Structure of the Calculation Databases

Most of the information that is needed by ARCHICAD to create complex reports comes from Property Databases in active Libraries. You can use, extend, modify and update factory default Database(s) that come with ARCHICAD, and you can also set up multiple Databases that match your specific needs. Databases can include Components, Descriptors and Units organized in logical groups called Keys. Databases can be edited - including the creation of new Databases, Keys, Components and Descriptors - using the Calculation commands.

See also Calculation Commands.

Databases are sets of files placed in List Templates/Property Data folder of the ARCHICAD Library.

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The built-in calculation database can be accessed through the Edit Database command.

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Note: The database also contains the units that elements refer to. (See below.)

See also Editing the Calculation Database.

Keys

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Data items in Databases are arranged in a hierarchical system categorized by Keys. A Key includes a group of Components and Descriptors that are logically grouped, typically following a country‘s takeoff standards. Properties can, for instance, be grouped by type of structure, e.g., Walls, Columns, Roofs; by material, e.g., Concrete, Timber, Steel; or type of work, e.g., Foundation, Electrical, Furnishing. Cross-references are not possible, which means that the same Property item cannot be grouped in multiple Keys unless you duplicate it for each Key.

Every Key has a name and a code that are both alphanumeric definitions. A database’s Keys are arranged in alphabetical order by their codes. Keys can have a hierarchy among themselves which is also controlled by the code. The Code is the identifier whose name can be descriptive.

Example:

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A Key named ‘Concrete’ is created. Its Code is ‘003’.

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Another Key named ‘Precast Concrete’ is created. Its Code is ‘003.001’. Because of this format, it becomes the sub-key of the Key ‘Concrete’

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/archicad_calculation_guide/calculation/EditDatabase-3.png 

An additional Key named ‘Precast Wall’ is created. Its Code is ‘003.001.001’. Because of this format, it becomes the sub-key of the sub-key ‘Precast Concrete’.

This way up to four levels of hierarchical Keys and sub-keys may be created.

Components

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Components can either be the material ingredients (steel, concrete, etc.) of a structure, or anything (price, man hours, etc.) that can be measured in proportion to elements of the structure type. Each Component has a name, a code, a quantity definition, a unit and a reference to its proportion to related construction elements.

Code: can be any alphanumeric string (e.g. ‘1143’, ‘Wall-012’, ‘JKG-ft’, ‘345fdsr’ etc.)

Name: text string identifying the Component for the user (e.g. ‘gravel’)

Quantity: a numeral value (e.g ‘412.5’)

Unit: any of the Units defined under ‘Unit’ within the same Database (e.g. ‘kg’, ‘m2’, ‘Euro’, ‘$’ etc.) – selectable from pop-up menu.

Reference Quantity: predefined set of values. The component will be calculated proportionally to the selected Reference Quantity.

Item: the component will be calculated per piece of the construction element

For other reference units, see the below table and its explanation:

Referenced
element

Length

Surface A

Surface B

Surface C

Volume

Wall

(Ref+other)/2

Ref

Other

Ref+other

Total vol.

Column

Height

Around veneer

Around veneer

Around veneer

Core+veneer

Beam

(Left+right)/2

Left

Right

Total

Total vol.

Slab

Perimeter

Top

Bottom

Top+bottom

Total vol.

Roof

Perimeter

Top

Bottom

Top+bottom

Total vol.

Mesh

Perimeter

Top

Bottom

Total

Total vol.

Zone

Perimeter

Area

Area

Area

Total vol.

Object

Length along x axis (=A)

0

0

Total

Total vol.

Opening

Width of the opening

Width*
height

Width*
height

Surface of the elements in the library part

Total volume of the elements in the lib. part

Abbreviations:
ref: this means the reference line side of a wall
other: this means the opposite side of a wall
left: this means the left side of a beam taking into account its orientation
right: this means the right side of a beam taking into account its orientation

Meanings:
components proportional with column length: Height of the column is taken instead of 0
components proportional with beam length: (left+right)/2 is taken instead of 0
components proportional with object length: the parameter A is taken instead of 0
components proportional with column surfaces: the surface around the core is omitted, only the surface around the veneer is taken. If there is no veneer, the core surface is taken.

Notes:

the left and the right side length of a beam may be different when it is connected to a wall in a non-perpendicular angle.

some values are intentionally different from the appropriate element list values, as the associated components are usually calculated based on different surfaces. For example you may want to calculate the painted surface of a wall. In this case you are not interested of the edge surface but the sum of the reference and the opposite side surface of the wall.

Components can reside in Databases (global) or locally in Property Objects. Library Part type construction elements (Objects, Lamps, Windows and Doors) can also have locally defined (i.e., object-specific) Properties: however, these are only available for the Library Part they were defined in, and cannot be linked to other elements. Property Objects can be created and edited using the File > Libraries and Objects > Open Object, then editing in the Property Script window, or by using the appropriate Calculation commands: New Properties and Edit Properties.

For more information, see Property Objects.

Descriptors

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Descriptors are text elements related to structure types, e.g., finishing, security, shipping, assembly or handling information. Descriptors are simply displayed in reports: they are not used in calculations and are not linked to components or element parameters. Each Descriptor has a name (also called short text), a code and the full description (long text).

Just like Components, Descriptors can reside in Databases (global) or locally in Property Objects.

Units

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Every Database has a special item group for the Units used in calculations. The Units set is on the same hierarchy level as the primary Keys of the Database. An unlimited type of Units can be defined for every Database.

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