topic Re: It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revi in Libraries & objects

It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revit

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 05:01:21 GMT

Dear all,

Is it possible to create a Type catalog in archicad GDl Library like Autodesk revit for different sizes?

regards
saravanan

Re: It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revi

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 06:17:10 GMT

If I understand correctly, Types are usually separate objects (Families in Revit). For example, a 900x2100 door is a separate object and a 1000x2100 is another object.
ArchiCAD GDL object can have many-many parameters and they don't get slow as the number of parameters, constraints and parametric relationships within the objects increase, like they do in Revit after a certain point. Therefore you will many times see a single ArchiCAD object does the same as many Revit objects together.

However, you can achieve something like this, if you want to:
You can take a Door in ArchiCAD. You could open it for editing and lock its A and B parameters so when placing they cannot be modified by the user.
To do this, you need to type the following in the Parameter Script of the Door:

LOCK "A", "B"

Then in the Library Editing Window you would set A to 900, B to 2100, and save it under the name "D1 900x2100", for example.
Then, you would change the value of A to 1000, keep B at 2100, and save it under the name "D1 1000x2100". And so on.

Is this what you are trying to do?

Re: It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revi

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:03:41 GMT

Hi Laszlo Nagy,

Thanks for your reply,

I have created a window with one set of dimensions but like wise i have 400 (instants) set of dimensions for a window

wether i have to create 400 separate models in the library?

Re: It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revi

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:18:30 GMT

If you want to do it like that, then yes, you will have to save all those GDL objects one by one.
But I don't know why anyone would want to do it that way. Maybe you could explain it.

If you want to change them, it is very easy to use Find & Select to find all instances and change them.
If you want to schedule them, you can schedule the width and height easily, so the width and height value does not have to be in the name of the object.

If you want only to have certain sizes and size combinations available for a certain Door, for example, you could also program the Parameter Script of the object so that only certain values and value combinations can be entered in the width and height fields.
The VALUES command of GDL can be used in the Parameter Script of the object to achieve that (in such a case you would not need to lock the A and B parameters as I mentioned in my previous post, since you are selecting values for them when using the Object).

For example: you could type:

VALUES "A" 900, 1000, 1100, 1200

and then you could select only these 4 sizes for the "A" parameter (Width) of the Door.
You could do the same for the Height, for example:

VALUES "B" 2000, 2100, 2200, 2400, 2700

In this case you would have 4x5 = 20 standard Door sizes.

You could also make conditions so for a certain width only certain height values are available, for example:

IF A = 1200 THEN
VALUES "B" 2200, 2400, 2700
ENDIF

In this case, when the width is set to 1200, only 3 sizes would be available.

Re: It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revi

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:44:54 GMT

Thanks will try it. and let you know.

Re: It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revi

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:41:23 GMT

Thanks a lot, Now I had understood the concept.
I have another clarification that is: Is it Possible to assign the value of B= 2000 When the A value is 100
For Example
IF A= 100 Then
B=2000
EndIF
I had tried it in Parameter script, it is not working kindly assist me where I need add this code to get this value in Window Setting Dialog box.

Re: It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revi

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:44:53 GMT

The correct syntax for this in the Parameter Script is:

IF A = 100 THEN
VALUES "B" 2000
ENDIF

So you need to use the VALUES command to achieve this.
For more information check the GDL Reference Manual.

Re: It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revi

Scott Davis — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:27:36 GMT

laszlonagy wrote:
If I understand correctly, Types are usually separate objects (Families in Revit). For example, a 900x2100 door is a separate object and a 1000x2100 is another object.
ArchiCAD GDL object can have many-many parameters and they don't get slow as the number of parameters, constraints and parametric relationships within the objects increase, like they do in Revit after a certain point. Therefore you will many times see a single ArchiCAD object does the same as many Revit objects together.

Types in Revit are not separate objects. One object can have many (hundreds/thousands) of different types. One door, for example, can have a type that is 900x2100 and another type that is 1000x2100; same geometry, same object. Revit objects can have many parameters with no slowness. Take a wide flange steel section: one family (object) with hundreds of different sizes and no slowness. Revit objects can have many types that can control more than just size. One door family can contain any number of frames and panels that can create a huge number of combinations of frames/panels all with varying sizes/materials. All built in the graphical family editor environment with no special coding language required.

Re: It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revi

Barry Kelly — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 01:43:33 GMT

Scott wrote:
Types in Revit are not separate objects. One object can have many (hundreds/thousands) of different types. One door, for example, can have a type that is 900x2100 and another type that is 1000x2100; same geometry, same object. .....

Sounds like "Favourites" then.
It is a shame that Archicad doesn't have a better system for organizing more than a couple of dozen favourites for each tool.
We really could do with some sort of folder hierarchy within the favourite list.
Barry.

Re: It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revi

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:50:00 GMT

It is possible to create the equivalent of Revit types (or my old favorite, speedikon class codes) in GDL by scripting either with VALUES statements or by referencing an external data file.

Some of the more complex systems in Revit also do the latter (typically with .csv files). This is how I get nice accurate cast iron pipe fittings in Revit.

This is actually an area where the programs are not so different. There are pros and cons each way but they can both accomplish pretty much th same goals in their own ways.

It is unfortunate that favorites are so limited. With some modest improvements they could easily do all the type catalog duty and more. Maybe in 18...

Re: It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revi

Ralph Wessel — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:48:54 GMT

Scott wrote:
One door family can contain any number of frames and panels that can create a huge number of combinations of frames/panels all with varying sizes/materials.

That's interesting. The attached image shows an ArchiCAD object in use. Every wall opening in the image contains a single instance of the same GDL object, i.e. there is only a single GDL object in this project and the doors/windows are not made by bolting separate bits together. We'd been looking for similar technology and Revit, but everyone we've talked to couldn't come up with anything. Do you have any similar examples?

Re: It is possible to create Type catalog like Autodesk revi

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:31:03 GMT

Ralph,

AFAIK Revit cannot do all that your example shows except perhaps by API.

Scott,

Please let me know if I am mistaken about this. Are the Revit parameters really that flexible? I haven't had the chance to push the limits of family editing. The fanciest thing I've done is using CSV files for preset parameter values.

BTW: It's good to see you back. Is this a change in Adesk policy?