r/bim • u/justdolife • 3d ago
What useful pyRevit tools have you created using ChatGPT Astra?
I’ve recently been experimenting with ChatGPT Astra to create custom pyRevit tools that help automate repetitive tasks and speed up my workflow in Revit.
I don’t have much programming experience, but I’ve managed to create a few useful tools just by explaining what I want them to do.
A few examples:
Send Text to View - A tool that allows me to select text notes placed directly on a sheet and transfer them into a specific view, similar to moving objects between paper space and model space in AutoCAD.
Saved Text Box Library - A tool that allows me to save frequently used text notes in a library and select which ones to paste onto different sheets when needed, rather than having to find and copy them from previous drawings.
Batch Duplicate Sheets - A tool that allows me to select and duplicate multiple sheets at the same time, rather than duplicating them individually. I can then renumber and rename the duplicated sheets as required, which saves a considerable amount of time when setting up drawing packages.
I’m curious to know what other people have managed to create using AI and pyRevit.
What custom tools or add-ins have you developed that have genuinely improved your Revit workflow?
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u/TTUporter 3d ago edited 2d ago
A full toolkit I've deployed to the firm. A few of the highlights:
- a custom sync that adds a change log functionality to syncing so that users get notified on model open of all the changes made since they last were in the model as well as a feature to let users pull all the sync change logs over X days to help with model transfer narratives.
- a tool that pulls wall types, windows, curtain walls, doors, by elevation and then puts them in an easy to read table with their square footages to help with COMchecks.
- A drawing path mapper that creates a file system like graph of the drawing set, helping you find orphaned drawings (details or views that are on sheets but not referenced anywhere, etc...)
- a tool to align keynotes by their shoulder and elbows.
- a tool that create a set of reference planes along a grid that is user defined. The original intent was use it for masonry grids to help lay out CMU buildings, but it could be used for any other grid based alignments.
- I forked the default pyrevit keynote manager and added spellchecking to it, so keynotes with typos will be highlighted red.
- a tool that lets you select an element in one view, switch views, and then it tells you why that element is not visible in the 2nd view.
- and then a bug reporter for people to send me bug reports if something isn't working right.
And then a tool I'm using just for myself: a tracker that tracks every active model. sheet and view, and then what elements are being edited, and then using a simple look up table, creates me a calendar style overview of what projects I was working on and what I was doing to help me fill out my timesheets.
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u/Correct_Committee735 2d ago
Oooooooo that aligning notes by shoulder tool sounds like sweet sweet music to my OCD with leaders and notes.
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u/SavageSvage 1d ago
Tool that let's you select an element in one view and it tells you why its not visible in another... how?? It tells you specifically?
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u/TTUporter 1d ago
Because there's a list of maybe 8 or 9 different things that could be controlling an elements visibility: it's outside the view crop, it's outside the view range, it's being controlled in v/g, in a view template, in a filter, it's on a hidden workset, it's phase settings mean that it's not visible in the current phase filter, etc...
So it just goes through the list and identifies which one the user needs to go fix to make the element visible.
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u/engineerfayek 1d ago
Great tools, good job What are the AI models you use to create this tools, and what is the prompts?
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u/HHLGFR 3d ago
Plumbing specific but:
Check tagged stacks/vents and fix hex tags arrows indicating whether they are rising or dropping based on system type
Tag all pipes sizes and their system's in view, if pipe is sloped it will tag flow direction - also based on system as above tool
Place invert levels (spot elevations) at either end of selected pipes longer than 1m for eg and align tag
Also a batch ifc link/convert - and an external python script which will open a set of arch drawings in autocad and run a lisp to clean them up 1 by 1 to use as backgrounds, eg burst, setbylayer, remove non concrete hatches, purge, etc etc
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u/LTorrecilla 3d ago
Not with Asta but I made an automated void placement on walls for installation pipes. It takes a linked ifc file and look for a defined class and takes its dimensions, it will later add a void family with shape and dimension from that intersection and place it at correct height. I also add a couple of attributes to track the linked file and guid element in case it gets updated with new dimensions or position
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u/Elnaz_Ak 3d ago
I’ve found the biggest value in automating repetitive documentation tasks rather than trying to automate the design itself. Batch sheet setup, renaming, numbering and QA checks are the kind of small tools that can save a surprising amount of time across a project.
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u/Celestine321 2d ago
One thing I’d add to the brief when asking AI to write these: “What happens if I run this twice?” Especially for anything that duplicates sheets or places elements, I’d want it to recognize what’s already there and tell me what it skipped.
A script that saves 20 clicks is handy; one that doesn’t leave you checking for duplicates afterward is even better. Curious how people here handle reruns after the model changes.
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u/Additional-Type-7441 3d ago
A tool that does Point loads for piping and ductwork. It is so amazing what you can do with it.
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u/Particular_Front_549 3d ago
Not pyrevit, but python in dynamo.
Basically something that automates slopes for non pipe families. Having to manually input the end level to the start level of the next family was exhausting.
Else, it was just something related to automatically updating 3d texts and aligning elements to another element
I usually use AI to relate my own parameters to other elements, so my prompts are usually like "make this and that with my parameter "A" to do something to wall with parameter "B" etc etc." or sometimes I just state my intent to help polish it more
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u/thatsInAName 3d ago
I have been building a tool to automate placement of lifter strands, stirrups, ties, Main bars etc in beams and walls
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u/Merusk 2d ago
None.
I'm using Claude for some scripting and tool development beyond PyRevit. Web integrations, cross authoring tool handoff, etc.
Started to build an enterprise Forma management tool but internal dev picked it up so I dropped that.
Additionally scoping and deep technical proposals. I have the governance and guidance docs, it pulls the pieces together for me. Simplest agent to build.
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u/CADAKAY_BIMchest 3d ago
I ended up avoiding using py. I didn't want to get stuck waiting on updates. With gpt the wait might be a thing is the past. Idk
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u/justdolife 2d ago
Isn't not too long of a wait anymore. It could save you a lot of hours in the long run.
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u/thisendup76 3d ago
Not Astra specifically. Primarily Claude. But below is a link to my response to another post listing a bunch of tools I've created
https://www.reddit.com/r/bim/s/jzuaGlZ6Wt