RFA Content in OpenBuildings Station Designer

Autodesk Revit® applications (Architecture, Structure and MEP) use RVT files for storing BIM models. Buildings are typically made using 3D parametric objects. These 3D building objects (windows, air handling units, and duct fittings for example) are called families that are saved in RFA files and imported into the Revit database prior to use.

OpenBuildings Station Designer allows you to place RFA (Revit Family) file content.

A building component that is stored in an RFA file is similar to a Bentley parametric cell. The Revit Family Editor environment provides a small set of solid modeling tools, that are used to create the 3D modeling components stored in the RFA files.

Some RFA file properties drive dimensions, some properties are calculated, and some properties provide information. Here are a few Revit definitions to help further understand how RFA files are managed in Revit.

Term	Definition
Category	A category is a predefined list into which all Revit components are sorted. Examples include doors, windows, walls, duct fittings, security devices, and sprinkler systems. All RFA files belong to one, and only one category.
Subcategory	A subcategory is a user defined subdivision of an RFA, that enables users to turn off parts of a family; and to control RFA file building component material, color, line weight, and line style. All RFA files have at least one subcategory (the default) and users can define as many subcategories as they wish. Revit projects use object styles to define and manage these settings and visibility graphics to override them in a single view.
Type	A type is a named list of all properties in the RFA file and their associated values. Each RFA can have one or more types, usually with each type representing a specific model in a product line.

Bentley RFA Interpreter Wizard Features

The Wizard creates catalog entries for each Type defined in each RFA that is selected. The Wizard lets you select which types are translated into catalog entries and optionally renames them.
- The Wizard lets you map RFA properties and attributes to OpenBuildings Station Designer equivalents.
  RFA Categories are mapped to DataGroup Categories.
  
  RFA Types are mapped to DataGroup catalog entries.
  
  RFA Object Styles, commonly seen in the Revit Visibility Graphics Settings dialog, are mapped to Parts and Families.
  
  RFA Property Names are mapped to DataGroup Property Names.
- Mapped properties appear in DataGroup catalogs and can be scheduled. Unmapped properties are attached as virtual parameters.
- Properties that are Type properties in the RFA file, are set to not editable in the DataGroup catalog. This mimics the behavior from Revit®, and requires an extra step to change properties that are defined by a manufacturer. If you need to modify these property values, you can do so in the DataGroup Catalog Editor dialog.
The Wizard allows interpreted RFA’s to be integrated into existing OpenBuildings Station Designer tools.
- RFA placement is integrated into the existing placement tools. For example, an RFA door is placed with the OpenBuildings Station Designer Place Door tool.
- Translated RFA’s can be placed into host components. RFA doors and windows can be placed into a wall for example.
- Connection points in MEP elements can connect to Mechanical discipline ducts and pipes.
- RFA property values can be changed before or after placement.
- RFA property values can be modified using the OpenBuildings Station Designer Modify Properties tool.
- Since each mechanical component type has it’s own icon and key-in, we have added a new Place Mechanical Content tool. The tool locates all imported mechanical and plumbing RFA’s, so that they can be placed.
The Wizard converts 2D symbols of RFA’s into constructions.

The Wizard copies RFA’s to the dataset that is selected at the beginning. They are copied to:

RFA	Dataset Directory Folder
Casework	\<datset name>\frame\casework
Doors	\<datset name>\frame\doors
Windows	\<datset name>\frame\windows
All Other RFA’s	\<datset name>\cell

Note: The Dataset Directory Folder locations, shown in the table above, are the default locations provided by OpenBuildings Station Designer. Users can define different locations using the configuration variables: BB_DATASET_ORGANIZATION_FILTER; and BB_DATASET_WORKSET_FILTER.

The Wizard creates two folders, one for attributes and the other for properties, at the directory location \<datset name>\setting\rfawizard. There is one XML file (in the folders) for each category that has previously defined mappings (attributes in the attributes folder and properties in the properties folder).
The Wizard enhances the Compress command to remove unused RFA’s from the active DGN.
The Wizard supports Revit 2009 through 2020.

Wizard Tips and Tricks

The Wizard supports drag & drop operations from Windows Explorer to add files.
In any Wizard field where selections can be made, you can start typing text to filter available results.
The mapping you select for each top level category (in the Wizard’s Map Attributes panel) also applies to all unmapped subcategories. This is a quick way to define many part and family mappings at the same time.
RFA’s are stored in the dictionary model of each file into which they are placed. They are optimized so that each instance in the project refers back to the original. This minimizes the impact on file size.
For RFA’s that require a host component; or that cut an opening (such as doors and windows):
1) Make sure the Sense Distance property is set to a value greater than zero.

2) Make sure the Dimension/Frame Depth property is set to Match Wall.
In the event that you use Mechanical and Plumbing content only for Architectural purposes (such as a sink) you can change the discipline for that content from Plumbing to Architectural. The result is that the sink is now placed using the Place User Defined Type tool, and the sink is placed without any plumbing connections.
Mechanical objects are placed by their origin points, by default. AccuDraw shortcuts enable you to cycle through available connectors to use as placement points.
The Place Mechanical Content tool is only available when Mechanical discipline is running.
The mapping you select for each top-level category in the Map Attributes screen applies to all unmapped subcategories. This is a quick way to define a lot of family and part mappings at the one time.
Note that many families that use type catalogs (types stored in an external *.TXT file) also have a type called load type catalog, error, use catalog, or some other name to indicate to Revit® users that they need to load the types from the catalog. You may want to un-check these types when you import these RFA’s into OpenBuildings Station Designer to avoid any confusion when you place them in your projects.