Example 02: Reference Grid Sliders

Goal: Learn about additional dynamo nodes, learn how to replicate objects computationally and control the input variables dynamically

1. From Vasari, Click  >  (Open).    
2. Navigate to  C:\VasariWIP\Beta1-0\Dynamo\Samples
3. Open Mass with Loaded Families.rfa from the Samples directory
4. Go to Add-ins tab and launch Dynamo (re-launch it if you already had it open)
5. From the Dynamo File Menu, go to File/Samples/ 2. Ref Grid Sliders. You should see this workspace appear: 

   

6. Here we have a few Number and Number Slider nodes that drive a new node called XYZ Grid.
7. TheXYZ Grid is responsible for creating a 2-d or 3-d array of XYZs based on the inputs. The X-count, Y-count and Z-count inputs control how many XYZs to create in each direction. The X-space, Y- space and Z- space inputs control the spacing between XYZs in each direction.
8. The XYZ Grid node does not make any Revit elements on Its own, only invisible XYZ nodes. In order to see something appear in the Revit view, we need to connect other nodes to the XYZ Grid output node that can accept XYZs as input. In the sample a Reference Point node is taking the output of the XYZ Grid (a list or collection of XYZs) and is creating a list of Reference Points as its output. (Hit Run to see the grid of points)
9. Now we will extend this workspace to do something more useful than just creating points.
10. Go to the Search Bar and type in “Family”, this filters the available nodes down and allows easier access from the Component Bar.  If component list are collapsed after the search, open them to see the nodes.
11. Drag and drop one Family Instance Creator node and one Family Type Selector node into the workspace
12. Connect the Family Type Selector output to the Family Instance Creator “typ” input port.
13. Disconnect the Reference Point node. You can delete it by right-clicking or pressing CTRL-Delete.
14. Now select the Cone Family Type from the pulldown and then connect the XYZ output from the XYZ Grid to the XYZ input of the Family Instance Creator. Hit Run and you should see something like this: 

    

15. With “Run Automatically” checked, experiment with different values in the input sliders and watch the Revit view update with new Cone family instances.