File rules
Limit uploads by file size, Revit category and Revit version.
Work in progress
File rules are the simple, numeric checks: how big a family may be, which Revit categories you accept, and which Revit versions you accept. They are on Settings, Family, File rules.
Each rule is optional. A rule that is empty restricts nothing.
File size
Set minimum and maximum file size limits for uploads.
| Field | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum size | KB | Files smaller than this are blocked. |
| Maximum size | MB | Files larger than this are blocked. It cannot be set above 100 MB. |
A blocked file shows File size must be at least ... or File size must be no more than ... in the check window.
Choosing values. The recommended defaults are a minimum of 10 KB and a
maximum of 10 MB. A very small file is usually an empty or broken family, so a
low minimum catches those. A large .rfa is often one with embedded imported
geometry or heavy detail that will slow every project that loads it, so the
maximum is a way to keep the library light.
Categories
Restrict uploads to specific Revit categories in My families. Families outside these categories will be blocked.
Pick the categories you accept from the list, which holds the Revit categories (Doors, Windows, Walls, Duct Systems and so on). You can type to find one. The app reads the category from the family itself, so it cannot be changed by renaming the file.
- If you pick nothing, every category is accepted.
- If you pick some, anything else is blocked with Category "X" is not allowed.
- Matching ignores upper and lower case.
Revit versions
Limit uploads to families saved in specific Revit versions. Families outside these versions will be blocked.
Use this when your office standard is a specific release, so that nobody uploads a family saved in a version the rest of the team cannot open.
- If you pick nothing, every version is accepted.
- If you pick some, anything else is blocked with Revit version "X" is not allowed.
- You choose versions by name (for example "Autodesk Revit 2024"); the list runs from Autodesk Revit 2026 back to 2017. The app compares the year, so it matches the version stored inside the family.
- If the picker does not list the version you need, type it and choose the Add entry that appears.
A family saved in a newer Revit
Revit cannot open a family that was saved in a newer version than the one you run. Restricting versions here keeps the library to releases your whole team can use.
Saving and resetting
Changes only take effect after you choose Save changes. One button saves all three sections together.
Reset to defaults asks for confirmation (Reset file rules to recommended defaults?) and then saves the recommended values immediately. It replaces your current settings.
Check your rules on existing families
File rules are applied to new uploads. A family that is already in your library when you set a rule stays, but it is flagged: for example a Generic Models family is listed with a Category problem once you accept only Doors and Windows. To see how the families you already have measure up, use Verify file rules.