Schedules quantitiy problem: Calculated Value = null + value

[Anonymous]

Hi every body,

Editing a quantity schedule I have this problem: I have the same info (length) in different parameters for different families.

I have tought to create another column with a formula with the sum of the two parameters (Length = full_length + net_length ).

I think that the problem is the value in the column of the parameter not present in the family. It is null and not zero, so the formula doesn't work.

Do anybody know a workaround of this issue?

Many thanks

I will aprreciate

regards

Lorenzo

[ToanDN]

if (full_length < 0,  0 + net_length, full_length + net_length)

[Anonymous]

Hi Toan , thanks for the reply, but this formula doesn't work too.
I think because in the field of the parameter there is nothing (blank/null) and not zero. So the calculator can't make the sum... How can I do? 

[ToanDN]

Can you share the file?

[Anonymous]

I could share it, but you won't be able to open it for another problem where you already helped me. With the modifications I made there is still some problems in the family that don't allow the opening of the model... 😞 😞 😞

[Anonymous]

Did it!! YEeeah! I've created finally my super beam sysetm!

now... the schedule... here you can find the model...

for example I would like to create a unique column also for the weight.

One is in kilos [weight_net], the other one is integer number [Weight (g/piece)].

I used this formula:

weight_net / 1 kg + [Weight (g/piece)] / 1000

The result is "0" for each row....

  

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @Anonymous

We wanted to check back in with you on this post. How is everything working out?

See HERE for information on how to use the Calculated Value dialog to define formula driven reporting values.

Please mark 'Accept as solution' for posts that helped solve your issue - this will help other users seeking similar solutions.

Thank you and we look forward to your reply update.

[Anonymous]

Hi Viveka!

I saw the learning about the calculated totals and I think I have understood. However... No, I didn't fix the problem yet.

If i didn't explain it properly I'll try again with a graph...

I have the schedule on the left and I would like to create another colum like the schedule on the right so I can hide the columns with less info.

I thought.. easy, just creating a calculated value named length (discipline:common, type:Length) ... and I used these formulas:

net_length + full_length

(net_length/1) + (full_length/1)

(net_length/1 mm) + (full_length/1mm)

But the result is always a blank cell.... I think because the solver is summing a "null value"(not zero) with a "length value"

I tried also itemize every family and not, calculating totals or not.. (without itemizing every family and calculating the total the result is zero instead null) dividing the parameter per 1mm, per 1,per 1000, per everything... but nothing

I have the same problem with the weight parameter.. I have some column in grams and other in kilos and I would like to unify them without using excel everytime to format the tab.

Where am I wrong?

Is it not commong to have different parameter of different families for the same info?

[Anonymous]

Anybody? Any ideas?! no suggestion?

[Anonymous]

why have you got two parameters (that are the same = length)? can you change the two different parameters to the same (=length) parameter?

[Anonymous]

Because they come from different families and I thought it is faster using a formula in the schedule than changing the name of the parameters. Isn't it?

[Anonymous]

perhaps if you had built the models - maybe yes....... however cant help noticing these are manufacturers models? they may not (evidently dont) behave the way you might want or expect.

the manufacturer will almost certainly have put in protection for their property (intellectual)...... for instance a field you might expect to be a number they might have called text. a field you might expect to be a weight they might have called text. they might have one type configured to kilos another to grams.

they have all sorts of darstedly ways to protect their copyright - and why shouldnt they?!

maybe ask the manufacturer....;-)

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Hi Viveka!

I saw the learning about the calculated totals and I think I have understood. However... No, I didn't fix the problem yet.

If i didn't explain it properly I'll try again with a graph...

I have the schedule on the left and I would like to create another colum like the schedule on the right so I can hide the columns with less info.

I thought.. easy, just creating a calculated value named length (discipline:common, type:Length) ... and I used these formulas:

net_length + full_length

(net_length/1) + (full_length/1)

(net_length/1 mm) + (full_length/1mm)

But the result is always a blank cell.... I think because the solver is summing a "null value"(not zero) with a "length value"

I tried also itemize every family and not, calculating totals or not.. (without itemizing every family and calculating the total the result is zero instead null) dividing the parameter per 1mm, per 1,per 1000, per everything... but nothing

I have the same problem with the weight parameter.. I have some column in grams and other in kilos and I would like to unify them without using excel everytime to format the tab.

Where am I wrong?

Is it not commong to have different parameter of different families for the same info?

---

From your example, if "net_length" does not exist in Family A then the formula just simply does not work.  If "net_length" exists in Family A but the value is Null then you need to change it to 0.

[Anonymous]

I think this is the correct answer.. the answer that i didn't want..

Thinking about it again it seems obvious.. if the parameter doesn't exist in one of the two families the formula simply doesn't work

So... in case I don't have the txt file of shared parameters I should create another one and assign it to the parameters I want with the same name. Am I right?

[MartinLucansky3580]

Hello, Yes, to sum-up this discussion:

 if the parameter doesn't exist in one of the two families the formula for computing data from both parameter groups from two families simply doesn't work  ... which is problem for us- users of software. 

The field of the parameter there is nothing (blank/null) and not zero. So the calculator can't make the sum => and software developers should think about this situation and give users chance to "avoid" of these parts of calculations (simply to change results e.g. to 0 instead of "null"). 

 it is faster using a formula in the schedule than changing the name of the parameters. Isn't it? =>> Yes, of course it is much more faster !  I ask Revit developers to add this possibilty for creagng schedule formulas :

= either in way :   

1) if parameter "not exist" in particular  element as instance of particular family => keep it as 0    (or another preset value)

2) to see the created in formula parameter -> results based on particular element properties in the window for create multiple parameter : where I may glue together A1 ; A2 ; A3 etc. values (results) computed from the formula parameters, and shows up each time the one which exists (and the "null" ones will not show up). 

this is an improvement functionality request for Autodesk Revit developers

thank You 

br, Richard and Martin

[GGMSU]

The fact that this is still a fundamental problem in 2022 is unbelievable.  This severely limits the usefulness of schedules.

[ddillow8AEEP]

2023 and still no improvement. It bewilders me that any time users ask for better modeling functionality, Autodesk responds, "Revit is really a database." and anytime we ask for better data management, Autodesk responds, "Revit is really a modeling software." get it together Autodesk.

[ebiesingerKWR5M]

I agree, this thread was started in 2017. 6 years later and absolutely no progress on this very simple ask. it's really disappointing that Autodesk doesn't seem to be interested in improving some of the most basic fixes that the community has been asking for... 

[carolina.machado]

Hello everybody!

I created a post on Revit Ideas to solve this problem. Vote please!

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/calculated-values-considering-parameters-without-value-nu...