Property Objects

What are Property Objects?

Property Object files are special ARCHICAD Library Parts without a 3D Script. Property Objects are generally used to describe specific structures for the purposes of calculation, e.g., the quantities and the detailed description of reinforced concrete beams used in the project.

See the Component and Descriptor definitions above.

Hint: Think of a Property Object as a custom cooking recipe including ingredients from your garden (local components), “in-house” cooking instructions (local descriptors), ingredients that need to be shopped for (database components) and instructions you commonly find in cookbooks (database descriptors). Just as the amount of ingredients must be adjusted to the number of people you cook for, in calculating the actual amount of components of an element, ARCHICAD calculates on the basis of the given relationship between each component and the reference parameter of the element calculated.

Data not directly derived from construction elements is contained or collected from databases through indirect links facilitated by Property Objects.

Properties are used to define quantities and descriptions of construction elements. The two types of Property definitions are Components and Descriptors. Components and Descriptors (along with Units) can reside in Databases or be defined locally. Local Properties definition is possible in any Library Part type element (Window, Door, Object, Lamp etc.) for the exclusive use of the Library Part, or in Property Objects. As well as local Properties, Property Objects can also access Database Properties, which are then assigned to construction elements.

Property Objects can be linked to elements either globally by matching certain criteria, or individually from the Settings dialog boxes of the different elements.

Topics in this section:

Creating and Editing Property Objects

Defining Components and Descriptors

Linking Components and Descriptors to Databases

Linking Property Objects to Element Criteria

Creating Criteria for Property Assignment

Assigning Properties to Elements

Last Selection’s Properties

Locating Property Objects