Dynamic user input

[Anonymous]

Hi All, 

I'm creating a utility for the end-user. I'm trying to re-create some of the workflows that I used in AutoCAD using VB, so the user can dynamically input some parameter through the methods:

Utility.InitializeUserInput

Utility.GetString

In Revit, is it possible to create this workflow? I created other routines using the static Windows.Form with success, but now I'm looking for a User Interface that communicates with the user "on the march".

For example, I create a rebar according to some parameters. When created, I want to put the next rebar using the position of the last bar and some of their parameters.

Any tip or advice will be very appreciated.

Cheers!

[MarryTookMyCoffe]

there is a many way you can do it, you can use event or even a revit elementUpdater.
or you can use:
Snippet

activeUIdoc.PostRequestForElementTypePlacement(elementType)

and then after that put another elements like that next to it.

[jeremytammik]

Revit itself does not have a console like AutoCAD, and the user interface paradigm is completely different.

You should not try to reproduce your AutoCAD workflow in Revit.

They are different animals:

http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#5.41

If you wish to interact live with Revit, you might want to take a look at how the RevitPythonShell provides a console interface and implements a real-time read–eval–print loop to enable in-depth interactive programming:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read%E2%80%93eval%E2%80%93print_loop

http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2013/11/intimate-revit-database-exploration-with-the-python...

https://github.com/architecture-building-systems/revitpythonshell

Before programming, ensure that you understand the basic product paradigms and the user workflow really fits in with that.

If your user interface ideas are AutoCAD based, they will not fit well in Revit... you will struggle to implement them and frustrate your users.

Cheers,

Jeremy

[MarryTookMyCoffe]

I'm gonna call bull**** on this, there is plenty of things that could be used just like in autocad. For know it look like some crazy person decide, we can't take anything from autocad.
We end up with broken UI that have a questionable solution.
revit is like Bethesda games, the moders have to fix issue.

[Anonymous]

Thanks @MarryTookMyCoffe. I'll try what you recommend! Hope this fits what I'm looking for. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

@jeremytammik Thanks a lot for your response!. I'll read the links you mentioned. I have come to the same conclusion that they are two different animals. Already I'm thinking in a different workflow for my solution, heading for the end-user use.

Thanks a lot!

[jeremytammik]

My pleasure entirely.

You can use the entire range of user interface gadgets provided by the .NET Windows.Forms library, and also WPF.

It is easiest if you can keep your form modal. 

If you want modeless interaction, i.e., to keep the form open and continue working with other Revit functionality at the same time, things get much more complex, but it is still possible to do:

http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#5.28

I look forward to hearing how you solve this.

Thank you!

Good luck!

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep it in mind. I think I'll look for the modaless solution, because I want to interact with revit menawhile.

CHeers!

[Anonymous]

Hi @jeremytammik. 

Finally, I used the modaless Form option where I set the parameters according to the needs. Also made a few checks (if-else/switch statements) to gather the desired information in every possible situation. And for the information of the previous element created, I created a different class that stores all the info I needed to rescue. For last, I played with calling the ElementId of the previous element to check if it is still in my document. 

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. I finally re-invented the workflow here.

CHeers!

[dmaughan25]

Did you ever figure out how to do this? I would love to have a dynamic input in Revit. Any information would be helpful.

[jeremy_tammik]

The RevitPythonShell implements a modal as well as a modeless command line that interacts with the Revit API, in case that is of any use to your use case:

https://github.com/architecture-building-systems/revitpythonshell