About Element Classes and Property Sets
Explains the concept of element classes and property sets in the context of the dynamic properties dialog.
Revit-Categories provide only a rough subdivision of model elements. The rendering, assignment and extension of (possible) properties of an element in the model is therefore correspondingly limited. Element classes in connection with property sets offer a wide extension of the conventional display of properties.
Element classes
An element class is a rule-based and arbitrarily fine-grained definition for the selection of elements or element groups in the model. In addition to the selection of a Revit category, it is possible to filter by any classification (IFC, LINEAR, cost groups, etc.) as well as by parameters. By combining the filter levels, complex element classes can be defined, such as a class for all fire protection ducts.
An element can belong to several element classes at the same time due to its properties, so that different element classes do not have to be disjoint. Element classes are based on classifications made by assignment of parameters. An assignment of parameters to the element is therefore a prerequisite for its inclusion in element classes. In addition to classification, elements can also fall into different classes based on rules such as defining a valid value range.
Property sets
Property sets are linked to element classes to which they apply. When an element is selected in the model, the properties dialog shows all properties of this element defined in property sets separated by element classes. Property sets can contain attributes that are not mapped in Revit, such as the specification of a building part for MEP spaces.