I have a question for some of you who are familiar with the Revit API and python:
I’ve been using the spring nodes package in dynamo to create a rather large series of freeform objects each in their own family. The way that the FamilyInstance.ByGeometry works, it takes a list of solids and creates a family instance for each using a template family file. The result is quite good. (spring nodes can be found here: https://github.com/dimven/SpringNodes)
However, the drawback is that that now I have roughly 200 separate instances, so to make changes to each is rather painful. I thought at first it would be possible to use dynamo to create a new subcategory and set the solid inside each family instance to this new subcategory. Unfortunately, I realized this is not possible since dynamo cannot be open in two different Revit environments simultaneously (the project I am working in and each instance of the family). This leads me to look to see if I can do this using python.
I have used python in rhino and can get along pretty well, I am still learning the Revit API however. But basically my idea would be to: 1. select a series of family instances in the Revit project environment 2. loop through each instance 3. save it to a specified location 4. create a new subcategory in each family instances (the subcategory would the same for all the selected family instances) 5. select the solid in each in instance 6. set the solid to this newly created subcategory 7. close the family instance and save
My question for you is does this sound like it is achievable based on your knowledge of the Revit API?
Many thanks for your time and advice.
UPDATE:
I've found a section in the revit api that describes what i'm looking to do: http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2015/ENU/?guid=GUID-FBF9B994-ADCB-4679-B50B-2E9A1E09AA48
I've made a first pass at inserting this into the python code of the dynamo node. The rest of the code works fine except for the new section im adding (see below). Please excuse the variables, I am simply keeping with logic of the original author of the code i am hacking:
(Note: the variables come in are in arrays)
#set subcategory
try:
#create new sucategory
fam_subcat = famdoc.Settings.Categories.NewSubcategory(fam_cat, get_Item(subcat1.Name))
#assign the mataterial(fam_mat.Id) to the subcategory
fam_subcat.Material = famdoc.GetElement(fam_mat.Id)
#assign the subcategory to the element (s2)
s2.Subcategory = fam_subcat
except: pass
Any help or advice with this section of code would be much appreciated.
UPDATE: See full code below for context of the section in question:
#Copyright(c) 2015, Dimitar Venkov
# @5devene, dimitar.ven@gmail.com
import clr
import System
from System.Collections.Generic import *
pf_path = System.Environment.GetFolderPath(System.Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFilesX86)
import sys
sys.path.append("%s\IronPython 2.7\Lib" %pf_path)
import traceback
clr.AddReference('ProtoGeometry')
from Autodesk.DesignScript.Geometry import *
clr.AddReference("RevitServices")
import RevitServices
from RevitServices.Persistence import DocumentManager
from RevitServices.Transactions import TransactionManager
doc = DocumentManager.Instance.CurrentDBDocument
app = DocumentManager.Instance.CurrentUIApplication.Application
clr.AddReference("RevitAPI")
from Autodesk.Revit.DB import *
from Autodesk.Revit.DB.Structure import StructuralType
clr.AddReference("RevitNodes")
import Revit
clr.ImportExtensions(Revit.Elements)
clr.ImportExtensions(Revit.GeometryConversion)
def tolist(obj1):
if hasattr(obj1,"__iter__"): return obj1
else: return [obj1]
def output1(l1):
if len(l1) == 1: return l1[0]
else: return l1
def PadLists(lists):
len1 = max([len(l) for l in lists])
for i in xrange(len(lists)):
if len(lists[i]) == len1:
continue
else:
len2 = len1 - len(lists[i])
for j in xrange(len2):
lists[i].append(lists[i][-1])
return lists
class FamOpt1(IFamilyLoadOptions):
def __init__(self):
pass
def OnFamilyFound(self,familyInUse, overwriteParameterValues):
return True
def OnSharedFamilyFound(self,familyInUse, source, overwriteParameterValues):
return True
geom = tolist(IN[0])
fam_path = IN[1]
names = tolist(IN[2])
category = tolist(IN[3])
material = tolist(IN[4])
isVoid = tolist(IN[5])
subcategory = tolist(IN[6])
isRvt2014 = False
if app.VersionName == "Autodesk Revit 2014": isRvt2014 = True
units = doc.GetUnits().GetFormatOptions(UnitType.UT_Length).DisplayUnits
factor = UnitUtils.ConvertToInternalUnits(1,units)
acceptable_views = ["ThreeD", "FloorPlan", "EngineeringPlan", "CeilingPlan", "Elevation", "Section"]
origin = XYZ(0,0,0)
str_typ = StructuralType.NonStructural
def NewForm_background(s1, name1, cat1, isVoid1, mat1, subcat1):
t1 = TransactionManager.Instance
TransactionManager.ForceCloseTransaction(t1)
famdoc = doc.Application.NewFamilyDocument(fam_path)
message = None
temp_path = System.IO.Path.GetTempPath()
sat_path = "%s%s.sat" % (temp_path, name1)
try:
if factor != 1:
s1 = s1.Scale(factor)
sat1 = Geometry.ExportToSAT(s1, sat_path)
satOpt = SATImportOptions()
satOpt.Placement = ImportPlacement.Origin
satOpt.Unit = ImportUnit.Foot
view_fec = FilteredElementCollector(famdoc).OfClass(View)
view1 = None
for v in view_fec:
if str(v.ViewType) in acceptable_views:
view1 = v
break
t1.EnsureInTransaction(famdoc)
satId = famdoc.Import(sat1, satOpt, view1)
opt1 = Options()
opt1.ComputeReferences = True
el1 = famdoc.GetElement(satId)
geom1 = el1.get_Geometry(opt1)
enum = geom1.GetEnumerator()
enum.MoveNext()
geom2 = enum.Current.GetInstanceGeometry()
enum2 = geom2.GetEnumerator()
enum2.MoveNext()
s1 = enum2.Current
famdoc.Delete(satId)
TransactionManager.ForceCloseTransaction(t1)
System.IO.File.Delete(sat_path)
except:
message = traceback.format_exc()
pass
if message == None:
try:
save_path = "%s%s.rfa" % (temp_path, name1)
SaveAsOpt = SaveAsOptions()
SaveAsOpt.OverwriteExistingFile = True
t1.EnsureInTransaction(famdoc)
#set the category
try:
fam_cat = famdoc.Settings.Categories.get_Item(cat1.Name)
famdoc.OwnerFamily.FamilyCategory = fam_cat
except: pass
s2 = FreeFormElement.Create(famdoc,s1)
if isVoid1:
void_par = s2.get_Parameter("Solid/Void")
void_par.Set(1)
void_par2 = famdoc.OwnerFamily.get_Parameter("Cut with Voids When Loaded")
void_par2.Set(1)
else: #voids do not have a material value
try:
mat_fec = FilteredElementCollector(famdoc).OfClass(Material)
for m in mat_fec:
if m.Name == mat1:
fam_mat = m
break
mat_par = s2.get_Parameter("Material")
mat_par.Set(fam_mat.Id)
except: pass
#set subcategory
try:
#create new sucategory
fam_subcat = document.Settings.Categories.NewSubcategory(document.OwnerFamily.FamilyCategory, get_Item(subcat1.Name))
#assign the mataterial(fam_mat.Id) to the subcategory
fam_subcat.Material = famdoc.GetElement(fam_mat.Id)
#assign the subcategory to the element (s2)
s2.Subcategory = fam_subcat
except: pass
TransactionManager.ForceCloseTransaction(t1)
famdoc.SaveAs(save_path, SaveAsOpt)
family1 = famdoc.LoadFamily(doc, FamOpt1())
famdoc.Close(False)
System.IO.File.Delete(save_path)
symbols = family1.Symbols.GetEnumerator()
symbols.MoveNext()
symbol1 = symbols.Current
t1.EnsureInTransaction(doc)
if not symbol1.IsActive: symbol1.Activate()
inst1 = doc.Create.NewFamilyInstance(origin, symbol1, str_typ)
TransactionManager.ForceCloseTransaction(t1)
return inst1.ToDSType(False), family1.ToDSType(False)
except:
message = traceback.format_exc()
return message
else:
return message
def NewForm_background_R16(s1, name1, cat1, isVoid1, mat1, subcat1):
t1 = TransactionManager.Instance
TransactionManager.ForceCloseTransaction(t1)
famdoc = doc.Application.NewFamilyDocument(fam_path)
message = None
temp_path = System.IO.Path.GetTempPath()
sat_path = "%s%s.sat" % (temp_path, name1)
try:
if factor != 1:
s1 = s1.Scale(factor)
sat1 = Geometry.ExportToSAT(s1, sat_path)
satOpt = SATImportOptions()
satOpt.Placement = ImportPlacement.Origin
satOpt.Unit = ImportUnit.Foot
view_fec = FilteredElementCollector(famdoc).OfClass(View)
view1 = None
for v in view_fec:
if str(v.ViewType) in acceptable_views:
view1 = v
break
t1.EnsureInTransaction(famdoc)
satId = famdoc.Import(sat1, satOpt, view1)
opt1 = Options()
opt1.ComputeReferences = True
el1 = famdoc.GetElement(satId)
geom1 = el1.get_Geometry(opt1)
enum = geom1.GetEnumerator()
enum.MoveNext()
geom2 = enum.Current.GetInstanceGeometry()
enum2 = geom2.GetEnumerator()
enum2.MoveNext()
s1 = enum2.Current
famdoc.Delete(satId)
TransactionManager.ForceCloseTransaction(t1)
System.IO.File.Delete(sat_path)
except:
message = traceback.format_exc()
pass
if message == None:
try:
save_path = "%s%s.rfa" % (temp_path, name1)
SaveAsOpt = SaveAsOptions()
SaveAsOpt.OverwriteExistingFile = True
t1.EnsureInTransaction(famdoc)
#set the category
try:
fam_cat = famdoc.Settings.Categories.get_Item(cat1.Name)
famdoc.OwnerFamily.FamilyCategory = fam_cat
except: pass
s2 = FreeFormElement.Create(famdoc,s1)
if isVoid1:
void_par = s2.LookupParameter("Solid/Void")
void_par.Set(1)
void_par2 = famdoc.OwnerFamily.LookupParameter("Cut with Voids When Loaded")
void_par2.Set(1)
else: #voids do not have a material value
try:
mat_fec = FilteredElementCollector(famdoc).OfClass(Material)
for m in mat_fec:
if m.Name == mat1:
fam_mat = m
break
mat_par = s2.LookupParameter("Material")
mat_par.Set(fam_mat.Id)
except: pass
#apply same subcategory code as before
#set subcategory
try:
#create new sucategory
fam_subcat = famdoc.Settings.Categories.NewSubcategory(fam_cat, get_Item(subcat1.Name))
#assign the mataterial(fam_mat.Id) to the subcategory
fam_subcat.Material = famdoc.GetElement(fam_mat.Id)
#assign the subcategory to the element (s2)
s2.Subcategory = fam_subcat
except: pass
TransactionManager.ForceCloseTransaction(t1)
famdoc.SaveAs(save_path, SaveAsOpt)
family1 = famdoc.LoadFamily(doc, FamOpt1())
famdoc.Close(False)
System.IO.File.Delete(save_path)
symbols = family1.GetFamilySymbolIds().GetEnumerator()
symbols.MoveNext()
symbol1 = doc.GetElement(symbols.Current)
t1.EnsureInTransaction(doc)
if not symbol1.IsActive: symbol1.Activate()
inst1 = doc.Create.NewFamilyInstance(origin, symbol1, str_typ)
TransactionManager.ForceCloseTransaction(t1)
return inst1.ToDSType(False), family1.ToDSType(False)
except:
message = traceback.format_exc()
return message
else:
return message
if len(geom) == len(names) == len(category) == len(isVoid) == len(material) == len(subcategory):
if isRvt2014:
OUT = output1(map(NewForm_background, geom, names, category, isVoid, material, subcategory))
else:
OUT = output1(map(NewForm_background_R16, geom, names, category, isVoid, material, subcategory))
elif len(geom) == len(names):
padded = PadLists((geom, category, isVoid, material, subcategory))
p_category = padded[1]
p_isVoid = padded[2]
p_material = padded[3]
p_subcategory = padded [4]
if isRvt2014:
OUT = output1(map(NewForm_background, geom, names, p_category, p_isVoid, p_material, p_subcategory))
else:
OUT = output1(map(NewForm_background_R16, geom, names, p_category, p_isVoid, p_material, subcategory))
else: OUT = "Make sure that each geometry\nobject has a unique family name."
Update:
Was able to get it working:
try:
#create new sucategory
fam_subcat = famdoc.Settings.Categories.NewSubcategory(famdoc.OwnerFamily.FamilyCategory, subcat1)
#assign the mataterial(fam_mat.Id) to the subcategory
#fam_subcat.Material = famdoc.GetElement(fam_mat.Id)
#assign the subcategory to the element (s2)
s2.Subcategory = fam_subcat
except: pass
