topic Re: Automatization of external WORD documentation in Collaboration with other software

Automatization of external WORD documentation

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 11:57:52 GMT

Hi everyone,

I was curious if there is any method by which I could link project info from my .pln file to a .doc file so that things like: surface areas, client info, site ID, etc. would be automatically filled in the .doc files that are describing the project. You know, that tedious final part of any project in which you have to describe everything in like 60 pages or so.

My current method is to open an old document, modify the text so that it fits my project and then cross my fingers hoping that i didn't miss anything. ))

Now, I know that there are very low chances of finding sth like this even in plug-ins, but even if there is no such thing out there yet, does anyone have an idea about how such a plug-in could be made?

Re: Automatization of external WORD documentation

Laszlo Nagy — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 16:19:02 GMT

Well, I know that Element Properties can be exported to an Excel file ("File\Interoperability\Classification and Properties\Export Property Values from Schedule" menu command).
There are lots of Property Expressions using which you can generate many different kinds of Property values.
I was wondering if there is any way for you to read the contents of Excel cells from Word, Word and Excel both being MS Office applications, and insert them into your Word document?

Please, if you go ahead with this route and do it successfully, report back with your findings, I would be curious about the results.

Re: Automatization of external WORD documentation

poco2013 — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 00:20:15 GMT

AFAIK -- What you are asking is not possible now within Archicad. However, with the API, you can certainly read a CSV file and write out to a txt file both of which can be imported/exported into word..

BTW - you might want to learn Python

Re: Automatization of external WORD documentation

Erwin Edel — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 13:04:13 GMT

Depending on your country, there may be a direct link to software for specifications and conditions.

We have a dedicated 'word processor' software for this following national standards and there is the option to generate a first draft based on archicad model.

Though, we generally use 'reference' specs from previous projects to generate a new document of specs instead, as this is a lot faster.

Edit: just for consideration, I would say a typical 800-1.500 m³ home has about 40 hours or more worth of work going into creating proper specifications. This more than justifies having specialised software for us (3000+ euro of work for a single project v.s. maybe 1.500 euro software). I would shudder to think how long it would take to do this in word.

Re: Automatization of external WORD documentation

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 22:55:59 GMT

You can also use list schemes to define standard 1st page and consecutive pages format, of the document. Then make a database where the keys will be the chapters-sections of the document. Make descriptors for each paragraph in a single property object. Make form , one header 2 columns-> chapter number (full keycode), chapter description (keyname) and one total 2 columns --> paragraph code (descriptor code), paragraph description (full text).

In the components tab in the list settings dialog select only the database that will be used to fill up the form

In the properties and parameters tab in the list settings dialog select all descriptors none components.

for descriptor select full keycode, keyname, descriptor code, full text.

make a single property object and apply by criteria to all types.

Make in the property object a descriptor for each paragraph.
You can use project info autotexts in the cells of the document form or even inside descriptors.

The key structure can be broken to 4 levels these are enough to define the contents of most books
If you want to make a key show its title but not to have descriptor under it, use empty descriptors.

ioannis