How to Share Dynamo Scripts

Sharing Dynamo scripts – the visual programs with a .dyn extension used in Autodesk Revit’s Dynamo – is a common challenge for BIM managers, architects, and engineers. Once you develop a useful Dynamo routine to automate a Revit task, you’ll want others on your team (or across firms) to use it as well. In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore various methods to share Dynamo scripts efficiently. We’ll cover straightforward file-sharing approaches, more advanced package distribution, cloud-based solutions with version control, embedding scripts in Revit project templates or families, and best practices to document and collaborate on scripts. Finally, we’ll highlight how ArchiLabs, a web-based BIM automation platform, can simplify sharing and even eliminate the usual Dynamo complexities by leveraging AI-powered tools for tasks like sheet creation, tagging, and dimensioning.

Exporting and Sharing .dyn Files

One of the simplest ways to share a Dynamo script is to export the .dyn file and send it to colleagues. Every Dynamo graph can be saved as a .dyn file, which encapsulates the nodes and connections of your script. To share it:

Save the Dynamo script: In Dynamo, go to File → Save (or Save As) to export your graph as a .dyn file. Give it a clear name (e.g. SheetCreation_Automation.dyn) that indicates its purpose.

Transfer the file: You can then share this .dyn via email, a USB drive, or a shared network folder like any other file. The recipient can place it on their computer and open it with Dynamo in Revit.

Use Dynamo Player for ease: If your colleagues aren’t Dynamo experts, they can use Dynamo Player (built into Revit) to run the script without ever opening the Dynamo editor. Dynamo Player (found under the Manage tab in Revit) lets users browse to the script file, adjust any exposed inputs, and hit “Play” to execute it. This is great for sharing scripts with team members who have little scripting experienc ()】 – they just get a push-button tool.

Include dependencies: When sharing a .dyn, be mindful of any custom packages or Revit add-ins your script relies on. In your communication, list the required Dynamo package names and versions (or better yet, share those package files too). If the script uses any external data sources (Excel files, etc.), include those or note where to get them. A script might not run as expected on another machine if a required package isn’t installed.

Pros: Sharing the .dyn directly is quick and straightforward. There’s no special setup – just send the file and instructions. It works well for one-off exchanges or small team use, especially if everyone is on the same Revit and Dynamo version.

Cons: The manual approach can become unwieldy as scripts evolve or need to be distributed to many people. Version control is manual (you might end up with files like Automation_v1.dyn, Automation_v2.dyn), and there’s a risk of someone using an outdated version. You also have to ensure everyone places the file in a known location and installs any needed packages. For broader distribution or frequent updates, consider the more robust methods below.

Using Dynamo Packages for Distribution

Dynamo has a Package Manager system that allows you to bundle scripts or custom nodes into a package for easy sharing. A Dynamo package is essentially a collection of Dynamo definitions (custom nodes, functions, or even whole workflows) that can be published and versioned. Using packages can streamline distribution in several ways:

Bundle scripts as custom nodes: You can wrap your Dynamo script’s functionality into a custom node (with a .dyf file) and include it in a package. Team members can install the package and get the custom node which they can drop into their own graphs. Even if you don’t convert your entire script to a single node, you can package multiple related scripts or utility nodes together for convenience.

Publish to the Dynamo Package Manager: Dynamo’s built-in Package Manager (accessible via the Packages menu in Dynamo) lets you upload your package to an online repository. Colleagues can then find and download it through the same interface. This internet-based sharing eliminates the need for emailing files and provides a versioning mechanism and dependency managemen (Sharing is Caring - Feeding the Package Manager - Dynamo BIM)】. In fact, the introduction of the package manager was a game-changer because it provided an official way to share custom Dynamo content without resorting to makeshift channels like email or Dropbo (Sharing is Caring - Feeding the Package Manager - Dynamo BIM)】. Each package can have version numbers (e.g., 1.0.0, 1.1.0) so you can release updates over time, and Dynamo will notify users or automatically use the correct version as needed.

Distribute packages internally: If you prefer not to publish on the public feed (e.g. your scripts are proprietary), you can still use the package format and share it by other means. A Dynamo package is essentially a folder (usually placed in %AppData%\Dynamo\Dynamo Revit\{version}\packages\). You can zip up that folder and send it to others. They can install it by unzipping into their Dynamo packages directory or using Package → Install Package and choosing a local file. This way, you get the benefit of grouping and versioning, but in a closed distribution.

Leverage dependency tracking: Packages allow you to specify if they depend on other packages. Dynamo will alert the user to download any missing dependencies. This is helpful if your script uses nodes from popular community packages (like Clockwork, Springs, etc.) – listing them as dependencies means they’ll be pulled in automatically, reducing setup hassle for your team.

Pros: Using packages provides a more professional distribution. It’s easier to manage updates (everyone who installed the package can get the new version in one click). For power users or large firms, it creates a standardized library of Dynamo tools shared across teams. The package manager infrastructure handles a lot of the heavy lifting for you, including online hosting, version tracking, and dependency handlin (Sharing is Caring - Feeding the Package Manager - Dynamo BIM)】.

Cons: Creating a package has a slight learning curve if you’ve never done it, and it can be overkill for very simple sharing needs. Also, each user needs to know how to install the package. If using the public Package Manager, be mindful that your content becomes publicly visible (which might be a concern for proprietary workflows). And while packages are great for sharing nodes, a full Dynamo graph intended for end-users might still need user instructions on how to run it. In those cases, you might combine packages with other methods (for example, provide a Dynamo Player script that internally calls a custom node from your package).

Leveraging Cloud Storage and Version Control

For distributed teams and firms that want a single source of truth for Dynamo scripts, leveraging cloud storage or version control systems can be extremely effective. Instead of sending files back and forth, you maintain a central location where the latest scripts reside, and everyone can access or sync that location. This reduces confusion over “which version is the latest” and facilitates collaborative development of scripts.

BIM 360 and Cloud Drives

Many AEC companies use cloud storage solutions like Autodesk BIM 360 (Autodesk Construction Cloud), Microsoft OneDrive, SharePoint, Google Drive, or Dropbox to share project files. These can be used to share Dynamo scripts as well:

Central cloud repository: Set up a dedicated folder in a BIM 360 project or a shared OneDrive/Dropbox that contains all approved Dynamo scripts. Team members with access can download or sync this folder to their local machines. If you update a script in the cloud folder, others get the updated file through sync. For example, a BIM manager might maintain a “Dynamo Scripts” folder on the company OneDrive that is shared with the whole BIM team. Everyone always runs the script from that synced location, ensuring they use the latest version.

Autodesk BIM 360 + Desktop Connector: Storing Dynamo files on BIM 360 works similarly, especially if you use the Autodesk Desktop Connector (a tool that maps BIM 360/ACC cloud files to a local drive). Users can navigate to the BIM 360 folder from Dynamo or Dynamo Player as if it were a local path. In practice, you might have a folder like C:\Users\<User>\ACCDocs\Company\Project\Project Files\DynamoScripts\ (created by Desktop Connector) that mirrors the clou (Connecting Dynamo Graphs and Packages to Your Users With Desktop Connector - Dynamo BIM) (Accessing file BIM360 file locally through Autodesk docs - python)】. Place your .dyn files there, and all team members will have them via the cloud.

Dynamo Player & cloud sync: One workflow is to set Dynamo Player’s script directory to point to a synced cloud folder. Users can open Dynamo Player and directly see the list of centrally maintained scripts. This way, a BIM manager updates a script in BIM 360 or OneDrive, and all users automatically see the new or updated script in Dynamo Player. Caveat: Currently, Dynamo Player might not auto-refresh changes from BIM 360 without reopening it – as noted by one Autodesk expert, “BIM360 is not really supported for Dynamo graph deployment at this time” due to how Desktop Connector updates file (Dynamo Player do not automatically update BIM 360 - Dynamo)】. In practice, users may need to click “Refresh” or restart Dynamo Player to see new scripts from the cloud. Despite this hiccup, cloud sharing is still very effective for centralizing scripts.

Pros: Cloud storage provides a single source of truth. It’s great for ensuring consistency across multiple offices or with external collaborators – everyone accesses the script from the same place, rather than maintaining their own copies. It also offers basic version history (many cloud services keep previous versions or at least timestamps of files). Using BIM 360 means your Dynamo scripts can live alongside other project documents in a managed environment, which many BIM managers prefer for oversight.

Cons: All users need to set up the cloud sync (e.g. install Desktop Connector for BIM 360 or have the OneDrive/Dropbox client running). If someone is offline, they’ll need a local copy of the scripts. Also, simultaneous editing can be an issue – if two people edit the same script file at the same time, one might overwrite the other’s changes when syncing. Cloud drives alone don’t solve merge conflicts; for that, you need true version control (next section).

Version Control with GitHub

For a more robust approach – especially if multiple people will edit or improve Dynamo scripts – consider using version control systems like Git, with platforms such as GitHub (or alternatives like GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps). This is a software-development-centric solution, but it brings powerful benefits to BIM automation:

Track changes and history: Version control tracks every change made to the script file over time. You can commit updates with messages describing what changed, and you can always retrieve an older version if needed. This is invaluable for complex scripts: if someone’s edit accidentally breaks the functionality, you can revert to a prior working version. GitHub provides a visual history of commits, so you can see who changed what and when.

Collaboration and branching: Multiple contributors can work simultaneously by using branches. For example, one BIM specialist can develop a new feature in a script on a separate branch while another maintains the current stable branch. Later, changes can be merged in. This avoids clashing edits and fosters a more organized development process. It’s akin to how software teams collaborate on code – and remember, a Dynamo .dyn file is essentially a JSON text file, so Git can handle it like code. (There’s even a Dynamo extension called DynaHub that integrates GitHub directly into Dynamo, enabling users to pull graphs from a repository and manage versions through a U (Dre-Tas/DynaHub: Dynamo Extension to interact with ... - GitHub)】.)

Central repository & issue tracking: By hosting your scripts in a GitHub repository, you create a central library similar to a cloud folder, but with the added benefits of Git. Team members can clone (download) the repository to get all scripts, and pull updates whenever they’re published. GitHub also allows you to create an issues list – team members can log bugs or improvement ideas, turning script maintenance into a collaborative process. This is great for a large firm where many projects rely on the scripts; you have a clear process to suggest changes and track fixes.

Open source sharing: If your aim is to share Dynamo scripts with the wider community, GitHub is a popular avenue. Many Dynamo enthusiasts publish their scripts or custom nodes on GitHub for others to use and contribute to. By open-sourcing, you might even get improvements from outside contributors. (However, if your scripts are proprietary, keep the repository private to your organization or a select group.)

Pros: Proper version control brings reliability and clarity. You reduce the risk of lost work or confusion over which version is current. Every edit is documented. For teams already using GitHub or Azure DevOps for coding, extending it to Dynamo scripts fits into the existing workflow. Even for those new to Git, the payoff is significant if the scripts are business-critical – you get backups, history, and collaboration tools in one setup.

Cons: The learning curve is the biggest hurdle. Not every architect or engineer is familiar with Git operations like commit, push, and pull. It may require training or assigning a tech-savvy team member to manage the repository (at least initially). There are GUI tools (like GitHub Desktop) that make it easier, and once set up, the process can be fairly smooth: e.g., open the script from the repo folder, edit in Dynamo, save, and use a Git client to commit changes with a message. It’s a bit more overhead than a simple drag-and-drop to a shared drive, but the benefits in controlled environments can be worth it. For many small teams, though, a shared cloud folder might be sufficient, and that’s okay – choose what level of complexity matches your needs.

Embedding Scripts in Revit Templates or Families

Wouldn’t it be nice if a Dynamo script could travel inside a Revit project template or family, so that it’s just there waiting to be used? While Revit doesn’t natively embed .dyn files in project (.RVT) or family (.RFA) files, there are a few techniques and tools to achieve a similar outcome:

Include scripts with project templates: Bundle your Dynamo scripts alongside your Revit template file. For instance, if your office has a standard Revit template (with predefined views, sheets, etc.), distribute a “Dynamo Scripts” folder with it. In the template’s documentation (you might have a How-To use guide or even a startup view in Revit with notes), mention which Dynamo scripts to run for certain tasks. Users starting a project from that template can copy the script folder as well. While the script isn’t literally embedded in the .RTE file, it’s effectively delivered with the template. You can even include a Revit macro or startup add-in that automatically looks for and runs certain Dynamo scripts when a new project is created, though that requires some coding or third-party tools.

Leverage Dynamo Player in templates: To make it easy, instruct users that after creating a project from the template, they should open Dynamo Player and point it to the provided scripts folder (or an intranet location). For example, your template could be accompanied by instructions like: “Once you create a project with this template, run the ‘Project Setup’ Dynamo script via Dynamo Player to auto-generate views and sheets.” This approach has been used by many BIM teams to standardize repetitive setup tasks. It’s not embedding the script inside the file, but it ties the script’s usage to the template’s workflow.

Custom Revit add-ins as wrappers: Some firms turn Dynamo scripts into Revit ribbon buttons for easier access. Tools like NonicaTab or Orkestra allow you to deploy Dynamo scripts as one-click buttons in Revit’s interface. For example, NonicaTab Pro can create a custom toolbar where each button triggers a Dynamo script (with an icon and name of your choice). You could distribute this toolbar (which references your scripts) to all users along with the Revit template. That way, even though the script isn’t inside the template, to the end-user it feels integrated – they open Revit (from the template) and see a button like “Renumber Rooms” which runs the Dynamo script behind the scenes. Orkestra, on the other hand, is a server-based solution to manage and share Dynamo scripts and player files across an organization, and can be configured to load certain scripts for all users. Using such add-ins achieves the spirit of embedding: the automation is baked into the environment and readily available.

About embedding in families: Currently, you cannot embed a Dynamo script within a Revit family in a way that it carries over as part of the family file. There have been forum discussions about “baking Dynamo scripts into families” (essentially having a family remember the graph that created it (baking Dynamo scripts into revit families - Autodesk Community)】, but this isn’t supported. If you want to share the logic used to create a complex family, you’ll need to share the Dynamo script along with the family. Otherwise, treat the family as the final product of the script. In practice, many will use Dynamo to generate complex geometry or parameter sets in a family, then simply load that family into projects – the end user of the family doesn’t need the script, just the result. But for collaboration on the script itself, you’d stick to sharing the .dyn or using one of the methods above.

Pros: Integrating scripts with templates or the Revit UI can greatly increase adoption. End-users don’t have to hunt for files or even know they’re running a Dynamo script – they just click a button or follow template instructions. This can make your automation part of the standard project workflow, ensuring that its benefits (time savings, accuracy, etc.) are consistently realized.

Cons: There’s no out-of-the-box way to literally embed a .dyn in a .rvt or .rfa, so these are workarounds. Maintaining custom add-ins or deployment systems adds complexity (you need to update those when scripts change or when Revit updates). If a script is hardwired into an add-in, updating it might require distributing a new add-in version. For small teams, this might be more overhead than it’s worth; it often makes sense in larger organizations where the scale justifies a polished delivery mechanism for automation. Always weigh the maintenance effort against the convenience gained.

Best Practices for Documentation and Collaboration

No matter which sharing method you choose, following some best practices will ensure your Dynamo scripts are understood and used correctly by others. Good documentation and collaboration habits can turn a nifty script into a sustainable, team-wide solution:

Internal documentation in the graph: Always document your Dynamo graph itself. Use Groups and Notes inside Dynamo to explain what sections of the script do. For example, group nodes and label the group “Inputs – adjust these parameters” or add a note that describes the purpose of a subroutine. This way, if a colleague opens the script, they can follow the logic without needing you to walk them through it. (Tip: Dynamo Player will display the contents of a group titled “Notes” as instructions to the user. You can exploit this by putting user instructions in a group named “Notes” so that when someone runs it in Player, they see helpful info about what the script does or requires.)

External documentation for users: Provide a simple README or guide for your scripts, especially if you’re sharing many or handing off to another team. This could be a PDF, a page on your company’s wiki, or even embedded in an email. It should list: what the script is for, how to use it (step by step if necessary), any inputs/outputs, and any prerequisites (e.g. “requires GeniusLoci package” or “works on Revit 2024 or later”). For a collection of scripts, a spreadsheet or document that catalogs all available scripts and their descriptions can be very helpful for new users.

Consistent naming convention: Develop a naming convention for your Dynamo files and stick to it. For instance, prefix scripts with a category or use verbs that indicate action: QA_Check Room Naming.dyn, Export Rooms to Excel.dyn, Create Sheets from Levels.dyn. Descriptive names act as documentation in themselves and help users quickly identify the right script for a task. Avoid cryptic names or overly generic ones like script1.dyn.

Versioning and change logs: If you update a script, communicate the changes. You might include a version number in the script file name or inside a Note within the script (e.g., “v2.1 updated on 2025-03-01: now handles linked models”). If you’re sharing via a cloud folder, consider keeping an “Archive” subfolder where older versions can be stored just in case. In more advanced setups (like GitHub), use commit messages or release notes. The key is that other users know an update happened and what’s different or improved. This helps prevent confusion if results differ from an older version.

Test and validate: Before distributing a script widely, test it on multiple projects or scenarios. What happens if someone runs it on a model that’s structured differently? Does it handle edge cases (like no elements found, or unexpected input values) gracefully? Maybe have a colleague do a dry run in a copy of a project to see if instructions were clear. Catching errors or misunderstandings early will save everyone headaches and build trust in the automation.

Encourage feedback and improvement: Create a channel for feedback. Users might discover new use cases or minor bugs once they start using the script in production. Encourage them to let you know. This could be as informal as a Teams/Slack channel for “Dynamo scripts” or as formal as an issue tracker. By iterating on feedback, you not only improve the script but also engage the team in the process – they feel it’s a tool for them and see that their input matters.

Maintain a clean library: Over time, you might accumulate many scripts. Periodically review and organize them. Remove or clearly mark outdated scripts (e.g., add “[Deprecated]” in the name if something shouldn’t be used anymore). Group scripts into subfolders or categories if the list grows large, so users aren’t overwhelmed. A well-organized “library of Dynamo scripts” is a fantastic asset for any BIM team, but only if it remains curated and user-friendly.

Security and IP considerations: Remember that when you share a Dynamo script, the recipient can open and modify it. If you have proprietary logic that you want to protect but still share the functionality, one strategy is to compile that logic into a Revit add-in or Dynamo custom node (which obscures the inner workings more than a plain Dynamo graph). However, for most internal team situations, this isn’t a big concern – just something to be aware of if sharing outside the company.

By following these best practices, you create a healthy environment for computational collaboration. The goal is that everyone benefits from Dynamo, not just the person who wrote the script. Clear communication, good documentation, and a bit of process can turn your Dynamo explorations into firm-wide efficiency gains.

Web-Based Automation with ArchiLabs (The Easiest Way)

Despite all the methods above, sharing Dynamo scripts still assumes a certain level of Dynamo knowledge and setup among your team. What if you could share automations effortlessly without worrying about file formats, package versions, or whether teammates even have Dynamo installed? This is where modern cloud-based automation platforms like ArchiLabs come into play, offering a radically easier path.

ArchiLabs is a web-based tool designed to let architects and BIM managers create, modify, and distribute automations through a cloud platform. In many ways, it shifts the paradigm from traditional Dynamo sharing to a more user-friendly, AI-powered approach:

No Dynamo hassles: With ArchiLabs, you don’t need to manually manage .dyn files or ensure everyone has the right Dynamo version. Users access automations through their web browser (with a Revit plugin to execute commands in Revit). ArchiLabs essentially acts as an intelligent layer on top of Dynamo and the Revit API, but the user doesn’t have to handle Dynamo at al (Automate Sheet Creation and View Creation in Autodesk Revit)】. This means no worrying about library package conflicts or software updates – the platform is maintained centrally. You can create and share workflows effortlessly with your team, without fumbling with plugin versions or manual install (ArchiLabs)】. Everyone always uses the latest version of an automation, because it’s delivered via the web platform.

Easy creation with AI assistance: Instead of traditional node wiring, ArchiLabs offers a conversational and visual interface. You build automations by dragging and dropping high-level functional nodes or by simply describing what you want to achieve. The AI behind ArchiLabs helps translate your instructions into underlying Dynamo or API actions. For example, if you want to create sheets for all levels, instead of crafting a Dynamo graph from scratch, you could use ArchiLabs’ template or prompt the AI with “create sheets for each level and place corresponding floor plans.” The platform will handle figuring out the details. This dramatically lowers the skill barrier – architects who find Dynamo’s learning curve steep can use ArchiLabs to set up complex tasks with minimal learning curv (Automate Sheet Creation and View Creation in Autodesk Revit)】.

One-click sharing and collaboration: Because it’s web-based, sharing an automation in ArchiLabs is as simple as adding your colleagues to the project or sending them a link. There’s no need to send files around. Team members can run the automation in their Revit with a click, and if they have permission, even adjust or improve it through the web interface. ArchiLabs manages permissions and collaboration natively: you can have multiple editors for an automation or restrict some users to just run it. It also means that if you update an automation, that update is immediately available to everyone – no version confusion. In effect, ArchiLabs serves as a central cloud library of all your firm’s automations.

AI-powered automation tasks: ArchiLabs doesn’t just mimic Dynamo; it extends it with artificial intelligence. It comes with built-in “AI nodes” for tasks like sheet creation, tagging, and dimensioning, which operate more intelligently than standard scripts. For example, when tagging elements, ArchiLabs’s AI can decide optimal tag placements (avoiding overlaps, choosing appropriate tag families) in a way a human would, rather than just following a rigid scrip (Automate Sheet Creation and View Creation in Autodesk Revit) (Automate Sheet Creation and View Creation in Autodesk Revit)】. Similarly, automated dimensioning can be context-aware – picking which objects to dimension based on design intent. This means the automations are not only easier to create, but often more powerful or nuanced in effect. ArchiLabs effectively eliminates the need for traditional Dynamo complexities while delivering the same outcomes. Users have reported being able to accomplish in minutes tasks that used to take hours of manual work or complex Dynamo coding.

Faster iteration and learning: Since ArchiLabs is an “AI co-pilot” for Revit, you can iterate quickly. If the result of an automation isn’t what you expected, you can tweak the parameters or prompt and run it again immediately. There’s no need to spend time debugging node connections. Over time, the AI may even learn from your preferences – for example, if you always tag rooms a certain way, it could adapt to that styl (Automate Sheet Creation and View Creation in Autodesk Revit)】. For a BIM manager, this means you can deliver solutions to your team faster and with less trial-and-error than developing Dynamo scripts from scratch. And your team can suggest changes in plain language (“Can we also have it rename the views after creating sheets?”) which you or the AI can implement without delving into code.

In summary, ArchiLabs is arguably the easiest tool for sharing automations because it abstracts away the technical hurdles. It provides a cloud-based, collaborative environment where automations live, so you and your team can focus on what the automation should do rather than how to deploy it. By leveraging AI and a modern web interface, ArchiLabs allows users to create and distribute powerful Revit automations effortlessly – no Dynamo expertise required. Tasks like generating sheets, tagging plans, or batch dimensioning become as simple as issuing a command, and everyone on the team can benefit instantly. It’s a compelling option to consider for forward-thinking BIM teams who want to turbocharge their workflow with minimal fuss.

Conclusion

Sharing Dynamo scripts is key to multiplying the benefits of BIM automation across your team or organization. Whether you choose to simply send around .dyn files, publish a Dynamo package, set up a shared cloud library, integrate scripts into your templates, or adopt an AI-driven platform like ArchiLabs, the goal is the same: empower architects and engineers to work smarter, not harder. By implementing the methods and best practices outlined above, BIM managers can ensure that a great script doesn’t live in a silo but becomes a reliable, accessible tool for all.

Each approach has its place – in some cases, emailing a quick script is enough; in others, a robust cloud workflow or ArchiLabs’s web-based solution will be the game changer. Evaluate your team’s needs and technical comfort, then pick the strategy (or combination) that fits best. With thoughtful sharing and documentation, your Dynamo scripts – or ArchiLabs automations – can significantly boost productivity, foster collaboration, and help maintain consistency in your BIM processes. In the end, effective sharing of automation tools transforms individual productivity hacks into organization-wide improvements, moving your team closer to the holy grail of efficient, error-free, and enjoyable BIM workflows. Happy sharing and automating!