Master Data - Component Catalog

In this dialog, identification numbers in the component catalog can be entered and managed. These are primarily used in the building model for volume information. However, identification numbers that are never used in the construction but only in lists, e.g., equipment, can also be entered here.

Building element component catalog

The building element has the levels 'main group - subgroup - identification number'. Main group and subgroup serve only for better sorting of identification numbers and have no further meaning.

For a main group to exist, it must have at least one subgroup. For a subgroup to exist, it must have at least one identification number. Therefore, when creating a new main group you must simultaneously enter a subgroup and an identification number.

Components, identification numbers

Identification numbers are the central element, the unique key for the information about a component in the master data. However, the identification number does not always have to represent a component.

Every component in the structure has the same options for volume information. This volume information is important for on-screen representation, selection options, and subsequent evaluation of the structure.

Entering the volume info via the identification number is particularly efficient. Using this, information such as component type, color set, and even entire profile descriptions are adopted from the component catalog and do not need to be entered manually. Each identification number uniquely represents an element in the component catalog.

Ident number: The identification number is the identifier with which further information can be adopted from the component catalog. The identification number can be entered directly or selected via the component browser.

Speed dial: A particularly fast option is to assign speed dials of 2 digits for the most frequently used identification numbers. Then, instead of the identification number, only two digits need to be entered and the remaining information will be adopted. If a speed dial is entered in the left field (search speed dial), the program searches the component catalog for that speed dial when Return is pressed and displays the corresponding entry. In the right field (enter speed dial) a speed dial can be entered for the current element. Each speed dial can only be assigned once.

Identification label: The identification label is the long-form expression of the identification number. While the identification number should be as short as possible for rapid entry, the identification label should be a clearly readable description of the element.

Order number: The identification number is the identifier with which the element itself is designated. The order number is the identifier with which the element is obtained from the supplier.

For construction timber, the order number is often given only as the saw or sorting class. For construction timber, the order number is used in all places where the saw or sorting class was previously used.

Example: In the construction you want to distinguish whether the construction timber will later be visible or concealed. You create two identification numbers: 'S10 Si' for S10 visible and 'S10 Vd' for S10 concealed. You then get a timber list in which you can distinguish between visible and concealed components. For the sawmill, which in this case represents the supplier, you enter only 'S10' as the order number in both cases.

Component type: The component type has great significance in the program workflow. It controls what may be done with the component and into which list it will be written. We distinguish the component types bar (timber list), profile bar (profile bar list), plate (plate list), shaped part (shaped part list), fitting (fitting and fastener list) and auxiliary component (no sorting and no list output).

Width, height, length: Here dimensions for a component can be specified. If the dimensions are left empty (0.00), arbitrary dimensions can be assigned in the construction. If, for example, the cross-section is specified, it will also be used automatically in the building model.

Orientation: The orientation 'Yes' means that the orientation of the cross-section (for bars) or the length (for plates) has significance. For example, with construction veneer plywood the running direction of the face veneer must be maintained. This identifier is not yet evaluated at present.

Color set: The color set records the screen colors on white and black backgrounds, as well as the plot colors. The color set is initially adopted from the component catalog. If a bar type is entered, it is overwritten according to the bar type. Finally, the color set can also be freely chosen from the drop list for a component in the building model.

Texture set: The texture set contains the textures for rendering under Direct3D and OpenGL.

List storage: Here it is set whether components with this identification number should be stored in lists. For example, bars that serve only for auxiliary construction can be excluded from storage in timber (=bar) lists.

Delivery location: For each individual component it can be set whether it is to be delivered to the workshop or to assembly, i.e., to the construction site. The identification number records the default delivery location.

Source type: This records whether the components of this identification number are stock items or need to be ordered. Material lists can be output separately according to this setting.

Measurement type: It can be set whether these identification numbers are recorded in the material takeoff as individual positions, collective positions, or not at all. This entry is not yet evaluated at present.

Weight / reference and reference weight: A relative weight can be specified for an identification number. The reference unit is important here: while wood is recorded in kg/m³, steel profiles are considered in kg/m.

For weight / reference a range can even be entered: e.g. 400 - 600. When a material list is generated or imported, it adopts the weight from the component catalog according to the current rounding: minimum, maximum or average weight.

Unit and price / unit: Here the billing unit and a price / billing unit are entered.

Profile description: For the component type profile bar a profile description can be entered. The simplest way is to select one from the predefined profiles. You can also enter completely free profiles according to the following rules:

- Points are entered consecutively in the bar's Y-Z coordinate system

- If you re-enter the first point of a polygon, the polygon is closed.

- The first polygon is the outer one, all further ones are inner polygons (holes).

- Polygon sides must not intersect.

Article description: A description of the element from the component catalog can be entered here. This description is not stored in the building model but is read from the component catalog each time.

Description - info: Using this function a PDF file with further information about the component can be linked.