Items Calculated Attributes

This page describes how to create Calculated Attributes in dRofus. Using the Calculated Attributes feature, you can build formulas dynamically using available dRofus fields to create additional fields. Calculated Attributes are available for Rooms, Items, Occurrences, and Products and allow you to build simple to very complex results. We explain how to do this for Room Calculated Attributes, and on this page, we will go over how this can be done for items. The Calculated Attribute Formats are the same across dRofus. A good baseline understanding of how Item Composite Text Attributes work is a great place to start since the rules can be combined with these attributes. The Room Subtraction Example was a simple one that could be applied to items, but we will go more complex for this example.

Item If/Then Example

You might be familiar with if/then formulas if you have ever built complex rules in Excel. The syntax of IF-THEN is = IF (logic text, value if true, value if false). The first argument tells the function what to do if the comparison is valid. The second argument tells the function what to do if the comparison is false. A quick search on the internet will result in several examples of this concept. In our example, we will use several rules to pull from item data to inform some results. If you have ever tried to determine Door Calculations, you will want to bookmark this page and impress your office. Our team in Australia came up with this idea, and we all think it’s a great example of using item data to inform other decisions.

Here are the results of using the fields in blue (Item Data) to inform the results in red (Calculated Attributes).

The following explains each example:

Clear Opening combines subtractions with if/then formula to determine the clear width available for any person or object to pass through when the door is fully open. The calculation takes into account the differing calculations if identified as a single or double door.

We begin with the Panel A and B widths, if Panel A is zero, we are not concerned about the door as the required dimension have not yet been nominated. Then, if Panel B width is zero we assume the door is a single door, the calculation then subtracts the Panel thickness, Frame Stop, and Hinge Allowance from Panel A. Finally, if Panel B is not zero, we assume it is a double door, Panel A and B are added together, followed by the Panel thickness and Hinge Allowance being subtracted twice.

Clear opening width is often dictated by compliance standards involving accessibility, this example has the potential to identify non-compliant doors during the planning and design stages.

When scheduling frames for ordering, the Panel size is often not the key information, instead Reveal Height and Width is required, therefore the following two examples could be helpful for frame ordering:

Reveal Height is the simple addition of Panel height and the Floor finish allowance, if necessary panel undercut and Floor finish allowance could be incorporated separately.

Reveal Width is also an if/then formula and incorporates the rules of the panel width and the panel width clearance from the Item Data. This is an if/then within an if/then formula where the first rules are checked, followed by a second set of rules. If Panel A is zero, then the reveal width is zero. If the Panel A width is not zero a second, If/then is checked to see the condition of Panel B. If Panel B is zero, then add Panel A to the Panel width clearance, and If Panel B is not zero, then add Panel A to Panel B plus two Panel width clearances.

When doors are retrofitted or hosted in masonry walls the structural opening size is required, the following two examples are a good example of using a Calculated Attribute as a field:

Structural Height is defined using simple addition. The Reveal Height is added to the Frame architrave . But where is the Reveal Height coming from? That is another calculated attribute. Yes, you can build formulas on top of other formulas.

Structural Width is also defined by our first If/then formulas using Reveal Height. The rule is if the Panel B width equals zero, meaning it has no width (or there is no second panel), then combine the Revel width with the Frame architrave, AND if there is a Panel B width, add the Frame architrave twice to gain the additional width needed for both panels including the Panel B width.

These examples show how important project calculations can be provided to all users, whilst ensuring the calculations are performed the same every time.

The goal behind these examples is to give you a sense of what is possible using item calculations. There are several different Calculated Attribute Formats to explore.

Explore how to do this with Occurrence Calculated Attributes.