> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.mksdtech.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.mksdtech.com/beam/beam-for-rhinoceros/families.md).

# Families

Create and manage families in Rhino®

A family groups Rhino objects that become one element in Revit or IFC. In Revit, a family becomes a [loadable family](/beam/beam-for-revit/beam/loadable-families.md) or a [system family](/beam/beam-for-revit/beam/system-components.md), depending on its category.

## Create a family

You can create families from the panel or from Rhino blocks.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="From the panel" %}

1. Select the objects.
2. Type a name in the **Family** field of the [panel](/beam/beam-for-rhinoceros/using-rhino-beam.md#object-properties) and press **Enter**.

The family now exists in the document.

* To add objects later, select them and type the same family name.
* To remove an object from a family, clear its **Family** field.
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="From blocks" %}

1. Create a Rhino block.
2. The block name becomes the family name.

* To add objects, add them to the block definition.
* To remove objects, remove them from the block definition.

See [BLOCS](/beam/beam-for-rhinoceros/blocs.md) for the rules that apply to blocks.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Family category

The category tells Revit and IFC what kind of element the family is. Select an object in the family and pick a category in **Family Category** on the panel. The default is **Generic Models**.

<figure><img src="https://1008084047-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M20iL6J8Vf1nWgor7JL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-da939725be538295e290d68fcebf406697ed6053%2Fmock-panel-categories.png?alt=media" alt="Family Category dropdown" width="390"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Available categories:

Casework, Ceilings, Columns, Curtain Panels, Doors, Electrical Equipment, Electrical Fixtures, Entourage, Floors, Furniture, Furniture Systems, Generic Models, Lighting Fixtures, Mass, Mechanical Equipment, Mullions, Parking, Planting, Plumbing Fixtures, Railings, Ramps, Roofs, Site, Specialty Equipment, Stairs, Structural Columns, Structural Connections, Structural Foundations, Structural Framing, Structural Stiffeners, Topography, Walls, Windows.

{% hint style="info" %}
The category also sets the IFC type on export. See [IFC Types Mapping](/beam/beam-ifc-for-rhino/ifc-types-mapping.md).
{% endhint %}

## Rename a family

Select an object in the family and click the rename button next to the **Family** field. Type the new name in **Rename Family** and click **OK**.

<figure><img src="https://1008084047-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M20iL6J8Vf1nWgor7JL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-26cab0d838a5c643b29120c6c521e8a2fda03f69%2Fmock-rename-family.png?alt=media" alt="Rename Family dialog" width="330"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Renaming keeps every object in the family. For a block family, the block definition is renamed too.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Typing a different name in the **Family** field does not rename the family. It moves the selected objects to another family.
{% endhint %}

## Select families

### Families dialog

Click **F** on the panel to list every family in the document.

<figure><img src="https://1008084047-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M20iL6J8Vf1nWgor7JL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-45a68d022f4f32aec058588d53f407f2cd9f2ddf%2Fmock-families.png?alt=media" alt="Families dialog" width="330"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

1. Type in the search box to filter the list.
2. Select one or more families.
3. Click **Select**, or double-click a family, to select all its objects in Rhino.

### Extend the selection

Select any object, then click **F+** on the panel. BEAM adds every object of the same families to the selection.

The `SelectFamilies` command does the same from the command line.

## Transfer Rhino layers and properties

To create families and subcategories from your layer structure, use **T** on the panel. See [Transfer Layers](/beam/beam-for-rhinoceros/transfer.md).