Compound Name Rules Dialog

The Compound Name Rules dialog defines how the structural layers of compound Family Types — Walls, Floors, Ceilings, Roofs, Slabs, and Toposolids — are represented in generated names.

Overview

Family Types with compound structure consist of multiple material layers, and this dialog controls how each layer's properties are extracted and formatted in the generated name.

The dialog lets you define a sequence of rules that specify which layer (or material) properties to extract, how to format them, and how to combine them into the final name. It works similarly to the Name Rules Panel, with additional options specific to compound structures.

Window Layout

The dialog is split into two grids:

• Left grid — available parameters from the selected Family Type's compound structure.
• Right grid — parameters added to the compound rules.

Between the grids are the Add and Remove buttons used to move parameters in and out of the rules. Below the right grid you'll find the Layer Separator and Core Separator inputs and the Up / Down sort buttons. The Refresh, Save, and Cancel buttons are at the bottom of the window.

Left Grid — Available Parameters

The left grid lists parameters available from the compound structure's Layers and from the Materials assigned to those layers.

For example, you can choose to include the Layer Width parameter together with the Material Name parameter. If a layer has a thickness of 12.5 mm and its material is named "Gyproc", the compound rule will extract 12.5mm and Gyproc and format them according to the configured rules.

Columns

Column	Description
Row Indicator	▶ for the selected row, open circle ○ for a shared parameter
Category	The parameter source — Layer or Material
Parameter	The parameter name (e.g., DeckEmbeddingType, Function, Width, Name, Class)

Add/Remove Buttons

• Add Parameter: adds the selected parameter from the left grid to the compound rules.
• Remove Parameter: removes the selected parameter from the compound rules and returns it to the left grid.

Right Grid — Compound Rules

Columns

Column	Description
Row Indicator	▶ for the selected row, open circle ○ for a shared parameter
Category	Layer or Material
Prefix	Static text prepended before the value
Keep Start	Number of characters to keep from the start of the value
Parameter	The selected parameter
Keep End	Number of characters to keep from the end of the value
Suffix	Static text appended after the value
Default	Fallback value when the parameter is empty
Units	Unit format for numeric values

Footer Controls

Layer Separator

The character (or characters) placed between adjacent regular layer segments in the generated name.

Core Separator

The character (or characters) placed between a regular layer and a core layer. Use it to visually distinguish core (structural) layers from non-structural ones in the generated name.

Sort Buttons

The Up and Down sort buttons reorder rules within the compound rules grid. Select a parameter, a cell within its row, or the entire row, then click the up or down arrow to change its position.

Action Buttons

Button	Description
Refresh	Refreshes generated Family Type names in the New Name panel
Save	Saves the compound rule configuration and closes the dialog
Cancel	Discards changes and closes the dialog

Workflows

Setting Up Compound Naming for Walls

1. In the Name Rules Panel, add the compound structure parameter for the Wall category. The row will display the ≡ indicator.
2. Click the Edit Compound Structure button to open this dialog.
3. In the left grid, select the Layer parameter Width and click the right arrow to add it to the compound rules.
4. Select the Material parameter Name and click the right arrow to add it as well.
5. Use the Up and Down sort buttons to arrange the rules in the desired order (e.g., Width before Material Name).
6. Set the Layer Separator (e.g., /) and the Core Separator (e.g., //) at the bottom of the dialog.
7. Click Save to apply the configuration.

Reordering Compound Rules

Select any cell or the entire row in the right grid and use the up and down arrows to change its position. The order of the rows determines the order in which each layer's properties appear in the generated name.

Using Prefix and Suffix

Each compound rule supports a custom prefix and suffix. These are applied only when the parameter contains a value, so empty layer values will not introduce stray separators or labels into the generated name.

Trimming Values with Keep Start / Keep End

Trim layer or material parameter values by entering a number in the Keep Start or Keep End cells. This limits the segment to the specified number of characters from the beginning or end of the original value before it is added to the compound name.

Understanding Layer vs Core Separators

The Layer Separator is placed between regular layer segments. The Core Separator is placed at the boundary between a regular layer and a core layer, giving you a clear visual distinction between non-structural and structural layers in the generated name.

For example, with Layer Separator / and Core Separator //, a wall with two finish layers wrapping a core layer might produce:

12.5mm Gyproc / 50mm Insulation // 100mm Concrete // 50mm Insulation / 12.5mm Gyproc

Shortcuts

• Add Parameter: double-click a parameter in the left grid to add it to the compound rules.
• Remove Parameter: double-click a row header in the right grid to remove the parameter from the compound rules.
• Scroll to Parameter: press a letter key (e.g., W) to jump to the first parameter starting with that letter (e.g., Width). Press the same letter again to move to the next matching parameter.

Related Topics

• Name Rules Panel
• Units Format Dialog
• Main Settings Overview