It is often the case that a component that has been modeled in place (with Revit) needs to be converted into a family instead with Revit. While such a family is not parametric, it may still be used in other projects as a normal family. This blog shows how that is done.

Here are mentioned some examples where this may be necessary in Revit.

A simple baluster post is modeled in place. Some of the reference planes used when constructing the post are not aligned with the direction in which it must be arrayed. This causes the solid geometries in Revit to diverge when the component is arrayed. One solution to this is to create a family for the baluster post and array that instead. Below is an array that goes awry.

A special component, at first believed to be a one-off, is required in other projects. Again, saving the custom component to a family is the solution.

Select the in-place component and edit it.

Now select all the geometries that will constitute the family and create a group from them.

While still in the modeling editor, export groups to library.

This gives one the option to save to an RFA file. Do so then exit the in-place editor.

Open the RFA file to see how the geometries have been arranged with in relation the default reference planes. Move the geometry so that it is correctly positioned in the family.

Notice also that the materials that were applied in the In-place component are now in the family.

Load this family into a new project and notice how it may now be arrayed without the geometry diverging.