Yes, that would be a good next step.
At the moment it is not possible to get the surface of an element (e.g. a Wall) that is the boundary surface of a given Zone.
We would probably need two new Zone listing parameters:
1. Boundary Surface Area
2. Element of Boundary Surface
1. would list the total surface areas of each different Surfaces found on the boundaries of a given Zone.
2. would list the element a given surface belongs to.
So if only 1. would be listed for a zone you would get something like this (individual areas of the various surfaces on the boundary elements of a given Zone):
zone001
laminate, gray – N m2
painted, white – N m2
painted, green N m2
paneling, gray – N m2
However, if you listed both 1. and 2. you would get this (surfaces listed by element):
zone001
floor: laminate, gray – N m2
wall1: painted, white – N m2, painted, green N m2
wall2: painted, white – N m2, painted, green N m2
wall3: painted, white – N m2, painted, green N m2
wall4: painted, white – N m2, painted, green N m2
Ceiling: Paneling, gray – N m2
Thinking now a bit further, there could be more parameters such as
3. Element Type of Boundary Surface
4. Element Classification of Boundary Surface
If 1. and 3. were listed you would get the result you would like to achieve:
zone001
floor: laminate, gray – N m2
wall: painted, white – N m2, painted, green N m2
Ceiling: Paneling, gray – N m2
4. would be useful in cases where a certain element type is used to model another element type (e.g. a Roof is used to model a Slab). If the Roof was classified as a Slab, then 1. and 4. listed it would give the result:
zone001
slab: laminate, gray – N m2
wall: painted, white – N m2, painted, green N m2
Ceiling: Paneling, gray – N m2
So there are quite a few possibilities here and the Surface schedule could be further developed to be even smarter.
....................................................................................................
Get Archicad Tips at https://twitter.com/laszlonagy
AMD Ryzen 1700X CPU, 48 GB RAM, Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB, 500 GB NVMe SSD
2x28" (2560x1440), WIN10 PRO ENG, AC20-AC26
Loving Archicad since 1995