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How to Bulk Edit Parameters

How to Bulk Edit Parameters

There are numerous ways to bulk edit parameter data in Revit such as:

  • Productivity Add-ins, (DiRoots SheetLink)

  • Dynamo scripts, (if you don’t have the experience it can be difficult to setup),

  • Revit Schedules (It is possible to bulk edit data directly in Revit)

  Within the template there are several specialised Schedules setup which can be manipulated to help you quickly populate many parameters with similar information.  All these schedules have been created with an XX prefix and are not meant to be placed on sheets or in documentation.

DiRoots SheetLink (Free Add-in)

This tool allows you to export schedules, placed model categories, placed annotation categories, and placed elements to Excel so you can quickly edit the data and publish it back into you model in the process updating all the changed information from Excel.

NOTE

It does not allow you to edit unplaced type information. For example, you cannot export a spreadsheet of all the Roof Types that are within the project file and edit all their parameter data. Only Roof’s that have been placed in the model.

Step by Step Guide:

  1. Save and Synchronise your model before attempting to make any changes. Just in case something goes wrong, you have a current backup to revert to.

  2. In the ribbon select the DiRoots tab, and choose SheetLink (contact IT if you do not have the software installed)

  3. In this Guide we’ll output an existing Schedule. In the Category Group change the Type to Schedules

  4. In the left most pane select the schedule you want to edit the data of.

    1. If selecting any of the other methods you would choose what parameters to include in the output from the middle “Parameter Selection” pane.

    2. The right most pane for “Selected Parameters” shows what parameters will be output (this is automatic when using an existing schedule).

    3. The parameters are colour coded

      1. Green = Instance Parameters

      2. Yellow = Type Parameters

      3. Red = Read Only Parameters (you cannot change these values)

  5. Select Open File After Export,

  6. Expand the Export to … panel,

    1. Selecting Preview/Edit allows you to make changes directly within the tool

    2. Selecting Export outputs the data to Excel for editing.

    3. Select Export.

  7. This opens the Save dialog where you can name the file and choose the output location.

  8. Now you can update the Type and Instance parameters as required1 using all the powerful bulk editing features of Excel such as concatenation/formulas, filtering, shift and ctrl selection of elements2.

  9. Save the Excel file.

  10. Expand the Import From … panel,

    1. Selecting Preview Import allows you to see the information before overwriting the data in Revit

    2. Selecting Import will import the data into Revit and update the elements with the changes made in Excel.

    3. Select Import.

  11. You should see a dialog indicating if the import has been successful and the number of elements updated. Close the Window once complete.

NOTE

  1. Remember editing Type parameters will change multiple elements.

  2. Do not edit the Red cells as these are read only, and grey cells indicate that the parameter does not exist for that element.

Revit Schedules

It is also possible to do simple bulk editing using schedule manipulation.

Step by Step Guide:

  1. Let’s say you want to set the Drawn By parameter to your initials on all Revit Sheets. Open the XX-FOR EDITING TITLE SHEETS Schedule View.

  2. We want to re-sort the schedule so we have a single row for each unique Drawn By Value.  Select Edit… for the Sorting/Grouping parameter in the Properties.

  3. Change the Then by: combo box to Drawn By.

  4. Select OK

  5. You should now have a single row for each unique Service.  Change the Drawn By value to your initials.

  6. Open the Sorting/Grouping dialog again and switch the Then by: combo box back to Sheet Number.  Now all sheets have the new Drawn By value.  This same principle can be used for any schedule to quickly populate data.

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