# Creating Family Types in Revit

**URL:** <https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842>\
**Category:** Revit\
**Tags:** revit, excel, dynamo\
**Created:** [November 27, 2017, 7:32am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842 "2017-11-27T07:32:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 14\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PauLtus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/paultus/32/48502_2.png) [@PauLtus](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/PauLtus)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 7:32am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/1 "2017-11-27T07:32:28Z")

</div>

I’ve managed to create a way in dynamo that can alter family type parameters by reading from a file:

 ![Excel to revit test 4](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/dynamobim/original/3X/4/5/453077b61ad60d77dacca60c5caed29940ce5d63.png)

It has done its job for a while, but I’d still like to be able to create new families via that same excel file. As you can see, It’s already reading out the names, but I’d like to see a way where if a family type does net yet exists, it will create a new family type with that given name.

I’ve already seen some ways on this forum using the “duplicate family type” node from the clockwork package, but I haven’t really understood how this actually works (I mean, I understand that you duplicate an existing one and then change the name and parameters, but not exactly how that’s happening).

Thanks in advance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Yna\_Db](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/yna_db/32/30641_2.png) [@Yna\_Db](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Yna_Db)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/2 "2017-11-27T16:00:58Z")

</div>

Did you see these posts also?  
[http://dynamobim.org/forums/topic/create-new-family-types/](http://dynamobim.org/forums/topic/create-new-family-types/)

> [@Family Types from Excel](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/family-types-from-excel/11112/3):
>
> Hi Kukul, Thank you for getting back to me. This was based on a previously closed thread which used the “ElementType.Duplicate” node. The closest I can find is “ElementTypesMatchList” but this has different inputs. Perhaps I’m just missing the node from the package? Please see attached screenshot of graph. I’ve selected the family from the drawing and created a list from an external Excel so just need to create duplicate family types and push the names in the list to the newly created familie…

> [@Create New Family Types in Family Document while in Project Environment](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/create-new-family-types-in-family-document-while-in-project-environment/16465):
>
> I realized that I could not find a solution on the forum or any packages (that I already had) that allows adding a new family type to a family document while in a project file, after seeing this post here and searching: There are already shared workflows/nodes that allow users to create new family types within the project environment, but I couldn’t find any that would save those new family types within the family documents themselves, as well. Given the API docs show that the Family Manager …

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PauLtus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/paultus/32/48502_2.png) [@PauLtus](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/PauLtus)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 10:57am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/3 "2017-11-28T10:57:38Z")

</div>

I had seen the first one of those.  
I somehow manage to not have the ElementType.Duplicate node in my list, neither do I understand what exactly is going on there.

On the second, even after downloading the package I do not have the DocumentUtitlies.GetFamilyDocument node, next to that I don’t quite understand what’s going on in the code block which I do think is quite important as I don’t want to be creating family types I already have nor want to override already existing ones.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Yna\_Db](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/yna_db/32/30641_2.png) [@Yna\_Db](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Yna_Db)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 11:06am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/4 "2017-11-28T11:06:33Z")

</div>

_DocumentUtitlies.GetFamilyDocument_ is in my 2017.7.19 version of Beaker, try to type only “GetFamilyDocument” in the search field maybe…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PauLtus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/paultus/32/48502_2.png) [@PauLtus](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/PauLtus)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 11:39am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/5 "2017-11-28T11:39:32Z")

</div>

That works, thank you.

I’ll try to follow the earlier thread you linked.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PauLtus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/paultus/32/48502_2.png) [@PauLtus](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/PauLtus)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/6 "2017-11-28T12:57:34Z")

</div>

I’ve managed to recreate what’s in the thread.

I think the issue might simply because I’m working in Dynamo 1.2 because what I’m creating needs to work for Revit 2015 files.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PauLtus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/paultus/32/48502_2.png) [@PauLtus](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/PauLtus)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 10:29am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/7 "2017-11-29T10:29:27Z")

</div>

Due to the first one I’m getting somewhere, I’m not done yet, but thanks nonetheless.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Yna\_Db](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/yna_db/32/30641_2.png) [@Yna\_Db](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Yna_Db)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 10:36am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/8 "2017-11-29T10:36:23Z")

</div>

Don’t hesitate to send your questions with a screenshot of your graph, someone will surely take a look at it…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PauLtus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/paultus/32/48502_2.png) [@PauLtus](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/PauLtus)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 10:39am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/9 "2017-11-29T10:39:17Z")

</div>

I’m currently creating a topic with a question which, when answered, will let me finish it.  
I already am able to create a duplicate, I’m only having trouble with getting the correct naming right, but I’m feeling that _should_ be easily solved.

Edit: I already found a solution.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![glgg](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/glgg/32/74571_2.png) [@glgg](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/glgg)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 1:51am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/10 "2019-05-30T01:51:48Z")

</div>

Hi @PauLtus could you share your solution?  
tia.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PauLtus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/paultus/32/48502_2.png) [@PauLtus](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/PauLtus)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 8:30am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/11 "2019-06-03T08:30:53Z")

</div>

I don’t quite remember what I did but…

If you look up FamilyType.Duplicate from the clockwork package it will kinda speak for itself.

Or do you have something more specific in mind?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GavC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/gavc/32/74854_2.png) [@GavC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/GavC)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/12 "2019-06-04T23:49:08Z")

</div>

If you’re able to use 2.0.x unlike the OP try using the Orchid Package - it has some easy nodes for type creation. See below 2 nodes from Orchid Package that should be able to create family types. You could set the names first, then set parameters after using OOTB nodes I think.

 ![Orchid](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/dynamobim/original/3X/0/4/04b027c07bbc2d85182ad7794eed60cb9be81e73.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HQUILES](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f08c70/32.png) [@HQUILES](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/HQUILES)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/13 "2019-11-11T16:35:23Z")

</div>

Hi! What if I want to do it in 50 families without opening each one? Im missing how to get the file recon to family document

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/dynamobim/original/3X/1/8/18f63399723db3b9ad77e507e590f5f4342b4546.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GavC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/gavc/32/74854_2.png) [@GavC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/GavC)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 10:17pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/creating-family-types-in-revit/16842/14 "2019-11-11T22:17:39Z")

</div>

You need to use open in background to access the families, then close them once your actions have been applied.

 ![add%20type%20to%20multiple](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/dynamobim/original/3X/0/e/0e04c7e2fbddd445260e40a1b5bc334d98d6c9ee.png)
