QTY QtyTool Archicad quantity add-on

QtyTool User Guide

This guide describes how to use the current QtyTool add-on implementation in Archicad to define quantity items, calculate quantities, review matching elements, organize reusable templates, and use the available export and cloud features.

What QtyTool Does

QtyTool works with saved Quantity Items.

Each item contains:

  • An item name and optional custom ID
  • One or more element filters
  • A formula or quantity source for each filter
  • An optional unit cost

A single item can combine multiple element filters. For example, one item can total plaster from walls, columns, beams, and slabs, then show one combined result.

Before You Start

  • The add-on must be loaded in Archicad.
  • The license must be activated, otherwise the palette will not open.
  • Project items are stored with the Archicad project.
  • Master items are stored in the user-data on their system:

Activating the Tool / License

Archicad menu > Tools > Quantities > License Tool

Opening The Tool

Archicad menu > Tools > Quantities > Main Palette

The main-palette shows items in a list with these columns:

  • Group
  • ID
  • Name
  • Filters
  • Button: Select in Model
  • Quantity: Formula
  • Button: Reload
  • Value: Evaluated formula value
  • Rate: Unit cost
  • Amount: Value multiplied by unit cost

Quick Start: Fetch Quantities

  1. Open the Main palette (Archicad menu > Tools > Quantities > Main Palette).
  2. Make sure the mode is set to Project.
  3. Click Add.
  4. Enter an item ID and Name, and optionally a unit-cost for the item.
  5. Add at least one filter row.
  6. In the selected filter, choose the element type.
  7. Optionally narrow the filter by classifications, layers, renovation status, element ID, property filters, structure filters, or library part.
  8. Build the quantity formula for that filter using: Properties, Building material, Surface, Library part parameters.
  9. Click OK to save the item.
  10. Back in the palette, click Get Quantities.
  11. Read the result in the Value column.
  12. If unit cost is set, read the calculated total in Amount.
  13. To see which elements were filtered for fetching the quantity in an item, click the 'Select in Model' icon-button after the 'Filters' column in the table.

Important behavior:

  • Item names must be unique within the current group.
  • Item IDs must also be unique within the current group if you use them.
  • An item must contain at least one filter.

Understanding Project Mode And Master Mode

The palette has two working modes:

  • Project: items saved into the current project file
  • Master: reusable items saved in the master library file

Typical use:

  • Build and test items in Project mode
  • Copy useful items into Master
  • Reuse master items in other projects by switching modes and copying them back

The current implementation uses Move/Copy between project and master. It is not a linked library system. Once copied, the target item is independent.

Organizing Items With Groups

Items can be organized into groups in both Project and Master mode.

Use the group popup to switch the visible group or view all groups.

Use the Groups button to:

  • Create groups
  • Rename groups
  • Delete groups

This helps separate trades, packages, phases, or BOQ sections.

Building Element Filters

Each filter row targets one element type and one quantity source.

Supported element types include:

  • Wall
  • Column
  • Beam
  • Window
  • Door
  • Object
  • Lamp
  • Slab
  • Roof
  • Shell
  • Morph
  • Stair
  • Railing
  • Opening
  • Curtain Wall
  • Zone

You can use multiple filters in one item when the same quantity item should total different element types.

Renovation Filter

For each filter, choose which renovation statuses are allowed:

  • New
  • Existing
  • Demolished

At least one renovation status must remain checked.

Classification Filter

Use the classification section to limit the filter by classification.

Features available in the current implementation:

  • Searchable classification picker
  • Tree browsing
  • System filtering
  • Multiple classification conditions per filter
  • Operators such as:
    • is
    • is not
    • has value
    • has no value
    • is in branch of
    • is not in branch of
    • is direct child of
    • is not direct child of

Layer Filter

Use the layer section to restrict a filter to one or more layers.

If no layer entries are added, the filter is not limited by layer.

Element ID Filter

Use the element ID section to match Archicad element IDs with operators such as:

  • equals
  • does not equal
  • contains
  • starts with
  • ends with

You can also click the element-pick button to copy an element ID directly from a model element.

Property Filters

Use property filters when you need the quantity item to include only elements whose property values meet certain conditions.

Supported value types include:

  • Numeric
  • String
  • Boolean
  • Single-choice enum

Supported operators depend on value type, including:

  • is
  • is not
  • less than
  • less or equal
  • greater than
  • greater or equal
  • contains

You can also pick an element from the model to copy a property value into the selected property-filter row.

Library Part Filter

This filter is enabled only for library-part type elements (like Object, Door, Window, Lamp etc.)

For library-part element types, you can keep the filter at Any library part or select a specific library part from a model element.

This is useful when the same element type should be restricted to one object, door, or window definition.

Structure Filters

For supported element types, the filter can also restrict by structure category:

  • Basic
  • Composite
  • Profile

For each enabled structure category you can use:

  • Any
  • Custom

If you choose Custom, you must add at least one matching material, composite, or profile entry.

Defining The Quantity Source

Each filter has its own formula field. This is where the quantity source is defined.

You can combine numeric tokens with arithmetic operators.

Examples:

  • A single property token
  • A building-material quantity token
  • A surface quantity token
  • A formula such as Property A + Property B
  • A formula such as Surface Area * 0.1

The add-on validates formula structure before saving.

Quantity Sources Available In The Current Add-on

1. Property Tokens

Use the property picker to insert a built-in or user-defined property token.

This is the usual way to pull quantities such as:

  • Length
  • Area
  • Volume
  • Other numeric properties exposed by Archicad

The property picker is filtered by the current element type context.

2. Library Part Parameter Tokens

Use this for library-part elements such as:

  • Door
  • Window
  • Object
  • Lamp

Workflow:

  1. Click the element-pick button for library part parameters.
  2. Click a matching element in the model.
  3. The add-on loads available numeric GDL parameters from that element.
  4. Use the parameter picker to insert the required parameter token.

3. Building Material Tokens

Use the building material button to insert quantities based on composite or structured element skins.

Available mode:

  • Volume
  • Area

Use this when the quantity depends on a specific building material inside the element.

4. Surface Tokens

Use the surface button to insert material surface quantities.

Available mode:

  • Full Surface
  • Exclude Covered

Notes:

  • Exclude Covered is available, but please note that it may be slower.
  • Surface quantity is not available for Zone.

Practical Example Workflows

Example 1: Door Count

  1. Create a new item named Door Count.
  2. Add one filter.
  3. Set element type to Door.
  4. Add any classification or layer filters you need.
  5. In the Quantity Formula field, just type 1. (as we just need to count the doors)
  6. Save the item.
  7. Click Get Quantities.

Result:

  • The Value column shows the accumulated quantity for matching doors based on the defined source.

Example 2: Sum Wall Area

  1. Create a new item.
  2. Add a Wall filter.
  3. Add any classification, layer, renovation, or property filters needed.
  4. Use the property picker to insert the numeric wall-area property token.
  5. Save the item.
  6. Click Get Quantities.

Result:

  • The Value column shows the total accumulated area for all matching walls.

Example 3: One Item For Several Element Types

  1. Create a new item named something like Plaster.
  2. Add a Wall filter with the correct formula for walls.
  3. Add a Column filter with the correct formula for columns.
  4. Add a Beam filter with the correct formula for beams.
  5. Add a Slab filter with the correct formula for slabs.
  6. Save the item.
  7. Click Get Quantities.

Result:

  • QtyTool evaluates each filter separately and adds the totals together into one item result.

Running Calculations

Calculate All Visible Items In The Current Scope

  1. Open the palette.
  2. Choose the desired mode and group.
  3. Click Get Quantities.

QtyTool calculates each item in the current view of the palette and writes results into:

  • Value
  • Amount

Recalculate One Item

  1. Select one row.
  2. Click the row-level reload button.

Use this after editing one item and you only want to refresh that row.

Reviewing Which Elements Matched

To inspect what an item is currently matching:

  1. Select one item in the palette.
  2. Click the row-level Select in Model button.

QtyTool will select the matching elements in Archicad.

This is the fastest way to debug filters.

Storey (Floor) Scope

The palette includes a storey-scope control that affects calculations and model selection.

Available modes:

  • Current
  • All
  • Selected range

Use this when the same quantity item should be evaluated:

  • Only on the current floor
  • Across the whole project
  • Across a chosen storey range

This is especially important when using the same item set for floor-by-floor measurement.

Editing, Duplicating, Moving, And Copying Items

Edit

  1. Select one item.
  2. Click Edit.
  3. Change filters, formula, or cost.
  4. Save.

If filter criteria or formula change, the previously calculated value is treated as stale and should be recalculated.

Duplicate

  1. Select one item.
  2. Click Duplicate.

QtyTool creates a copy with a new internal ID and adjusted display name / custom ID so it does not collide within the group.

Move/Copy Between Project And Master

  1. Select one or more items.
  2. Click Move/Copy.
  3. Choose whether to move within the current side or copy to the other side.
  4. Choose whether copied items should stay in the same group name or go to a selected target group.

This is how you promote project-tested items into the master library and reuse master items in a project.

Delete

  1. Select one or more items.
  2. Click Delete.
  3. Confirm the prompt.

Export To Excel

QtyTool can export the current item list to .xlsx.

Workflow:

  1. Calculate quantities first.
  2. Click the export button.
  3. Choose the save location.

The current workbook output includes:

  • ID
  • Name
  • Qty Value
  • Rate/Cost

Note:

  • The current implementation exports to Excel .xlsx.
  • There is no separate CSV export implemented at this time.

Cloud Features

The implemented cloud workflow is focused on the master library, not direct project BOQ syncing.

Available cloud actions:

  • Log in through the cloud login dialog
  • Check whether cloud master data exists
  • Save the local master library to cloud
  • Load the cloud master library into the local master library
  • Log out

Suggested use:

  1. Switch to Master mode.
  2. Build or curate your reusable items.
  3. Use the cloud button.
  4. Log in if required.
  5. Save the master library to cloud, or load it back from cloud.

Important:

  • Loading from cloud replaces the local master library after confirmation.
  • This is a master-library sync feature, not a project-item sync workflow.

For a team adopting the add-on, this is a practical rollout sequence:

  1. Build and test items in Project mode.
  2. Use Select in Model to verify each item.
  3. Add unit costs where needed.
  4. Duplicate and refine items instead of rebuilding similar ones.
  5. Move/copy stable items into Master.
  6. Organize master items into groups by trade or package.
  7. Use the cloud feature to share the Master library with your colleagues who are also running QTY-tool.

Summary

The normal user workflow is:

  1. Open the palette.
  2. Create or copy quantity items.
  3. Define one or more element filters per item.
  4. Insert formula tokens from properties, libpart parameters, building materials, or surfaces.
  5. Calculate with Get Quantities.
  6. Verify matches with Select in Model.
  7. Export to Excel or save reusable definitions to the master library.