LinkElement
Unique functionality for working with elements from linked Revit models at scale.
The LinkElement class, exclusive to BimorphNodes, is purpose-built to solve a significant Revit API limitation that affects elements from linked models. This limitation normally restricts linked elements to their external file's origin-to-origin position, regardless of any transformations (like moving or rotating the link) applied in the host document. LinkElement objects overcome this by representing the element at its visible/transformed location within the host model.
LinkElement inherits from Dynamo's standard Revit.Elements.Element class, its instances are fully compatible with any node that accepts Element inputs. They are also highly optimized for intersection purposes when used with Element and BoundingBox nodes. This optimization provides ultra-efficient intersection and bounding box containment workflows with linked Elements from any number of linked models. To learn more about the linked element limitation in the Revit API and the solution LinkElement implements, visit the article here.
These nodes enable you to collect elements by category, extract geometry and parameters, perform ray-bounce selection, and even copy linked elements into your active document while maintaining proper positioning and relationships.
BoundingBox
Retrieves the linked Elements bounding box at its host location.
Inputs
LinkElementLinkElementOutputs
BoundingBoxBoundingBoxFeatures
- Get the linked Elements bounding box at its host location
- LinkElements are designed to position elements at their host location
User Guide
ByRayBounce
Returns any linked Elements and position hit by ray bounce from the specified origin point and direction. Set the findNearest input to true to return the first element hit by the ray point. The optional Category input provides a filter which only returns elements of that category. Optimised for use with Element and BoundingBox nodes.
Inputs
originPointdirectionVectorview3DView3DCategoryCategoryfindNearestboolOutputs
LinkElementLinkElementPointPointFeatures
- Collect linked elements from a linked Revit model by ray bounce
- Ray origin defined by the point input
- Ray direction defined by the direction input
- Return the nearest linked element by setting the findNearest input to true
- Optional Category filter input
- Returns any linked element from any linked Revit document which the ray point intersects
User Guide
CopyToActiveDocument
Copies LinkElements into the active document. This method performs rehosting of elements where applicable and is designed primarily for model elements. Element binding is used to ensure that if you run the node multiple times (it might form part of a larger workflow), there are no risks of duplicates appearing every time your graph updates.
Note that not all elements are supported due to limitations in the Revit API, and due to the way Dynamo interacts with Revit, this node should only be used when Dynamo is in Manual execution mode, otherwise there is a risk of triggering a never-ending process.
Inputs
linkElementsLinkElement[]Outputs
element[]Element[]Features
- Copy LinkElements into the active document as Elements
- Performs rehosting of elements
- Not all elements are supported due to limitation in the Revit API
User Guide
Document
Returns the document object from where this LinkElement derived.
Inputs
linkElementLinkElementOutputs
documentDocumentFeatures
- Returns the LinkElement document object
User Guide
Element
Get the Element stored in the LinkElement. Use the Element with any nodes that are incompatible with the LinkElement.
Inputs
LinkElementLinkElementOutputs
ElementElementFeatures
- Get the Element stored in this LinkElement
- LinkElements are designed to position elements at their host location
User Guide
Faces
Get the Faces from the LinkElement at its host location.
Inputs
LinkElementLinkElementOutputs
Surface[]Surface[]Features
- Get the Faces in the LinkElement at its host location
- LinkElements are designed to position elements at their host location
User Guide
GetParameterValueByName
Gets the parameter value from a LinkElement using a query string to specify the parameter.
Inputs
linkElementLinkElementparameterNamestringOutputs
valuevar[]..[]Features
- Obtain the parameter value from a LinkElement
- Supports API changes between different versions of Revit
User Guide
LinkInstanceId
Get the instance Id of the Revit link instance from where the LinkElement derived.
Inputs
LinkElementLinkElementOutputs
intintFeatures
- Get the instance Id of the Revit link instance from where the LinkElement derived
- LinkElements are designed to position elements at their host location
User Guide
Location
Get the location geometry – either a point or cure – from the LinkElement at its host location.
Inputs
LinkElementLinkElementOutputs
Geometry[]Geometry[]Features
- Get the location geometry from the LinkElement at its host location
- LinkElements are designed to position elements at their host location
User Guide
OfCategory
Get Elements from a linked Revit model (a Link Instance) by Category.
Inputs
linkInstanceElementCategoryCategoryOutputs
LinkElement[]LinkElement[]Features
- Collect elements from a linked Revit model by Category
- Purpose-built to solve the Revit API transform limitation imposed on elements from linked Revit models
- LinkElements are designed to position elements at their host location
- Optimised for use with Element and BoundingBox nodes
User Guide
Solids
Get the Solids from the LinkElement at its host location.
Inputs
LinkElementLinkElementOutputs
Solid[]Solid[]Features
- Get the Solids from the LinkElement at its host location
- LinkElements are designed to position elements at their host location
User Guide
TotalTransform
Get the total transform (coordinate system) of the Revit link instance from where the LinkElement derived.
Inputs
LinkElementLinkElementOutputs
CoordinateSystemCoordinateSystemFeatures
- Get the total transform of the Revit link instance from where the LinkElement derived
- LinkElements are designed to position elements at their host location
User Guide
