freeform schedule

Question

Hi, 
 I'm trying to extract quantities from a model where I created a few freeform solids to which I applied parts and datagroup information. I am able to extract the quantities with the quantify tool according to the part's report rules. However if I create a schedule the freeforms do not have any information concerning quantities. I am guessing that the form is not "intelligent enough" to link its quantities to the respective datagroup definition.. Is there any way to accomplish this? 
 Is it possible to create datagroup definitions that work somehow like the report components of the parts? 
 Also, is there any way just to make a freeform a little bit more intelligent when reporting quantities, like a height or a length?

T_Wollet · Accepted Answer

Pedro, 
Which version of ABD are you using? In SS5, I am able to place a slab form, linear form & free form, then add a Family/Part to each and finally add DataGroup Instance Data to each. With this, I am able to have it report the quantities in the Structural Quantity Report, Quantify tool & DataGroup Explorer schedules. 
 
The key to it showing up in the Datagroup Explorer schedules is that it the Catalog data that you have added to the form must have an appropriate data schema. For Linear Forms the instance data added must include the Wall_Application.xsd and Wall_Quantities.xsd definition files. For Slab Forms and Free Forms the instance data that is added must include the Slab_Common.xsd and SlabQuantities.xsd definition files. To see this try adding Wall Instance data to a linear form or Slab Instance Data to a slab form. 
 
Note that Slab Forms are preferred over Free Forms if possible. 
 
-Travis

T_Wollet · Answer

Pedro, 
Some definition files are "system-level" definitions and their display is masked by default to prevent users from making unnecessary changes to them. If you want to be able to see and edit these definition files you need to have the config variable _USTN_DISPLAYALLCFGVARS = 1 . When the variable equals 1, you will have two options available from Building Designer > DataGroup - Building Components: 
 - Open Definition Editor 
 - Open Definition Editor - Systems 
 
Open Definition Editor - Systems will display all XSD files in the editor. Be careful in what you are editing though. You should not delete definitions or definition properties as you can create mismatches in the schemas of existing models. 
 
Regarding the XML files... These can be containers for any number of different types of information. We store DataGroup Catalog Items in XML's (typically in datagroupcatalogs folder). We also store Display Names, Enumerated Lookup Lists (list values for DG Properties) and Product Filters (used in DG Catalog Editor). We also record the creation of a DG Catalog and the association of a definition file to a particular catalog. DataGroup Catalogs must be in XML files in a path defined by the variable DG_CATALOGS_PATH, while most of the other types of info should be in the path of DG_PATH. Some types of info can reside in the path of either variable. 
 
I hope this helps clear things up for you. 
-Travis

Steve Cocchi · Answer

Ah... so you have existing elements in the file using Definition Rev A, you then change those Definitions to Rev B, and the existing elements no longer act as expected? If so, you'll need to use the DataGroup Upgrade utility. See if this Wiki helps: 
 communities.bentley.com/.../19743.door-and-window-custom-datagroup-property-value-changes-not-retained