Dynamo For Dummys

Dynamo for Dummies:
An Intro to Dynamo and How It Interacts with Revit
Marcello Sgambelluri BIM Director - John A. Martin & Associates
AB7878-L, AB6545-L & AB8258-L

Have you ever heard of the Dynamo visual programming language extension in Revit software and
wanted to know what it was all about? The Dynamo extension is not just for tower twisters and superadvanced programmersthe Dynamo extension is for every Revit user. The Dynamo extension uses a
visual programming language, but it is an easy language to understand. In this lab attendees will get very
gradual doses of the Dynamo extension and its programming environment so they gain the skills to make
the Dynamo extension work in their everyday workflows with Revit software. No programming experience
or complex modeling experience needed to attend this lab. You only need a little Revit experience.
LearningObjectives
At the end of this class, you will be able to:
x
x
x
x
Learn the answer to the question: What is the Dynamo extension?

Learn how to program using visual programming
Learn practical uses of dynamo
Learn how to use the Dynamo extension in your everyday Revit software workflows
Dynamo for Dummies: An Intro to Dynamo and How it Interacts with Revit
AbouttheSpeaker
Marcello Sgambelluri is the Building Information Modeling (BIM) director at John A. Martin &
Associates, Inc., in Los Angeles, California. Marcello is heavily devoted to helping advance the
use and knowledge of BIM Solutions within the architecture, engineering, and construction
community. He is well known for modeling elements and creating workflows that others did
think not possible. He also frequently presents at Autodesk University, where attendees voted
him the top-rated speaker for 2 years in a row. He has worked on many well-known projects in
the past, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California; the Ray and Maria
Stata Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and the Tom Bradley International
Terminal Expansion at Los Angeles International Airport. Marcello received BS and MS
degrees in civil engineering, and he is a licensed civil and structural engineer.
Twitter: @marcellosgamb
Blogs:
www.therevitcomplex.blogspot.com
www.simplydynamo.blogspot.com
Email: marcellojs@hotmail.com
Contents
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................4
WhatisDynamo?...............................................................................................................................................4
Whatversionisthis?ThatssoyesterdaysBuild................................................................................................6
EveryRevitUsergetstotouchtheAPI................................................................................................................7
DownloadingandInstallingDynamoisEasy!......................................................................................................8
DynamoBasicsandtheinterface.......................................................................................................................10
GETTINGANDSETTINGPARAMETERS........................................................................................12
UsingSingleSelection(SelectModelElementNode).........................................................................................13
UsingMultiSelection(SelectModelElementsNode).........................................................................................20
SELECTIONOFELEMENTSUSINGDYNAMO................................................................................22
UsingSelectionByCategory..............................................................................................................................22
UsingSelectionByFamilyTypeSelection...........................................................................................................23
UsingSelectionByElementType.......................................................................................................................24
UsingSelectionByCategoryRevisited...............................................................................................................25
ConfusingSelectionnodenames.......................................................................................................................26
EXTRACTINGADAPTIVECOMPONENTPOINTS........................................................................27
EXCELINPUTTOPORETAININGWALL........................................................................................31
GetthedatafromExcel.....................................................................................................................................32
ChangedatatomakepointsandcreatetopoinRevit........................................................................................32
Makingchangestothetopo..............................................................................................................................33
DESIGNSCRIPTINGANDTHEREVITCOW..................................................................................34
3
Introduction
WhatisDynamo?
This is a very difficult question to answer simply because Dynamo does SO much. Below is my
answer to this question and I hope it clarifies it for some of you.
Dynamo is a free program from Autodesk that uses visual programming. Dynamo
primarily does two tasks.
1. Creates its own geometry with parametric relationships.
2. Reads and writes to and from external databases.
Since Dynamo creates its own geometry and reads and writes to external databases it is a
perfect fit to interact with Revit because....isnt Revit simply a database with parametric
geometry? Dynamo is a stand-alone program but it could be used as an "add-on" to Revit. This
is summarized in the Figure below.
Dynamo reads and writes back data to and from the Revit database via the Revit API. The data
could be just about anything, parameter values, family geometry, and family placement.
4
Basically Dynamo manipulates the Revit database in ways that the UI (user interface) could not.
For example in Dynamo you could set the base of all the walls and all the columns to the same
elevation. This means that you could set parameters from different families equal to each other.
Would that be helpful?
Dynamo also provides a direct relationship between its OWN geometry and Revit. For example
in Dynamo you could model a cone and a plane, find the intersection of those elements (results
in a curve) and then assign a Structural Revit Beam IN REVIT to that Dynamo curve and they
would be forever "linked" meaning if the dynamo curve changed location then the Revit Beam
would change location as well. All the while the original cone, plane, and curve would REMAIN
in the dynamo program while the Structural Beam would remain in Revit. The applications for
Dynamo and Revit are endless.
Just about any Revit user could learn Dynamo (since it uses visual programming it is very
simple to learn) they could access the Revit api and perform simple tasks that only could have
previously been performed with writing an add-on or writing a macro with .net language for
Revit. Oh and don't forget that Dynamo is completely free and is updated constantly. If you need
the latest build or more information visit www.dynamoBIM.org and get started.
Dynamo is ever evolving so now is the time to download it and learn it. Why wait its free! By the
way Dynamo could also be used to create an Elephant in Revit as shown in the figure below.
Whatversionisthis?ThatssoyesterdaysBuild.
Dynamo is developing so fast that is has daily builds. That means that a new version is released
on a daily basis. Of course most of it is untested so there are stable builds that are released
about every 2 months or so. The latest version of Dynamo (version .74) had the backend code
rewritten to include and incorporate Design Script methodology.
Design Script is the easiest text programing language to learn for the non-programmer. I know
because I learned it! Basically Dynamo merged Design Script Studio (which was also a visual
programming environment) Design Script basically allows Dynamo functionality to be done
using simple text driven programming. If you want more information on Design Script visit the
following link http://designscript.ning.com/.
EveryRevitUsergetstotouchtheAPI
Lets face it the Revit API is a very difficult thing to utilize. For the most part you need to be an
Autodesk developer or an experienced .net programmer to use the API and write programs. The
API was developed for developers by developers and therefore it could be a very confusing
thing to understand let alone try to use for many Revit users.
I am happy to say that Dynamo basically allows users to use the Revit API thru visual
programming using nodes and wires instead of text. This means that any Revit user could
use the API and create custom simple routines without having to know .net language or without
having to hire an outside API consultant.
DownloadingandInstallingDynamoisEasy!
Visit www.dynamobim.org and to download the latest build of Dynamo version .7x as shown in
the figure below.
When you download the latest version of Dynamo simply click to install it as shown in the Figure
below.
It will then show up under your add-in tab in Revit as shown in the Figure below.
Click on the Dynamo button and it will open a separate window that is the Dynamo interface. Its
best to use dual monitors when using Dynamo.
DynamoBasicsandtheinterface.
Nodes are the boxes you place and connect together with Wires to form a program. Nodes can
represent any Function of the API as shown in the Figure below.
Wires connect between Nodes to pass information between nodes. Wires only flow in one
direction.
Wires connect the output Port from one Node to the input Port of another node. To create a wire
simply use the mouse and left click hold and drag from one port to another port. Wires are
dashed while being dragged and then turn solid when connected. You could also pull the wire
away to disconnect it from the port.
Information flows through the Ports from left to right.

10
The Dynamo canvas is shown in the Figure below. The Pull-down Menu is used to open and
save dynamo files, to copy and paste operations, change settings and also access the
Package Manager The Package Manager allows Dynamo users to create custom Dynamo
nodes using either Python Scripting or Nesting other nodes into each other and then posting
them as a Package so other Dynamo users could use them. Yes thats right if you want to you
could become a Dynamo developer and share your custom content!
The Node Library is similar to the view and browser in Revit where it shows all the available
nodes to be used. The Dynamo Canvas is the main workspace environment for creation of all
Dynamo visual programming. The Execution Bar runs or executes the current workspace. What
is unique to programming in Dynamo is the ability to run the program in real time and if you
want to do that simply click the Run Automatically" box.
11
GettingandSettingParameters

12
UsingSingleSelection(SelectModelElementNode)
1. Open the 01_interface_single_Multi_select_START.rvt file and Add the Select Model
Element node to a new dynamo def and select the wall as shown in the Figure below,
this will select the wall in Dynamo
Note:
Notice Element : 1324093 in the node, that is the id of the wall element.
It is the same as the wall id shown in Revit. Unlike Revit where elements that are selected they
turn blue, in Dynamo when elements are selected they show their element Id numbers.
13
2. Add the Element.GetParameterValueByName node and connect the Select Model

Element node to the element input port as shown
3. Add the String Node and type in Base Offset as shown
14
4. click run and click on the watch button to see the value of the Base Offset parameter
5. Add the Select Model Element node and select the column as shown, this will select
the column in Dynamo
Note:
Notice Element : 639952 in the node, that is the id of the column element.
It is the same as the wall id shown in Revit. Unlike Revit where elements that are selected they
turn blue, in Dynamo when elements are selected they show their element Id numbers.
15
6. Add the Element.SetParameterValueByName node and connect the Select Model

16
7. Since there is already a String Node with the text Base Offset there is no need to add
another one simply connect that node with the parameterName input node as shown
17
8. Connect the Element.GetParameterValueByName node to the value input parameter

since you want to make those parameters equal as shown
18
9. click run and watch Revit update make the bottom of the column equal to the eleveation
of the bottom of the wall!
What makes this so amazing is now you have the tools to set any parameter value of
any family that Dynamo is able to see to any Parameter in any other family.
In this case it was a wall, which is a system family, to a column familyamazing. This
was only able to be done using the Revit API, c# or Vb code and a coding expert. Using
Dynamo this could be accomplished by anyone with NO coding background and with
only 5 NODES! Again, its amazing!
Congratulations if you did this and it was your first time using Dynamo you are not
officially a Visual Programmer with Dynamo. Now go and get it on your Resume!
19
UsingMultiSelection(SelectModelElementsNode)
1. Add the Element.GetParameterValueByName node and connect the Select Model
2. Add the String Node and type in Base Offset as shown
20
3. click run and click on the watch button to see the value of the Base Offset parameter
4. Add the following nodes to set the parameter of the column and click run. Note that the
column is in line with the wall.

21
SelectionofElementsusingDynamo
UsingSelectionByCategory
1. Add the nodes shown below this exercise matches what was done in the previous
example except instead of manually selecting the columns and wall we are using the
selection tools in Revit.
2. Click run and watch the columns line up with the walls!

22
UsingSelectionByFamilyTypeSelection
example except now the family types are used as selection..
23
UsingSelectionByElementType
example except now the element types are used as selection..

24
UsingSelectionByCategoryRevisited
example except now the categories are used as selection. Note that category selection
should be used when you want to select more than one type of family type.
2. Click run and watch the columns line up with the walls as shown.
25
ConfusingSelectionnodenames
The names of the selection nodes are confusing. To help everyone understand I made
suggested names for the nodes as shown in the image below. If you need further explanation
you could visit this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfCiy0Ov1UI of a video I recorded to
help explain it further.
CurrentNodeName
WhattheyRepresent
FamilyTypes
ElementTypes
AllElementsofFamilyType
AllElementsofType
AllElementsofCategory
PlaceableFamilyTypes
SystemFamilyCategories
AllInstancesofFamilyType
AllInstancesofSystemFamilyCategory
AllInstancesofCategory
26
ExtractingAdaptiveComponentPoints
Extracting adaptive component points is easy. There are many reasons why you would want
this information because schedules do not extract this information for you.
We will use the example of a roof Cricket however if you need the X,Y,Z of any adaptive point
just follow these same procedures.
27
See the roof cricket in the image below on the roof as well as the roof cricket highlighted.
This roof cricket adaptive component family is made up of 4 points. I have to give credit to Brian
Mackey laying the ground work to inspire me to create crickets out of adaptive components. I
will not go into how to create them in this presentation. If you want more information on how to
create them visit his website at bdmackey.com.
There are times when you need to extract the point locations of these adaptive points. You dont
have to create an API to do it. Simply use dynamo.
28
1. Open the Revit Model CRICKET_ROOF_START.rvt

2. Place the following nodes to select all the instances of the roof crickets as shown below
3. Add the AdaptiveComponent.Locations Node and connect to the element port and
click run as shown. Thats it. You have it now. Now what?
29
4. You could write it to an excel file or you could write it back to the parameters. For
simplicity lets just write the values to excel
5. Add the following nodes as shown
6. And the excel file will be created with the values!

7. Also if you want the xyz of any location just add an AC point on it and follow the previous
steps!
30
ExcelInputTOPORetainingWall
In this exercise we will be getting x,y,z data from an excel spread sheet that will create a topo
surface around a previously modeled retaining wall. We will also move the soil via the
spreadsheet. We will be creating the topo around the retaining wall shown below.
The excel data to be used is shown below that contains coordinates of the final topo in x,y,z
coordinates.
31
GetthedatafromExcel
1. Open up a new dynamo canvas and place the following path nodes as shown below
2. This will extract the data from the spreadsheet. Notice that more cells a read than there
are data but that will be fixed in the next set of nodes.
ChangedatatomakepointsandcreatetopoinRevit
1. Since the data was not in the correct format you need to extract each sublist for x,y and
z respectively.
2. Simply add the ListGetItemAtIndex Nodes three times one for each coordinate and
connect it to a Point.ByCoordinate this will create points as shown.
3. Connect the Topography.ByPoints Node and click run. Wow Topo!
32
Makingchangestothetopo
1. It is so easy to make changes to the topo now using dynamo
2. If the arch wanted to change the height of the soil on one side of the retaining wall but
could not make up their minds. Let them change the value in the spreadsheet and have
them save it to the same directory. Revit will see the changes and update automatically.
3. To do this simply click on the Run Automatically button then add a cell that changes
the ht of once side of the points. In this case it is the z coordinates from point 0 to 63.
33
DesignScriptingandTheRevitCow
In this exercise we will model a simple mass building in the mass family environment using
traditional dynamo nodes then replace some of them with design scripts. Then we will create the
Revit Cow from scratch using design script.
Design Script is the easiest text programing language to learn for the non-programmer. I know
because I learned it! Basically Dynamo merged Design Script Studio (which was also a visual
programming environment) Design Script basically allows Dynamo functionality to be done
using simple text driven programming. If you want more information on Design Script visit the
following link http://designscript.ning.com/.
34
1. Open a blank mass family and open a new dynamo def and place the following nodes
shown below. This will create 4 reference points in dynamo and in the mass family.
2. Draw reference lines between the points IN REVIT and select them and create a box
that represents your building envelope as shown below.
NOTE: only the nodes are controlled by dynamo nothing else.
35
3. Now you are able to scale these by just scaling the nodes adjust the scale amount that
you added in step 1 and watch the mass building scale.
4. Now replace the point nodes and the list nodes with the following design script data
shown below and it does the same thing as the previous step. Design script helps
consolidate. Also design script has other functions that we will not discuss in this lab. If
you want to learn all the wonderful features and commands look at this website
http://designscript.ning.com/.
36
5. Open a blank project and a blank AC or mass family and a blank Dynamo def (change
the render to high). Find the Cow.txt file and copy and paste all the text. Double click on
the blank canvas and paste in the design script. Behold! The Cow defined with design
scripting using only one node! The results should look like the figure above.
If you want to take the Cow into Revit and scale it follow the next steps.
37
6. The cow is great in dynamo but we need it in revit. How do you do that?
7. Open the Cow start dynamo def. Add the following nodes. These define the curves and
surfaces in Revit.
38
8. Click run and of the cow should be built in Revit as shown above.
39
9. Add scale nodes between the model curve nodes and scale to a value of 5. Scaling is
soooo easy now! Thanks dynamo.
10. Turn on the labels and results are shown above.
40
11. The final scale is shown above.!
41

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Dynamo for Dummies:

An Intro to Dynamo and How It Interacts with Revit

Marcello Sgambelluri BIM Director - John A. Martin & Associates

AB7878-L, AB6545-L & AB8258-L

Learn the answer to the question: What is the Dynamo extension?

Information flows through the Ports from left to right.

2. Add the Element.GetParameterValueByName node and connect the Select Model

3. Add the String Node and type in Base Offset as shown

6. Add the Element.SetParameterValueByName node and connect the Select Model

8. Connect the Element.GetParameterValueByName node to the value input parameter

2. Add the String Node and type in Base Offset as shown

1. Open the Revit Model CRICKET_ROOF_START.rvt

6. And the excel file will be created with the values!

NOTE: only the nodes are controlled by dynamo nothing else.

10. Turn on the labels and results are shown above.

11. The final scale is shown above.!

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