Global attributes

Orionis98

I'm starting to study DCs, with a quite good knowledge in programming with different languages.
My question, made simple: is there a way to have some global attribute in a scene?

I made a number of kitchen dynamic components (I'm sure this is common starting point, all with their own attributes for materials.
It is boring to select each single element just to change colors, so I wonder if I can define somewhere in an upper level the materials to be referenced globally by all the elements.
This is also to avoid to create a list of materials for each elements.
I thought to use 'Choose' with an index inherited from a 'global' array, but where and how?

Hope this is clear, thanks

pcmoor

You could create a group or component called kitchen, then build or place components in this environment. "Kitchen" would hold the global attributes. So newly inserted cabinet DCs will read with attributes =parent!.... and update. You could save this file as a template.

Orionis98

@pcmoor said:

You could create a group or component called kitchen, then build or place components in this environment. "Kitchen" would hold the global attributes. So newly inserted cabinet DCs will read with attributes =parent!.... and update. You could save this file as a template.

Thanks for the answer; this was my original idea, but I find it an impractical solutions because you have to deal with a new 'macro' component to be exploded for any change to one of its sub components.

I hoped there was a way to define some out-of-context attributes.
If there aren't, I will adopt what you suggest.

pcmoor

@orionis98 said:

I hoped there was a way to define some out-of-context attributes.

There are techniques of achieving this
sample attached where one can choose the default (global) or own input for a bench top

build 1.skp

Orionis98

@pcmoor said:

@orionis98 said:

I hoped there was a way to define some out-of-context attributes.

There are techniques of achieving this
sample attached where one can choose the default (global) or own input for a bench top

Thanks again for your support; unfortunately I have SU 2016 and can not open your file.

I would ask you another question (I might open a new topic, eventually): following a 'plain' approach, thus assemble a macro component to drive all the real elements, I still have a very boring issue: with tens of material selectors (at least 2 for each element, plus the globals ones) I have to declare a list of materials (the same) for each.
Is there any way to 'copy & paste' the list from one component to another one?

Thanks again
Giacomo

pcmoor

Giacomo,
I downgraded the file to 2016
To copy and paste you need to use attribute inspector from the extension warehouse or
https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?listtype=1&author=0&category=0&search=attribute+inspector&submit=%3F

then find the _option in the dynamic attributes,you will see that have URI formatting. Copy & paste the values using control c,v, You need to remove an "&" to add on further copied values

One can use an excel macro to read and convert a list too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4gcm8HXLV0 shows the use of the macro and Attribute Inspector

you need to private message your email to get the excel macro, as can not load to this forum

build 1.skp

Orionis98

@pcmoor said:

Giacomo,
I downgraded the file to 2016
To copy and paste you need to use attribute inspector from the extension warehouse or
https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?listtype=1&author=0&category=0&search=attribute+inspector&submit=%3F

then find the _option in the dynamic attributes,you will see that have URI formatting. Copy & paste the values using control c,v, You need to remove an "&" to add on further copied values

One can use an excel macro to read and convert a list too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4gcm8HXLV0 shows the use of the macro and Attribute Inspector

you need to private message your email to get the excel macro, as can not load to this forum

I will study and test your material in the next days; I'm sure they will help a lot.
Thanks for your excellent support
Giacomo

pbacot

I don't know if this works in your setup or dynamic components for that matter. And I suspect it is no good if you are outputing the chosen material (color) in some bill of materials... But I use
"Material Replacer" to globally change a material in a model.

pcmoor

@pbacot said:

"Material Replacer"

I believe this is an excellent idea, it works well with DCs, provide you first initialize the material. Reports okay too. I will adopt this in my workflow. Thanks!

Orionis98

@pbacot said:

I don't know if this works in your setup or dynamic components for that matter. And I suspect it is no good if you are outputing the chosen material (color) in some bill of materials... But I use
"Material Replacer" to globally change a material in a model.

Thanks for the hint; I'm sure it is very usefull, but at the moment I suspect to have a serious performancies issue, for which I will post right now in a new topic.
Giacomo