LINE ATTRIBUTE ORDER

[Anonymous]

I have not been able to find a way to re-order the lines in my lines pallet. Meaning, I want to place similar lines by name next to each other. For some reason, when you create a new line type, ArchiCAD just places it in some random order in the list. Seems odd we cannot re-order them alphabetically or by type of line. Or maybe we can, but I am missing how that is done.

If we cannot do that, would like to see this added in in the future!

[Laszlo Nagy]

Yes, this is an issue that has been brought up about the Line Palette. Currently, Lines are divided into 3 groups in the Palette:
1) Solid Lines (by default there is only 1, but sometimes more are created when elements are brought into the project file)
2) Dashed Lines
3) Symbol Lines.

Within these groups, Line Types are displayed in the order of their Attribute Index Number. If you go to the Attribute Manager, you will be able to see the Attribute Index Number for each attribute type such as Line Types. Normally, when you create a new Attribute, it will be given an Index Number that is 1 higher than the highest currently existing Index Number. This of course causes it to be always listed last in the list of Line Types within its Line Type Group.

There is one thing you can do if you have Archicad 24. Archicad 24 offers the "Reindex" command in the Attribute Manager using which you can change the Index Number of an Attribute to any other Index Number that is not occupied by another Attribute of the same type.

Another way I can think of if you have many attributes to rearrange is to export all line types to an XML file, and possibly make the index number modifications there (it is probably faster in an XML Editor), then import the result back into the Project. I tried and it works for me. In the attached screenshot, I have deleted the Line Type with attribute index 5, and created a new Line Type called "Tiny Dashed" (it was given index number 26). Then I exported all Line Types to an XML and modified the index number of "Dense Dotted "from 2 to 5, and "Tiny Dashed" from 26 to 2. As you can see on the screenshot, the index number needs to modified at two different places for each line type attribute.


And now, if I show the Line Type Palette, the Tiny Dashed line type (attribute index: 2) is shown in the list immediately after the Solid Line, while the Dense Dotted line type (attribute index: 5) is now shown in fifth place.

[David Shorter]

or you can reorder this way which saves hacking the attribute file


interesting to note that the menu still puts the Solid Line first then the others in alphabetical order

[Laszlo Nagy]

Cool method David. I did not think of that.

I think the reason the Solid line cannot be moved is that you always have to have at least 1 line type, and that is the "Solid" line type (just like you always have to have the "Archicad" Layer, which can never be deleted).

[Nader Belal]

Here are my two cents,

@Lazlo, I tried your method, but it didn't work out with me, may be there was something I was missing out, but there is also another issue, which boils down what if someone made the error of assigning the same index number to two different line types.

@David Shorter, your method works better, but in case in case you need ArchiCAD's lines' indices be concurrent with ISO 128-20 for the first 15 line types you will have to play arround with steps 5 & 6 multiple times.

[David Shorter]

You can change the order by changing the name of the Linetype
or simply put the Index you want in front of the Linetype name (starting at 1)