A. Within the family editor, select the housekeeping pod object and change it from a solid to a void.
B. Within the project, right-click and select Override Graphics in View from the context menu. Edit the line properties as desired.
C. Within the family editor, create a new object style subcategory with the desired properties. Assign that subcategory to the housekeeping pad object.
D. Within the family editor, right-click the housekeeping pad object and select Visibility from the context menu. Edit the line properties as desired.
Explanation:
In Autodesk Revit Electrical Design, when customizing a family―such as a transformer with a housekeeping pad―each element within the family can have its own subcategory under the parent category (in this case, Electrical Equipment). Subcategories are critical for controlling line weight, color, and material properties independently in project views and visibility settings.
The issue described is that the transformer and its concrete pad currently share the same default category (Electrical Equipment) and therefore use identical line weights and colors in plan view. The designer wants the housekeeping pad to display differently ― for example, with a lighter or dashed outline.
According to the Autodesk Revit MEP User’s Guide (Chapter: Creating and Editing Families):
“To control the visibility or graphical appearance of individual components within a family, create a new Object Styles subcategory under the parent category. You can then assign any solid or void geometry in the family to that subcategory. When loaded into a project, the subcategory can be independently controlled through Visibility/Graphics (VG) settings.”
This is the exact and recommended workflow for differentiating line appearances between elements in the same family.
Steps to achieve this:
In the Family Editor, open Manage tab ➤ Object Styles.
Under the Model Objects tab, click New to create a new subcategory (e.g., “Housekeeping Pad”).
Set the desired line weight, color, or material properties.
Select the housekeeping pad extrusion in the model.
In the Properties palette, under Identity Data → Subcategory, choose Housekeeping Pad.
Reload the family into the project.
You can now modify or control its visibility independently in project views.
Why the other options are incorrect:
A. Change to void: A void removes geometry, not graphical appearance.
B. Override Graphics in View: Applies only in a single view, not globally across the project.
D. Visibility from context menu: Controls whether the object is visible, not its line properties.
Thus, the most efficient, parametric, and Revit-standard method is to use subcategories within the family to apply distinct graphical controls.
References:
Autodesk Revit MEP 2011 User’s Guide, Chapter 53: Creating Families C Managing Object Styles, pp.
1248C1251.
Autodesk Revit Architecture 2020 Help, “Assigning Geometry to Subcategories in Families.”
Smithsonian Facilities Revit Template User’s Guide (2021), Section 8.4.1 C Electrical Equipment Family Standards and Subcategories.