search all elements containing sepecific string i.e. ABC

[Ning_Zhou]

i'm trying to write utility tool to search all elements, pretty much everything, which contain specific string, mostly will be name, i.e. material name, type name, parameter name, etc.

including annotation symbol, view(port), diamension(style), text(style), tag, etc.

no need to search parameter value.

any easy way to make sure everything are included?

[Moustafa_K]

Hi

I believe the best way is to loop through Builtin Parameter of the element. I have quickly written this code "Not Tested" but will deliver the idea.

all I done  is

1- get a list of built in parameter

2- try and catch get each type value from the element.

3- if value equalls the string you need then you found what you want

       var bips = Enum.GetValues(typeof(BuiltInParameter));
          
        foreach (BuiltInParameter item in bips)
            {
                Parameter p = null;
                try
                {

                    p = myelement.get_Parameter(item);     
                    if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(p.AsString())) continue;

                    if(p.AsString() == searchstring) 
{
// do something
break;
}

                }
                catch (Exception)
                {
// this parameter does not exist for this type of element.
}
}

but this will take a long time unless you filter the search by a definition Name or something. The wide filter the more time... I hope that guides you to the right path.

[Ning_Zhou]

thanks mostafa90 for your quick reply, I did quick test, seems it's a bit slow, and only cover parameter side of element, I used the following code, seems working OK, but don't know if it's 100% covered.

foreach (Element e in all)
{
  if (e.Name.Contains("ABC"))
  {
   searched.Add(e);
   continue;
  }
  foreach (Parameter p in e.Parameters)
  {
   string n = p.AsString();
   if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(n)) continue;
   if (n.Contains("ABC"))
   {
    searched.Add(e);
    continue;
   }
  }
  // anything else?
}

[Moustafa_K]

 foreach (Parameter p in e.Parameters)

the above statement in your loop will call the parameters each time from the element and will not iterate to go through one by one. this will cause that some of the parameters might be missed, for that reason I used this statement 

 var bips = Enum.GetValues(typeof(BuiltInParameter));

[Ning_Zhou]

I iterate all elements in Revit database so its related parameters will be covered.

in your code, myelement is any one of elements in Revit databse or all elements?

[Moustafa_K]

myelement is referring to one of the elements in the project that you need to check. so it can be an item variable in a loop of elements. I am Glad that resolved the problem

[jeremytammik]

Dear Ning and Moustafa,

You have not searched The Building Coder!

• String Search ADN Plugin of the Month -- http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2011/10/string-search-adn-plugin-of-the-month.html
• All Model Text, StringSearch 2016 -- http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/2016/01/all-model-text-stringsearch-2016-and-new-jobs.html

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Jeremy

[Ning_Zhou]

thanks Jeremy for the links, I looked at your plugins before even though not fully tried, and seems to me it's only for searching parameter values, what i'm trying to achieve is to search everything in Revit database except parameter value, i.e. family name, family type name, material name, annotation stuff, etc., not a specific value assigned to element whether it's parameter or not.

the reason is to audit project templates and/or models from various sources in order to find out or even rename prefixed stuff (i.e. ABC_wall).

[matthew_taylor]

Hi Ning,

If you just want types and families with names containing a string, you probably want to go for something like this:

   Dim elementsTypesContainingText As IEnumerable(Of DB.Element) = New DB.FilteredElementCollector(doc).WhereElementIsElementType.Where(Function(e) PassesMyFilter(e, "ABC"))
   Dim familiesContainingText As IEnumerable(Of DB.Element) = New DB.FilteredElementCollector(doc).OfClass(GetType(DB.Family)).Where(Function(e) PassesMyFilter(e, "ABC"))

'Helper function:   
Private Function PassesMyFilter(e As DB.Element, matchStr As String) As Boolean
        If e.Name.Contains(matchStr, StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase) Then
            Return True
         
        End If
        Return False
    End Function
'Helper module
Public Module ExtensionMethods
    ''' <summary>
    ''' Usage: mystring.Contains(myStringToCheck, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="source"></param>
    ''' <param name="toCheck"></param>
    ''' <param name="comp"></param>
    ''' <returns></returns>
    ''' <remarks></remarks>
    <Extension()> _
    Public Function Contains(ByVal source As String, toCheck As String, comp As StringComparison) As Boolean
        Return source.IndexOf(toCheck, comp) >= 0
    End Function
End Module

You can always limit which categories to filter for also.

-Matt

[Ning_Zhou]

thanks Matthew for your coding, does it work for material names, etc.?

ironically, my following coding seems work but i'm not 100% sure if i covered everything.

foreach (Element e in all)
{
  if (e.Name.Contains("ABC"))
  {
   searched.Add(e);
   continue;
  }

}

[Moustafa_K]

Hello
I thought you wuestion resolved. Can you explain why you have a doubt that the search loop is not covered 100%??

[Ning_Zhou]

yes, i thought it's solved too, thanks everyone for suggestions.

[matthew_taylor · Accepted solution]

Best to mark the solution for others then. 🙂