The Load Family extension lets you load one or more Revit family files (.rfa) into the active Revit model. You can pick individual files or point the extension at an entire directory and let it scan for families automatically. All load operations run inside a single transaction group, meaning the entire batch appears as one entry in Revit's undo history.
Determines how families are selected. Choose one of two options:
| Option | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Select Files | Opens a multi-select file picker — choose one or more .rfa files individually. |
| Load from Directory | Opens a folder picker — the extension scans the chosen folder for all .rfa files. |
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Family Files | Multi-file picker filtered to .rfa. Select as many files as needed. |
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Family Directory | Path to the folder containing .rfa files. |
| Include Sub-directories | When enabled, nested sub-folders are also scanned recursively. |
These options apply in both modes and control what happens when a family with the same name already exists in the document.
| Field | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Overwrite if Found | Off | Reload the family even if it already exists in the document. If off, existing families are skipped. |
| Overwrite if in Use | Off | Reload the family even if instances of it are placed in the model. Only applies when Overwrite if Found is on. If off and the family has placed instances, it is skipped. |
| Overwrite Parameter Values | Off | Reset family parameter values to the file's defaults when reloading. Only applies when an existing family is being overwritten. |
After the operation completes, a result message is shown with a one-line summary followed by a breakdown per outcome:
3 loaded · 1 skipped · 1 failed
Loaded: DoorFrame, WindowDouble, CurtainPanel
Skipped (no changes): GenericBeam
Failed: CorruptFamily (file not found)
| Result state | When it occurs |
|---|---|
| Succeeded | All resolved families were loaded (or had no changes). |
| Partially Succeeded | At least one family was loaded but one or more also failed. |
| Failed | No families could be loaded (e.g. empty selection, invalid path, or all files missing). |
Each family name in the breakdown is shown without the .rfa extension. Families that could not be found on disk are noted with (file not found).
All loaded family symbols are automatically activated so they are immediately available for placement.