Dynamo
Primer for v2.0
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  • About
  • Introduction
    • What is Dynamo & How Does It Work?
    • Primer User Guide, Dynamo Community & Platform
  • Setup for Dynamo
  • User Interface
    • Workspace
    • Library
  • Nodes and Wires
  • Essential Nodes & Concepts
    • Index of Nodes
    • Geometry for Computational Design
      • Geometry Overview
      • Vector, Plane & Coordinate System
      • Points
      • Curves
      • Surfaces
      • Solids
      • Meshes
    • The Building Blocks of Programs
      • Data
      • Math
      • Logic
      • Strings
      • Color
    • Designing with Lists
      • What's a List
      • Working with Lists
      • Lists of Lists
      • n-Dimensional Lists
    • Dictionaries in Dynamo
      • What is a Dictionary
      • Dictionary Nodes
      • Dictionaries in Code Blocks
      • Revit Use-Cases
  • Custom Nodes & Packages
    • Custom Nodes
      • Custom Node Introduction
      • Creating a Custom Node
      • Publishing to Your Library
    • Packages
      • Package Introduction
      • Package Case Study - Mesh Toolkit
      • Developing a Package
      • Publishing a Package
      • Zero-Touch Importing
  • Dynamo for Revit
    • The Revit Connection
    • Selecting
    • Editing
    • Creating
    • Customizing
    • Documenting
  • Dynamo for Civil 3D
    • The Civil 3D Connection
    • Getting Started
    • Node Library
    • Sample Workflows
      • Roads
        • Light Pole Placement
      • Land
        • Service Placement
      • Utilities
        • Rename Structures
      • Rail
        • Clearance Envelope
      • Surveying
        • Point Group Management
    • Advanced Topics
      • Object Binding
      • Python and Civil 3D
    • Dynamo Player
    • Useful Packages
    • Resources
  • Dynamo in Forma Beta
    • Set Up Dynamo Player in Forma
    • Add and Share Graphs in Dynamo Player
    • Run Graphs in Dynamo Player
    • Dynamo compute service differences with Desktop Dynamo
  • Coding in Dynamo
    • Code Blocks and DesignScript
      • What's a Code Block
      • DesignScript Syntax
      • Shorthand
      • Functions
    • Geometry with DesignScript
      • DesignScript Geometry Basics
      • Geometric Primitives
      • Vector Math
      • Curves: Interpolated and Control Points
      • Translation, Rotation, and Other Transformations
      • Surfaces: Interpolated, Control Points, Loft, Revolve
      • Geometric Parameterization
      • Intersection and Trim
      • Geometric Booleans
      • Python Point Generators
    • Python
      • Python Nodes
      • Python and Revit
      • Setup Your Own Python Template
    • Language Changes
  • Best Practices
    • Graph Strategies
    • Scripting Strategies
    • Scripting Reference
    • Managing Your Program
    • Efficiently Working With Large Data Sets In Dynamo
  • Sample Workflows
    • Getting Started Workflows
      • Parametric Vase
      • Attractor Points
    • Concept Index
  • Developer Primer
    • Build Dynamo from Source
      • Build DynamoRevit from Source
      • Managing and Updating Dependencies in Dynamo
    • Developing for Dynamo
      • Getting Started
      • Zero-Touch Case Study - Grid Node
      • Executing Python Scripts in Zero-Touch Nodes (C#)
      • Going Further with Zero-Touch
      • Advanced Dynamo Node Customization
      • Using COM (interop) types in Dynamo Packages
      • NodeModel Case Study - Custom UI
      • Updating your Packages and Dynamo Libraries for Dynamo 2.x
      • Updating your Packages and Dynamo Libraries for Dynamo 3.x
      • Extensions
      • Defining Custom Package Organization for Dynamo 2.0+
      • Dynamo Command Line Interface
      • Dynamo Integration
      • Developing For Dynamo For Revit
      • Publish a Package
      • Build a Package from Visual Studio
      • Extensions as Packages
    • Pull Requests
    • Testing Expectations
    • Examples
  • Appendix
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Visual Programming and Dynamo
    • Resources
    • Release Notes
    • Useful Packages
    • Example Files
    • Host Integration Map
    • Download PDF
    • Dynamo Keyboard Shortcuts
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  • Revit Version Compatibility
  • History of Dynamo
  • Running Dynamo in Revit
  • Freezing Nodes
  • Community & Dynamo Blog
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  1. Dynamo for Revit

The Revit Connection

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Last updated 2 months ago

Dynamo for Revit extends building information modeling with the data and logic environment of a graphical algorithm editor. Its flexibility, coupled with a robust Revit database, offers a new perspective for BIM.

This chapter focuses on the Dynamo workflows for BIM. Sections are primarily exercise-based, since jumping right into a project is the best way to get familiar with a graphical algorithm editor for BIM. But first, let's talk about the beginnings of the program.

Revit Version Compatibility

As both Revit and Dynamo continue to evolve, you may notice that the Revit version you are working with is not compatible with the Dynamo for Revit version you have installed on your machine. Below outlines which versions of Dynamo for Revit are compatible with Revit.

Revit Version
First Stable Dynamo Version
Last Supported Dynamo for Revit Version

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020+

2.1.0 - Revit 2020+ now includes Dynamo and receives updates as Revit does.)

N/A

History of Dynamo

With a dedicated team of developers and a passionate community, the project has come a long way from its humble beginnings.

Dynamo was originally created to streamline AEC workflows in Revit. While Revit creates a robust database for every project, it can be difficult for an average user to access this information outside of the constraints of the interface. Revit hosts a comprehensive API (Application Program Interface), allowing third-party developers to create custom tools. And programmers have been using this API for years, but text-based scripting isn't accessible to everyone. Dynamo seeks to democratize Revit data through an approachable graphical algorithm editor.

Using the core Dynamo nodes in tandem with custom Revit ones, a user can substantially expand parametric workflows for interoperability, documentation, analysis, and generation. With Dynamo, tedious workflows can be automated while design explorations can thrive.

Running Dynamo in Revit

In a Revit project or family editor, navigate to Add-ins and click Dynamo.*

*Dynamo will run only in the file in which it was opened.

When opening Dynamo in Revit, there is a new category called "Revit". This is a comprehensive addition to the UI which offers nodes specifically catering to Revit workflows.*

*By using the Revit-specific family of nodes, the Dynamo graph will only work when opening in Dynamo for Revit. If a Dynamo for Revit graph is opened in Dynamo Sandbox for example, the Revit nodes will be missing.

Freezing Nodes

Since Revit is a platform which provides robust project management, parametric operations in Dynamo can be complex and slow to calculate. If Dynamo is taking a long time to calculate nodes, you may want to use the "freeze" node functionality in order to pause the execution of Revit operations while you develop your graph.

You can read more about freezing nodes in the Nodes and Wires section.

Community & Dynamo Blog

Since Dynamo was originally created for AEC, its large and growing community is a great resource for learning from and connecting with experts in the industry. Dynamo’s community is made of architects, engineers, programmers, and designers who all have a passion for sharing and making.

Dynamo also maintains an active blog. Read up on recent posts to learn about the latest developments!

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Dynamo is an open-source project that is constantly evolving, and a lot of development is Revit-related. If you're new to the game, get on the discussion forum and start ! If you're a programmer and want to get involved in Dynamo's development, check out the . Also, a great resource for third-party libraries is the . Many of these packages are made with AEC in mind, and we'll take a look at third-party packages for panelization in this chapter.

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