topic Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors in Libraries & objects

Fixed width/height windows and doors

Anonymous — Wed, 24 May 2023 10:32:01 GMT

Does anyone know a way to fix parameters of a certain window object to prevent it from accidental modifying?
I wish to have a special library folder with a limited number of windows we use in a project to avoid having same ID windows with different parameters. That would make scheduling much easier.

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 19 May 2015 16:15:22 GMT

You would have to modify the Parameter Script of those Window objects to achieve that.
If you are interested in knowing how, we can provide you the steps...

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Anonymous — Tue, 19 May 2015 17:35:31 GMT

laszlonagy wrote:
You would have to modify the Parameter Script of those Window objects to achieve that.
If you are interested in knowing how, we can provide you the steps...

Hi laszlonagy!
I'm interested. I tried to open standard library windows but all available scripts relate to "migration". I just don't know where to look for it.

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 19 May 2015 23:13:50 GMT

Here is a sample code based on which you can do your own types.
You can either modify default AC GDL Objects or save a copy and modify that (may be better choice because Library update will overwrite any changes made to the default library):

This code should be placed into the Parameter Script of the Door or Window.
In this example I created a new parameter with the parameter name "WindowType" and Description "Window Type". Its parameter types is "Text".

What it does is it defines window types (such as "900x1500") in a value list for the WindowType parameter. It locks the A and B parameters so they cannot be set. Then using the PARAMETERS command it sets the values of the A and B parameters based on the value you selected for the WindowType parameter:

LOCK "A", "B"

VALUES "WindowType" "900x1200", "900x1500", "900x1800", 
		"1200x1200", "1200x1500", "1200x1800", 
		"1500x1500", "1500x1800"

IF WindowType = "900x1200" THEN
	PARAMETERS A = 0.900, B = 1.200
ELSE 
	IF WindowType = "900x1500" THEN
		PARAMETERS A = 0.900, B = 1.500
	ELSE 
		IF WindowType = "900x1800" THEN
			PARAMETERS A = 0.900, B = 1.800
		ENDIF
	ENDIF
ENDIF

IF WindowType = "1200x1200" THEN
	PARAMETERS A = 1.200, B = 1.200
ELSE 
	IF WindowType = "1200x1500" THEN
		PARAMETERS A = 1.200, B = 1.500
	ELSE 
		IF WindowType = "1200x1800" THEN
			PARAMETERS A = 1.200, B = 1.800
		ENDIF
	ENDIF
ENDIF

IF WindowType = "1500x1500" THEN
	PARAMETERS A = 1.500, B = 1.500
ELSE 
	IF WindowType = "1500x1800" THEN
		PARAMETERS A = 1.500, B = 1.800
	ENDIF
ENDIF

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 19 May 2015 23:18:08 GMT

And here is how it looks in the Window Settings Dialog in action.
Notice that the Width and Height fields are grayed (locked), and their values are set based on the value selected for the Window Type parameter.

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Anonymous — Wed, 20 May 2015 00:08:27 GMT

Wow Laszlo! This works super cool!
Thank you so much.

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Laszlo Nagy — Wed, 20 May 2015 00:27:15 GMT

I am glad you find it useful.

I was also thinking that if you want to do this Parameter Script for many Door/Window objects, then it may be better to create a Macro Object that has only a Parameter Script and then use the CALL command to call that macro object from the Parameter Script of all Doors/Windows you wish to use it with.

This way, if the Window Type definitions change there is only one macro object you need to modify and all Door/Window objects using it would update perfectly.

So in each Door or Window object the PARAMETER Script would look something like this:

CALL "WindowTypeMacro" PARAMETERS ALL

And you could use the Save as command on any Window object, save it under the specified macro name ("WindowTypeMacro" in this example), delete the contents of all scripts, add the WindowType parameter, and paste the PARAMETER script I have given you in my previous post into the parameter script of this macro object.
So this macro would have only a Parameter Script that is called as a macro from all Window objects using it to have these types available.

The macro object should not be placeable (placeable checkbox unchecked), should have the same parameters (which it will if it is created by using Save As on an existing Window.
I tried this an it works for me just fine.

Actually, it is also possible that in all Window objects you create another Parameter, called e.g. "Use Window Types", which would be an ON/OFF parameters. If it was ON, the Parameter Script would call the above macro, if it was OFF, it would not call the macro and the Window would work as before.

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 13:01:44 GMT

Hi,
why don't we change point of view? Instead of calling the same object from all windows why don't you call all windows from one object with the parameter script.
You don't modify windows but call them with the parameters you want.

Hope it helps
Ilder

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 15:34:12 GMT

But how do you solve the situation that the object that would have to be able to call all Window objects would need to have the Interface Script and parameters of every single Window it can call?
Interesting idea (one Window object) but how would it be implemented?

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 13:56:50 GMT

Yes and no,
the goal was to have a list of windows that user can't accidentally modify.
So the "to rule them all" object has only few parameters:
a parameter with the windows types
and some parameters to rule the position,
then each single call must have the parameters needed to model the window as was intended to be.

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Laszlo Nagy — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 14:09:25 GMT

Which means that the calling object must have every parameter that any of the called Windows have so as to be able to achieve the desired result.

Also, you didn't address the User Interface question. How would you solve that? How much work that would be?

I mean, you are welcome to try but I don't think it will be an easy and simple task if you want to control all Windows in the default ARCHICAD library from one "master" Window object.

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 15:01:51 GMT

Perhaps i've missed something but why do i have to copy the interface of each window?
I simply call the window with some fixed arguments.
As soon i've finished my little lamp (coding lights is a pain) i will try to code what i'm unable to explain ok?

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Laszlo Nagy — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 16:48:04 GMT

Well, you don't have to, but if you don't do it then this master Window will not have a User Interface script so the user experience will be much worse.
You will only have a huge parameter list and you will have to figure out which parameter does what and you will not have the help of icons and explanation graphics.

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 07:13:31 GMT

Isn't it possible to create a window/door object like the curtainwall object? This way you can create any windowtype you like. And interactively change the position of the horizontal and vertical elements as well as the fills (door/panel/glass/etc.).

Best,

Peter

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 14:03:08 GMT

Yes, this would be great. I hope someday we will have a "Door/Window Assembly" tool using which you can assemble any number of Doors and Windows into an assembly which works as a single unit, but with the ability to edit any of its sub-elements individually, just like in case of the Curtain Wall, Stair and Railing Tools.

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

alemanda — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 15:41:28 GMT

More generally it would be great to have the assembly tool, working for groups of objects/element ...

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 22:30:51 GMT

If you are using the standard archicad windows in the library they all call gs_general_window_macro that contains all the parameters in all the windows in the library...

if you use that as the base for all the parameters and then call the suitable W2, W1 etc. window then you get a universal library part.

i did this for a building company a few years ago, and they had 1 window library part with sliding, awning, double pane, single pane, basically everything. (they had over 500 windows to choose from, from their supplier)

there were 3 windows that the archicad tools could not produce, they were matrix windows with opening panes, and i just added some special condition code to draw opening sashes for those special conditions when that combination was chosen.

it can be done if you have a month to spare and know every window that you can choose from. once everything was in an excel spreadsheet it took less than a week to code the library part. getting all the correct frame sizes, changes in mullion widths(and slight changes to overall windows) for the chunkier frames, etc was the hard bit.

the tree below shows a map of calls from the standard archicad windows.

P.S.

if you call the window out of the master script, then you still have the standard archicad window user interface available for all the other settings.

you just have to remember to lock the fields that you don't want changed for that window.

remeber to call the window, not the macro i.e.
if a < 1.2 then
call "Window 18" parameters all
endif
if a > 1.2 and a < 2.4 then
call "Double Window 18" parameters all
endif
if a > 2.4 then
call "Triple Window 18" parameters all
endif

from AC 19 a sub library macro (GS Corner Window Functions) has Hideparameter all in the parameters script, so you will want to change that so it doesn't hide your parameters, or you will need to be able to add your drop downs into the GUI.

i.e. add the parameters you still want visable after the all command.

hideparameter all "My_Window_Style", "My_Window_Opeing_Type", "My_Window_Sizes"

both require a library hack.

Re: Fixed width/height windows and doors

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 03:24:27 GMT

Hi!
I've been trying to implement this script into default AC 20 window, but the parameter doesn't show up in Window Selection Settings. The script test turns to be ok and the Width and Height are grayed out like in your case, but the drop-down menu is not visible. Do you know what may be the reason for that and or where can I find this drop-down menu?

Additionally, is it possible to force showing "All Parameters" in the drop-down menu from attached file?

Thanks