Control door orientation text in Archicad Schedules with Properties

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In Archicad, Schedules typically read door opening orientation directly from element parameters, which limits the level of control over how this information is displayed. For double‑leaf doors, the default “R” or “L” orientation label can be misleading or simply not applicable.

This article presents a workflow based on Element Properties and an expression to customize the orientation text field in Door and Window Schedules. The solution describes how a Boolean Property and a String Property can be combined so that double‑leaf doors display “NA” as orientation, while single‑leaf doors keep their original “R/L” notation.

Archicad Properties overview

Archicad Properties are optional, user‑defined data fields that can be assigned to elements or Building Materials to store additional, searchable information. They are created and managed in the Property Manager and their availability depends on the Classification of each element or material.

Typical Property data types include String, Number, Integer, Area, Length, Angle, Volume, True/False, Tags List, and Option Set, which provide flexibility for different documentation needs. In this workflow, a True/False Property is used to mark double‑leaf doors and a String Property with an expression is used to control the orientation text shown in the Schedule.

Solution

Step 1 – Create a Boolean Property for double‑leaf doors

• Open Property Manager from the Options menu.

• Create a Property group if needed.

• Create a new Property called Double Leaf Door with True/False data type.

• Set its availability for Doors (and optionally Windows) based on the relevant Classifications.

• Set the default value of Double Leaf Door to false so elements behave as single‑leaf by default.

Step 2 – Create a conditional orientation Property

• In Property Manager, create a new Property such as Door/Window Orientation with String data type.

• Enable an expression for this Property and enter a conditional formula similar to:
  IF ( {Property:Tip of the Month/Double Leaf Door} = TRUE; "NA"; {Property:Window\/Door/Orientation} )

• Ensure that the expression references the correct Property group and the existing Orientation parameter of the Door/Window tool.

• Make this Property available for Doors (and Windows if used in the same Schedule).

With this configuration, the Property returns “NA” when Double Leaf Door is set to true and otherwise passes through the original “R/L” orientation value.

Step 3 – Mark double‑leaf doors in element settings

• Open Door Selection Settings for each door type that should be treated as double‑leaf.

• Locate the Double Leaf Door Property in the Properties panel.

• Set its value to true for these doors so they are recognized by the expression in the Schedule.

Step 4 – Use the custom Property in the Schedule

• Open the Door or Door/Window Schedule Scheme Settings.

• In the Fields list, remove the default Orientation field if it is no longer needed, or leave it only for comparison.

• Add the Door/Window Orientation Property as a field in the Schedule.

• Adjust the column header and position as required and update the Schedule view.

After regeneration, double‑leaf doors marked with Double Leaf Door = true will display “NA” in the orientation column, while single‑leaf doors continue to show “R” or “L”.

Result

By introducing a Boolean Property to identify double‑leaf doors and a String Property with a conditional expression, door orientation text in Schedules becomes more accurate and easier to control. Double‑leaf doors display “NA” instead of a potentially misleading “R/L” label, while single‑leaf doors keep their standard orientation values.

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These techniques were originally shared by Community members, @Ricardo Lopez and @Barry Kelly. If you’d like to explore the original discussion, click here to read the full thread!

This article is part of the ‘Tip of the Month’ series on Graphisoft Insights, highlighting valuable community-driven solutions for modeling challenges. Try these methods in your next project and experience the difference in model quality and efficiency.