How to change Revit Family Name using Python

Question

I've been reading the RevitAPI docs (still learning), searching (and finding) some answers, but I can't seem to be able to change the family name in a Revit model. I'm new to Python and have written a handful of scripts. Looking to get off dead center on this one.

Basically, I want to rename a family called "VA Titleblock Consultant Logo (PIN07)" to some other name, say "Billy's New Family Is Nice"

I'm able to get the name, but everything I try after that just fizzles.

Elements = FilteredElementCollector(doc).OfClass(FamilySymbol).WhereElementIsElementType()
for m in Elements:
    try:
        contains = "VA Titleblock Consultant Logo (PIN07)"
        if m.FamilyName.startswith((contains)):
            print m.FamilyName
            m.FamilyName = "Some Name"
    except:
        print "I'm a reject and can't get this right."

I've also tried to understand how to rename a Type (Symbol) with a family and can't figure that out either.

Answer 1

t = Transaction(doc, 'loadfamily')
t.Start()

#Rename Family Type

Elements = FilteredElementCollector(doc).OfClass(FamilySymbol).WhereElementIsElementType()
for m in Elements:
    try:
        contains = "VA Titleblock Consultant Logo (PIN07)"
        if m.FamilyName.startswith((contains)):
            m.Name = contains + "Append"
    except:
        print "Type name not changed"

#Rename Family
Elements = FilteredElementCollector(doc).OfClass(Family)

for m in Elements:
    try:
        contains = "VA Titleblock Consultant Logo (PIN07)"
        if m.Name.startswith((contains)):
            m.Name = "VA Im Slow"
    except:
        print "what an idiot, I finally got it"

t.Commit()

Answer 2

I believe that the family is hard-coded to match the family definition RFA filename. At least, that is what Revit always expects. Obviously, once the family has been loaded into a project and the RFA file is no longer present, you may be able to change it. I would be pretty careful in doing so, though...