Update Materials list through API

[jyoungner]

I am trying to update the materials list in my template file and base it on Masterspec. I do not want to define the parameters of the materials but just add new material names.

Has anyone tried to do this?

[mmason.65315]

You should be able to either create new materials or duplicate existing ones to do what you're looking for.

-Matt

[jyoungner]

Yes- I understand that but I am trying to automate the task through using excel, notepad, etc. to populate the materials in the template file instead of inputing it manually!

[Elizabeth Shulok]

I think that is what Matt meant. Using the API you can duplicate existing materials or add new ones.

Look at Material.Duplicate() which is overriden by base classes such as MaterialSteel and MaterialConcrete. This is ideal if you want to create a new material with nearly all the same properties as an existing one.

Also look at the Materials class which has functions for adding new materials, such as AddSteel(), AddConcrete(). You can access Materials from Document.Settings.

Good luck,