topic Re: Compiling GDL Outside Archicad — Is It Possible? in GDL

Compiling GDL Outside Archicad — Is It Possible?

Ahmed_K — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 01:52:14 GMT

I managed to convert several GSM objects and GDL macros to XML, modify them, rebuild them, and load them back into Archicad as GSM files. they work perfectly after several compilations,

The only thing I'm stuck with now is the GDL compilation.

The code is compiled by Archicad, so outside Archicad I can modify the GDL, but I have no way to know if the code actually compiles correctly until I open it in Archicad.

Is there any way to compile GDL outside Archicad?

Maybe an external compiler, command-line tool, SDK, or something used internally by Archicad that I'm not aware of?

If there is a way to do this, it would be a pretty big deal for what I'm trying to build.

Has anyone ever managed to compile or validate GDL code outside Archicad?

Re: Compiling GDL Outside Archicad — Is It Possible?

Karl Ottenstein — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 20:12:02 GMT

There is not an external compiler. Actual GDL coding is discussed in a separate developer forum here:
https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/GDL/bd-p/forum-gdl

Betreff: Compiling GDL Outside Archicad — Is It Possible?

runxel — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 21:46:22 GMT

It's called the LPXML_Converter. It's technically a separate app inside the Archicad install dir.

Re: Compiling GDL Outside Archicad — Is It Possible?

vtomaz — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:08:27 GMT

I am using Cluade AI Pro and creating GDLs with no problems. Claude writes XML code and then I translate to GSM with LPXML_Converter and vice versa. No manual coding. Made large quantity of GDLs for office use.

Re: Compiling GDL Outside Archicad — Is It Possible?

Ahmed_K — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:19:28 GMT

i'm actually using LPXML_Converter to convert generated Xmls from Claude AI too , i thought there is a way to check the code before importing inside archicad , to avoid multiple conversions of Xmls ,

So actually it's the only way of doing things ,

Betreff: Compiling GDL Outside Archicad — Is It Possible?

Jochen Suehlo — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:53:43 GMT

Yes. A syntax check like in Archicad is essentially possible with Graphisoft’s LP_XMLConverter.

LP_XMLConverter convertlibrary -checkall <temp-src> <temp-dst>

I use it in a VS Code based GDL development environment. The GDL source is edited outside Archicad and rebuilt/validated through LP_XMLConverter. Together with Graphisoft’s GDL VS Code extension this gives you syntax checking and a GSM build workflow without opening Archicad.
I wrapped the complete workflow here: GDLnucleus.

Betreff: Compiling GDL Outside Archicad — Is It Possible?

Ahmed_K — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:12:02 GMT

Very interesting !! i'll give it a try ,