Generative Design Primer
  • Welcome
  • Introduction to Generative Design
    • Computational Design
    • Generative Design
      • What is Generative Design?
      • Why should I use Generative Design?
      • What goes into a Generative Design Process?
        • Anatomy of each stage
      • Examples of Generative Design
        • MaRs Innovation District of Toronto
        • Furniture Design
        • A Further Analogy
      • Anatomy of a Good Generative Design Process
    • Visual Programming
    • Dynamo
    • Generative Design for Revit and Dynamo
  • Deeper Dive to Generative Design
    • Algorithms
      • What are Algorithms?
      • Generators
      • Evaluators
      • Solvers
    • Optioneering
    • Optimization
      • What is Optimization?
      • Objective Function
      • Constraints
      • Data
      • Defining Goals
    • Genetic Algorithms
      • What is a Genetic Algorithm?
      • Initialization phase
      • Evaluation Phase
      • Selection Phase
      • Crossover Phase
      • Mutation Phase
    • Other Techniques
    • Genetic Algorithm Q&A
  • Hello Generative Design for Revit and Dynamo!
    • Installing Generative Design
    • Setting up a Graph for Generative Design
    • Running Generative Design
    • Visualizing Results in Generative Design
    • Refinery Toolkit
      • Installing the Refinery Toolkit from the Dynamo Package Manager
      • Using the Refinery Toolkit
    • Space Analysis for Dynamo
      • Installing the Space Analysis for Dynamo package from the Dynamo Package Manager
      • Using the Space Analysis Package
    • Using Revit alongside Generative Design
      • Using Data from Revit
      • Remember Node Inputs
      • How to Test Revit Data Capture
      • Detailed Example Workflow
      • Sharing Logic and Results
      • Current Limitations
      • Accessing Generative Design Directly From Revit
  • Sample Workflows
    • Getting Started Workflows
      • Highest Point of a Surface
      • Minimum Volume and Maximum Surface
    • Architectural Workflows
      • Building Mass Generator
      • Building Positioning based on Solar Analysis
      • Office Layout
      • Grid Object Placement in a Room
      • Entourage Placement Exploration
    • MEP Workflows
      • Distributing Spotlights in an Office Space
    • Structural Workflows
    • BIM Workflows
      • Placement of views on sheets
    • Community Examples
      • Guidelines
      • List Of Examples
  • Generative Design in Your Office
    • What Generative Design Can Be Used For?
    • What Generative Design Can’t Be Used For?
    • How to Convince Senior Stakeholders of Using Generative Design?
    • The Role of a Generative Designer
    • Hiring a Generative Designer
  • Next Steps
    • Machine Learning
      • What is Machine Learning?
      • Is Generative Design Machine Learning?
      • Can Machine Learning and Generative Design Work Together?
  • Appendix
    • Glossary
    • Reference Material
    • Need Professional Help?
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On this page
  • Setting Up a Graph for Generative Design
  • Inputs
  • Outputs
  • Export to Generative Design
  • Launch Generative Design
  • Getting Creative with Inputs
  • Creating an Interactive Date/Time Picker with Generative Design

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  1. Hello Generative Design for Revit and Dynamo!

Setting up a Graph for Generative Design

PreviousInstalling Generative DesignNextRunning Generative Design

Last updated 7 months ago

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Setting Up a Graph for Generative Design

Inputs

To set up a Dynamo graph for use with generative design tools, right-click on each node used to drive the graph and ensure that the Is Input option is checked. Renaming the node with a standard approach such as IN_description will help to distinguish these inputs in the Create Study dialog. Or you can group inputs together and give the group a descriptive header.

  1. Right-click on each node used to drive the graph and ensure that the 'Is Input' option is checked.

  2. Rename the node as explained above.

  3. For slider nodes, set values for Min, Max, and Step values.

Note: Current supported inputs include 'Number' or 'Integer' slider, 'Boolean', 'Number', 'string' or 'Revit Selection' nodes.

Outputs

To define outputs for use with the generative design tools, right-click on the Watch nodes and select the Is Output option. Renaming the node with a standard approach such as OUT_description will help to distinguish these outputs in Generative Design. Or you can group outputs together and give the group a descriptive header.

  1. Right-click on the watch nodes and select the Is Output option.

  2. Rename the node as explained above.

Note: Currently all outputs must be watch nodes with a 'Number' data type.

Export to Generative Design

Once both inputs and outputs are set up correctly and your graph is saved, it can be exported for use with the generative design toolset.

To create an export to use with Generative Design, do the following:

  1. In Dynamo, navigate to the menu > Extensions > enable Graph Status. Under Graph Type, save the graph as Generative Design. When the graph is saved, Generative Design will create a copy of your graph, which will be available to launch.

Generative Design will also create a dependencies folder with relevant packages loaded.

Launch Generative Design

To launch Generative Design, do the following:

  1. In Revit, navigate to Manage > Create Study in the Generative Design tab.

Once the Create Study dialog has launched, you can map to your own folders where you saved your studies.

Getting Creative with Inputs

Creating an Interactive Date/Time Picker with Generative Design

We often run analyses that depend on time of day. Within Revit, we can use the time from the current model. But there are other ways.

In Dynamo Core, we have the ability to define a DateTime object with the following node:

DateTime.FromString

Using this node, we can provide inputs that are usable in Generative Design by combining them into one string.