topic Re: LIBRARY folder in Libraries & objects

LIBRARY folder

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:11:44 GMT

How can i make a library folder with my own objects that uses my own colors/ material. The materials should work when i LINK the library folder??
I tried to put the colors in the folder as JPG but do not work. I even tried to put them as aat and it still not work. what should i do????
I am trying to make a library folder with my objects for everybody to download from the internet.... Please help

Re: LIBRARY folder

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:31:32 GMT

I assume you are referring to the textures assigned to the materials. All that is required is for the image files to be in one of the loaded libraries or embedded in the project file. If this is not working you are probably doing something wrong, but it's hard to sat from your description what that might be. Perhaps you can describe your process in a bit more detail.

Re: LIBRARY folder

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:57:42 GMT

Thank you for the reply Matthew Lohden.
Sorry for the bad description of my problem.

I am trying to make a folder with GDL objects for downloading. When you download the folder, you should be able to go to the library manager and LINK library. When you do that, the materials should follow.

Re: LIBRARY folder

Barry Kelly — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:31:00 GMT

omar wrote:
....When you do that, the materials should follow.

Not unless you DEFINE the material in the object script or create a Master_GDL object with the materaila defined in that.

The materials in a file are controlled by the attributes and your material list will more than like be different to my materials or other peoples materials unless we all use the same default template.

A material you call "Stainless steel" may have an attribute number of 23 in your PLN file.
But in mine attribute 23 might be "Plastic".

So you either need to DEFINE the materials in a script (object script or Master_GDL script - effectively hard coding them into the object) or supply an attribute file (.AAT) of your materials that other users can load in.

Attribute files can be dangerous though as users can inadvertantly replace some or all of their existing materials with your new ones if the attribute numbers are the same for different materials.
They will need to APPEND your materials to theirs, but then I am not sure if your objects will automaticall reference your new materail by name or whether it will use the attribute number which will be the users own material and not your new one.
That would have to be tested unless someone knows the answer straight away.

Barry.

Re: LIBRARY folder

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:03:50 GMT

Can anyone tell me how i define materials in the master script???

Re: LIBRARY folder

David Maudlin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:29:14 GMT

omar:

I the GDL Reference Guide, look for the command DEFINE MATERIAL, it will explain the parameters as well as provide a few examples.

David

Re: LIBRARY folder

Barry Kelly — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:27:07 GMT

Omar,
You can DEFINE the materials in the individual objects but you will need to do this in each object.
The material will only be available in the object you define it in.

Look at creating a MASTER_GDL file that can be added to your library.
DEFINE the materials in here and they will be available for all objects.
You can create one specifically for materials (you can call it "MASTER_GDL_materials" or whatever you like so long as it starts with "MASTER_GDL").
You will find info on this in the GDL reference.

Barry.

PS you only need to post your question once.
Now there are 3 separate threads going on the same subject.

Re: LIBRARY folder

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:14:54 GMT

I cannot merge the two topics since they are not about the same thing ( I deleted the third), but here is the link to the post I wrote, which is pretty much the same thing Barry wrote, maybe a bit more elaborate:

http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=37034&start=10

Omar, ask you questions only in one thread, otherwise you will be considered a spammer. People who read the forum usually read all posts so if you will be answered, asking only once is enough, it will be read.

Re: LIBRARY folder

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:11:39 GMT

OK. Sorry. wont happen again.

Re: LIBRARY folder

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:50:50 GMT

I made an object with a number of materials that you can choose from. When i use the index nr of the materials in the parameter script( VALUES "color" 167, 168, 169, 170) then the user can only use those colors. that is what i want.
But when i use a MASTER_GDL with define colors, the user can choose from the whole AC library. that is what i do not want..
What should i write in the parameter script instead of the index nr?
The user should only be able to choose my colors. my materials are jpg.
Probely very stupid but i am learnig...
Please help!!

Re: LIBRARY folder

Laszlo Nagy — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:27:12 GMT

Pens are different in this regard because you cannot define new pens as such. What I mean is that there are Pen Sets and each pent set has 255 colors, no more, no less.
With other attribute types, like materials, you can define as many as you wish.

So they work differently in GDL as well.