Creating a cutting list using Calculation

[Hubert Wagner]

Hello:
Given five beams: 3 at 93 cm and 2 at 186 cm long.

Using Calculation I can list the materials as individual items like this:

Post ID Section Height Length

beam-01 10.0 5.0 93.0
beam-01 10.0 5.0 93.0
beam-01 10.0 5.0 93.0
beam-02 10.0 5.0 186.0
beam-02 10.0 5.0 186.0
651.0

Or by grouping similar items like this:

Post ID Section Height Length

3 beam-01 10.0 5.0 279.0
2 beam-02 10.0 5.0 372.0
651.0

Is there a way to list them like this:

Post ID Section Height Length
3 beam-01 10.0 5.0 93.0
2 beam-02 10.0 5.0 186.0
651.0

I've tried Interactive Scheduling with less success.

DW

[Karl Ottenstein]

Douglas wrote:
Given five beams: 3 at 93 cm and 2 at 186 cm long....
Is there a way to list them like this:

	Post ID   	          Section        Height     Length      
       3  	beam-01           10.0            5.0         93.0
       2   	beam-02           10.0            5.0         186.0
						                    651.0

Not with the I.S. ... didn't look at list schemes to verify there.

I believe your example exposes an I.S. bug, which I'll report to GS.

If I list the fields in the conventional order that you have, the lengths are added, and I get 5 beams and the total length for all of them. The only way to group similar items and NOT have all of the lengths added, is to use the "Use first parameters as subtitle" checkmark ... which in Microsoft Access terms, means to group by that field. (Lengths within a group would still be added ... workaround coming up.)

If you look at the attached screenshot, you'll see that I've asked to group on the length of the beam ... which means that I should have gotten two groups - one for the 93 cm beams and one for th 186 cm ones. But, you'll see that there is a single 'subtitle' of '93', yet all 5 beams are included below that. A definite bug IMHO.

OK. So we can't get close with the I.S. doing the arithmetic/grouping. The alternative is to export a single line for each beam and to let an external program handle the grouping to generate the list that you want. In the General tab of the I.S., select "List All Items" to get this result. (I would prefer it if this button read "List items individually". The other button - 'List Item Types Only" - should IMHO read "Group similar items". But, hey, they didn't ask me. 😉 )

Given the list of individual beams obtained here (or with a calc list), save as a CSV or Excel, open in Access or Filemaker as a table, and generate a query and/or report that generates the information the way you want to see it. [I'm not saying we shouldn't be able to get your list here! We should. Just can't AFAIK with the current implementation of I.S.)

HTH,
Karl

[Hubert Wagner]

Hello Karl:

Thanks for your response.

In view of Graphisoft's aim, that AC allows the designer to create a virtual building, I'm surprised a feature as fundamental to the construction of a building as a cutting list has been overlooked.

However, AC is first class building design sortware rather than a database. So I expect this feature will be added sooner or later.

In the mean time, I think your suggestion that I export the raw data to a database is sound. (The process could even be automated when Graphisoft makes ArchiCad Applescriptable).

DW

[Ralph Wessel]

Douglas wrote:
In view of Graphisoft's aim, that AC allows the designer to create a virtual building, I'm surprised a feature as fundamental to the construction of a building as a cutting list has been overlooked.

Take a look at FrameWright Pro for generating cutting lists too: http://www.encina.co.uk/framewright_pro.html
You can view some of the scheduling information at: http://www.encina.co.uk/timber_schedule.html