Meet Mr. Obvious. He’s a talented architect, but his days are filled with repetitive, soul-crushing tasks. His latest mission? Getting a standard set of construction details from an old Revit file into his brand new project. For Mr. Obvious, this means:

  1. Opening the old file.
  2. Navigating to each drafting view he needs.
  3. Selecting the view in the project browser, right-clicking, and choosing “Duplicate View.”
  4. Going into the original drafting view, selecting all of the lines, filled regions, and text.
  5. Copying them to the clipboard.
  6. Switching to the newly duplicated view in the new project.
  7. Pasting everything into place.
  8. …and repeating this for all 20+ detail views.

Sounds fun, right? No? We thought so. This is where we introduce the hero of our story: a simple, elegant Autodesk Dynamo script.

The Dynamo Solution: A Three-Step Magic Trick

Forget the manual grind. This script automates the entire process in a few clicks, transforming a 30-minute chore into a 30-second victory. Here’s how it works behind the scenes, broken down into its key components:

Step 1: The Scout

First, the script needs to know where your treasure (the detail views) is hidden. It starts by looking for the source Revit file. Using a File Path node, you point it to the linked model. From there, a RevitLinkInstance.ByPath node creates a virtual connection, allowing Dynamo to explore the file’s contents without you ever having to open it.

Step 2: The Duplicator

Next, the script straps on its detective hat and gets to work, searching for exactly what you need. It queries the linked model for all of its “Views” and then uses a String.Contains node to filter the list, looking for a specific keyword like “DETAIL”. It’s ruthlessly efficient, automatically isolating only the drafting views you care about. With that filtered list in hand, a specialized node like Element.Duplicate takes over, cloning those drafting views and placing them directly into your active project. Just like that, they appear in your Project Browser, ready for action!

Step 3: The Magician

This is the truly magical part. Like a digital grand wizard, the script grabs all the tiny, individual elements within each of those original linked views—every line, dimension, filled region, and text note. It then uses a final DetailItem.Create node to recreate all of those elements in the corresponding new views in your project. It’s a flawless, pixel-perfect copy, every single time, without a single misplaced line or an item left behind. You can practically hear the details saying, “We’re home!”

The Payoff: Time is Money (and Sanity)

By automating this process, you not only save a significant amount of time, but you also eliminate the risk of human error. No more forgotten details, no more misaligned elements. You’re free to focus on higher-value tasks, like designing, coordinating, and creating truly incredible buildings. Maybe even squeeze in a coffee break or a quick victory lap around the office.

So the next time a detail-transfer task lands on your desk, don’t be a Mr. Obvious. Build a simple Dynamo script and let the robot do the repetitive work for you. Your sanity (and your project schedule) will thank you.

A sample script is attached, play around with it and see if you can make some magic happen with your next project. Enjoy!

Dynamo Script for Details.

Reach out to discuss and help you with your current or next workflow needs!