Add parameters to Revit families using Dynamo (and Crumple)! 

Glad to help!

Great to be back!

You're welcome!

Good to be back! Thanks for the kind words.

Cheers! Glad it was helpful.

Glad to hear it has been helpful!

Awesome, glad to hear!

You're welcome!

You're welcome!

You're welcome!

You're welcome!

Youre welcome!

Thank you!

You're welcome mate!

Yep new forge unit API gripes. Theres a good summary of how to work with this new class here as a reference: forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-api-forum/how-to-use-forgetypeid-to-add-family-parameters-to-a-family-in/td-p/11591733

Cheers Dev!

I have typically found directories a more stable method versus from project, however the method you could explore is in this case doc.EditFamily(x) where x is a family symbol object. There's a Python example of it here: forum.dynamobim.com/t/change-family-category/57455/15 I'm unsure how this would work in bulk with the family manager but it's on my list to test out.

If the parameter exists already it will fail to add it, but should skip that step in the custom nodes.

Yep my mates warned me about it so I've been holding off for now. It doesn't seem Autodesk tests their updates very well these days, ever since that family loading debacle in 2021.

Nah custom made in photoshop, i have the files here if they help: github.com/aussieBIMguru/Revit-Files/tree/master/Program%20Icons

Not currently. For get parameter it only works for strings/numbers and across a list of family documents. For set parameter it requires a list of family documents/parameters and a list of list of values to set. If it isn't in that structure it wont work and will return null.

@@AussieBIMGuru Appreciate your response Gavin! I tried both, first with opening multiple documents in background, secondly with the current document. Or do I understand correct that you have to use a list of family documents? Anyway, there are four nodes; Document.Current, FamilyDoc.Types, FamilyDoc.Parameters and FamilyDoc.ParameterGet the first three all respond like expected, but the last node returns a null on every parameter. It should still run in Revit 2022 right?

@@marcdenheijer606 so I believe I never made the node able to do multiple family documents due to it being too convoluted. I've made an example in Python here of setting multiple family parameters by type and family using Excel here and will make a video for it in late June. github.com/aussieBIMguru/Misc/blob/master/230512_ABG_SetFamParameters.zip It doesn't accommodate for parameter data type, but can set any value with the right data types before it heads into the Python node.

@@AussieBIMGuru This is brilliant, thanks for this script Gavin! Tried the script and with some modification it did exactly what I expected: set certain parameters for all families and types (without specifying them in Excel). I suspected your first statement, therefore I also tried the crumple package also for just the current document. Without any success. Looking forward to your video!

@@marcdenheijer606 glad to hear it helped! I'll likely package these up in a slicker format in my pyRevit toolbar down the line (guRoo), as I've moreorless cracked adding/deleting/replacing parameters and setting/getting/formulating parameter values as well via Excel and Python.

Cheers! See you there. Feel free to swing by after my pres' on saturday if we haven't found each other by then.

Thanks! Yes it is indeed, although i would suggest a different script for such an approach if you're driving it via Excel. Orchid and Crumple both have nodes for getting family types and setting parameters by name and family type (in family editor). Orchid has a node that can set formulae by parameter name and familydoc. I have a video on formulae in families from about a year back I think

@@AussieBIMGuru Thanks Gavin!

Yes unfortunately this script only adds new parameters. To modify then you would need another workflow that gets existing parameters then attempts to switch them to type or instance using Python. I believe clockwork may have some nodes that do that.

@@AussieBIMGuru waiting for it, thanks

@@amratef3134 it's probably not going to be a video for me as it's a very narrow topic. I'd suggest looking into clockwork and if not engaging dynamo forums for assistance. I don't tend to do many dynamo videos these days as I'm exploring pyrevit/grasshopper more often.

Haha not sure I'd go that far in terms of hubris, but thanks!

Generally i would save all families out to a directory, run the process over them and then reload them as a set. That or request that the design team provide the parameters in their model in future.

@@AussieBIMGuru Thank you for the quick response. I will check to see if we have any pull with non-Design Build project architects

Yes instead of opening the document you would need to use edit family and load document from revitAPI: www.revitapidocs.com/2024/56e636ee-5008-0ee5-9d6c-5f622dedfbcb.htm www.revitapidocs.com/2024/cb950c8e-f440-c6db-8563-d1dd16ef3fee.htm

@@AussieBIMGuru Thanks for the information. Already made same exel file as yours, saved family as a separate test file, and trying to follow each of your steps in this particular script to make it working.))) And after that, I'll check how to do that with edit family technique that you've shared with me.

@@AussieBIMGuru strange thing, on 9:20 I'm getting indexes -1, -1, -1 from paramNames in SharedParameters.Flat

@@AussieBIMGuru I'm getting "Parameter not added" in FamilyDoc.AddSharedParameter. Doublechecked full workflow, created exel file and all the nodes from your script. But no luck.(((

As long as you have the ironpython package installed it should still work.

ok, but the parameter type not working in Revit 2023, and also parameters are not created from Excel, how do we solve this problem@@AussieBIMGuru

Most common issue that causes that is not being connected to the shared parameter file or typos in the excel data. My nodes wont typically work in 2024+ as they changed the Revit API there as well.

@@AussieBIMGuru I just tried in Revit 2025, yeah they didn't work. Will you please evolve your script? And a last question, How do I get the list of the BIPG ? Thanks, take care! Looking forward to seeing you back and happpy wedding!!

@@qingyangpan78 I've updated the nodes in Crumple a few months back but haven't got time to test them all in R25. I believe most of them should work in Revit 2025 but might be a bit different to this video. I have sample scripts here: github.com/aussieBIMguru/Crumple/tree/master/Script%20samples

@@AussieBIMGuruAlways thrilled to see your fast responses, thank you Gavin. I retried your updated package today but it didn't seem to work either. The problem might be the node "Parameter.BIPGbyName", it doesn't seem to function here...

Thanks!

You'll need to use this method of the family manager class to set a formula: www.revitapidocs.com/2023/cdc3156c-0334-0bba-70af-1df78fb18b50.htm

@@AussieBIMGuru I've try this: set another input IN[4] as formula: string[]..[]; modify python script: #detect if document is not set if IN[0] == None: docs = [DocumentManager.Instance.CurrentDBDocument] else: docs = tolist(IN[0]) #unwrap all elements to use with API definitions = tolist(IN[1]) bipgs = tolist(IN[2]) isInstance = tolist(IN[3]) #addformula formula = tolist(IN[4]) outcomes = [] # Collect values for doc in docs: if doc.IsFamilyDocument: outcome = [] # "Start" the transaction TransactionManager.Instance.EnsureInTransaction(doc) for d,b,i in zip(definitions, bipgs, isInstance): try: new = doc.FamilyManager.AddParameter(d,b,i) doc.FamilyManager.SetFormula(d,formula) outcome.append(new) except: outcome.append("Parameter not added.") # "End" the transaction TransactionManager.Instance.ForceCloseTransaction() else: outcome = "Document is not a family document." outcomes.append(outcome) OUT = outcomes probably I've done something wrong.... this doesn't work.. :(

Once we get to python in YT comments its best to take it to dynamo forums, too technical for this environment.

Not currently, but its a similar python method. The orchid package has nodes for this but theyre not exposed in python.

​@@AussieBIMGuru I see, yeah it used to work for me in Revit 2022. I used to follow the same steps from your video tutorial on how to add shared parameters(2020 update) with Orchid, but with Parameter.Create node instead of the SharedParameter.Add node, it worked perfectly. Now updating to 2023 Orchid's node went crazy giving errors, though it still works with shared parameters. Thanks for the video Gavin, learning python is a must, lol cause that flower is unreliable.

@@CrlsE094 yes it looks like they changed it in 2023 to handle forgeunit types, huge pain. This is the method if you get to that point: www.revitapidocs.com/2022/3ac89d60-4b71-694f-002f-125d2e6565fc.htm

​@@AussieBIMGuru Thanks Gavin!, I'm trying to get there soon, I'll save it.

I havent tried it before but it looks like this should be able to do that: www.revitapidocs.com/2015/a047ea58-0351-b419-d856-85ed23734ee8.htm

@@AussieBIMGuru Thank you! Finally, I was able to do it with a Python script, that I copied from a forum, and had to modify to loop through each element of my list. It takes two inputs. IN[1] is a list of the names of parameters that I want to associate with each other (in my case the parameters from the nested family had the same name as the parameters in my family I wanted them to be associated with). IN [0] is the nested family element (for instance parameters), and the nested family element type (for type parameters).

import clr clr.AddReference('RevitAPI') from Autodesk.Revit.DB import * clr.AddReference('RevitNodes') import Revit clr.ImportExtensions(Revit.GeometryConversion) clr.ImportExtensions(Revit.Elements) clr.AddReference('RevitServices') from RevitServices.Persistence import DocumentManager from RevitServices.Transactions import TransactionManager doc = DocumentManager.Instance.CurrentDBDocument elem = UnwrapElement(IN[0]) list_1 = IN[1] for i in range (len(list_1)): paramNames = list_1[i] famNames = list_1[i] if not isinstance(paramNames, list): paramNames = [paramNames] if not isinstance(famNames, list): famNames = [famNames] elemParams = elem.Parameters famParams = doc.FamilyManager.Parameters elemAssoc = [] famAssoc = [] for param in elemParams: for name in paramNames: if param.Definition.Name == name: elemAssoc.append(param) for fparam in famParams: for fname in famNames: if fparam.Definition.Name == fname: famAssoc.append(fparam) TransactionManager.Instance.EnsureInTransaction(doc) for i,j in zip(elemAssoc, famAssoc): doc.FamilyManager.AssociateElementParameterToFamilyParameter(i, j) TransactionManager.Instance.TransactionTaskDone() OUT = elem

Yes this can be done. forum.dynamobim.com/t/set-shared-parameter-files/49712/3

This will only work if the components are shared and occur at project level. Sounds like they might not be shared.

My issue isn't allowing the components to swap, if I manually create the parameters and insert the door subfamilies everything works as intended. My issue and the reason I reached out is both the Crumple and Orchid (I know not yours) node for adding shared parameter fail when they try to create the parameter type, a family type drop down selection, that I am using for interchanging the casework doors. Your response did trigger in my head about attempting it through manual process again. I determined the reason the scripts were not inserting the parameter was I had no subfamilies loaded into the family. After loading in a subfamily, the nodes work for creating the subfamily shared parameter as well. I know you aren't developing much with the ABG channel any more. Thanks for all you did for the community. Your Crumple package is amazing.

The church of BIM!

Search for my channel name on github

@@AussieBIMGuru This script didn't work for me because I want to add the parameters to the families and specify the family of a Revit file in a model.

@@Mohamedhassoun-j2x yep that would require families to be edited from project vs a directory. Its possible using Revit API and a different approach.

@@AussieBIMGuru can i find a dynamo script that works like this?

@@Mohamedhassoun-j2x i havent made one personally, but it would be similar in logic to this, uses the same API class. This is the method to delete a parameter using the FamilyManager object: www.revitapidocs.com/2024/cb266197-b76e-66db-ea15-2cf14bcb4f85.htm

Yep not an easy starter tutorial. I'd recommend my own, good value for money but solid content and getting great feedback so far: courses.bimguru.education/courses/course-dynamo-4revit

Over on my github.

@@AussieBIMGuru Thank you very much Gavin, I have one more question, how can I find more items from the BIPG column?

@@pedroeliassantos2612 this lists them all: www.revitapidocs.com/2016/9942b791-2892-0658-303e-abf99675c5a6.htm

@@AussieBIMGuru Gavin thanks again! one more point Gavin, is it possible to get a list with all types of parameters? for example: in the electrical discipline there are Watts, power, electrical resistivity and so on. Is it possible to get all these types at once? for it to be placed on a table?

@@pedroeliassantos2612 check crumple package which has nodes to get bipgs and bipgs by revit name.

If you connect a current document node to the familyDoc input that should do the trick.

@@AussieBIMGuru Tried it out and it produced null as a result and did not add any parameters.

@@AussieBIMGuru Tried to edit the node like you suggested in the video to work with the current file but I always get null as a result. Its strange because there was a section in the code that looked like it replaced 'doc' with current document if the input was blank, but whenever I run without that connect it just returns function.

@@facelessone86 yes the node should get current document by default in latest version of crumple and should not need any changes

@@AussieBIMGuru I'll try checking to see tomorrow if I'm up to date but it looked like I saw it in the code but wasn't working for me.

It'll be on my github under the dynamo repo for the date this was released

@@AussieBIMGuru FOUND IT, THANK YOU!

Should be on my github.

@@AussieBIMGuru Can help me, about link data, i am cannot find it.

@@cucusetiawan1794 github.com/aussieBIMguru/Dynamo_Scripts/blob/master/ABG_220307_AddParameters.zip

Nice one haha!

Couldn't translate this unfortunately, but thanks anyway!