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Element: Identity, Diagnostics & UI Actions

Identity & Discovery​

id.ToElement(doc)​

Identity Resolver. Converts an ElementId, int, or long directly to a Revit Element. Available on ElementId, int, and long.

var el = 123456L.ToElement(Doc);
var wall = someId.ToElement(Doc) as Wall;

element.FamilyName()​

Returns the true Family Name for both Loadable and System families.

door.FamilyName()   // → "M_Single-Flush"
wall.FamilyName()   // → "Basic Wall" (via ELEM_FAMILY_PARAM fallback)

element.Matches(pattern)​

Fuzzy Name Matcher. Returns true if the pattern is found in the element's Type Name OR Family Name (case-insensitive).

door.Matches("Single")        // → true (Family Name contains "Single")
door.Matches("Flush")         // → true (Type Name contains "Flush")
door.Matches("NonExistent")   // → false

element.ReflectionProperties()​

Returns a list of all native C# properties on the element's runtime type (via Reflection).

GetElements<Wall>().First().ReflectionProperties().Table()
// Columns: Name | Type

element.ReflectionMethods()​

Returns a list of all public C# methods available on the element's runtime type (via Reflection), excluding standard System.Object methods. Details the method name, return type, parameters, and declaring type.

GetElements<FamilyInstance>("Doors").First().ReflectionMethods().Table()
// Columns: Method | ReturnType | Parameters | DeclaringType

Diagnostics & Inspection​

element.Peek()​

Forensic Parameter Audit. Side-by-side comparison: Parameter | Storage | GetStr | GetNum | UI Value. Returns the element (chainable).

Selection[0].Peek()

elements.Peek()​

Executes .Peek() on every element in a collection.

GetElements("Walls").Peek();

element.InstanceParams()​

Returns all instance parameters as Name | Storage | Value.

wall.InstanceParams().Table()

element.TypeParams()​

Returns all type parameters as Name | Storage | Value.

wall.TypeParams().Table()

element.CombinedParams()​

Returns instance + type parameters together with a Scope column ("Instance", "Type", or "Native").

Pro Tip

Use element.CombinedParams().Table() to see both Instance and Type parameters in one view — with a Scope column showing which is which. This is the fastest way to discover whether a property like "Width" lives at the Instance or Type level.

wall.CombinedParams().Table()

element.BuiltInParams()​

Returns all BuiltInParameter identifiers for the element: Name | BIP | Value. Use to find the BIP string for language-independent code.

wall.BuiltInParams().Table()

element.NativeProperties()​

Returns key Revit API properties not in the parameter dict: Name, Id, Category, Level, Workset, Design Option, Owner, Location, Pinned.

wall.NativeProperties().Table()

element.ParamsDict()​

Returns all parameter values as a Dictionary<string, string>.

var dict = wall.ParamsDict();
Println(dict["Mark"]);

Geometry​

element.GeometrySummary()​

Returns a table of all geometry objects in the element: Solids (Volume, Area, Faces), Curves (Arc, Line), PolyLines. Automatically accumulates transformations to provide World-Space results.

wall.GeometrySummary().Table()
// Columns: Type | Source | Material | Volume | Area | Faces | Edges

Element: Revit UI Actions​

These return the element (chainable). All share the same IsModifiable transaction pattern — auto-transact when no active transaction, run directly when inside a Transact() block.

MethodSingleCollectionDescription
.Select()✅✅Selects in Revit UI
.Zoom()✅✅Zooms/shows in active view
.Isolate()✅✅Temporarily isolates in active view
.Hide()✅✅Hides from active view
.Unhide()✅✅Unhides in active view
.Delete()✅✅BIM-Smart Delete (auto-transaction, skips Pinned/Curtain)
Selection[0].Select().Zoom()
GetElements("Walls").Isolate()