Revit cant rotate element into this position

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Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 9:34:35 PM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#1

monkey11

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I have encountered what is probably my most frustrating experience in Revit to date.

I am designing an auditorium/lab and I would like to shape the space with an array of a single type of acoustic wall panel, each one rotated differently in its three axes.

Initially, I created an acoustic wall panel family, loaded it into the project, rotated the panels in plan just fine, but when I went into elevation to rotate them in that plane, I get the "Cannot rotate element into this position" error message. I created an in-place family - same thing. I created an in-place mass - same thing.

My minimal online poking around has informed me that Revit can not perform this function. This seems ludicrous to me as just about every CAD program for the past 20 years has been able to do this. 'Rotate' (in any plane) is one of the three classic graphic manipulation commands, fer cryin' out loud!!!

Is there an easy way to accomplish this that I am completely missing or with which I am otherwise yet unacquainted? I'd like to have nice 3D interior views and accurate sections and everything. Revit seems determined to assert that it is not in fact a 3D Building Information Modeler.

Sorry to be long-winded.

Cranky in Cleveland,

monkey11

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Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 9:54:58 PM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#2

tim123

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Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 9:56:08 PM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#3

WWHub

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Before you go wild about what Revit can't do, you should learn what it can....because it can do what you want when done correctly.  You need to quit applying CAD rules.  Some tutorials will help you learn more of the basics.

First... don't use any in-place families that are used in more than one place.   Instead - create a family and load it in. 

Second, You need to decide if this is a hosted family or something that can be in space anywhere.  In your case, face based would be best since you probably want to do walls and ceilings ... but you have to decide then choose the right tmplate.

Third ... in the family, under category and parameters, there is an "always vertical" switch.  I think you want to turn that off for this item.

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Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 1:33:08 PM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#4

monkey11

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I admit I was writing out of frustration, and I overstated my dismay. In my experience with it until now, Revit has been incredibly intuitive and advanced. This ordeal, by contrast, has just been a disappointment, so I assumed I might be missing something fundamental.

My first approach was to create a family and load it in. This is still the basic premise upon which I've been testing other variables. I attempted an "in-place" approach merely because it was an option...wrong choice, so I'm no longer trying that.

My preference would be to have a surface-independent family which could be freely manipulated in space. However, perhaps a surface-based template is the way to go. Would that allow me to attach it to any work plane?

Unchecking the "always vertical" box was also one of the first things we tried, unfortunately to no avail.

Any additional advice is appreciated...

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Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 1:54:06 PM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#5

WWHub

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Thu, Sep 16, 2010 at 5:56:54 AM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#6

Slavio

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Hi to all

 I also have problem with rotating

1. I create a famaly from General metric template, load into the project (created from Mechanical-Default_Metric.rte) and i can't rotate in all axis. Checkbox "allways vertical" in the Family categories and parameters was switch of.

2. I see that, for example, famaly M_Boiler.rfa (from Autodesk\RME 2010\Metric Library\Mechanical Components\Water-Side Components\Boilers) I can rotate in the project in all axis. I created next family using Metric Mechanical Equipment.rft but when i loaded this new family into the project i have the same problem

May be could someone explane step by step how create a god family which wiil be rotate in all axis in the project.

Thanks to all.

Edited on: Thu, Sep 16, 2010 at 1:37:11 AM

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Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 11:39:31 PM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#7

ccdave

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I've been having the same problem, and have been searching for a solution for months!

It's easy to rotate in "reference view", but, as far as I can tell, if you have a complex object, it is impossible to rotate it in "elevation".

I have tried all of the suggestions below, and everything I can find on the web, but none works "reliably".  I can sometimes rotate a simple box (though it chages dimensions), but if it has parametric

it has parametric elements (such as h, l, w), I can't do it.

Seems like the simplest operation in the world, but ???  Is this the one thing that the almighty Revit simply can't perform?   Kind of like a world class

runner that can't tie his shoe laces?

SO - Here's the challenge:

Attached is a family file for a parametric box that needs to be tilted in elevation. The challenge is in two parts:

1. Load the attached file, fix it, flex all of the dimensions, flex the angle, all without any errors.

                                          ... and if you get to that point...

2. Explain to me (and the other readers) HOW YOU DID IT!

Thanks, and Have Fun!!

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Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 2:48:28 PM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#8

WWHub

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First - Download the Families Guide from the autodesk site. It will help you understand a lot of your problems.

Second - Be careful when you build families.  Add your reference planes first before you add any geometry.  Also be careful with constraints.  Locking everything creates probelms.

Finally - Why are you using a face based template to begin with?  You can align your object to a face. Or you could create a generic family and nest that in a face based family where it rotates.

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Wed, Oct 17, 2012 at 12:15:10 AM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#9

macca00

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I am having a similar problem, I have made a generic model and loaded it into another generic family. But can not rotate it in elevation, revit gives me the error "Can't rotate element into this position." It seems simple enough but can't get an explanation?? - always vertical is 'off' - seems to do with something about how complex the model is.

I'm using Revit2013

It is a parametric louvered system (length & height adjustable)

All reference planes were created before hand.

It does have arrayed components which are grouped, maybe something wrong there?

It is not a hosted family.

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Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 9:03:46 AM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#10

o2933861

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If all you want is to rotate a family in any direct one at a time, please do the following:

1. Get a family (either create/copy a family)

2.double click the family ( to enter family edit screen)

3. Go to Modify (Modify| Extrusion)-> Propoerties ->Family Category and Parameters

4. Uncheak "Always vertical" (and click ok)

5. Go to Create ->Work Plane -> Set

6. Specify a new Work Plane to "Name" and either of the axis you want to the right (then click ok)

7. double click the family ( to enter family edit screen, modify tab)

8. Go to Modlify (Modify| Extrusion) -> Modlify -> rotate

9. click and rotate (accuracy based on angle degree)

((tested in Revit 2013))

sidenote: with 4yr.. no 4 days of revit experiences, I hope it is the solution you guys wanted.

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Mon, Nov 5, 2012 at 4:00:53 PM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#11

ihearthank

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Is there a way to rotate an element in the conceptual mass tool in a 'z' axis with hosting it to a different reference plane, which then changes the orientation?

revit 2013

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Wed, Jun 19, 2013 at 3:46:30 PM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#12

stefan89

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Joined: Thu, Nov 15, 2012
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If all you want is to rotate a family in any direct one at a time, please do the following:

1. Get a family (either create/copy a family)

2.double click the family ( to enter family edit screen)

3. Go to Modify (Modify| Extrusion)-> Propoerties ->Family Category and Parameters

4. Uncheak "Always vertical" (and click ok)

5. Go to Create ->Work Plane -> Set

6. Specify a new Work Plane to "Name" and either of the axis you want to the right (then click ok)

7. double click the family ( to enter family edit screen, modify tab)

8. Go to Modlify (Modify| Extrusion) -> Modlify -> rotate

9. click and rotate (accuracy based on angle degree)

((tested in Revit 2013))

sidenote: with 4yr.. no 4 days of revit experiences, I hope it is the solution you guys wanted.

>Nope did all that didnt work...maybe in 4 yrs you will have the solution

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Wed, Jun 19, 2013 at 3:57:32 PM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#13

stefan89

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Joined: Thu, Nov 15, 2012
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Ok i finally figured it, the guy above was on the right track but forgot one vital piece of info

family editor: > Modify > Family Category and Parameters > check "Work plane based" as well as unchecking the always vertical box !

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Wed, Jun 19, 2013 at 4:04:54 PM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#14

stefan89

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Joined: Thu, Nov 15, 2012
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If all you want is to rotate a family in any direct one at a time, please do the following:

1. Get a family (either create/copy a family)

2.double click the family ( to enter family edit screen)

3. Go to Modify (Modify| Extrusion)-> Propoerties ->Family Category and Parameters

4. Uncheak "Always vertical" (and click ok)

5. Check Work Plane-Based

6. Go to Create ->Work Plane -> Set

7. Specify a new Work Plane to "Name" and either of the axis you want to the right (then click ok)

8. double click the family ( to enter family edit screen, modify tab)

9. Go to Modlify (Modify| Extrusion) -> Modlify -> rotate

10. click and rotate (accuracy based on angle degree)

Im not being funny or anything but, thats a ridiculous ammount of operations and things to remember....After 8yrs experence in solidworks. It makes revit look like a crayola version of a 3d package for kids

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Wed, Jun 19, 2013 at 4:52:17 PM | Cannot Rotate Element Into This Position?!

#15

WWHub

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I doubt solid works does half of what Revit does if it were used in the world Revit works in.  Completely different programs for completely different uses.

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