A common question I get often is how do I declare a certain type of parameter in a type catalog. So I created a cheat sheet of sorts to share.
Discipline = Common
| Type of Parameter: | Parameter declaration: |
| Text | param_name##OTHER## |
| Integer | param_name##OTHER## |
| Number | param_name##OTHER## |
| Length | param_name##LENGTH##FEET |
| Area | param_name##AREA##SQUARE_FEET |
| Volume | param_name##VOLUME##CUBIC_FEET |
| Angle | param_name##ANGLE##DEGREES |
| Slope | param_name##SLOPE##SLOPE_DEGREES |
| Currency | param_name##CURRENCY## |
| URL | param_name##OTHER## |
| Material | param_name##OTHER## |
| Yes/No | param_name##OTHER## |
| <Family Type> | param_name##OTHER## |
|
|
useful notes:
- Yes/No values in type catalogs are defined as 1 or 0 with 1 equaling Yes and 0 equaling No.
- Family Type parameter values are defined as:
- family name : type name
- note no “.rfa” in name,
- there is a space : space between the family name and type name.
- also any inches in the type name require an extra “ mark in the value, so 12” Base is defined as 12”” Base )
- family name (only, if family has no type names)
System Parameters:
| System Parameter: | Parameter declaration: |
| Keynote | Keynote##OTHER## |
| Model | Model##OTHER## |
| Manufacturer | Manufacturer##OTHER## |
| Type Comments | Type Comments##OTHER## |
| URL | URL##OTHER## |
| Description | Description##OTHER## |
| Assembly Code | Assembly Code##OTHER## |
| Cost | Cost##CURRENCY## |
|
|
useful notes:
- A known issue with type catalogs and system parameters is that the parameter in the family must be filled out for the type to load the value from the catalog properly.
If this is helpful to you guys, I will expand the list to include other disciplines.

Inside Type Catalogs – Part 2