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Add ability to access Classification Description in parameters (and get a free Keynoting solution)

Professor Pickle
Advocate
It is possible to access Classification ID and Name fields within parameters. This is especially powerful when combined with expression based parameters. However, there doesn't seem to be a way to access the Description field of classification items, even though each item has a description.

If we were able to access the description field then we'd have a very powerful, built-in and general purpose hierarchical data editor for ArchiCAD. You could use this feature as a keynote editor for example. Here is how:

- Open Classification Manager.
- Create a new classification and call it Keynotes.
- Create branches and items that describe your keynotes. Each node would have a key (= classification ID), a name (= classification name) and a description (= classification description).
- Add the Keynotes classification to elements and use the dropdown menu to assign the desired classification (i.e. keynote)
- Use the Classification/Property label to display the desired combination of key (i.e. classification ID), note (i.e. classification name) and specific description.

In my opinion this would be a very elegant way to allow users to attach all sorts of hierarchical data to model elements. It wouldn't rely on any 3rd party add-ons. It would be a pure ArchiCAD solution. But first we need to access the description field. Please consider this.
Pushing the boundaries of local time/space continuum since 1972.
Archicad 26 | iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017) | 4.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 | 24 GB | Radeon Pro 580 8 GB | macOS 12.6


41 REPLIES 41
Eduardo Rolon
Moderator
Then I am at a complete loss understanding what you want, why you want to do it and why you are wishing for this.
You don’t have to recreate the Classification if it is already done nor do you have to write any properties. You just need to create the schedule and assigned the classification to the objects as needed.
Eduardo Rolón AIA NCARB
AC27 US/INT -> AC08

Macbook Pro M1 Max 64GB ram, OS X 10.XX latest
another Moderator

abdelaziz
Expert
Hi
Tomek Piatek's option is extremely important to make the graphical detail book, I totally agree with him
- instead of developing a whole system of keynote or expression, with a multitude of property that we used what for the description, I prefer that the label tool is able to recover the descrition from the classification, and it remains totally logical
AMD Ryzen 5950x
AMD RX 6750xt
AC27
Eduardo Rolon
Moderator
And I have been answering multiple in the thread you can already do this and you have 2 options to do it. The recommended one and a workaround.
AFAIK the last problem with TP was that he didn’t want to spend the time writing his “custom” classification.
Eduardo Rolón AIA NCARB
AC27 US/INT -> AC08

Macbook Pro M1 Max 64GB ram, OS X 10.XX latest
another Moderator

Professor Pickle
Advocate
You are incorrect. The specific feature I asked for does not exist. I am certain of it and that’s why I asked for it. I believe that the implementation would be simple and deliver great benefit.

I also don’t mind putting in the hard work to achieve the desired outcome. I do mind wasting time on workarounds that don’t get me what I actually need.

Last, I find the general attitudes towards new suggestions on this forum very strange. My impression is that there is a group of very experienced and longtime users here who just don’t want anything to change in AC and they actively resist new ideas. It feels more like a victim support group than a software wishlist forum. If this forum is not the right place to ask for new features then kindly let me know where else I can do that and I won’t bother posting here any more.

All the best.
Pushing the boundaries of local time/space continuum since 1972.
Archicad 26 | iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017) | 4.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 | 24 GB | Radeon Pro 580 8 GB | macOS 12.6


Eduardo Rolon
Moderator
Actually I need to stop you with the comment about experienced users and not wanting to change AC, we are not against new ideas nor we want to victimize any users. In this specific case I just wanted you to not waste your time waiting for a wish and show you a way to do what you wanted right now.

Anyway it looks like I keep misunderstanding what you want to do.

- You want for labels to show info from Classifications. I showed you an option to do this
- You want an option to organize data by groups and I showed examples of how to do it.
- For both options I indicated, based on my experience, where you should spend your effort and time while indicating the recommended one based on doing this type of procedure since way before classifications and properties existed. I was in this position with AC08 in 2005?
- for the XML import you just need to configure a Schedule, export and copy/paste from your XML file or use BBedit to edit it.
——
On another note:
From my side of the keyboard (writing with no malice or angry or trying to shoot you down) this looks like “new user” that generalizes a wish, doesn’t like the answer and then attacks the messenger.
My position is that this wish is unnecessary since this can be done with existing tools I tried to help you out and show you workflows how instead of just voting “not necessary” and moving on.
Looks like this is not satisfactory and that you feel I insulted you, sorry that you feel that way it was not my intention.
Moving on.
Eduardo Rolón AIA NCARB
AC27 US/INT -> AC08

Macbook Pro M1 Max 64GB ram, OS X 10.XX latest
another Moderator

jl_lt
Ace
Hi, so, what is the conclussion here? what i get from all this (im still getting my head around the necesary steps described by both Mr. Tomek and Mr. Ejrolon) is that we can actually use the classification system as labels for objects, is that right?
Professor Pickle
Advocate
Yes we can use the classification system as labels for objects but we can't access the description field of the classification. This limitation reduces the usefulness of this technique.
Pushing the boundaries of local time/space continuum since 1972.
Archicad 26 | iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017) | 4.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 | 24 GB | Radeon Pro 580 8 GB | macOS 12.6


DGSketcher
Legend
I can see how accessing the Classification Description could be useful under some set ups, but I think the intention of GS is we then drill down and reference element properties opening up the possibility of element specific descriptions. For example properties can provide a general description for a beam, and also enhance that description with size, finish etc. I guess it depends on how you manage the variables in your drawings either automatically or you add to a label manually or even just dimension the element if size is the only variable.
Apple iMac Intel i9 / macOS Sonoma / AC27UKI (most recent builds.. if they work)
Professor Pickle
Advocate
If anyone from GS is reading this, this feature would be really easy to implement. I know that everyone wants their requests to be implemented above other people's, but this one seems both easy to implement and really useful to the wider audience. Please consider it.
Pushing the boundaries of local time/space continuum since 1972.
Archicad 26 | iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017) | 4.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 | 24 GB | Radeon Pro 580 8 GB | macOS 12.6


jl_lt
Ace
Personally, before transitioning into Archicad, we did all our keynotes manually, from a big list of specifications and adding them to drawings, with its proper number reference, which is the opposite of automatic, but it worked.
I think what Mr. Tomek suggest is easy to implement because, as many things with Archicad, its actually already there, and it would provide a platform to add our notes at our will selecting from a premade list. For my office, it would be great.

But on the other hand, i also suspect what Mr. Sketcher says, that is, GS actually doesnt want us to do that, as they want us to extract everything from the model, which is a very noble goal we should all aspire to, but is not always feasible.