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Make Content Work for Your Company’s Standards with Parameter Jammer

Parameter Jammer is a CTC software tool in the BIM Project Suite that allows Revit users to fix family types live in a project. It is a simple-to-use tool that solves the problem that occurs when users download content from manufacturer websites. Many times, when a user downloads this content, they find that it has missing parameters needed for a schedule, it doesn’t work with the company’s schedule, the user doesn’t know how to modify the content, or doesn’t have time to troubleshoot the content so that it works as needed for the project’s schedule.

Parameter Jammer helps solve these problems by quickly pushing parameters to new content and making it work with your company’s standards without needing a BIM manager to troubleshoot and modify the content.

Parameter Jammer allows users to fix family files live in a project to something that will work with the company’s standard shared parameter file with minimal impact on project timelines. This tool will change families already in a project by modifying their parameter definitions to match what a given schedule requires.

This example shows a door that was brought in from an outside source.

The door is missing the hardware field parameter under “Construction” for this family type and is not editable in the schedule.  

To launch Parameter Jammer, select the CTC Software and open CTC BIM Project Suite. Select the Parameter Jammer button to open.

It is important to note that a shared parameter file must be specified. This will be used to source the shared parameter definitions. To select the shared parameter file location, click the browse button and navigate to the project’s shared parameters file.

From the Parameter Jammer box, choose the schedule from the list available in the project on the left. In this example, the parameter is needed for the door schedule. Click Door Schedule to bring up the door family types in the project.

Select the door family type that has the missing parameter needed in the door schedule. The list will filter to display only the families whose category matches the selected schedule.  

Parameter Jammer will begin processing the selected family. The parameter field in the schedule will be matched by the name to the parameter in the shared parameters file. Parameter Jammer will add the missing parameter in the family with the parameters from the shared parameters file.

Under Set Remaining, select how to handle the parameter for the schedule. From the dropdown menu, it contains options to:

  •  Do Not Include
  • Add as Instance
  • Add as Type

In this example, the HARDWARE GROUP parameter from the schedule is mapped to the Door-Curtain-Wall-Double-Storefront. Parameter Jammer will swap out the parameter in the family to use the desired parameter from the schedule while leaving any parameter values or formulas intact. Note that when viewing the parameters in the family, the names from those in the schedule will now appear instead of the original names that were replaced.

If the <Do Not Include> option is selected, the parameter will not be added to the family. In this example, the <Add as Instance> is selected. Once the parameter has been mapped, click Next to continue.

The dialogue Parameter Jammer shows the operation is complete. Click Finish to exit.

The hardware type is now editable in the schedule and the drop-down box will allow the user to either select the hardware type currently being used for other doors or input a new hardware type for this door family.

Get more from your Autodesk software with CTC tools.

Ready to enhance the software you use every day? – Try BIM Project Suite for free!

Angela Norris, AIA

Sr. AEC Technical Specialist

Licenses & Certifications

Licensed Architect

NCARB

About Angela

Angela is an experienced Architect with a demonstrated history of work in the architecture and planning industry. As a dedicated professional, Angela is skilled in Revit, AutoCAD, construction drawings, strategic planning and submittals.

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