How do you edit grid family in Revit?

Editing grid families in Revit primarily involves customizing the grid head (also known as the tag or bubble) and adjusting the visual properties of the grid lines themselves. This process allows you to tailor the appearance of your grids to project standards or specific aesthetic requirements.

Understanding Revit Grid Families

In Revit, when you refer to a "grid family," you are typically focusing on the grid head family, which is the graphical symbol displayed at the ends of your grid lines (e.g., a circle with the grid number). The grid line itself is controlled by the grid's type properties within the project environment. Customizing these elements ensures your architectural and structural documentation is clear and compliant.

Editing Grid Type Properties within a Project

Before diving into the family editor, you can adjust many visual aspects of your grid lines and choose which grid head family to use directly within your project.

Steps to Modify Grid Type Properties:

Select a Grid: In a plan or elevation view, select any grid line.
Access Type Properties: In the Properties palette, click "Edit Type".
Duplicate (Recommended): To avoid modifying a default type or affecting other grids, click "Duplicate..." and give your new grid type a descriptive name (e.g., "Grid - Custom 2mm Tag").
Modify Parameters: Adjust the following parameters as needed:
- Symbol: This is where you select the grid head family you want to use. You can choose from existing loaded grid head families.
- End Segment Color / Middle Segment Color: Change the color of the grid line segments.
- End Segment Pattern / Middle Segment Pattern: Adjust the line style (e.g., solid, dashed).
- End Segment Weight / Middle Segment Weight: Control the line thickness.
- Show Bubble on End 1 / Show Bubble on End 2: Toggle the visibility of the grid head at each end of the line.
Apply Changes: Click "OK" to apply the modifications to the selected grid and any others assigned to this new type.

Customizing the Grid Head (Tag) Family

To change the appearance of the grid bubble itself—such as its size, the font of the number, or its graphic elements—you need to edit the grid head family file (.rfa).

Step-by-Step Guide to Editing a Grid Head Family:

This process involves opening the family in the Family Editor, making precise adjustments, and then loading it back into your project.

Open the Grid Head Family:
- From Project: Select a grid in your project, then in the Properties palette, click "Edit Family". This will open the currently used grid head family in the Family Editor.
- From File: Alternatively, go to File > Open > Family and navigate to Annotations > M_Grid Head - Circle.rfa (or similar, depending on your template and locale).
Identify Editable Elements:
- Within the Family Editor, you will see symbolic lines that form the circle (or other shape) and a text label.
- The label is a special type of text called a "label" which displays the grid number.
Modify Label Parameters:
- Select the grid number Label.
- In the Properties palette, click "Edit Type" for the label.
- Duplicate the Label type (e.g., "2mm Arial").
- Adjust Text Size: Change the Text Size parameter (e.g., enter 2 mm as the size). You might also change the font, bolding, or other text properties here.
- Click "OK".
- Practical Insight: "If we wanted the tag to be say two millimeters and click OK. And then if we load that into the project. You'll then see that label size change in this project. And now it's a bit smaller." This highlights how directly changing the text size in the label's type properties impacts the visual size of the grid number.
Modify Symbolic Lines (Bubble Graphics):
- Select the symbolic lines that form the circle or other shape of the grid head.
- You can edit their size, move them, or even draw new symbolic lines using the Create tab > Line tool. Ensure they are on an appropriate subcategory.
Save the Family:
- Go to File > Save As > Family.
- Give it a new, descriptive name (e.g., M_Grid Head - Custom 2mm.rfa). This ensures you keep the original family intact and have a custom version.
Load into Project:
- With the family saved, click "Load into Project" (or Load into Project and Close if you're done editing).
Apply the New Grid Head:
- Select your grid lines in the project.
- In the Properties palette, click "Edit Type".
- If you duplicated the grid type earlier, edit that one. Otherwise, duplicate an existing grid type.
- Change the Symbol parameter to your newly loaded grid head family (e.g., M_Grid Head - Custom 2mm).
- Click "OK". You will now see the updated, smaller label size or other graphical changes on your grids.

Key Elements to Edit in a Grid Head Family:

Label Parameters: Text size, font, color, bolding, italics.
Symbolic Lines: The actual geometry (circle, square, hexagon) of the bubble. You can change its size, shape, and line properties.
Visibility: You can assign visibility parameters if you want different grid head appearances under specific conditions (e.g., different detail levels).

Practical Tips for Grid Family Editing

Duplicate Always: When editing types or families, always duplicate first. This preserves your original assets and allows for easy rollback.
Test in a Sample Project: Before implementing widely, test your custom grid families in a small, isolated project to ensure they behave as expected.
Standardize Naming: Use clear and consistent naming conventions for your custom grid families and types (e.g., Grid Head - Circle 3mm, Grid Type - Architectural).
Consider Workflows: Plan how your custom grids will integrate with your team's workflow and existing project templates.

Common Editable Grid Parameters

Parameter Category	Example Properties	Location
Grid Line Style	Line color, line pattern, line weight	Grid Type Properties (within project)
Grid Head Selection	Choice of which grid head family to display	Grid Type Properties (within project)
Grid Head Graphics	Bubble size, shape (circle, square)	Grid Head Family Editor (`.rfa` file)
Grid Head Text	Text size, font, bold/italic for the grid number label	Grid Head Family Editor (`.rfa` file - Label Type)
Visibility	Show/hide bubble, visibility parameters	Grid Type Properties / Grid Head Family Editor

By following these steps, you can effectively customize grid families and their representations in Revit, ensuring your documentation meets all project requirements.