topic Re: Sequential Automated Numbering in Libraries & objects

Sequential Automated Numbering

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 19:25:50 GMT

I want to add a script to the "Drawing Block Title-NCS" part that will increase the number by one each time I click to place the part. Any ideas? Thanks.

Barry

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 20:51:38 GMT

Barry wrote:
I want to add a script to the "Drawing Block Title-NCS" part that will increase the number by one each time I click to place the part. Any ideas? Thanks.

Barry

In this case GLOB_ID function can help you!

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 21:00:47 GMT

I don't see how the glob_id would help here. The lettering/numbering is done by a parameter in the part. I want to be able to select the part and drop it multiple times and at the same time the part increases the number by one. Thanks.

Barry Halloran

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 01:34:35 GMT

Barry wrote:
I don't see how the glob_id would help here. The lettering/numbering is done by a parameter in the part. I want to be able to select the part and drop it multiple times and at the same time the part increases the number by one. Thanks.

Barry Halloran

Barry,
Actually Z.Bauer was pointing you in the right direction. If your part displays its number by reading it from the glob_id (global variable) and if you have archicad set to auto increase id numbers by 1, then you can do exactly what you need.

Dan K

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 02:47:07 GMT

Dan,

Thanks for the reply. I understand what Z.Bauer was saying but the part recives it's ID from a different parameter than the glob_id. What command do I use to create the auto increase? Thanks.

Barry

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Frank Beister — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 06:45:39 GMT

Because objects can't store any changed values of their parameters outside of the settings dialog (into the plan/project e.g. by using PARAMETERS), it is not easy to do it with anything else than the increasing GLOB_ID.

But there are ways. Objects can't communicate between their instances, either. One working way would be "TEXT I/O"-Addon. Every object writes in a file its internal (!) (not GLOB_-) ID, beside your counting-number, which is unique for itself. The number to display will be increased after the last found in the file and will be saved into the file or will be read out of the file, if it's yet stored inside. But you have to move the datafile along with your PLN. In AC9 there's a statement you can add to an object, which declares files as part of the plan. In case of archiving these are added to the PLA. This is essential to keep the numbers 'alive'.

Someone here did a communication between placed objects by using GLOB_USER_xx, but I don't see a way to do it here.

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 12:13:37 GMT

Barry wrote:
Dan,

Thanks for the reply. I understand what Z.Bauer was saying but the part recives it's ID from a different parameter than the glob_id. What command do I use to create the auto increase? Thanks.

Barry

Barry,
In your Preferences/Miscellaneous... make sure you have the "Auto ID Increase" box checked. In the Drawing Block Title-NCS object make sure the "Set Drawing ID in Info Box" is set to "ON"...go to the Listing and Labeling fly out and set the "ID:" to whatever number you wish to start with (you can even set this ID to a number and a letter if you wish). Now as you place the object, the ID will increase by one each time you place it.

HTH,
Dan K

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 22:46:48 GMT

Check "Auto ID Increase" status as Den suggest and look at my 3 screeshots. I think all will be clear without comments.

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 22:48:53 GMT

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 22:50:32 GMT

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 02:28:08 GMT

Oops there is a bug 😉 in my attached 2nd screenshot.

The ID's must be shown all the same!
That's was the purport!

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Frank Beister — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 08:05:09 GMT

Hello Barry,

I attach a tiny GSM that shows how to count inside an external text file. Be aware, that the object generates a new textfile each time you change the filename. Without a path it will be saved in archicad projet folder (or DATA-folder there).

It's very tiny and has to be improved. There is no possibility for undo or get numbers in between.

It's written in AC7 so the FILE_DEPENDECE-statement is there, but not activated, because it's not allowed up to AC9. I limited the counting to 999, but you can change to any value your HD allows.

To identify the placed object and to assign it to the counter I use the GLOB_INTID, which is really unique. If you merge or copy these into another project file or use it inside a macro it will cause errors or wrong numbers I suppose.

So candle with hair. 😉

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Anonymous — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 23:40:49 GMT

Hello Barry,
Hallo Frank,

I have another version of "external counter".
So what's difference between mine's and Frank's?

Frank your script in general is well wrote, but in some cases AC9 hangs/crashes. I had not enough time to understand the problem!

"F. Beister" wrote:

...object generates a new textfile each time you change the filename. Without a path it will be saved in archicad projet folder (or DATA-folder there).

In my script if .txt file is not founded, then DIALOG appears where locate it. If you havn't created .txt file yet, then create new one (for example: "ProjectName+DBT_NCS Counter.txt") and open.

"F. Beister" wrote:

There is no possibility for undo or get numbers in between.

With mine's you have possibility to start from that point that you wish, but for do that you must open *.txt file and edit it. It's not very agreeable, but at the moment I have no idea how others it can be done using GDL.
I send you tomorrow "ReadMe.txt" file to explain how external file can/must be edited.

"F. Beister" wrote:

It's written in AC7

I wrote in AC9

"F. Beister" wrote:

I limited the counting to 999, but you can change to any value your HD allows.

I havn't added limitation, but maybe will add as uncommented script.

P.S.: The counting script is already integrated in to "Drawing Block Title_NCS.gsm"

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Frank Beister — Sun, 28 Aug 2005 10:26:28 GMT

Maybe I misunderstood your solution and I have to admit, that I don't have analyzed the "Drawing Block Title-NCS".

My conclusion was that there are two ways to increase a counting number by placing an object:

1. To use the global ID, which can to be used as an increasing numbering. This is built in and can be used with all elements, which can have an ID.

2. To script an increasing counter inside the GDL. This was asked for a few times here and in other talks. This is, as I mentioned before not so easy, because the several occurances of objects inside a project can't communicate in between to return the last, highest counter. For this you have to make the trick to do it outside the script and plan in a separate file.

Why to use solution 2 instead of 1? Because some users use the GLOB_ID as an Identifier for elements. E.g. "App.01" to group several elements (mixed walls, objets etc.) together. In this case the misusage of the GLOB_ID is a limitation of the normal workflow.

My object is a feasibility study. One can add a deleting of numbers, reset to a current value etc. as counting without limitation to it as you like without editing the txt-file. You know: It's GDL, all is possible. 😉

Easiest way is (1), counting by the auto increasing Identifier. But in the moment you want to increase letters (A,B,C...), or other steps (01,03,05...) or directions (10,9,8,...) you will have to make it this way. Wheras one could do this in GDL by using the GLOB_ID too.

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 00:12:35 GMT

Hello Frank,

I fully agree all what you say here. Ok, it's GDL, but not always is easy to script some wish, due to poor functions, globals, etc..
I have developed DBT_NCS a little bit more today. And have written ReadMe.txt for editing external counter text file.
Both files are ziped into one and attached here. But I would say that the object needs more development, because as you say and agree and have posted here as screenshots it's much more easier to use GLOB_ID as external file with GLOB_INTID. For example you wrote here about reset option, that my script hasn't, etc..
My wish is to find any way to script file, that will work like PM with Sheet/Drawing numbers.

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

LiHigh — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 02:28:47 GMT

Maybe you guys should have a look at this:
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=2714&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=sorenumber&&start=0

It's a little obj. making use of Data In/Out API......

Re: Sequential Automated Numbering

Frank Beister — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 06:19:08 GMT

I should have used the search button. For shure, Oleg gave us an example yet. I will have a look on it. Thanks for the hint.