# Get a Revit family type from a FamilySymbol, with Python **URL:** \ **Category:** Revit\ **Tags:** python\ **Created:** [October 15, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/get-a-revit-family-type-from-a-familysymbol-with-python/41886 "2019-10-15T20:03:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iliaspitserov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@iliaspitserov](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/iliaspitserov)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/get-a-revit-family-type-from-a-familysymbol-with-python/41886/1 "2019-10-15T20:03:55Z")
Hi everyone, I’m trying to place several instances in a model, using the “doc.Create.NewFamilyInstance()” method. Hence, I want to narrow my list of family types down to a single type, to be passed as a FamilySymbol parameter. I do get the Revit family I want, however, the Revit family contains several types and I just can’t boil it down to one of them. Here’s a snapshot of what works so far: ![FamilySymbol](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/dynamobim/original/3X/1/f/1f1bbae1246deff29f003e04f65dc2a0a93dfa8a.jpeg) Would really appreciate some help. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Kibar](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/kibar/32/80416_2.png) [@Kibar](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Kibar)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/get-a-revit-family-type-from-a-familysymbol-with-python/41886/3 "2019-10-15T21:28:22Z")
Your `fam_sys_lst` collector collects all elements of the FamilySymbol class. There are multiple ways of getting only 1 item: - [Indexing](https://www.tutorialspoint.com/python/python_lists.htm): e.g. `fam_sys_lst[0]` would return the first element of that list and is similar to the `GetItemAtIndex` node of Dynamo. - Narrow down your collector: [This blog post](https://danimosite.wordpress.com/2017/04/16/filteredelementcollector-and-how-to-use-it-in-python-for-dynamo/) gives good examples on how to use it. ---
**Author:** ![c.poupin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/c.poupin/32/89152_2.png) [@c.poupin](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/c.poupin)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 11:39pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/get-a-revit-family-type-from-a-familysymbol-with-python/41886/4 "2019-10-15T23:39:29Z")
a Familysymbol is a Type to filter your collector try this: `filter_typ = [x for x in fam_symb_lst if x.Family.Name == "SP_2D Chair" and Element.Name.GetValue(x) == "40/40"][0]` ---
**Author:** ![iliaspitserov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@iliaspitserov](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/iliaspitserov)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 5:02am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/get-a-revit-family-type-from-a-familysymbol-with-python/41886/5 "2019-10-16T05:02:19Z")
Great, it worked! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![iliaspitserov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@iliaspitserov](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/iliaspitserov)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 5:05am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/get-a-revit-family-type-from-a-familysymbol-with-python/41886/6 "2019-10-16T05:05:14Z")
I would like to select the type with a user controlled input, such as type name. Thanks for the reply and the link, though. I’ll check it out. ---
**Author:** ![iliaspitserov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@iliaspitserov](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/iliaspitserov)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 8:10am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/get-a-revit-family-type-from-a-familysymbol-with-python/41886/7 "2019-10-16T08:10:10Z")
Just another little question: “x.Family.Name” and “Element.Name.GetValue” - are those pure API methods? I mean, would they work outside of Dynamo environment (Python shell, C# addins and such)? Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![c.poupin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/c.poupin/32/89152_2.png) [@c.poupin](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/c.poupin)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 12:14pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/get-a-revit-family-type-from-a-familysymbol-with-python/41886/8 "2019-10-16T12:14:43Z")
`x.Family.Name` is is the combination of 2 properties (Revit API) [Family Property](https://www.revitapidocs.com/2018.2/14272fe6-5fc3-f053-b4c6-2f44d05786f2.htm) and [Name Property](https://www.revitapidocs.com/2018.2/e372092e-ff47-71c2-1272-50ab08e5a41d.htm) (Inherited from [Element] `Element.Name.GetValue(objet)` is a dotnet method [PropertyInfo.GetValue Méthode (System.Reflection) | Microsoft Learn](https://docs.microsoft.com/fr-fr/dotnet/api/system.reflection.propertyinfo.getvalue?view=netframework-4.8) to get value from a Property because Dynamo use [IronPython](https://ironpython.net/) you can also use `Element.Name. __get__ (objet)` [\_\_get\_\_ — Python Reference (The Right Way) 0.1 documentation](https://python-reference.readthedocs.io/en/latest/docs/dunderdsc/get.html) Note: FamilySymbol.Name does not work due to a IronPython limitation more info here > [@Get FamilySymbol's name (Family Type Name)](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/get-familysymbols-name-family-type-name/7831): > > Hi everyone, I’m writing a Revit macro using Python trying to collect all Family Type 's names but the returned result seems strange. I did collect successfully the Family Type elements (FamilySymbol) but somehow I can’t manage to get their name. Could anyone advise ? Greatly appreciate. Cheers allcollector = FilteredElementCollector(self.ActiveUIDocument.Document).OfClass(FamilySymbol) allelementlist = allcollector.ToElements() string1= "... \n" for i in allel… ---
**Author:** ![iliaspitserov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@iliaspitserov](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/iliaspitserov)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/get-a-revit-family-type-from-a-familysymbol-with-python/41886/9 "2019-10-16T15:19:17Z")
Great, thanks again! Indeed, I was struggling with the FamilySymbol.Name method and couldn’t get why it keeps giving me errors. ---
**Author:** ![ruben.romero](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/ruben.romero/32/115842_2.png) [@ruben.romero](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/ruben.romero)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2022, 11:27am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/get-a-revit-family-type-from-a-familysymbol-with-python/41886/10 "2022-06-14T11:27:50Z")
> [@c.poupin](#): > > filter\_typ = [x for x in fam\_symb\_lst if x.Family.Name == “SP\_2D Chair” and Element.Name.GetValue(x) == “40/40”][0] ```auto IndexError: index out of range: 0 ``` ---
**Author:** ![c.poupin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/c.poupin/32/89152_2.png) [@c.poupin](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/c.poupin)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2022, 1:22pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/get-a-revit-family-type-from-a-familysymbol-with-python/41886/11 "2022-06-14T13:22:36Z")
Hello, a variant `filter_typ = next((x for x in fam_symb_lst if x.Family.Name == "SP_2D Chair" and Element.Name.GetValue(x) == "40/40"), None)` _What is the purpose to digging up this 3-year-old subject without context ? Please Start a new topic in this case._ _here is one of the valid reasons why old topics could be automatically closed_