Autodesk Revit – Parameters and Shared Parameters

Parameters and shared parameters are related concepts in Autodesk Revit, but they serve different purposes. Understanding when to use each can improve model consistency, scheduling, tagging and data management. This blog explores the differences, use cases and best practices.

Parameters vs Shared Parameters – Understanding the Difference

If you’ve been working with Autodesk Revit for any length of time, you’ve likely come across the terms Parameters and Shared Parameters. While they may seem similar at first glance, they serve distinct purposes and can significantly impact how information is managed within your BIM models.

Choosing the right type of parameter is essential for creating efficient workflows, maintaining data consistency, and ensuring your project information is usable across schedules, tags, and multiple Autodesk Revit projects.

Firstly, let’s clarify what are Parameters in Autodesk Revit?

A parameters is a piece of information associated with an element in Revit. Parameters define properties such as dimensions, materials, identity data, performance characteristics, and custom project information. Some common example include:

• Width
• Height
• Fire Rating
• Mark
• Comments
• Material

Parameters allow users to store and manipulate data that drives both the geometry and the intelligence of a BIM model.

Types of Parameters in Autodesk Revit

Autodesk Revit supports several parameter types:

1 – System Parameters

These are built into Revit and cannot be deleted. Examples include:

• Length
• Area
• Volume
• Family Name
• Type Name

System parameters are predefined and form the foundation of Revit’s data structure.

2 – Project Parameters

Project parameters are custom parameters added directly to a specific Revit project.

• Exist only within that project.
• Can appear in scheduled.
• Cannot be tagged.
• Cannot easily transfer between projects.
• Ideal for project-specific information.

Example: A contractor wants to record an ‘Installation Date’ for doors in one project only.

What are Shared Parameters?

A Shared Parameter is a custom parameter stored in an external text file (.txt) rather than inside a single Revit project.

Because the parameters has a unique identifier (GUID), Revit recognises it consistently across different:

• Projects
• Families
• Templates
• Models

This consistency makes shared parameters essential for standardised BIM workflows.

Shared Parameters allow you to:

Tag Custom Data

Unlike Project Parameters, Shared Parameters can be used in tags.

Example: A Door Tag displaying, Acoustic Rating, Warranty Period, Manufacturer Code, requires these values to be Shared Parameters.

Schedule Across Multiple Projects

Organisations often use the same parameters in every project. Examples:

• Asset ID
• Barcode
• Maintenance Zone
• Equipment Number

Since the parameter definition remains identical, schedules become standardised.

Maintain Data Consistency

Using Shared Parameters ensures that:

• Families use identical parameter definitions.
• Templates remain consistent.
• Data exports are reliable.
• BIM standards are maintained.

This is especially important for ISO 19650 or company BIM standards.

Key Differences with Example Scenarios

Imagine an architectural firm designing hospitals.

They need every door to include:

• Asset Number
• Fire Rating
• Maintenance Code
• Department Code

If they create these as Project Parameters:

• They must recreate them in every project.
• Door tags cannot display them.
• Families become inconsistent.

If they use Shared Parameters:

• One parameter definition works everywhere.
• Door tags display the information.
• Scheduled remain standardised.
• Data exports consistently to COBie or FM software.

This makes Shared Parameters the clear choice for organisation wide standards.

Best Practices

To maximise efficiency and maintain consistency:

• Store your Shared Parameter file in a secure, shared location.
• Create a company-wide naming convention.
• Avoid duplicate parameter names with different meanings.
• Document every Shared Parameter.
• Organise parameters into logical groups.
• Use Shared Parameters for any information that may be reused in future projects.
• Reserve Project Parameters for temporary or project-specific data.

From the above we can identify that both Project Parameters and Shared Parameters are valuable tools in Autodesk Revit, but they are designed for different purposes.

Use Project Parameters for information that is unique to a single project and doesn’t need to be tagged. Use Shared Parameters when consistency, reusability, tagging and standardised data are important across multiple projects and families.