More API access for groups

[sebasU753M]

Groups can be a convenient and efficient way to set up a project, especially when dealing with dimensions and attached groups. However, a significant issue is the limited API access available for manipulating groups.

In my case, I wanted to rotate a group using Dynamo, but the operation caused the group to be recognized as having a different base height relative to the group origin. This occurs because the group origin cannot be rotated, leading Dynamo to treat the group as an individual element, which results in altered values.

Additionally, adding elements to existing groups is, as far as I know, not possible with the current API.

It would be highly beneficial to make groups more accessible for automation through Python, Dynamo, or other tools.

[Anonymous]

• Add the possibility to modify Model Groups.
• Add the possiblity to Add/Remove an item in a Model Group
• Change parameters of an element inside a Model Groups

[Anonymous]

Add detail groups to a model group.

(https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-api-forum/assign-quot-attached-detail-group-placement-quot-to-m...)

[Anonymous]

+1 this could be very helpful!

[Anonymous]

Project parameters works when you  change it to vary by group instance but what about system parameters? No option there to change system parametes value to vary by group instance.

So i strongly agree to that dynamo/API should have access to model groups. In other words, Autodesk should code Revit groups so that Dynamo/API can change element parameters. 

[Anonymous]

Yes, My boss has told us we cant do anymore revit api automation because in his opinion if you cant change parameters ie yes/no and length parameters in groups then we will look at going back to using revit the tedious way. He is also looking at going back to using autocad. I no sure why he is very hot temper man about this. I think we just dont use groups in our models and this is good enough. 

[Anonymous]

Hey can access revit links allow changes to family parameters?

[GallowayUS_com_RonAllen1]

REVIT.DB.GROUPS API wrapper for model group functionality ILO 'sendkeys' or postable command. And access the show attached detail groups and other model-centric commands (Like subgroups, attached detail items, group parameters, etc.)

Shared by @JacobSmall -

The capacity to ‘save out groups’ as a library of rvts is available as a postable command (meaning triggers a UI).

https://www.revitapidocs.com/2020/f6ccdc1b-6ac3-9c49-d0bb-8a7d1877eab0.htm

Further digging in the API did find something which may be useful, but you’ll have to custom code using a few different methods:

               Get attached: https://www.revitapidocs.com/2020/dd127374-e2c5-9c5e-3edd-c1b0ec60e30d.htm

               Hide detail groups: https://www.revitapidocs.com/2020/660bd48f-dd60-562c-1935-8fcbd258669a.htm

               Show detail groups: https://www.revitapidocs.com/2020/2e4d7640-92fa-fc3b-83a2-e492bc8b0269.htm

[Rusty_Gesner]

Lack of API for Groups effectively prevents cleaning up models by dynamo users and 3rd-party add-ins such as Ideate Style Manager. When users have all-too-often embedded linetypes, dim styles, text styles, etc, which are redundant or contrary to our standards, in groups, those styles cannot be merged and deleted without tedious manual efffort, thwarting attempts to efficiently perform QAQC. 

[GallowayUS_com_RonAllen1]

@Rusty_Gesner Ideates latest actually merges line patterns and types! As much as I don't like 3rd party addins; Ideate is a great one to have (Explorer, style manager and bimlink).  So it has to be accessible in the API - which Dynamo should have access to now : ) Coding it in Dynamo is another story : /

[Rusty_Gesner]

Thanks for the quick reply, but are you sure about that?
I have the very latest Ideate StyleManager and just tested merging line styles, and it could not change them in Groups. I still get "Not all usages could be replaced." And "This usage requires a manual fix."

[GallowayUS_com_RonAllen1]

@Rusty_Gesner  I am unsure : ) I will try to test it today  )

[rwtaylor_revit]

@Rusty_Gesner, you are correct.   Ideate StyleManager would need the ability to access groups via the API.   So, please vote and advocate for Autodesk to allow us to manipulate the elements within groups.   Thanks for your support.

[RichWhitfield]

Definitely need to be able to query the `Rotation` property of a groups `LocationPoint`!

[hemmesMW2F3]

Groups need the basic 3d package functionality of being able to query what their current rotation and mirrored state is