# Setting Default Instance Parameter Values

**URL:** <https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/setting-default-instance-parameter-values/62798>\
**Category:** Revit\
**Created:** [April 12, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/setting-default-instance-parameter-values/62798 "2021-04-12T13:10:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cagnewHE4DX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/48db29/32.png) [@cagnewHE4DX](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/cagnewHE4DX)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/setting-default-instance-parameter-values/62798/1 "2021-04-12T13:10:39Z")

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I have already created a script that can push a set of shared parameters to a family, all schedule data related things. My new problem is I need a way to set the default values on the instance parameters I pushed, almost all of them are instance parameters not type parameters. I have tried to use the Element.SetParameter.ByName node but this does not work unless you have a specific instance of that family selected in your project. This is not beneficial to me because I do not want to edit the instance parameters in a specific instance I want to set what those instance parameters default to in a family. Hope someone has ideas!!!

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**Author:** ![Nick\_Boyts](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/nick_boyts/32/76313_2.png) [@Nick\_Boyts](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Nick_Boyts)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2021, 2:45pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/setting-default-instance-parameter-values/62798/2 "2021-04-12T14:45:07Z")

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Are you running this in the family document?

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**Author:** ![cagnewHE4DX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/48db29/32.png) [@cagnewHE4DX](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/cagnewHE4DX)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/setting-default-instance-parameter-values/62798/3 "2021-04-12T16:25:47Z")

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Currently running it in the project itself, I can run it in the family document if need be.

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**Author:** ![Nick\_Boyts](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/nick_boyts/32/76313_2.png) [@Nick\_Boyts](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Nick_Boyts)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/setting-default-instance-parameter-values/62798/4 "2021-04-12T16:36:19Z")

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That’s the only place where default values can be set. Even then, some values will remember the last placed instance instead.

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**Author:** ![Frank\_Loftus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Frank\_Loftus](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Frank_Loftus)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 7:21pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/setting-default-instance-parameter-values/62798/5 "2022-02-10T19:21:56Z")

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@Nick_Boyts So, the method of “element.setParameterByName” will not work when used in a family document because there is no family instance placed, correct?

Does anyone know how to set the default value of an instance parameter using dynamo? I have the exact same problem as the original post. I have not seen many topics on this subject during a search. It would be very useful when trying to batch process a library of families.

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**Author:** ![Nick\_Boyts](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/nick_boyts/32/76313_2.png) [@Nick\_Boyts](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Nick_Boyts)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/setting-default-instance-parameter-values/62798/6 "2022-02-10T19:56:54Z")

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I believe Orchid has some nodes for modifying family documents, otherwise you’d have to use the Revit API to get/set parameters within the family.