Catalogue Files

Panel: Families | Menu: Catalogue Files

Tools for creating, cleaning, and configuring type catalogue files (.txt) for Revit families.

All three tools run on the family currently open in the Family Editor, not on a project.

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Export File

Exports the type data of the open family to a type catalogue file.

• Asks you to select an output directory.

• Writes <family name>.txt into that directory, using the open family’s file name.

• Any existing file of that name in the target directory is overwritten without warning.

Use when: A family has its types defined internally and you need to produce a catalogue file so users can choose which types to load.

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Clean Catalogue File

Cleans an existing catalogue file by removing parameters that should not appear there.

• Removes instance parameters (catalogue files only support type parameters).

• Removes formula-driven type parameters (their values are calculated, not user-defined).

• Sorts the remaining parameters: explicitly defined parameters first, then the rest in alphabetical order.

• Lists the parameters (columns) being removed, then shows the revised file as a table in the pyRevit output window.

• Saves the result alongside the original with a __ suffix appended to the file name, so the original is preserved.

Workflow:

1. Export the catalogue file from Revit using Export Family Types, or use Export File above.

2. With the family open, run this tool and select the catalogue file.

3. Review the listed removals and the resulting table.

4. Rename the __ file over the original once you are satisfied.

Use when: A catalogue file contains redundant or invalid parameters that cause problems when loading the family.

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Default Catalogue File Type

Warning — this tool deletes family types. It does not configure a pre-selected type in a catalogue file. Read the steps below before running it, and work on a copy of the family if you are unsure.

Replaces every type in the open family with a single placeholder type, so that the family relies entirely on its catalogue file for type definitions.

What it does:

1. Shows a confirmation prompt — “Do you really want to delete all types in this family?” — with a red Yes and a green Oh No, Get me out of here!. Anything other than Yes aborts.

2. Creates a new family type named Refer To Catalog File.

3. Deletes every other type in the family.

4. Resets the parameters listed in PARAMETERS_TO_RESET to the value Refer To Catalog File.

Use when: A family’s types are supplied by a catalogue file and the internal types are redundant, so that a user loading the family is presented with the catalogue file’s types rather than a stale internal list.

Before running:

• Export the catalogue file first — once the types are deleted they cannot be recovered from the family.

• The family is not saved by this tool. If the result is not what you expected, close the family without saving.

Configuration: PARAMETERS_TO_RESET in Extensions/duHast-2025.extension/duHast.tab/lib/families/defaultCatalogueFileType.py is currently an empty list, so step 4 does nothing as shipped. Add the parameter names your families use to have them stamped with the placeholder value.

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Notes

• Catalogue files must have the same name as their associated .rfa file and must be in the same directory for Revit to offer them on load.

• Use At The Library (Families panel) to edit catalogue file contents interactively in a table editor.