Revit API – Updated view parameter not triggering reload through API

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Summary

The Revit API does not trigger a reload request when updating a shared parameter on a view through the API, but it does when the parameter is changed manually. This inconsistency causes issues when trying to track and record view usage. The goal is to determine whether the shared parameter update will trigger a reload request or not, so it can be intercepted and ignored if necessary.

Root Cause

The root cause of this issue is due to the following reasons:

  • The Revit API does not provide a direct way to check if a shared parameter update will trigger a reload request.
  • The WorksharingUtils.GetCheckoutStatus and WorksharingUtils.GetModelUpdatesStatus methods do not account for shared parameter updates.
  • The parameter.Set() method does not provide any indication of whether a reload request will be triggered.

Why This Happens in Real Systems

This issue occurs in real systems because:

  • Multiple users can access and update the same view, leading to conflicts and inconsistencies.
  • The Revit API does not provide a robust way to handle shared parameter updates and reload requests.
  • The current implementation relies on manual checks and workarounds, which can be error-prone and inefficient.

Real-World Impact

The real-world impact of this issue includes:

  • Inconsistent view usage tracking and recording.
  • Unnecessary reload requests, which can lead to performance issues and user frustration.
  • Difficulty in determining whether a view is up-to-date or not.

Example or Code

var view = doc.GetElement(viewId) as View;
var parameter = view.LookupParameter("View_LastOpened");
if (parameter != null)
{
    parameter.Set("new value");
}

How Senior Engineers Fix It

Senior engineers can fix this issue by:

  • Implementing a custom solution to track shared parameter updates and reload requests.
  • Using the Revit API to monitor changes to the view and its parameters.
  • Developing a workaround to intercept and ignore unnecessary reload requests.
  • Caching view usage data to reduce the need for frequent updates and reloads.
  • Optimizing the view usage tracking and recording process to minimize performance impact.

Why Juniors Miss It

Junior engineers may miss this issue because:

  • They may not fully understand the Revit API and its limitations.
  • They may not have experience with multi-user environments and the challenges that come with it.
  • They may not be familiar with caching and optimization techniques to improve performance.
  • They may not have a deep understanding of shared parameters and how they interact with the Revit API.

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