topic Re: Dynamic ID Coding of Building Elements in Archicad Python API

Dynamic ID Coding of Building Elements

Patrick Sherwood — Tue, 23 May 2023 14:32:25 GMT

Hi,

Is there a way to define the ID of 3D elements (walls, slabs etc.) with some of its own properties .
eg. Wall = [Composite Name] + [Fire Rating] + [STC].

All of these have been defined, so would like a way to automate this rather than selecting all walls and changing manually.

Have tried the Element ID Manager but seems to only work to increment walls individually/or part of group and doesn't seem able to dynamically create IDs.

Thanks

Re: Dynamic ID Coding of Building Elements

poco2013 — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 21:24:28 GMT

AFAIK - This is not possible with the "built in"tools in Archicad. You could create a new property using a expression which would create the new Id, but you could not overwrite the "element ID" property which I believe is your intent.

There are a few alternatives.

You could export a schedule to excel. Create a macro there to overwrite the Element ID field then re import into Archicad.

You could create a C++ AddOn to directly overwrite the "element ID"

Or the easiest, most straight forward way would be to create and use a Python script. The script would involve only a few lines of code and would offer the most control over the logic, filtering and formatting.

Re: Dynamic ID Coding of Building Elements

Sebastian Monroe — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 00:18:17 GMT

I would like to know how this python script would be written. I am also interested in writing specific information to the elementID field.

Re: Dynamic ID Coding of Building Elements

SenecaDesignLLC — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 03:00:55 GMT

Does the element id manager not do what you are after?

Re: Dynamic ID Coding of Building Elements

poco2013 — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 23:48:21 GMT

I make a short Demo video to show a Python script to accomplish this.

Convert Element ID to new title based on three properties of the element

Attach is the script. Leave a comment if you have further questions.

Re: Dynamic ID Coding of Building Elements

_c_ — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 04:51:55 GMT

Hello Gerry, many thanks for your very useful example.

Here I attach a variant avoiding the extra modules. Also there was a missing property (we are on the German AC) causing error.

This might be useful to others.

Re: Dynamic ID Coding of Building Elements

JaredBanks — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 02:01:09 GMT

The video is set to private, I'd love to see it.

Re: Dynamic ID Coding of Building Elements

poco2013 — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 02:27:00 GMT

Try it now?

Re: Dynamic ID Coding of Building Elements

JaredBanks — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 02:35:44 GMT

Thanks. It works now.

Re: Dynamic ID Coding of Building Elements

MERLO — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 13:16:30 GMT

Hello is this still possible ? I'm starting with this Python API, but i'm unable to see the video :(.