Collect all column instances

[Ali.sadeghi.h1994]

Hi. How can I collect all existed column instances in my model?

[RPTHOMAS108]

Like you collect all things FilteredElementCollector

'Existed' or 'Existing'?

It is impossible to tell if it 'existed' apart from comparing with older models.

What do you mean by 'existing':

This column exists in the model and so it is existing, it is therefore it exists?

This column is built on a phase previous to the current one?

ElementPhaseStatusFilter is a slow filter so combine it with ElementCategoryFilter for columns. You could use a class filter but then you would still have to distinguish the category since both would be FamilyInstances. So in this instance a ElementCategoryFilter seems the best quick filter.

[jeremy_tammik · Accepted solution]

Retrieve column family instances sorted as in schedule:

https://github.com/jeremytammik/the_building_coder_samples/blob/master/BuildingCoder/CmdCollectorPer...

Retrieve column instances:

  /// <summary>
  ///   Return a sorted list of all structural columns.
  ///   The sort order is defined by ColumnMarkComparer
  ///   as requested to to replicate the graphical column
  ///   schedule sort order with C# in
  ///   https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-api-forum/replicate-graphical-column-schedule-sort-order-with-c/m-p/9105470
  /// </summary>
  private List<FamilyInstance> GetSortedColumns(Document doc)
  {
    var colums
      = new FilteredElementCollector(doc)
        .WhereElementIsNotElementType()
        .OfCategory(BuiltInCategory.OST_StructuralColumns)
        .OfClass(typeof(FamilyInstance))
        .Cast<FamilyInstance>()
        .ToList();

    colums.Sort(new ColumnMarkComparer());

    return colums;
  }

[Ali.sadeghi.h1994]

That was just a grammatical mistake. Thanks for your guides.

[Ali.sadeghi.h1994]

thanks a lot.