materials number, editing the materials list, Object default

[Anonymous]

I am trying to create a master list of materials based on the CSI format. This list has about 300 materials. I would then like to change library parts to use these default materials.
1. When I open the part the materials are selected in the parameter based on the number of the material not the name. Therefore if the number of a material has changed in the aat file the Library part selects the incorrect material (i.e. the one with the new number)
2. There appears to be no way to edit the number of a material in the materials list. Materials are selected form the list alphabetically not numerically. There appears to be no way to insert a material into the list based on its numeric position in the aat file. It seems as though if you want to insert a new material after #10 then you have to retype the whole list form there on.

Am I missing something here?

Steve

[Anonymous]

Hi Steve,

I think we have similar problems. See my question rows below.
I think in theory if you define your materials in an object solves the problem since in this case you can reference a metrial by name.

I guess you also create your naterials visually ( modifing existing ones and adding textures to them). If we could savesomehow save the new matarials as GDL script wich consist the DEFINE MATERIAL we could use them in GDL script, and that would solve the problem.
The question is only if it is possibble or not?
Regards,
Balazs
p.s. : BTW what is CSI format ad what is it used for?

[Fabrizio Diodati]

Kedves Balasz,

I’m not sure I well understood your question but let me try to answer it in some way…

I used a workaround in order to solve this trouble on a little library I created in the past.
These collection of furniture had to use only those materials (I mean the factory materials!) which, of course, aren’t in the default ArchiCAD settings.
1. I created a master gdl script where I defined those material (quite simple!).
2. Instead of material type parameter (for handling the object material) I used a string type parameter
3. In the object parameter script I defined (using the VALUE statement) the range of material which could be used with that parameter (string parameters : string values)
4. Before the creation of the body I inserted a MATERIAL statement that used the string value
In this way, the user could select only those materials and the requested material are always automatically generated by the master gdl script…

If you need further detail on this issue (only if it is related with what you are looking for…) please don’t hesitate to directly contact me at my personal e-mail address.

baratsaggal
Fabrizio

[Anonymous]

Fabrizio,

That is a great trick. I'm not so sure I would call it a work-around since it appears to work very well and transparently to the user. I'll have to keep it in mind for my own library parts.

Thank you.