Category by name in Python

MelleH · July 5, 2023, 8:23am

Hey,

I am trying to get the Category by entering the string name.
Like the Dynamo node Category.ByName
It used to work but now all of a sudden it does not…

The Code:

import clr
clr.AddReference('RevitNodes')
import Revit

    
CAT = Revit.Elements.Category.ByName("Electrical Fixtures")
print(CAT)

the error i get:

sanzoghenzo · July 5, 2023, 2:35pm

Hi @MelleH ,

I usually use the pyrevit.revit.db.query.get_elements_by_categories function for this.

from pyrevit.revit import query, DB

elements  = query.get_elements_by_categories([DB.BuiltInCategory.OST_ElectricalFixtures])

I’m afraid pyrevit library doesn’t include a way to specify the category using the name; I had to build a dictionary that maps the names to the corresponding builtin category enumeration

Jean-Marc · July 5, 2023, 6:12pm

maybe this is what you are after?

github.com

eirannejad/pyRevit/blob/master/pyrevitlib/pyrevit/revit/db/query.py#L792


      
              doc = doc or DOCS.doc
              all_cats = get_doc_categories(doc)
              cats = []
              for cat_id in DB.ViewSchedule.GetValidCategoriesForMaterialTakeoff():
                  for cat in all_cats:
                      if cat.Id.IntegerValue == cat_id.IntegerValue:
                          cats.append(cat)
              return cats
          
          

          
def get_category(cat_name_or_builtin, doc=None):
              doc = doc or DOCS.doc
              all_cats = get_doc_categories(doc)
              if isinstance(cat_name_or_builtin, str):
                  for cat in all_cats:
                      if cat.Name == cat_name_or_builtin:
                          return cat
              elif isinstance(cat_name_or_builtin, DB.BuiltInCategory):
                  for cat in all_cats:
                      if cat.Id.IntegerValue == int(cat_name_or_builtin):
                          return cat

from pyrevit.revit import query
cat_name= # string name or builtincat
elements  = query.get_category(cat_name)

MelleH · July 6, 2023, 12:24pm

Yes this is it Thanks!