The list of Categories changes between Revit versions, which affects the Categories pulldown. In order to create Dynamo scripts that are compatible with multiple versions of Revit and allow selection of a specific Category, I have been using a string of the Category with the Category.ByName node. I have used this workaround for a few years with few issues.
In Revit 2022 and earlier versions, using the string “Lines” with the Category.ByName node outputs the Lines Category, similar to selecting Lines in the Categories pulldown.
In Revit 2023 and later versions, using the string “Lines” with the Category.ByName node outputs the Adaptive Points - Lines Category. Retrieving the Name from the Categories pulldown reveals that the Lines category should indeed be called “Lines” and the Adaptive Points - Lines category should be called “Adaptive Points - Lines” so it seems like an error that trying to retrieve the Lines Category using Category.ByName retrieves a different category.
Hello @Andrew_Victus and welcome thats a well known issue think dynamo knows that and will hopefully be fixed…for now we can use buitin categori or categori by id
Open the graph, set the pull down, and save the graph in Revit 2024. Do not reopen it and save it again in 2020 or 2021 and things should be fine
(Note: both of the versions without the dropdown fix will no longer be supported in a matter of months). Utilize player to prevent saving over the ‘repaired’ version.
How do I use Category By ID? I don’t see a node in the Library search or in the Revit → Elements → Category sublist. Is there a Package that contains this node?
I didn’t know about using Revit 2024 to fix the Category pulldown. I will have to add that to my bag of tricks.
There is always the option of using some python to determine the build and therefor the methods you need to use within the code as a bit of a flexible variant.
You do still need to maintain this code between builds…
The code below from @Brendan_Cassidy is intended to determine the current user packages location but you can see the methods for finding build numbers in the code and structure your code as such.
"""
DYNAMOAPI: Get User Package Location For Currently Running Dynamo Application
"""
__author__ = 'Brendan cassidy'
__twitter__ = '@brencass86'
__version__ = '1.0.1'
"""
This will gather the correct user package location depending on what version of dynamo is running in either Civil 3d or Revit.
Then it will output a path to the currently running user appdata folder for dynamo
"""
import clr
# Sets up new path to ironpython module Library
# See https://docs.python.org/2/library/sys.html
import sys
sys.path.append("C:\Program Files (x86)\IronPython 2.7\Lib")
# Imports operating system interfaces
# See https://docs.python.org/2/library/os.html
import os
# Module to read a dll assembly version
from System.Diagnostics import FileVersionInfo
import collections
# Function to trim string version input down to main version
def GetReducedVersion(input):
# Strings version down to main version
count=0
stringIndex=[]
for a in input:
if a == ".":
stringIndex.append(count)
count=count+1
return input[0:stringIndex[1]]
def GetAllDynamoFolders(path):
directories = []
# r=root, d=directories, f = files
for r, d, f in os.walk(path):
for directory in d:
temppath=os.path.join(r, directory)
if temppath.endswith("\\packages") and temppath.count("\\packages")==1:
directories.append(temppath)
return directories
# Flatten List Function
def flattenlist(listin):
for el in listin:
if isinstance(el, collections.Iterable) and not isinstance(el, str):
for sub in flattenlist(el):
yield sub
else:
yield el
# Trys to find Revit API, if it errors out it will skip
try:
# Import DocumentManager
clr.AddReference("RevitServices")
import RevitServices
from RevitServices.Persistence import DocumentManager
# Import RevitAPI
clr.AddReference("RevitAPI")
import Autodesk
from Autodesk.Revit.DB import *
# Standard areas for Current Document, Active UI and application
uiapp = DocumentManager.Instance.CurrentUIApplication
app = uiapp.Application
# Gets current Revit Version
revitVersion = int(app.VersionNumber)
# Only runs if revit version is higher than 2019
if revitVersion > 2019:
# Constructs path depending on revit version this is run from
FolderLocation = 'C:\\Program Files\\Autodesk\\Revit ' + app.VersionNumber + '\\AddIns\\DynamoForRevit\\'
# Gets Dynamo Core dll file Version
DynamoCoreVersion = FileVersionInfo.GetVersionInfo(FolderLocation + "DynamoCore.dll").FileVersion
# Uses a different method to get dynamo core version if not in revit 2020 or higher
else:
clr.AddReference('DynamoRevitDS')
import Dynamo
# access to the current Dynamo instance and workspace
dynamoRevit = Dynamo.Applications.DynamoRevit()
currentWorkspace = dynamoRevit.RevitDynamoModel.CurrentWorkspace
# Access current version of dynamo
DynamoCoreVersion=dynamoRevit.RevitDynamoModel.Version
# Constructs the user package location path
OUT = os.getenv('APPDATA') + '\\Dynamo\\Dynamo Revit\\' + GetReducedVersion(DynamoCoreVersion) + '\\packages', GetAllDynamoFolders(os.getenv('APPDATA') + '\\Dynamo\\Dynamo Revit\\')
# outputs a error to do something else if it cannot find Revit API
except:
# Trys to find Autocad API, if it errors out it will skip
try:
# Add Assemblies for AutoCAD and Civil3D
clr.AddReference('AcMgd')
clr.AddReference('AcCoreMgd')
clr.AddReference('AcDbMgd')
import Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices.Application as acapp
# What the Versions means to year version
# https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2021/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-793238B6-F8B8-4D20-BB3A-001700AECD75-htm.html
appBuildVersion = float(acapp.Version.Major.ToString() + "." + acapp.Version.Minor.ToString())
# Gets Autocad Build version then transfer it to year version
if appBuildVersion == 23.1:
appVersion = "2020"
elif appBuildVersion == 24.0:
appVersion = "2021"
else:
appVersion = "NA"
# If AppVersion is NA eg not civil 3d versions 2020 or 2021 then output not supported
if appVersion == "NA":
OUT = "This code does not support Civil 3D 2019 or less"
# Goes to correct folder location of DynamoCore and checks its version
else:
dynamoCoreLoc = 'C:\\Program Files\\Autodesk\\AutoCAD ' + appVersion + '\\C3D\Dynamo\\Core\\DynamoCore.dll'
# Gets Dynamo Core dll file Version
DynamoCoreVersion = FileVersionInfo.GetVersionInfo(dynamoCoreLoc).FileVersion
templist=[]
for a in range(2020, 2030):
if os.path.exists(os.getenv('APPDATA') + '\\Autodesk\\C3D ' + a.ToString() + '\\Dynamo\\'):
templist.append(GetAllDynamoFolders(os.getenv('APPDATA') + '\\Autodesk\\C3D ' + a.ToString() + '\\Dynamo\\'))
# Constructs the user package location path
OUT = os.getenv('APPDATA') + '\\Autodesk\\C3D ' + appVersion + '\\Dynamo\\' + GetReducedVersion(DynamoCoreVersion) + '\\packages', flattenlist(templist)
# Outputs a error that this wasnt run from within a dynamo hosted in revit or Civil 3D
except:
OUT = "This code only works within revit/Civils 3d"
thats a well known issue think dynamo knows that and will hopefully be fixed…for now we can use buitin categori or categori by id
