Is a Revit ʼFamilyʼ the same as a ʼBlockʼ?
Short Answer
No — in Autodesk Revit, a Family is not the same as a Block, even though both are reusable content objects. The closest professional comparison is creating or editing a component with Load into Project from the family editor. Revit Families are parametric and category-based. Limitation: not every AutoCAD Block workflow translates directly into Revit.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: importing AutoCAD Blocks and treating them like native Revit Families can create bloated files, poor visibility control, and hard-to-edit geometry. A common failure is using imported DWGs instead of building proper parametric Families, which limits schedules, tags, and BIM data.
How to Convert the Idea into a Revit Workflow
Command: Model In-Place / Load into Project
Shortcut: No default keyboard shortcut
Quick Steps:
- Go to the Ribbon > File tab > New > Family to create a real revit family using the correct template.
- Build the geometry and add parameters in the Family Editor, then check options like Shared or category-based Family Parameters if needed.
- Click Load into Project on the Ribbon to place and reuse the Family in the project like a managed Revit component.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Shared family option
Expert Setting: when a Family is marked Shared, it can be scheduled, tagged, and selected separately from its host family. This strongly affects whether the content behaves like a simple reusable object or a fully trackable BIM element.
Why it Fails
- Cause 1 (Geometry): AutoCAD Blocks are usually static 2D/3D geometry, while Revit Families often require reference planes, constraints, and parameters to behave correctly.
- Cause 2 (layers/Locks): imported DWG layers do not map cleanly to Revit categories, subcategories, or visibility controls, making management harder than native Family content.
- Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Revit does not use a direct Block definition/edit workflow, so users expecting Block-style global editing may misunderstand how Family types, instances, and nested Families work.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
- Quick Fix: rebuild the repeated object as a proper Revit Family, then use Load into Project instead of relying on imported DWG Blocks.
- Manager’s Verdict: use Revit Families for any object that needs parameters, scheduling, tagging, or standards control; only keep DWG Blocks for limited background reference or legacy coordination.
FAQ
Can I import an AutoCAD Block into Revit as a Family?
Not directly as a true native Family; it usually comes in as imported geometry.
Are Revit Families editable like Blocks?
Yes, but through the Family Editor and parameters, not through Block definition editing.
Do Revit Families support multiple sizes like dynamic Blocks?
Yes, typically through Family types and instance or type parameters.
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