Table of Contents

3D Elements From List

Place family instances at precise coordinates using data from a CSV file, and create filled regions from existing elements for plan documentation.

What is 3D Elements From List?

3D Elements From List is a set of two related commands that help you work with coordinate-based element placement and region creation:

  • 3D Elements From List — Reads a CSV file containing X, Y, Z coordinates and places family instances at each location. This is ideal for importing point data from surveys, external calculations, or other software.

  • Filled Regions From Elements — Converts selected walls or caissons into filled regions on your current view. Useful for creating simplified plan graphics or highlighting structural elements.

When to Use

Scenario Which Command
Importing survey point locations 3D Elements From List
Placing markers at calculated coordinates 3D Elements From List
Bringing in caisson or pile locations from a spreadsheet 3D Elements From List
Creating plan graphics from wall outlines Filled Regions From Elements
Highlighting caisson locations on a floor plan Filled Regions From Elements
Generating simplified structural diagrams Filled Regions From Elements

Quick Start

Placing Elements from CSV

  1. Prepare a CSV file with X, Y, Z coordinate columns
  2. Open your Revit project
  3. Click 3D Elements From List on the ribbon
  4. Select your CSV file when prompted
  5. Elements are placed at each coordinate location

Creating Filled Regions

  1. Select the walls or caissons you want to convert
  2. Click Filled Regions From Elements on the ribbon
  3. Filled regions appear in the current view

User Interface

Ribbon Buttons

Button Location When Available
3D Elements From List DB Tools ribbon Any time a document is open
Filled Regions From Elements DB Tools ribbon When elements are selected

CSV Format

Your CSV file must include coordinate columns. The tool is flexible about formatting:

Required Columns

Column Description
X X coordinate (East-West position)
Y Y coordinate (North-South position)
Z Z coordinate (elevation)

Optional Columns

Column Description
ID Identifier for tracking or reference

Format Rules

  • Column headers are not case-sensitive — "X", "x", and "X" all work
  • Columns can be in any order — the tool finds them by name
  • Use standard CSV formatting — comma-separated values with headers in the first row

Example CSV

id,x,y,z
P-001,100.5,200.0,0.0
P-002,150.75,200.0,0.0
P-003,100.5,250.25,0.0
P-004,150.75,250.25,0.0

Or with different column order:

z,id,y,x
0.0,P-001,200.0,100.5
0.0,P-002,200.0,150.75

Workflows

Importing Survey Points

  1. Export coordinates from your survey software as a CSV file
  2. Verify the CSV has X, Y, Z columns with headers in the first row
  3. Open your Revit project and navigate to the appropriate view
  4. Click 3D Elements From List on the ribbon
  5. Browse to your CSV file and select it
  6. Review the placed elements — the required family is loaded automatically if not already present

Creating Plan Documentation from Caissons

  1. Open a floor plan or structural plan view
  2. Select the caisson elements you want to represent
  3. Click Filled Regions From Elements
  4. Circular filled regions appear matching the diameter of each caisson
  5. Adjust visibility in the view if needed

Creating Wall Outlines for Diagrams

  1. Open the plan view where you want the regions
  2. Select the walls to convert
  3. Click Filled Regions From Elements
  4. Rectangular regions appear matching the wall bounding boxes
  5. Use these for simplified structural diagrams or area studies

Tips & Best Practices

  • Check your coordinate units — Ensure your CSV coordinates match your Revit project units
  • Use the ID column — Including an ID helps you track which CSV row created which element
  • Work in appropriate views — For filled regions, make sure you're in a plan view where the regions will be visible
  • Select similar elements — When creating filled regions, select either walls OR caissons, not a mix, for consistent results
  • Backup your CSV — Keep a copy of your original coordinate data for reference

Troubleshooting

Problem Solution
"Filled Regions From Elements" button is grayed out Select at least one element first. The button only activates when elements are selected.
Elements placed at wrong locations Check that your CSV coordinates are in the correct units and coordinate system for your project.
CSV file won't load Verify the file has X, Y, Z column headers and is saved as a standard CSV (not Excel format).
Missing column error Ensure your CSV has columns named X, Y, and Z (case doesn't matter, but the names must match).
Filled regions not visible Check that you're in a plan view and that the filled region type visibility is turned on.
Circular regions are wrong size Filled regions for caissons are based on the element's diameter property. Verify the caisson diameter is set correctly.

FAQ

Q: What family is used for placed elements? A: The tool uses a specific marker family that is automatically loaded into your project if it's not already present.

Q: Can I use different coordinate systems? A: The coordinates in your CSV should match your Revit project's coordinate system. If you're using shared coordinates, make sure your CSV data aligns with that system.

Q: What filled region type is created? A: The tool creates filled regions using the "solid gray" non-masking filled region type.

Q: Can I change the filled region appearance? A: Yes, after creation you can select the filled regions and change their type or properties like any other Revit filled region.

Q: How many points can I import at once? A: There's no hard limit, but very large CSV files may take longer to process. For thousands of points, expect a brief wait.

Q: Does this work with linked models? A: The Filled Regions From Elements command works with elements in the current document. Elements in linked models must be selected through the link.

Q: Can I undo the placement? A: Yes, both commands support standard Revit undo (Ctrl+Z).

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