1. Session 11
Profiling – Power Up Your Revit Family with
Nested Profile
Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
Class Description
Understanding and using Profile in Family creation can be a key to make
your Revit Family more robust and powerful. Profile family has always been
overlooked in family creation. In this lab, we will discuss and demo how to
create parametric profile family and apply the technique in family
creation. We will show practical use of this technique in a real Revit family
content.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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About the Speaker:
Philip Chan currently is the BIM Manager at Lake|Flato Architects in San
Antonio, Texas, USA. Philip is responsible for directing the usage of BIM in
the office. He develops, maintains and administrates all Revit templates
and contents, and conducts continued education for the staff in the use
of Revit.
Philip holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Environmental Design from
University of Houston and is a LEED AP, BD+C. He is also an Autodesk Revit
Architecture certified professional. Philip has spoken at the Autodesk
University as well as RTC North America and has been an active speaker
at the local Revit/BIM user group.
Email: pchan@lakeflato.com
Blog: http://phil-osophyinbim.blogspot.com/

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Key Learning Outcomes
 Learn how to create parametric profile family and use it to drive
geometry in family creation
 Learn how to use profile family to control rotation in family geometry
 Learn how to use profile family and combine with conditional
statement to control void visibility
 Learn how to utilize void with profile in families
Introduction
In the Family Editor environment, only using Sweep and Swept Blend can
accept profile family as part of geometry creation.
What is Profile Family?
A profile family contains a 2D shape (a closed loop) that you can load
into a project and apply to certain building element, such as curtain
mullion in a curtain wall system. Besides, a profile family can be nested
into another family to use it for making sweep and swept blend object.
Why nested profile?
Using nested profile family on sweep and swept blend can streamline the
family creation process. Since one can create parametric profile that can
be linked to the host family, it minimizes the need of constraining the host
family; thus, one can create a more complicated family without breaking.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Exercise 01 - Nested Profile for Rotation in Family
The first step is to start creating profile family in family editor.
New  Family  Choose “Profile” Template
Set up Reference Planes and created parameter such as “Width” and
“Thickness”. Draw outline like image shown below:
Start another family (Generic Model) and nest/load the profile family into
the generic model family. Set up ref. plane and parameter for “Height”.
Create a Swept Blend by sketching a path first in Front elevation.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Once the path is done, you need to “Select Profile” either by drawing a
sketch or choose one from a “Profile family”. Choose the nested profile
from the drop down selection for both Profile 1 and 2; finish the swept
blend.
When finished, select the swept blend form and look under properties.
Using nested profile family gives you additional properties to control the
behavior of the profile. There are 2 sets of parameters “Angle” from the
swept blend form. **When making a sweep, only 1 set of “Angle”
parameter will be available. **

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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These “Angle” parameters is going to be used as rotation for this family.
Click the button “Associate Family Parameter” to create parameter
called Rotation_Top and Rotation_Bottom.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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With the parameters linked to the family, you can easily control it to
create a twisted form. **Note** This rotation value can be either positive
or negative.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Before you nest this family to the next one, make sure you transfer the
parameter “Width” and “Thickness” from profile family to the generic
model. Go to project browser, select the profile family, double click and
open the type properties dialog box and associate those parameters.
Start another generic model family and nest this vertical slat into it. Layout
ref. plane and set up “Height” and “Width”. Create an array with the
nested slat family.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Repeat the same step to transfer the parameter from the slat to the host
family. You can now create a louver with rotation that will never break!

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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(Louver at 45 degree) (Louver at 90 degree)
(Louver at 135 degree) (Louver at 180 degree)

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Exercise 02 - Void Cut Visibility
Start off with a profile like this in order to use it for the void sweep of the
raised panel
Nest it to another family where
you have the solid panel
created.
Go to Create  Solid Sweep 
Pick Path
Use ‘Pick 3D Edges” and pick
four sides of the panel.
Finish the path, choose the
profile family from the dropdown
selector.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Next, have the profile family offset from the edge like the image below
and finish the sweep.
Go to the properties of the sweep and change it from “Solid” to “Void”.
Under the properties, notice there is a parameter called “Horizontal Profile
Offset”. By setting this parameter with a positive value, it will offset/push
the sweep away from the panel. You can take advantage of using this
value and assign it as a parameter.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Here’s what we know:
When Horizontal profile offset is at 0”, the void sweep cut out the panel;
when the offset is at 6”, it will move away.
By associating this as a parameter, you would be able to control the void
sweep location.
Use Cut Geometry to have the void sweep cut out the panel.
Go to Family Type, change the value from 0” to 6”, and notice the void
now moved away; therefore, the panel appears to remain flush again.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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With this idea, you can set up a yes/no parameter to drive the void sweep
(visibility). Name the parameter (Show_Raised Panel). Next, go to
parameter Sweep Offset, under the formula field, type a condition
statement like this:
If(Show_Raised Panel,0”,6”)

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Once this is done, you can use the check box (yes/no parameter) to drive
the void’s location, as if you made a switch to control the visibility of the
void form.
With this set up, you can now have 2 types of panel style for casework
family like kitchen cabinet.
**The images below illustrate the panel style is set as instance parameter.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Exercise 03 – Control Void Cut Visibility for Exposed
Structural Beam
Start a new profile family and layout ref. plane and parameter as shown
below:
Have parameter “Radius” and “d” linked to parameter “Setback” using
formula in family type.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Open the dimensional lumber beam family (or any desired beam family)
and save as a new family. Nest the profile to the beam. Create Sweep
form by using “Pick Path” (3D edges) option to pick the top edge of the
existing geometry.
Once you are done picking the path,
choose the nested profile family as profile and finish the sweep.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Your solid sweep should look something like this:
Select the solid sweep and go to properties where you can change the
sweep from “solid” to “void”.
Use cut geometry to cut the beam with the void…
Next, go to the project browser, find the “Void” profile family again and
link the “setback” parameter to the beam family.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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You can now control the parameters of the exposed profile in the family
and it will self-adjust it when it changes from one size to another. Repeat
the same step at the other end of the beam to create the cut. To do this,
go to the properties of the void sweep, there is a yes/no parameter called
“Profile is Flipped”, associate it to the family and name “Show_End Cut” as
an instance yes/no parameter. Now go back to family type and toggle
the check box, you will see the void flip to the other end of the beam thus
it does not cut the beam.

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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The last step is to have the type catalog (.txt) file copied from the original
family and rename it to the same as the new one, you are all set to go!

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Modify an existing beam family with nested profile as a void gives you a
lot of flexibility. You can create different shape of profiles and build up
your library for your company’s need. Application like this is endless.
(Exposed beam used to build trellis structure)

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Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects
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Conclusion
Profile family is a hidden gem in family creation. Making the profile with
parametric properties can further enhance the power in Revit and allow
the creator to have more flexibility to build a more complex family. Sky is
the limit. Keep in mind to be creative and to have fun!