🧩 Paracore Extension Methods

A comprehensive guide to the extension methods available on Revit elements and collections in Paracore scripts. They live in the engine's Globals/ extension classes — element, collection, unit, door, geometry and visualization extensions — and are globally available in the REPL and in all scripts.

REPL & Gallery Parity

All extension methods work identically in the REPL (single-line and multi-line) and in Gallery scripts (full C# project structure). They were designed as shortcuts to simplify the verbose Revit API, but they are standard C# extension methods available everywhere the engine runs.

Generic Collections

All collection extension methods are fully generic — they preserve the specific element type (Wall, FamilyInstance, etc.) throughout the entire fluent chain. You never lose type information.

🔀 Two Query Modes

Paracore's collection extensions support two styles, each with trade-offs:

Mode 1: String / Parameter Mode (Generic Elements)

GetElements("Doors")
    .WhereParam("Level", "Level 1")
    .WhereParam("HandFlipped", "True")   // Uses reflection for C# properties
    .OrderByParam("Mark")
    .Table()

Works on List<Element> — the most permissive mode.
.WhereParam uses GetStr() internally, which falls back to Reflection for C# native properties (HandFlipped, Area, Volume, etc.).
No type casting needed. Works for any param name or native C# property name.

Mode 2: Typed / Lambda Mode (Specific Types)

GetElements<FamilyInstance>("Doors")
    .WhereParam("Level", "Level 1")
    .Where(dr => !dr.HandFlipped && dr.Symbol.FamilyName.Contains("Single"))
    .OrderByParam("Mark")
    .Table()

Works on List<T> — preserves the specific type throughout the chain.
Enables strongly-typed lambda expressions with IntelliSense.
Use when you need direct access to type-specific C# properties or methods.

important

WhereParam("HandFlipped", "True") ← string mode — works via reflection. .Where(dr => dr.HandFlipped) ← typed mode — requires GetElements<FamilyInstance>. Both are valid. Use whichever is cleaner for your task.

📚 Quick Reference Card

What I want	Method
Get instance/type param string	`.GetStr("Level")`
Get param string (unit-converted)	`.GetStr("Length", "mm")`
Get param number (raw feet)	`.GetNum("Area")`
Get param number (unit)	`.GetNum("Area", "m2")`
Get WYSIWYG value	`.GetVal("Width")`
Get type parameter	`.GetTypeStr("Width")` or `.GetStr("Width")`
Set parameter value	`.SetVal("Comments", "Done")`
Set numeric with unit	`.SetNum("Base Offset", 500, "mm")`
Filter by param string	`.WhereParam("Level", "Level 1")`
Filter by string op	`.WhereParam("Mark", "starts", "A")`
Filter by C# property	`.WhereParam("HandFlipped", "True")`
Filter by numeric value	`.WhereParam("Width", 200, "mm")`
Filter by numeric op	`.WhereParam("Area", ">", 25, "m2")`
Filter by name/family	`.WhereMatches("Single-Flush")`
Filter by category	`.WhereCategory("Walls", "Floors")`
Filter by any of several params	`.WhereAnyParam(new[]{"Mark","Comments"}, "A")`
Filter by a TYPE parameter	`.WhereTypeParam("Width", ">", "200")`
Filter by material	`.WhereMaterial("Concrete")`
Filter by NOT material	`.WhereMaterialNot("Concrete")`
Sort ascending (auto)	`.OrderByParam("Area")`
Sort descending (auto)	`.OrderByParamDesc("Area")`
Group by → Count	`.GroupByParam("Level")`
Group by → Count + Sum	`.GroupByParam("Level", "Length", "m")`
Total a numeric param	`.SumParam("Area", "m2")`
Set same value on all	`.SetParam("Comments", "Done")`
Set same value on all (TYPE)	`.SetTypeParam("Comments", "Done")`
Delete all (BIM-Safe)	`.Delete()`
Detect clashes	`.AuditClashes("Pipes").Table()`
Export to Jupyter	`.ToNotebook("Analysis")`
Door handing	`.Handing()`
Door room access	`.RoomFrom()` / `.RoomTo()`
Room vertical span	`room.GetZSpan()`
Standard doors only	`.StandardDoor()`
Carbon footprint	`Eco.GetCarbon(wall)`
Thermal U-Value	`Eco.GetUValue(wall)`
Show table	`.Table()`
Select in Revit	`.Select()`
Zoom to elements	`.Zoom()`
Isolate in view	`.Isolate()`
Hide/Unhide in view	`.Hide()` / `.Unhide()`
Forensic parameter dump	`.Peek()`
Discover all parameters	`.CombinedParams().Table()`

🔧 Global Script Functions

These are static methods from ScriptApi that are globally available in every script and REPL session — not extension methods.

Function	Description
`Transact(name, action)`	Wrap model edits in a single undo-step transaction
`Transact(name, Action<Document>)`	Transaction with `Document` parameter
`Watchdog(callback, interval)`	Register a background sentinel validation (Sentinel Scripts Only)
`Watchdog(Action, interval)`	Simplified watchdog (Sentinel Scripts Only)
`WatchdogReport(summary, status, data?)`	Send status report from a sentinel (Sentinel Scripts Only)
`SetExecutionTimeout(seconds)`	Extend script timeout beyond default 10s
`GetElements(BuiltInCategory)`	Query by `BuiltInCategory` enum
`Show(type, data)`	Low-level structured output
`Table(data)` / `BarGraph(data)` / `PieGraph(data)` / `LineGraph(data)`	Global visualization helpers
`Select(elements)` / `Isolate(elements)` / `Zoom(elements)`	Revit UI actions
`GetMagicNames()`	All targetable category/family/class names
`GetCategories()`	All project categories in the document
`GetElement("name")`	Find one element by name
`GetElement<T>("name")`	Find one typed element by name
`ExportImage(path, view?, px?, hideAnnotation?)`	Render a Revit view to an image file
`id.ToElement(doc)`	Convert ElementId/int/long to Element

// Extend timeout for heavy scripts
SetExecutionTimeout(120);

// Query by BuiltInCategory (useful with hydrated enum parameters)
var doors = GetElements(BuiltInCategory.OST_Doors);

🔀 Two Query Modes​

Mode 1: String / Parameter Mode (Generic Elements)​

Mode 2: Typed / Lambda Mode (Specific Types)​

📚 Quick Reference Card​

🔧 Global Script Functions​

🔀 Two Query Modes

Mode 1: String / Parameter Mode (Generic Elements)

Mode 2: Typed / Lambda Mode (Specific Types)

📚 Quick Reference Card

🔧 Global Script Functions