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How to: Install and place Revit Families for Stabicad for Revit

Modified: 11 Aug 2026 Stabicad
Not version-specific
Stabicad

Context & Issue Description When opening a Revit project or placing Stabicad components, you may encounter the following error message: “Family '...' not found in 'C:\Program Files\Trimble\Stabicad NL\Families...'”

 

The Cause: Trimble provides the Stabicad for Revit families (the 3D components and parametric data) as separate downloads alongside the main installation files. The correct version of these family files—matching both your Revit and Stabicad versions—must be placed manually in the Stabicad installation directory. Since new families are released with each Stabicad update, this process must be repeated after every software update.
Resolution: Step-by-Step Installation Guide
Step 1: Download the Families
  1. Navigate to the Trimble portal in your web browser: download.trimble.com or the support portal.
  2. Log in and download the Family Packs corresponding to your active Stabicad version and the Revit version(s) utilized within your organization.
  3. The downloads are compressed as .zip files. Extract the zip files locally first.
Step 2: Place the families in the correct installation folder
Follow the instructions matching your installation type (local or network):
Method A: Local Installation
  1. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the default Stabicad Families path: C:\Program Files\Trimble\Stabicad NL\Families
Families

  1. Paste the extracted version folders here. A correctly configured directory contains a folder for each Revit version named after the version year (e.g., 2024, 2025, 2026).


 

When opening a specific version folder (e.g., 2025), the contents should match the following structure:
  • Subfolders: Electrical, FamilyTemplates, Mechanical, Sheets, Tags
  • File: Stabicad Shared Parameters File.txt

 
    Method B: Network Installation (Shared Server)
    If Stabicad is deployed as a network installation, the families must be placed in the central server directory.
    1. To quickly navigate to the correct server folder: right-click the Stabicad shortcut on your desktop and select 'Open file location'.
    2. In Windows Explorer, go up one directory level.
    3. Locate the Families folder and place the extracted Revit version folders (e.g., 2025) inside it, using the exact same structure as described in the local installation.
    4. Ensure the file StabiCADTabs.xml remains unchanged.
    Important Admin Tips for Permissions:
    • Write Permissions for Custom Content: Revit users who compile custom families or map manufacturer-specific families to generic symbols require write permissions on the central or local Custom folder. Ensure they have full modify permissions for: <Stabicad Custom map>\Families\Electrical\3DFamilies.
    • Restricted Windows User Rights: If local users do not have local administrator rights on their workstations, they must be granted explicit modify permissions for the file C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit <version>\Program\revit.exe.config to allow Stabicad add-ins to load correctly.
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