Simple Element Schedules

Written by Márta Trón

One of our users asked the following: "I would like to see the same catalog feature right inside the calculation list as in the object adapter."

What can GDL Object Adapter provide?

It creates listings in HTML format by 4 built-in list templates. These lists can schedule previews and all parameters of the placed objects. You can only choose if you want to list the selected or all placed objects.

What can be prepared with the Calculation Menu in ArchiCAD?

Its commands allow you to perform various calculations so as you need. You can use factory-shipped Graphic List Templates. With them it is easier to get good looking object catalogs. Find below a step-by-step description of how to adjust a Graphic Template List to be similar to Object Adapter list:

1. Choose 'New Properties' from the Calculate Menu. Save the property object to the Property Data folder in your active library. Name it for example 'preview'.
2. Choose Property Script and enter "drawing".

   

3. In the 2D Script type:
   

   DRAWING3 7, 270, 2 

   

   Note: See the GDL Reference Guide for the meaning of these commands.

4. Save the property object.
5. Select the objects you want to list on the Floor Plan or in the 3D window and assign the newly created Property object to them. In the Object Settings dialog box, on the Listing attributes tab page uncheck 'Link Properties by Criteria', and check 'Link Properties Individually', then select the property object you have just created (preview.gps).

   

6. Open 'Calculate/Setup List Schemes', select the General Element List scheme and duplicate it. Name it "Object Catalog", then select this new list scheme.
7. Go to the Elements tab page and make Objects the only element type to be included in the list.

   

8. In the Properties and Parameters tab page select None in the Components and Descriptors pop-up lists and check the following parameters on the Global Element Parameters list:
   • Library Part Name
   • Thickness/Size
   • Height
   • Material
   You can choose some object specific parameters too: click on 'As in Selected Library Parts' under Library Parts' Additional Parameters.
   Select the needed Library Parts.

   

   The following parameters will come from the objects:

   • 3D
   • Contour Pen
   • Background Fill Type
   • Fill Pen
   • Background Fill Pen
   • Inner Radius
9. In the List Format tab page change the order of the parameters to your liking. If you don't want to prepare new Templates with the Format Wizard simply use a readymade template; for example: Windows_Schedule_1.txt. Use the 'Choose Template' button to locate the file: Windows_Schedule_1.txt.

   

   Note: in the Windows_Schedule_1.txt template you can list only the first 10 parameters!

10. If you now ask for this new Calculate/List Elements/Object Catalog to be generated, you will notice that the opening orientation parameter is irrelevantly listed.

    

11. To correct this field start the Format Wizard from the List Format Tabpage of the Calculation/Setup List Schemes dialog, select the Window schedule Type 1 layout and Duplicate it with the name "#Object Catalog".

    

12. Go to Fields tab page and at the 1. Row 8. Column you will find the expression Opening orientation.

    

13. Change it to "#NAME[5]" so that you choose Contour Pen from the right-hand side pop-up under the Text Field and from the left-hand side pop-up choose to insert Name.

    

14. If you need to list not only the width of the object but the length too you have to exchange one of the first 10 parameters. In this case it was the fourth parameter: 3D. And we change the order of the parameters in the template so that the sequence will be: width, length and height. Go to Fields tab page and at Row 1/Column 5 write "Length:", and at Row 1/Column 6 write "#Value [2][2] #Unit[2]".

    

15. At Row 1/Column 7 write "Height:"; here click on Text Format and check Bold.

    

16. At Row 1/Column 14 write "Value [3] #Unit [3]"
17. Click 'Done' to finish.
18. Uncheck the 'Include in List Scheme' checkbox and save as "#Object Catalog.txt".
19. Select Element List/Object Catalog from the Calculate menu to display the newly created list schedule.

    

This list can then be saved as a Rich Text Format file (.RTF). You can create an HTML file from it with appropriate software, and publish it on the Internet if you like.

Page last updated: Thursday, September 16, 2004