hosting families on vertical faces and you need to visualize this orientation within the family editor for easier modeling, a workaround can be considered. Before you begin modeling the geometry, try rotating the embedded host in your family template to a vertical position. While this approach may aid visualization during the family creation process, remember that the placement of the annotation symbol in the Floor Plan: Ref. Level view remains the definitive step for plan view visibility in your Revit project.
In summary, to effectively display annotation symbols for face-based families in Revit plan views, always ensure that these symbols are created and positioned within the Floor Plan: Ref. Level view of the family editor. This practice ensures consistency and predictability in how your family symbols are represented in your Revit projects.
