Defining Components and Descriptors

When defining Properties, you should first decide whether they will ever be assigned to different elements, whether they may ever be parts of different Properties combinations in Property Objects, or if only one Library Part will use them.

A unique object’s properties, e.g., the coating of a custom-made truss, is best defined locally, within the Library Part.

More generic Properties, e.g., the amount of cement needed to build elements made of reinforced concrete, are better described locally in Property Objects so that any such element can refer to them.

The most generic Properties, e.g., the amount of paint needed for walls (Component) or general safety instructions (Descriptor), which are expected to be used in several Properties combinations are best defined as Database Properties so that any Property Object can refer to them.

Click the Components button in the left-hand side of the Library Part master window. This will display the Components controls on top of the window.

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

Click the New button to create a new Component line.

Type the desired values or strings into the Code, Name and Quantity text fields to define the corresponding attributes of the new component.

Use the Proportional With pop-up list to choose a reference quantity (Item, Length, Surface, Volume) for the component.

The following table shows the components referencing different parameters of ARCHICAD element types:

Ref.element

Length

Surface A

Surface B

Surface C

Volume

Wall

(Ref+other)/2 (1)

Ref(1)

Other (1)

Ref+other

Total volume

Column

Height

Around veneer

Around veneer

Around veneer

Core+veneer

Beam

(Left+right)/2

Left (2)

Right (2)

Total

Total volume

Slab

Perimeter

Top

Bottom

Top+bottom

Total volume

Roof

Perimeter

Top

Bottom

Top+bottom

Total volume

Mesh

Perimeter

Top

Bottom

Total

Total volume

Zone

Perimeter

Area

Area

Area

Total volume

Object

Along X axis (A)

0

0

Total

Total volume

Door/Window

Width of opening

Width x height

Width x height

Surface of library part elements

Total volume of lib. part elements

Notes:

1.Including surfaces around openings with reveals and along reveal depth. “ref” stands for the reference line side of the wall and “other” for the side opposite the reference side of the wall.

2.Left and right side of the beam as defined by its orientation; left and right may be different when the beam is connected to a wall at a non-perpendicular angle.

Some values are intentionally different from 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 in the edge surface but in the sum of the reference and opposite side surfaces of the wall.

To define a special reference, choose Custom from the Proportional with pop-up list. This will make active the field that the ‘Proportional with’ header points to, on top of the headers. Enter any GDL expression using global and local variables.

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

You define Descriptors in much the same way. Click the Descriptors button to display the appropriate controls on top of the window.

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

Click the New button to create a new Descriptor line.

Type the desired value in the Code text field and the appropriate Short Text (first line) in the corresponding text field.

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

Click the Text button to open the Descriptor Full Text dialog box where you can give a longer description of the part, element or structure. This description may include technical parameters and specifications or other useful assembling or safety instructions.

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

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