topic Re: Length Units in the Component Database in Collaboration with other software

Length Units in the Component Database

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:09:19 GMT

I am actually trying to use the quantity calculation features on some large projects and have run into a snag I can't figure out.

Creating linear components in the database I have set the unit to lineal feet and the Reference Quantity to "Length". I would assume that it would calculate the quantities per lineal foot but instead its interpreting the values as per lineal inch and I am getting 12 times the amount that it should be.

I realize that I can force it to work by setting my quantities per inch but this offends my sense of what is good and proper (0.0625 studs per lineal inch? yuck!) and I would really like to make it right. Unfortunately the manual seems to be mum on the subject.

Anybody know how to set the Reference Quantity units?

BTW: I have Eric Wilk's excellent book on the subject unfortunately it is in a box in the garage up at the country house (we just moved) so I can't look this up easily.

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Rick Thompson — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:23:52 GMT

Change unit to pieces, that might do it. There should be a pre-defined component in your data base all set up. See screen shot. However, I might have made this, I don't remember. I use 1 stud per foot, as I was taught in the early 70's, for 16" oc take offs. That pretty much takes care of the corners and jack studs. If you are literally wanting one stud per 16", then that is probably a different story. I try to keep it simple and not think too much, that hurts.

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:49:53 GMT

Thanks for the reply, but my problem is that whether I use pieces or lineal feet it is calculating the length based on one inch units. In other words to get 1 stud every 16" I have to set my quantity as 0.0625 studs per length unit (inch) and the plates at 0.0833 ln ft per inch. There has to be a setting somewhere in this clutter of dialogs to change this but I am at a loss so far to figure it out.

BTW: We are calculating actual quantities of installed components with kings, jacks, sills and headers associated with the doors and interior glazing (exterior walls are different systems). The QS guys will be taking care of waste factors etc. We probably will be putting in sound blankets, screws, tape, joint compound etc. And that's just the walls. We'll be quantifying everything on this one. I don't think we'll be going so far as to calculate the hanger wires for the ceilings but then again, we'll see.

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Rick Thompson — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:18:39 GMT

I think you might have inches selected under Project Preferences > calculation Units. I just went in and changed mine to inches and the studs for a wall went from 16 to 198. So.....

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:08:08 GMT

Rick wrote:
Change unit to pieces, that might do it. There should be a pre-defined component in your data base all set up. See screen shot. However, I might have made this, I don't remember. I use 1 stud per foot, as I was taught in the early 70's, for 16" oc take offs. That pretty much takes care of the corners and jack studs. If you are literally wanting one stud per 16", then that is probably a different story. I try to keep it simple and not think too much, that hurts.

I'm trying to get a handle on this thing as well. I've got mine set up like this but I'm coming out with 7 studs in a 2' wall. Any ideas what I might have wrong? My calculations option is set to feet, not inches. Does the script have to be changed?

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Rick Thompson — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:17:53 GMT

My guess (important qualifier) is the multiplier is wrong (quantity) or the unit is not set to pieces?. I'll attach a screen shot and maybe you will see something.

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:58:55 GMT

I think I'm going wrong somewhere else......could I see a screenshot of the property script of the ext. wall to which you're linking?

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Rick Thompson — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:06:38 GMT

That was actually an interior wall, but here is a shot of both.

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:22:05 GMT

OK......but what I was wanting to see is what, if anything, is in the window that opens when you hit the "property script" button.

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:35:48 GMT

Also....why are the quantities on sheetrock and sheathing only .03?

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Karl Ottenstein — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:54:54 GMT

Wrathchild,

This is perhaps slightly off topic, but this old post might be of interest regarding property scripts:

http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=3814#3814

Cheers,
Karl

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:04:27 GMT

Karl wrote:
Wrathchild,

This is perhaps slightly off topic, but this old post might be of interest regarding property scripts:

http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=3814#3814

Cheers,
Karl

I'll take a look at that link. I think my problem was that I was using a wall shipped with AC that had a bunch of script already in it. Then I added components and was trying to make the two work together......I was making it harder than it needed to be because apparently the script in the wall I was using was sorta standalone and wasn't meant to go with added components. At any rate, I took all that script out and after futzing around with some of the quantity numbers in the database I'm getting the results I want.

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:18:16 GMT

I see where the .03 for 4x8 sheets comes from too.

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Rick Thompson — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:42:05 GMT

They are all just components.. nothing under Property Script (it's blank). All I have ever done is under Components, select "New">>> Then "Link to Database Item"... done. The .03 is the 'Quantity" factor that is defined in the Database. I used what was default (for that one anyway) and it does work. An 8' interior wall 9' hight yields 4.466 sheets. I try to not understand too much, as long as it works.

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Karl Ottenstein — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:01:59 GMT

Rick wrote:
I try to not understand too much, as long as it works.

That's got to be a T-shirt! 😉

Karl

Re: Length Units in the Component Database

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:47:42 GMT

Rick wrote:
I try to not understand too much, as long as it works.

Lucky man! I like your philosophy. 🙂