Default Localized Template -vs- New and Reset All

[Jeff Griffin]

I’m in the process of scrutinizing my own template and updating it to take advantage of lib packs. While I’m at it, I would like to align my attributes and index numbers with the “default” attributes and index numbers. Over the years my template has strayed greatly from the OOTB (out of the box) USA template. I suspect it’s been migrated release after release, originating around AC12 or earlier, so it’s probably long overdue for an overhaul.

I’ve been studying the latest USA template and how it is configured, since I'm especially interested in attributes and their index numbers.

My question is this. Theoretically, what is the benefit of the “New and Reset All” function accessed from File > New > New & Reset All (accessed by pressing the option key)?

I took the latest USA template and compared it to the file created after “New and Reset All” and noticed that even the USA template doesn’t align with the resulting file created by "New & Reset All". I went into Attribute Manager in both PLNs and exported the attributes and index numbers as .txt files, uploaded them to Claude for AI evaluation, and here’s the result, shown in blue text below. All this being considered, why would anyone use "New and Reset All"? I don't understand the purpose, especially if it's going to create a file that deviates this greatly from the index numbers in the localized template.  I understand that each localization has their own CAD/BIM Standard, but even so, I'm struggling to understand "New and Reset All" and I'd appreciate any insight I could gain on this subject.

Thank you!

Here's a detailed comparison of the two files, which appear to be Archicad attribute exports from two different templates:

---

## Overall Structure
Both files contain the same **types** of attributes (Layers, Layer Combinations, Pen Sets, Line Types, Fill Types, Surfaces, Building Materials, Composites, Profiles, Zone Categories, MEP Systems, Operation Profiles). However, they differ significantly in naming philosophy, index numbering, and content depth.

---

## 🔢 Index Numbering — The Key Difference

### Layers
| | New_and_Reset | USA_Test |
|---|---|---|
| Count | 44 layers | 89 layers |
| Index range | 1–61, **with gaps** (e.g., skips 8–11, 13, 15, 17–18…) | 1–89, **fully sequential, no gaps** |

The gaps in **New_and_Reset** are a telltale sign that layers were **deleted at some point** after the template was created — the indices were assigned originally but the entries were removed, leaving holes. **USA_Test** starts clean with no deletions.

### Layer Names & Convention
- **New_and_Reset** uses freeform descriptive names: `Interior - Partition`, `Shell - Roof`, `MEP - HVAC`
- **USA_Test** uses a strict discipline prefix system: `A -` (Architectural), `G -` (General), `L -` (Landscape/Site), `S -` (Structural), `MEP -` — and further sub-categorizes with `.2D` or `.3D` suffixes (e.g., `A - Annotations - Dimensions.2D`, `A - Walls - Exterior.3D`)

### Layer Combinations
- **New_and_Reset**: 10 combinations, indices 1, 3–5, 7–8, 10–11, 14, 16 — gaps present
- **USA_Test**: 17 combinations, indices 2–7, 9–10, 12–18, 20–22, 24–27 — index 1 is absent (starts at 2), and index 1 in New_and_Reset (`02 Drafting`) has no equivalent

### Pen Sets — Dramatic Difference
- **New_and_Reset**: 9 pen sets with scattered indices (4, 5, 7–11, 13, 23) — heavily gapped, suggesting many were deleted
- **USA_Test**: Only **2 pen sets**, both sequentially numbered (1, 2): `GSNA Archicad View Pens` and `GSNA Archicad Layout Pens` — a much leaner, purpose-built setup

### MEP Systems — Most Striking Index Difference
| | New_and_Reset | USA_Test |
|---|---|---|
| Indices | `2000000000` through `2000000011` | `1` through `15` |

**New_and_Reset** uses Archicad's internal auto-generated IDs (the large `2000000000+` numbers), which is what happens when MEP systems are created fresh in a project without a clean template. **USA_Test** has been deliberately re-indexed to clean sequential numbers starting at 1. USA_Test also has 3 additional systems: `Gas`, `Smoke`, and `Sprinkler`.

---

## 📋 Content & Naming Style

### Line Types
- **New_and_Reset**: 25 types — names like `Dotted Dense`, `Slash Double`, `Zigzag Big`
- **USA_Test**: 50 types — reformatted names with hyphens (`Dotted - Dense`, `Slash - Double`), plus 25 additional MEP/engineering types (`Fire Resistive - Rated 1–4 Hour`, `Gas`, `Sanitary Sewer - Above/Below Floor`, `Water Line - Cold/Hot`, etc.)

### Fill Types
- **New_and_Reset**: Generic/international fills (e.g., `Common Brick`, `Masonry Block`, `Lightweight Concrete`)
- **USA_Test**: US standard fills with explicit structural classification (e.g., `Masonry - Non Structural - Cut Fill`, `Masonry - Structural - Cut Fill`, `Block - Concrete`, `Concrete - Precast`)

### Building Materials
- **New_and_Reset**: European/metric naming (60 materials, gap at index 55)
- **USA_Test**: US-standard naming (73 materials), e.g., `Wood - OSB`, `Wood - Pressure Treated`, `Metal - Framing - Insulation`, `Gypsum Greenboard`, `Tile - Ceiling - Acoustical - 2x2`

### Composites
- **New_and_Reset**: Generic metric descriptions, e.g., `100 Block Insulated Cavity Plastered`, `Stud Partition`
- **USA_Test**: US imperial with type codes, e.g., `Wall - Wood 3 1/2" - Gypsum - Gypsum : W07`, `Roof - Wood 5 1/2" + OSB 3/4" - Tile : R03`

### Zone Categories
- **New_and_Reset**: European/ISO program categories (e.g., `Medical Treatment`, `Communication & Access`, `Production & Research`) — index 7 missing (deleted)
- **USA_Test**: **US IBC occupancy classifications** (e.g., `Conditioned Space`, `Assembly`, `Business`, `High Hazard`, `Mercantile`)

---

## ✅ What's Identical
The **Operation Profiles** section (indices 1–33) is **completely identical** in both files — same names, same order, same indices.

---

## Summary
| Aspect | New_and_Reset | USA_Test |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Generic/European template | US (GSNA) localized template |
| Index health | Gaps throughout (deletions evident) | Clean sequential numbering |
| MEP indices | Auto-generated (`2000000000+`) | Manually reset (1–15) |
| Naming style | Freeform descriptive | Structured with prefixes & type codes |
| Pen sets | 9, heavily fragmented | 2, streamlined |
| Layer discipline | Category-based | Discipline + dimension suffix (`.2D`/`.3D`) |
| Standards | Metric/ISO | Imperial/IBC |

In short, **New_and_Reset** shows signs of an older or edited template with index fragmentation, while **USA_Test** is a purpose-built US localization with clean sequential indices and AIA/IBC-aligned naming conventions.

[Laszlo Nagy · Accepted solution]

Looks to me like the New & Reset command results in an attribute set that is the same for all localized languages. Of course, names are translated to each localization, but attribute indices and attribute definitions are the same for all languages, if I am not mistaken. I just tried New & Reset in both INT and HUN Archicad 29 versions and I have the same attributes your post describes for New & Reset; for example, I have the same 9 Pen Sets, with the same index numbers (23 is the last one), which makes me think this is some kind of built-in attribute set in all versions.

My guess as to why these names and why the gaps in index numbers: maybe this attribute set is very old and has been kept as it is for legacy and compatibility reasons.

But to get to the point of your question: I would say that the USA Template is probably much closer to what you want to achieve, so I would take that and make the necessary modifications to create your new up-to-date template. Even though your template differs greatly from the USA template, it probably differs even more greatly from the New & Reset template.

[Jeff Griffin]

Got it. Thanks Laszlo! 

Aside from what you wrote, and this Knowledge Base entry, my takeaway is that "New and Reset All" is solely for diagnostic purposes, and not a suitable method for setting a baseline for a new company template.