Which plugin do you have? Look at the Pirros tab in the Revit ribbon. A single Pirros button that opens a docked panel with Browse, Updates, Sync and Settings tabs means you have Pirros in Revit. Separate Sync, Download, Settings, Pirros and Live Link buttons mean you have the classic plugin. Don't go by the version number alone: on Revit 2020–2023 the classic plugin can show a 4.x version number.
With Pirros in Revit you can also choose a Family's types right in the panel. See Choose types in the Pirros in Revit panel below.
1. Navigate to the Family You Want to Download
Start by going to the Families tab in the Pirros web portal
You can locate family using:
The search bar
Filters (e.g., Family Category, Tags, Revit Version)
Browsing through typical or all Families
Once you find the right Family, click its card to open the Family preview
If a Family includes multiple types, you’ll be able to preview them before downloading.
Alternatively you can also select Open Full Family to open the Family page and get a more detailed view into the Family and types to confirm dimensions and configuration
2. Choose How to Download the Family
Option A: Insert
Use Insert when:
Revit is open
You want to place this Family into a Project file that is actively open
Steps:
Click Insert and switch into Revit.
Classic plugin: the Download Items window opens automatically, showing the Family and its types.
Pirros in Revit: the Family is imported into your open model automatically. If the Select types to import window opens, every type starts checked: uncheck the ones you don't want and click + Import. The Family isn't placed on your cursor; find it in the Project Browser (step 5).
Classic plugin: You will then be able to select which Family types you want to download. All types of a new Family start ticked.
Select the checkbox next to 'Preview' to select all types.
Select individual checkboxes to select only certain types.
Types already in your project show In project. Choose an Action for each: Link Existing, Download New or Skip (the default).
Classic plugin: Click Confirm to continue
Search for the Family with the search tool on the bottom left
Right click on the family and click 'Edit' to open the Family in Revit
The Family will open in a separate window as seen below
Option B: Open in Revit
Use Open in Revit when:
Revit is open
You want to inspect geometry and parameters before inserting it into an active Project
Like Insert, Open in Revit only appears when Pirros sees your Revit connected with a model open, and only for .rfa Families. With either plugin, Revit opens the Family in the Family Editor with the selected type's parameter values applied.
Steps:
Select a particular type, click Open in Revit and switch into Revit.
This is ideal when you want to check what the Family looks like in Revit before deciding to use it.
A separate window will automatically open displaying the Family type selected as below
Option C: Stage for Download
Use Stage for Download when:
Revit is closed, or
You’re not ready to insert the Family yet
Steps:
Click Stage for Download and switch into Revit
This queues the Family so you can insert it later once you open a project
Classic plugin: Open Revit, click on the Pirros plug in and select Download → Download
Pirros in Revit: open the panel, then on the Browse tab open Stashes and click + Download under Staged for download. If the Select types to import window opens, uncheck the types you don't want and click + Import, then go to step 6.
A download window will open automatically, showing the Family and number of types getting ready for download, click OK.
Classic plugin: You will then be able to select which Family types you want to download. All types of a new Family start ticked.
Select the checkbox next to 'Preview' to select all types.
Select individual checkboxes to select only certain types.
Types already in your project show In project. Choose an Action for each: Link Existing, Download New or Skip (the default).
Classic plugin: Click Confirm to continue
Search for the Family with the search tool on the bottom left
Right click on the Family and click 'Edit' to open the Family in Revit
The Family will open in a separate window as seen below
3. Downloading Multiple Families at Once
You can also insert multiple Families at once:
Select multiple Families from the Families page
Click Insert on the orange banner and switch into Revit
Classic plugin: the Download Items window opens automatically, listing the Families on the left and the selected Family's types on the right.
Pirros in Revit: the Families are imported automatically. If the Select types to import window opens, it lists each Family that has several types: uncheck the types you don't want (each Family must keep at least one) and click + Import. The Families load into your project without being placed on your cursor.
Classic plugin: For each Family, you can choose the specific type(s) you want to download
Classic plugin: Click Confirm to continue and download all the selected Family types
Choose types in the Pirros in Revit panel
With Pirros in Revit you can find a Family and choose its types without leaving Revit:
Click the Pirros button on the Pirros tab to open the panel, then open the Browse tab and choose Families. Search, filter or sort to find the Family.
Click + Insert on the Family (list view), or drag it into your model. If it has more than one type, Select types to import opens with every type checked. Uncheck the types you don't want (or use Deselect all), click Place next to the type you want on your cursor (it then reads On cursor), and click + Import.
The Family loads and the chosen type is on your cursor. The panel shows Placing… click in Revit, or press Esc to cancel: click in the model to place it. A Family with only one type skips the type window and goes straight to your cursor.
Pick types before anything loads: click the Family itself instead of + Insert. Its types open in a list you can search (Search types), with Height, Width, Depth and Material where available. Nothing is checked to start: check the types you want (the top checkbox selects every type shown) and click + Insert.
Family already in your project: + Insert and drag don't download it again. Pirros puts the Family you already have on your cursor, asking which type with Select type to place if more than one is loaded. To add more of its types from Pirros, click the Family and insert them from its types list. If some of those types are already in your project, choose Skip, Replace existing or Keep my version for each (or use Apply to all family types:), then click Apply. Replace existing applies the Pirros values to your type; Keep my version connects your type to Pirros without downloading anything.
Several Families at once: check them in list view and click the + Insert button in the selection bar. They load into your project without being placed on your cursor.
For more, see Get Details and Families into Your Revit Project.