ImportInstance like in dynamo

[vanlion]

Hello,

I have a question about importing a geometry. When i use DirectShape in C# the result is as you can see in the picture below. It doesn't create selectable faces. In Dynamo this is possible ny creating geometry with the "ImportInstance.ByGeometries" node. Is the way to create geometry like that one also availible in C#? because i can't find it 😞

result what i need like dynamo:

[jeremytammik]

Dynamo is open source, so you can debug it and research what exactly it is doing yourself.

It uses the one and only Revit .NET API, the same as always, so the same result can certainly be reproduced in any add-in as well.

Please let us know what you find out and what the difference is if you decide to dive further into this exploration.

Thank you!

[vanlion]

Hi Jeremy,

Thanks for answering!

Oke good to know it's possible but how can you debug dynamo nodes? is this something on GitHub maybe?

[vanlion]

Hi Jeremy,

Is the following topic something like the workflow of the import instance geometries node?

Only thing i don't understand is that after you have placed an import instance from dynamo you can't open it like a family? So maybe it's not completely the same?

https://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2011/06/creating-and-inserting-an-extrusion-family.html

[jeremytammik]

Sorry, I am not completely sure about your definitions and terminology usage.

Here is my take on this: a family is a family definition, the family definition contains a list of family types, aka as family symbols in the Revit project context, and each real live 3D occurrence or placement of such a type is a family instance.

A standard family is defined in an RFA file.

Inside the family, different family types are defined, e.g., for different dimensions.

In the RVT project model, you insert instances of these types.

The objects you see in the 3D project view are instances.

Here is a little more background info on families versus types:

• https://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2018/12/dynamo-symbol-vs-type-and-exporter-exception.html#...
• https://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2013/01/family-symbols-versus-types.html

If you have placed a family instance in the project, you can edit its family definition by clicking the appropriate buttons in the user interface. Programmatically, you can achieve something similar by calling the EditFamily method:

https://apidocs.co/apps/revit/2019/56e636ee-5008-0ee5-9d6c-5f622dedfbcb.htm

Best regards,

Jeremy