topic Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker in Libraries & objects

Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Dalius — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 14:11:57 GMT

How to make a wall hole follow the outline of a custom-shaped window using the Library Part Maker (LPM) add-on? I cannot find such an explanation in the Library Part Maker 25 User Guide: https://help.graphisoft.com/AC/25/INT/LPM.pdf

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Dontknow — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 09:51:08 GMT

When I make my own window I ad a slab with the ID 'wallhole' to the window to make a wall hole in the same shape as the window.

Once made a video of it.

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Dalius — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 13:41:52 GMT

@Dontknow
Thanks for your reply, but my question was how to do it using the Library Part Maker add-on.

A window object created using slabs in the way you described is not suitable for two reasons. First, it does not react to the side materials of the wall, so the opening on both sides of the window frame receives the material of the wall edge. Second, when such a window is at zero floor level, the Zone does not respond to it when calculating the area of the room.

In the meantime, a window object created using the Library Part Maker add-on shows everything correctly. However, the LPM User Guide does not explain how to make a custom-shaped wall hole instead of an automatically made rectangle.

Guys, does anyone use LPM to create objects?

Could the developers of this add-on answer my question?

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Podolsky — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 17:51:44 GMT

Write it on GDL. It's not so scary as it looks like at first. LPM is general is very weak Add-On.

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

SenecaDesignLLC — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 23:54:20 GMT

Definitely go with GDL over time it will be well worth the outcome

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

ryejuan — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 02:30:35 GMT

easier said than done. the learning curve of jumping into GDL is not that simple to other users LPM simplifies it but yes GDL is more powerful vs LPM. 😆

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

SenecaDesignLLC — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 02:59:32 GMT

Learning gdl will unlock a massively greater understanding of the program though. It's not hard it's just time as gdl is ultimately just trigonometry.

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Rob — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 16:48:03 GMT

Hi Dalius,

Unfortunately, the thing you are trying to achieve is not possible with Library Part Maker (LPM). LPM can create openings with rectangular wall holes only (which is mentioned in the manual). This is a technology limitation we are aware of. Unfortunately, we have not managed to rectify this issue as yet.

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Rafal SLEK — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 05:57:22 GMT

Hi,
It's a bit of a surprise that LPM can't create a window on any shape. It would be great to be able to use the plugin's ability to parameterise an object in such cases as well.
Are there any plans to expand the capabilities with this functionality?
best
Rafał

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Rob — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 13:29:46 GMT

Dalius,

the problem is not really about creating the custom wall hole shape itself. The problem is related to supporting structures of openings, especially the reveal functionality... e.g. current reveals will not work with round/oval/elliptic shapes as well as triangular wall hole shapes (2D and 3D representation would be different). This is obviously doable in terms of development but it is not a trivial task and it would require a significant commitment of resources and time that would have to be taken from other projects we have already scheduled for development. I hope it makes a sense.

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Rafal SLEK — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 08:52:20 GMT

Hi,
well, it's a bit of a pity that another interesting tool but unfortunately with a big drawback.
Maybe in this case there is at least the possibility to skip when saving Window the hole that always gets rectangular? It would then be possible to replace it manually in the script or with the Opening Tool?
best
Rafał

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

ryejuan — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 10:12:02 GMT

Wallhole always does the trick. 😆

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Rafal SLEK — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 10:22:06 GMT

Try combining the Wallhole command with the LPM window 😁.
Best

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Rob — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 09:38:16 GMT

to explain why it is not that easy: current LPM creates attributes, geometry and properties code that is then "injected" into a door and/or window GDL object templates that carry all supporting "envelope" code including reveals, UI script, MVO logic etc... so, we would have to "test" the wall hole shape first and than conditionally "branch" the template code accordingly. That test requires a proper algorithmic analysis that could deal virtually with an infinite number of possibilities. Given the wall hole possible complexity it is a very difficult task and maybe it is not solvable with the current approach, which would then require a complete re-think of LPM's internal logic and thus blowing up the development time/resources to unpredictable proportions. And this is very difficult to justify at the commercial level. That's why I said that it is not really a trivial task.

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Lingwisyer — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 01:42:02 GMT

Maybe if there was some way for a user to define edge type when using LPM? So you would basically have all the answers to the "test" before you even start?

Ling.

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Hmooslechner — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 12:02:56 GMT

You know this part?

https://bimcomponents.com/GSM/Details/21360

read the description, look at the Youtube-link. drag it into Archicad. I've made it some years ago - so its a little primitiv, Just draw the opening-lines yourself...

Another try:

also: read the description

Re: Custom-Shaped Window and Library Part Maker

Victor C Pop — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 12:34:54 GMT

With all due respect it doesn't make sense. Graphisoft is the company that provided the add-on in the first place, so it might as well invest into finishing it up. It would be and could be immensely useful. Although it would bother many 3rd party developers... That I get.