Select by Scope Box selects element instances from specified categories whose geometry intersects one or more Scope Boxes. For spatial elements such as Rooms and Spaces, the command uses the element's location point instead of its full boundary.
Find the command in BIMO > Select > Select by Scope Box.
Important: the command changes only the current Revit selection. It does not isolate elements, edit the model, or add matches to the current selection; the result replaces it.
When To Use It
Select Rooms or other elements for a building section or project zone.
Prepare a spatially limited selection before editing parameters or using another Revit command.
Combine results from several Scope Boxes in one selection.
Repeat the same category set through a preset or toolbar variant.
Requirements
A Revit project must be open. Family documents are not supported.
The host project must contain at least one Scope Box.
Choose at least one valid Revit category in Categories.
Linked Revit documents are not searched.
The active view does not limit the search. The command searches element instances across the current host project, including elements that are not visible in the active view.
Settings
Setting | Default | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
|
| Limits the result to instances from the selected Revit categories. At least one category is required. |
Category values are stored by their Revit display names. After changing the Revit interface language, open the settings and select the categories again if a saved value is no longer recognized.
How To Use It
With Preselected Scope Boxes
Select one or more Scope Boxes in the current project. Other preselected elements are ignored.
Run BIMO > Select > Select by Scope Box.
In Categories, choose the categories to include.
Confirm the settings.
BIMO replaces the current selection with all matching element instances from the selected Scope Boxes.
Without Preselection
Run BIMO > Select > Select by Scope Box.
Choose at least one category and confirm the settings.
In the Revit selection prompt, pick one or more Scope Boxes and finish the selection.
BIMO selects the matching element instances.
The Revit picker accepts Scope Boxes only. If the initial selection contains no Scope Box, the picker opens even when other elements were selected.
How Matches Are Determined
BIMO reconstructs a vertical rectangular solid from each Scope Box's geometry and height, then collects instances from the configured categories in the current host project.
For ordinary model elements, an intersection with the Scope Box solid is enough. An element that crosses the boundary can therefore be selected even when it is not fully contained.
For spatial elements, including Rooms and Spaces, the location point must be inside the solid. Their complete boundary or volume is not tested.
When several Scope Boxes are selected, BIMO combines their results into one selection.
Element types and elements inside linked models are excluded.
Examples
Select Rooms For Section Numbering
Keep the default Rooms category, select the Scope Box for the required building section, and run the command. Rooms whose location points fall inside the Scope Box are selected. You can then run a separate parameter-editing workflow.
Select Several Categories In A Zone
Add categories such as Doors, Windows, and Furniture. Ordinary instances intersecting the Scope Box volume are selected, including objects that cross its boundary.
Combine Several Zones
Preselect several Scope Boxes and run the command once. The results from all selected boxes are combined; duplicate matches do not create duplicate Revit selections.
Presets And Variants
Select by Scope Box supports presets for saving different category sets. A preset can be assigned to Variant #1, Variant #2, or Variant #3 for quick launch from the toolbar.
A variant supplies the saved categories but does not supply Scope Boxes. Preselect the required Scope Boxes or choose them in the Revit picker after launch. See Presets and Variants.
Result And Model Impact
The resulting Revit selection replaces the previous selection.
The command does not create, delete, or modify model elements.
The command does not start Temporary Hide/Isolate and does not display a result report.
In large projects or with broad categories, processing can take longer because the search covers the whole host project.
Errors And Troubleshooting
Problem | What To Check |
|---|---|
The command asks for a Scope Box although elements were preselected | The preselection contained no element from the Revit Scope Boxes category. Select a Scope Box first. |
The settings cannot be confirmed | Add at least one category and make sure every saved category name exists in the current project. |
No elements are selected | Check the chosen categories, the Scope Box position and height, and whether the expected elements belong to the host project. For Rooms and Spaces, check their location points. |
Boundary-crossing elements are selected | This is expected for ordinary elements: intersection is sufficient; complete containment is not required. |
A Room or Space appears visually inside but is not selected | The command tests its location point, not the complete spatial boundary. |
Elements visible in the active view are missed or hidden elements are selected | View visibility is not used. Check geometry, category, Scope Box extents, and the host document. |
Linked-model elements are not selected | Run the command in the linked model itself; links are outside the current search scope. |
A saved category is rejected after changing Revit language | Open the command settings and choose the category again in the current interface language. |
Known Limitations
Works only in project documents.
Searches instances in the current host project only.
Has no Only visible on view mode.
Uses intersection for ordinary elements and a location point for spatial elements; it is not a universal complete-containment test.
Expects standard Scope Box geometry. Verify results for unusually positioned or rotated Scope Boxes on a small test set before relying on a large selection.
Always replaces the current selection; Add, Remove, and Intersect modes are not available.