How is a family type differentiated in Revit?

In Revit, a family type is differentiated primarily by defining unique properties and parameters. Each family type within a category can have its own set of characteristics that control its behavior and appearance in a project. These properties and parameters can include dimensions, material specifications, and other attributes that are essential for accurately representing the specific instance of the family type in architectural and engineering designs.

This differentiation allows users to create various instances of family types with unique specifications tailored to project requirements, ensuring that each element behaves correctly in terms of performance and representation in the building model.

Creating a unique family file for each project, while possible, is not the most efficient way to differentiate family types, as it can lead to redundancy and version control issues. Linking family types to one another is more about establishing relationships between different families rather than defining their unique characteristics. While the 'Rename' tool can change a name, it does not fundamentally alter the properties or parameters that define a family type. Thus, the method of adjusting properties and parameters is the most effective way to differentiate family types in Revit.