1. Using the Search Bar
The search bar is the fastest way to find a family in the library. Type in the name or a keyword related to the element you’re looking for such as chair, casework, or ceiling and Pirros will return the most relevant results.
How Search Works
Pirros search goes beyond text matching. It searches across:
Family titles
Parameter data
Family category information
Computer-vision–based visually recognized elements
This means that even if a family’s name does not include the search term, Pirros can still surface it if the preview image visually matches the item you’re looking for.
For example, searching “chair” returns all seating families even if the title doesn’t contain the word chair because Pirros detects the object type from the 3D preview.
2. Using Filters on the Left Panel
Filters help you quickly narrow down your search results and view only the families that meet the criteria you’re looking for. These filters appear on the left-hand side of the Families page and can be combined with the search bar for even more precise results.
You can filter families by a variety of attributes, including:
Family Tags
Family Category
Revit Version
Project Name / Number
Client
Project Type
Location
…and more.
These filters are especially useful when your firm’s library includes thousands of families or when you're looking for content that was created, uploaded, or used within a specific project context.
Family Category Filter
Unlike other filters, Family Category is unique to the Families module and mirrors the organizational structure you’re already familiar with inside Revit. This filter lets you browse families based on their Revit category, similar to a folder structure.
Casework
Ceilings
Generic Models
Furniture / Seating
Detail Items
... and all other Revit categories your firm may use.
Simply select a category, and only the families that belong to that classification will be displayed. This makes it easy to browse when you don’t have a specific keyword in mind or want to visually scan everything available in a particular group.
Combining Filters + Search
You can use both together, for example:
Filter → Furniture
Search → “school”
This returns only school-related furniture families, eliminating noise from other categories.
3. Viewing a Family Preview
Once you find a family that fits what you’re looking for, click on its card to open the 3D preview view. Here you can interact with the 3D model of the family by rotating or zooming in and out.
If the family has more than one type, click on the drop down arrow on the top left of the preview to view between the different types
4. Clicking Into a Family
If you'd like to get more insight into a family, click on Open Full Family on its card to open the detailed view. Here you can explore all of the technical information associated with that family.
What You Can See Inside a Family
A. 3D Preview
A full-size, high-resolution isometric preview is available, generated based on your firm's thumbnail preview settings (visual style, level of detail, angle, etc.).
B. Family Types
If a family contains multiple types, you can flip between each type directly in the viewer just like you would in the family preview.
For type catalog families, type information is listed and switchable as well.
C. Parameter Values
On the left side of the family view, click on Parameters to find all parameters that were pulled from the RFA or container model during upload. This includes the type and instance parameters, dimensions values, and key metadata from Revit.
Type Parameters:
Type parameters are values that apply to all instances of a specific family type. These are the parameters that define the size, materials, and key properties of the family.
Because type parameters are stored directly in the RFA, these are the parameters you’ll see populated in Pirros when viewing a family.
Instance Parameters
Instance parameters only apply after a family has been placed into a Revit project. They control information that varies per placement
Since instance parameters are not stored in the RFA itself, Pirros cannot pull values for them during upload. As a result, the Instance Parameters tab in Pirros will appear empty
D. Nested Families
If the family contains any shared nested families, these appear in a dedicated section.
Note: The nested family must have the Shared toggle enabled in Revit to appear.
E. Related Detail Items (for 2D Families)
For 2D families, Pirros shows relationships between the family and any detail items that reference it, creating a clear connection between model elements and detail components.
F. History & Metadata
Just like details, families include:
Upload history
Update history
File location
Tags and notes
Last modified date
Whether it’s a loadable or system family
All of this information helps teams maintain visibility across updates and usage.
G. Download History
Pirros shows a complete history of how the family has been used across the firm, including:
Who downloaded the family
When it was downloaded
Which types were downloaded (for multi-type families)
H. Flags & Feedback
The Flags section tracks all issues, comments, or feedback that have been raised for the family.
Here you can:
View existing flags made by team members
See who created each flag and when
Add new flags to report issues or request changes with comments or markups
@mention specific users to bring attention to an issue
I. Associations
Displays how a family is manually grouped with other related items in Pirros. They are intentional linkages created to connect families that are commonly used together but are not necessarily similar.
When viewing this section, you can see:
All items that are associated with the selected family
Any items that the family itself is associated with
Steps:
Click + New Association
Select whether you want to associate the family with Details or Families
Browse or search for the relevant items and select them by checking the checkbox in the top-right corner of each item card
Click Save
Note: Associations follow strict rules to maintain context and accuracy
Typical families can only be associated with other typical families
Project-specific families can only be associated with items from the same project