Code Samples

Code samples for working with Family Instances.

Review the following code samples for more information about working with Family Instances. Please note that in the NewFamilyInstance() method, a StructuralType argument is required to specify the type of the family instance to be created. Here are some examples:

Table 34: The value of StructuralType argument in the NewFamilyInstance() method

Type of Family Instance	Value of StructuralType
Doors, tables, etc.	NonStructural
Beams	Beam
Braces	Brace
Columns	Column
Footings	Footing

Create Tables

The following function demonstrates how to load a family of Tables into a Revit project and create instances from all symbols in this family.

The LoadFamily() method returns false if the specified family was previously loaded. Therefore, in the following case, do not load the family, Table-Dining Round w Chairs.rfa, before this function is called. In this example, the tables are created at Level 1 by default.

Code Region 12-3: Creating tables

void CreateTables(Autodesk.Revit.DB.Document document) { String fileName = @"C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RVT 2014\Libraries\US Imperial\Furniture\Tables\Table-Dining Round w Chairs.rfa"; // try to load family Family family = null; if (!document.LoadFamily(fileName, out family)) { throw new Exception("Unable to load " + fileName); } // Loop through table symbols and add a new table for each ISet<ElementId> familySymbolIds = family.GetFamilySymbolIds(); double x = 0.0, y = 0.0; foreach (ElementId id in familySymbolIds) { FamilySymbol symbol = family.Document.GetElement(id) as FamilySymbol; XYZ location = new XYZ(x, y, 10.0); FamilyInstance instance = document.Create.NewFamilyInstance(location, symbol, StructuralType.NonStructural); x += 10.0; } }

The result of loading the Tables family and placing one instance of each FamilySymbol:

Figure 47: Load family and create tables in the Revit project

Create a Beam

In this sample, a family symbol is loaded instead of a family, because loading a single FamilySymbol is faster than loading a Family that contains many FamilySymbols.

Code Region 12-4: Creating a beam

FamilyInstance CreateBeam(Autodesk.Revit.DB.Document document, View view) { // get the given view's level for beam creation Level level = document.GetElement(view.LevelId) as Level; // get a family symbol FilteredElementCollector collector = new FilteredElementCollector(document); collector.OfClass(typeof(FamilySymbol)).OfCategory(BuiltInCategory.OST_StructuralFraming); FamilySymbol gotSymbol = collector.FirstElement() as FamilySymbol; // create new beam 10' long starting at origin XYZ startPoint = new XYZ(0, 0, 0); XYZ endPoint = new Autodesk.Revit.DB.XYZ(10, 0, 0); Autodesk.Revit.DB.Curve beamLine = Line.CreateBound(startPoint, endPoint); // create a new beam FamilyInstance instance = document.Create.NewFamilyInstance(beamLine, gotSymbol, level, StructuralType.Beam); return instance; }

Create Doors

Create a long wall about 180' in length and select it before running this sample. The host object must support inserting instances; otherwise the NewFamilyInstance() method will fail. If a host element is not provided for an instance that must be created in a host, or the instance cannot be inserted into the specified host element, the method NewFamilyInstance() does nothing.

Code Region 12-5: Creating doors

void CreateDoorsInWall(Autodesk.Revit.DB.Document document, Wall wall) { // get wall's level for door creation Level level = document.GetElement(wall.LevelId) as Level; FilteredElementCollector collector = new FilteredElementCollector(document); ICollection<Element> collection = collector.OfClass(typeof(FamilySymbol)) .OfCategory(BuiltInCategory.OST_Doors) .ToElements(); IEnumerator<Element> symbolItor = collection.GetEnumerator(); double x = 0, y = 0, z = 0; while (symbolItor.MoveNext()) { FamilySymbol symbol = symbolItor.Current as FamilySymbol; XYZ location = new XYZ(x, y, z); FamilyInstance instance = document.Create.NewFamilyInstance(location, symbol, wall, level, StructuralType.NonStructural); x += 10; y += 10; z += 1.5; } }

The result of the previous code in Revit is shown in the following picture. Notice that if the specified location is not at the specified level, the NewFamilyInstance() method uses the location elevation instead of the level elevation.

Figure 48: Insert doors into a wall

Create FamilyInstances Using Reference Directions

Use reference directions to insert an item in a specific direction.

Code Region 12-6: Creating FamilyInstances using reference directions

// Get a floor to place the beds FilteredElementCollector collector = new FilteredElementCollector(document); Floor floor = collector.OfClass(typeof(Floor)).FirstElement() as Floor; if (floor != null) { // Find a Bed-Box family Family family = null; FilteredElementCollector famCollector = new FilteredElementCollector(document); famCollector.OfClass(typeof(Family)); ICollection<Element> collection = famCollector.ToElements(); foreach (Element element in collection) { if (element.Name.CompareTo("Bed-Box") == 0) { family = element as Family; break; } } if (family != null) { // Enumerate the beds in the Bed-Box family FilteredElementCollector fsCollector = new FilteredElementCollector(document); ICollection<Element> fsCollection = fsCollector.WherePasses(new FamilySymbolFilter(family.Id)).ToElements(); IEnumerator<Element> symbolItor = fsCollection.GetEnumerator(); int x = 0, y = 0; int i = 0; while (symbolItor.MoveNext()) { FamilySymbol symbol = symbolItor.Current as FamilySymbol; XYZ location = new XYZ(x, y, 0); XYZ direction = new XYZ(); switch (i % 3) { case 0: direction = new XYZ(1, 1, 0); break; case 1: direction = new XYZ(0, 1, 1); break; case 2: direction = new XYZ(1, 0, 1); break; } FamilyInstance instance = document.Create.NewFamilyInstance(location, symbol, direction, floor, StructuralType.NonStructural); x += 10; i++; } } }

The result of the previous code appears in the following picture:

Figure 49: Create family instances using different reference directions