Can Elements be linked to combination of Design Options?

[alexliz]

I am developing various options for this client. It's a small conversion of an existing building.

Some elements must be visible only with option 1 or 2 on one design aspect. But...

..on another design aspect, they must be visible only with option A or B.

So, basically, there are four different options derived from the matrix:

A1, A2, B1, and B2.

Each element which is not on the Main Model design option must only be visible when *both* its design options are visible.

Currently, on AC28, it seems that if one of the two options to which the element is linked is visible, then it will show in the plan, even if the 2nd option it is linked to is not visible. This is not good for me.

Am I trying to accomplish something that this version can't handle? Or am I missing something in my Design Options setup?

Thanks.

[Barry Kelly]

You control what design options are visible.

So create A1 & A2 and also A3 that has the elements that show when both A1 & A2 are chosen.

Then when you have a design option to show A1 & A2 together, you also activate A3.

If you only have A1 or A2, then you do not show A3.

Barry.

[alexliz]

Thanks Barry.

I think the problem is that I had imagined that Archicad treated what I see in the Option Status field in Classification and Properties tab of the element's settings as if asking which combination of options must be active for the element to be shown:

But I now understand that the active options in there are not really what you want the element to be linked to; they are merely what is currently active in the plan view. And even though I can enable them from inside the element's settings dialog (above), all I am doing is making them visible/invisible once I close out of the settings dialog box. Not that I am 'linking' the element to a combination of these options...

Poor interface, I think.

TL;DR It becomes clear that an element can only be linked with *ONE* option only. 

Which means I have to break down every single permutation of the matrix of options, and create linear options for every single combination.

Not really helpful but it is what it is, I guess.

[nonpertutti]

Hi, I have the same need quite often. A few time ago I posted this wish on the forum. Check on it and see if it is what you also look for.

Maybe you can support it by voting or the thing may be merged in just one desire.

Here the link: https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Wishlist/Support-for-Hierarchical-Sub-Variants-in-Design-Options... 

[Ignacio Azpiazu]

It works very much like layers –you assign the element to one layer only, and that layer can show in as many layer combinations as you want (you don't assign elements to more than one layer, nor to one or more layer combinations). You link layer/design option combination to views through View Settings, which are independent of whatever the screen shows (during work you can manually turn design options on and off, and the screen options/Quick Options will then show a “Custom” Design Option Combination; just as with layer combinations, normally you don't want “Custom” frozen into views, but would rather create specific Design Option Combinations). 

I think the design options implementation has been pretty awesome, life-changing. 

[Probably known,  just in case: it is best to have layout-etc. views showing a “Selected Options” Combination, which turns on and off the desired Design Options in the sets as needed por presentation purposes, as the design evolves. For screen or document presentation purposes you can duplicate view folders and modify only the Design Option Combination assigned to them; seconds.]

[nonpertutti]

I am a big fan of Design Options and I am using them for many purposes, even other than choosing among different designs. However, I feel I need to organize my file in a more structured way. Managing something secondary such as, let say, the position of various pieces of furniture in many different layout options gets painful. I can’t proliferate options or keep in mind complicated schemes and combinations. A design software should help making thins easier and keep the mind clear.

A hierarchy would make things easy instead. Or a tag system? I’d prefer the first.

On the other hand, we have a hierarchy on layers as well (another life changing for me when introduced) if we really want to make the comparison.