topic Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit in Revit API Forum

how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 05:52:13 GMT

I link the dwg by the tool of revit below:

and we can see it below, and I wanna know how to use the API to create beams by the lines standing for beam in dwg?

what should I do ? should I use the API to select lines representing beams first ? and what to do next ..

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

matthew_taylor — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 14:13:09 GMT

If you haven't installed RevitLookup yet, do so now. It is an indispensable tool that will help you reach an understanding of how the Revit object model is put together.

If you select an import instance, then 'Addins > Revit Lookup > Snoop Current Selection', you will be able to access the geometry (GeometryElement) of the import instance. From there choose 'View = Document.ActiveView', then 'GeometryElement', then 'GetSymbolGeometry', then 'GeometryElement'. You should then have another dialog with a list of the elements within the import instance. You should be able to check the GraphicsStyleId of each line, and if the GraphicsStyle is the one you want, then use its properties to create your framing instance. (You can clone either clone the line, or use its endpoints.)

There is an example in the SDK called CreateBeamsColumnsBraces that may be useful (amongst others).

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 03:02:07 GMT

thanks，I will try it ,and come back this question if any problem

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 15:58:13 GMT

I have try the example of CreateBeamsColumnsBraces,and it showed

it means I should load the family of beams? why do I use LoadFamily to load a beam family ,it seems no working

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

matthew_taylor — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 16:05:15 GMT

@27925916,

There are many examples of how to load a family in the SDK.

First of all, just manually load a family, and use its hard coded elementId. Once you have the bones working, you can go back and do that.

Also, refer here for help on getting started:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-api-forum/check-out-the-self-paced-guide-my-first-plug-in/m-p/3032684#U3032684

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 16:29:01 GMT

I have a question,it is a whole piece after linking dwg into revit, like below it is a image dwg linked into revit:

when I select,it becomes like below:

I can't select a single line ,there is any API to break down it into many lines so that I could select any line ?

there is such API to make it true?

and I have another question ,how to pick these text like below by API? thanks very much,I am looking forward to your help

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

matthew_taylor — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:13:22 GMT

Hi @27925916,

To select a single sub-object, you can use:

Dim ref As DB.Reference = _
   docUi.Selection.PickObject(UI.Selection.ObjectType.PointOnElement, "Pick element")
Dim elem As DB.Element = doc.GetElement(ref)
Dim geomObject As DB.GeometryObject = _
   elem.GetGeometryObjectFromReference(ref)

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 09:48:01 GMT

I have used the same way to pick,like below:

I mean when I pick , I want to pick the single line like picture 1,not a whole dwg like picture 2：

Picture 1

picture 2

is there any API to breakdown the whole thing like picture2,so that I can use pickobject to select any line in it like pickture 1?

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

matthew_taylor — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 10:04:57 GMT

Your geoObj object is the line (or text etc).

It's not an element, so you can't 'select' it, or highlight it, but the code I gave you allows you to retrieve the line and its properties.

If you want to simulate selection, you may be able to do that by creating detail or model lines over top of the geometry.

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 10:28:30 GMT

how to create detail or model lines over top of the geometry,? retrieve all lines and text and create detail or model lines over them?

I find revit has a function: when I select the whole block of dwg linked into revit, a button appears like picture1:

PICTURE 1

and when I click it, the dwg block breakdowns ,and it is no problem for me to pick any lines or text in this dwg block like below:

I am confused how it realizes? is it also useing the way creating detail or model lines over top of the geometry?

but if I click Esc , it becomes back again, which is a whole dwg block again.

that is to say ,this button can allow us to pick any lines or text in a whole dwg block. how it do..

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 10:31:35 GMT

this is my dwg file , I link it into revit..maybe it is helpful for my question

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

matthew_taylor — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 11:21:53 GMT

I understand what you are trying to do. The Revit API doesn't support selection for non-element objects (as far as I know).

The visualisation is not the important part of your coding. (You would probably do better to turn them straight into beams anyway.)

Here's a proof of concept:

#Region "Imported Namespaces"

Imports System.Linq
Imports Autodesk.Revit
Imports Autodesk.Revit.Attributes

#End Region

<Transaction(TransactionMode.Manual)> _
<Regeneration(RegenerationOption.Manual)> _
<Journaling(JournalingMode.UsingCommandData)> _
Public Class AddBeam
    Implements UI.IExternalCommand
    Public Function Execute(ByVal commandData As UI.ExternalCommandData, _
                            ByRef message As String, ByVal elements As DB.ElementSet) _
                        As UI.Result Implements UI.IExternalCommand.Execute
        Dim app As ApplicationServices.Application = commandData.Application.Application
        Execute = UI.Result.Failed
        Dim doc As DB.Document = commandData.Application.ActiveUIDocument.Document
        Dim docUi As UI.UIDocument = commandData.Application.ActiveUIDocument
        Dim ref As DB.Reference = _
            docUi.Selection.PickObject(UI.Selection.ObjectType.PointOnElement, "Pick element")
        Dim elem As DB.Element = doc.GetElement(ref)
        Dim geomObject As DB.GeometryObject = _
           elem.GetGeometryObjectFromReference(ref)
        If TypeOf (geomObject) Is DB.Line Then
            Dim line As DB.Line = TryCast(geomObject, DB.Line)
            Dim familySymbol As DB.FamilySymbol = New DB.FilteredElementCollector(doc) _
                                                .OfCategory(DB.BuiltInCategory.OST_StructuralFraming) _
                                                .OfClass(GetType(DB.FamilySymbol)) _
                                                .Cast(Of DB.FamilySymbol) _
                                                .FirstOrDefault
            Using trans As New DB.Transaction(doc, "Add Beam")
                trans.Start()
                Dim curve As DB.Curve = line
                Dim familyInstance As DB.FamilyInstance = _
                    doc.Create.NewFamilyInstance(curve, familySymbol, _
                         doc.ActiveView.GenLevel, DB.Structure.StructuralType.Beam)
                trans.Commit()
                Return UI.Result.Succeeded
            End Using
        End If
        Return Execute
    End Function
End Class

You'll need a framing family in your model.

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 16:20:20 GMT

it is possible for me to pick after exploding after linked DWG file using the API？

I need to realize function that allows user to pick lines or text in dwg linked into revit,

if it is impossible, does it have the API to have a operation to pick different Layers in dwg linked into revit?

thanks very much

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 16:31:58 GMT

it is possible for me to pick after exploding after linked DWG file using the API？ I need to realize function that allows user to pick lines or text in dwg linked into revit. If it is impossible, does it have the API to have a operation to pick different Layers in dwg linked into revit?

thanks very much

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 16:43:51 GMT

if I retrive all data from the importinstance of dwg, how could I get the data of number which describes the line?

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 06:27:55 GMT

I am sorry for the trouble I have caused you ，it is the first time for me to operate dwg linked into revit by api,

I have another question about how to get the text in dwg linkd into revit, and one more question is how to make sure its relationship with lines standing for beams?

\ know these lines standing for beams could be achieved by geometry like that:

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

matthew_taylor — Tue, 02 May 2017 10:09:14 GMT

Hi @27925916,

It's no problem.

It's not helpful starting new topics asking the same thing. It was the weekend - be patient. 🙂

This is how you get the 'layer' name of an importInstance line:

Dim ref As DB.Reference = _
  docUi.Selection.PickObject(UI.Selection.ObjectType.PointOnElement, _
  "Pick element")
Dim elem As DB.Element = doc.GetElement(ref)
Dim geomObject As DB.GeometryObject = _
                   elem.GetGeometryObjectFromReference(ref)
If TypeOf (geomObject) Is DB.Line Then
   Dim graphicsStyleElem As DB.Element = doc.GetElement(geomObject.GraphicsStyleId)
   Dim graphicsStyle As DB.GraphicsStyle = _
      TryCast(graphicsStyleElem, DB.GraphicsStyle)
   MsgBox(String.Format("Layer Name={0}", _     
      graphicsStyle.GraphicsStyleCategory.Name))
End If

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Wed, 03 May 2017 02:35:04 GMT

I am so confused that I make a new topic about the same question...

yes ,I have used the way you advise to get the name of 'layer' about a line, and alse I can use it to get the 'layer' of text like below :

but the GraphicsStyleCategory.Name is not the content inside it , and is there any way to get the content of it and its position?

because I want to judge the relationship of the lines standing for beam and the text whcih describes the size of beam

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

matthew_taylor — Wed, 03 May 2017 06:30:15 GMT

Hi @27925916,

I understand it looks very daunting, but I promise it's not that complicated.

You really need to refer to my first comment. It tells you exactly how to get all of the lines/text etc using RevitLookup. With RevitLookup, you can browse the content of your importInstance. RevitLookup is an open sourced app - just look at it's code to see how it gets the information it does, and use that in your app. You can step through the code as you follow my steps.

If you have trouble with that, it's probably worth going back a step and up-skilling yourself until you feel more comfortable with it.

(Of course, if you find you want someone to write the app for you, you may find this post useful: http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2011/12/finding-a-development-partner.html)

Re: how to create beams by lines from dwg linked into revit

27925916 — Wed, 03 May 2017 07:37:14 GMT

thanks, I have tried to use revitloopup,but I can;t find any information about text ,I delete all layers except layer standing size by text:

I use revit lookup to query and find nothing about text: