You can bring Revit families (.rfa files) into Snaptrude as Parametric Components. Editing their parameters works much as it does in Revit, and you don't need to convert the family to another 3D format first. Import a family from Revit through Snaptrude Manager, or upload the .rfa file directly to your personal library or your team's Libraries.
Before you start
To import from inside Revit, install the Snaptrude Manager plugin for Revit and keep it updated. When an update is available, the Manager prompts you when you open it.
Revit import, including Revit families, needs the Pro, Organization or Enterprise plan. It isn't available on the Free or Starter plans.
The team library needs the Organization or Enterprise plan. On other plans, Add to Library doesn't appear in the Properties panel.
To export into an existing project, you need edit access to it.
Choose an import route
Route | Where | Where the family ends up |
Snaptrude Manager | Inside Revit, with the family open | A new or existing Snaptrude project |
Import PC | The Families library pop-up in a project | Your Personal library |
Import Family | Your team's Libraries | The team's Families section, where everyone on the team can use it |
Import a family from Revit with Snaptrude Manager
In Revit, open the .rfa file in a 3D view.
Launch Snaptrude Manager and click Export to Snaptrude.
Choose New Project or Existing Project.
For New Project, pick your personal workspace or a team space and, if you like, a folder. For Existing Project, paste the project link. The Manager shows the project name and confirms that you can edit it.
Click Begin Export.
When the export finishes, click Launch Snaptrude. The project opens in a new browser tab, ready for you to place the family.
Note: The Manager stops the export if the project link is invalid or you don't have edit access. When you export to a new project, the list greys out any teams that have reached their project limit or that you can't export to.
Upload a family to your personal library
In a project, click Families in the vertical toolbar on the right edge of the canvas and go to the Personal section.
Click Import PC.
Select the .rfa file on your computer.
When the import finishes, the family appears in your Personal library. Place it the same way as any other library item.
Upload a family to your team's Libraries
Open your team's Libraries.
Click Import Family.
Select the .rfa file on your computer.
When the import finishes, the family appears in the Families section. Anyone on the team can place it in the team's projects.
Tip: Once a family is in the team library, you can assign its cost, vendor details and other properties there.
Add a placed family to the team library
If you imported a family into a team project, you can save it to that team's library.
Select the family in the project.
In the Properties panel, click Add to Library.
Rename it if you need to, choose a category and confirm.
Edit a family's parameters
Select the placed family.
In the Properties panel, change its parameters. The family updates the way it would in Revit.
To see the family's remaining Revit parameters, expand the Revit Parameters section.
Note: BIM objects use type parameters, as they do in Revit. Changing a family's type parameters updates every instance of that family in the project. BIM objects can be set as Instance or Unique; to make one element independent, set it to Unique or use Duplicate Family and keep the new family in the project or save it to your library. Parameter panels show the main controls first and put the rest under Advanced.
Families created by the Snaptrude Agent
The Snaptrude Agent can also build Parametric Components from a prompt, including families with curved geometry. When you create one in a team project, it's added to the team library automatically. To share it more widely, make it public from Libraries.
Troubleshooting
The Manager won't export to my project: check the project link, and make sure you have edit access to the project.
A team is greyed out in the Manager: that team has reached its project limit, or you don't have permission to add projects to it.
I can't find Add to Library: the family must be in a team project, and the team library needs the Organization or Enterprise plan.
Related articles
Import a Revit project
Export to Revit
Libraries and Families
Snaptrude Agent