Revit 2025.3 API
Geometry |
An instance of another element (symbol), specially positioned by this
element.
Inheritance HierarchySystemObject
Autodesk.Revit.DBAPIObject
Autodesk.Revit.DBGeometryObject
Autodesk.Revit.DBGeometryInstance
Autodesk.Revit.DBAPIObject
Autodesk.Revit.DBGeometryObject
Autodesk.Revit.DBGeometryInstance
Namespace: Autodesk.Revit.DB
Assembly: RevitAPI (in RevitAPI.dll) Version: 25.3.0.0 (25.3.0.0)
Syntax
The GeometryInstance type exposes the following members.
Properties| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
 | GraphicsStyleId | The ElementId of the GeometryObject's GraphicsStyle (Inherited from GeometryObject) |
| Id | A unique integer identifying the GeometryObject in its associated non view-specific GeometryElement. (Inherited from GeometryObject) |
| IsElementGeometry | Indicates whether this geometry is obtained directly from an Element. (Inherited from GeometryObject) |
| IsReadOnly | Identifies if the object is read-only or modifiable. (Inherited from APIObject) |
| SymbolGeometry | The geometric representation of the symbol which generates this instance. |
| Transform | The affine transformation from the local coordinate space of the symbol into the coordinate space of the instance. |
| Visibility | The visibility. (Inherited from GeometryObject) |
Methods| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
 | Dispose | Causes the object to release immediately any resources it may be utilizing. (Inherited from APIObject) |
| Equals | Determines whether the specified Object is equal to the current Object. (Inherited from GeometryObject) |
| GetDocument | Gets the document that contains the symbol of this instance. |
| GetHashCode |
Gets the integer value of the geometry object as hash code
(Inherited from GeometryObject) |
| GetInstanceGeometry | Computes the geometric representation of the instance. |
| GetInstanceGeometry(Transform) | Computes a transformation of the geometric representation of the instance. |
| GetSymbolGeometry | Computes the geometric representation of the symbol which generates this instance. |
| GetSymbolGeometry(Transform) | Computes a transformation of the geometric representation of the symbol which generates this instance. |
| GetSymbolGeometryId | Gets the SymbolGeometryId that contains data about the symbol of this instance. |
| GetType | Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object) |
| ToString | Returns a string that represents the current object. (Inherited from Object) |
Remarks
A GeometryInstance represents a set of geometry stored by Revit in a default configuration, and then transformed
into the proper location as a result of the properties of the element. The most common situation where
GeometryInstances are encountered is in Family instances. Revit uses GeometryInstances to allow it to store a
single copy of the geometry for a given family and reuse it in multiple instances.
Note that not all Family instances will include GeometryInstances. When Revit needs to make a unique copy of the
family geometry for a given instance (because of the effect of local joins, intersections, and other factors
related to the instance placement) no GeometryInstance will be encountered; instead the Solid geometry will be found
at the top level of the hierarchy.
Another example of GeometryInstance usage is in Rebar element visible in fine 3D Views. Here, each segement of a rebar is a GeometryInstance.
In this case the Symbol Element is contaning all the geometries that are instanced.
A GeometryInstance offers the ability to read its geometry through the GetSymbolGeometry() and
GetInstanceGeometry() methods. These methods return another Autodesk.Revit.DB.GeometryElement
which can be parsed just like the first level return.
See Also