topic Betreff: Creating 2D-only Objects that can be updated at scale and in-place? in Libraries & objects

Creating 2D-only Objects that can be updated at scale and in-place?

Brandon-W_DWa — Wed, 28 May 2025 21:51:21 GMT

I am trying to determine the best workflow (which we define as the least time-consuming, least error-prone, and least workaround-ish) for the following scenario:

We have a very large industrial project with dozens, if not a hundred plan and section details.
In a lot of these details, there is a common assembly/condition in which modeled content is not appropriate, therefore we detail with lines, fills, etc.
Rather than draw and then copy/paste the same 2D elements over and over, we select the 2D elements, and perform the command "File > Libraries and Objects > Save Selection As... > Object". We do this with the thought of being able to update all instances of this placed object in the future.
This works great, until the team needs to make even a small revision to this saved object (with essentially a save-as and overwrite of the object). Although the content itself changes, the proportions (bounding box) of the object stays as it was prior to updating the object, rendering it useless. See the older post below from another user for the same problem:

I'm wondering what I need to do differently in order to make this work as we want? Essentially, if I have 50 2D objects placed in our documentation, I want to be able to update the object, and all 50 instances update as well, without getting distorted. Thanks!

Operating system used: Mac Apple Silicon 14.7.5 Sonoma

Re: Creating 2D-only Objects that can be updated at scale and in-place?

Kristian Goodsell — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:41:29 GMT

Brandon

If you trust the team to do a small amount of GDL it's fairly simple.

Once the object is saved, you'll have to open the object

File > Libraries and Objects > Open Object and add a couple lines to the master script

values 'A' ?.??

values 'B' ?.??

(the ?.?? represents the values that need to be updated.)

Hope that helps mate

Betreff: Creating 2D-only Objects that can be updated at scale and in-place?

runxel — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 08:38:52 GMT

With this type of application never do a "save as" through the menu.

Teach your colleagues to use the "2D-Symbol" part of an object. So: Create a new empty object and then paste everything from the floor plan in there.

Cool thing: You have 16 layers where you can store different stuff.

Either then use "fragment2 all, 0" in the 2D script or substitute "all" with a layer number between 1 and 16 – or: even make it into a parameter. Gives you plenty of options! 😎

Also much easier to amend/edit and it will not eff up everything after resaving.

Re: Creating 2D-only Objects that can be updated at scale and in-place?

Davor P — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 08:22:58 GMT

Pmks or hotlinked modules sound more appropriate for what you're describing.

Re: Creating 2D-only Objects that can be updated at scale and in-place?

Mathias Jonathan — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 08:33:03 GMT

An option to consider: using complex profile and column or @runxel "2D complex profile" object https://runxel.xyz/archicad-objects/

Re: Creating 2D-only Objects that can be updated at scale and in-place?

Brandon-W_DWa — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 12:37:08 GMT

These all seem like good workflows to test out; thanks all!

Re: Creating 2D-only Objects that can be updated at scale and in-place?

Jaime-airc_digital — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 19:30:53 GMT

I think the patch objects are exactly what you are looking for:

https://help.graphisoft.com/AC/28/INT/_AC28_Help/040_ElementsVB/040_ElementsVB-288.htm

Re: Creating 2D-only Objects that can be updated at scale and in-place?

Jaime-airc_digital — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 19:33:05 GMT

Here is a video from @Luca Manelli explaining the use:

Betreff: Creating 2D-only Objects that can be updated at scale and in-place?

Brandon-W_DWa — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 22:28:16 GMT

@runxel,

I ended up going this route, and I wish we would have utilized this system a long time ago! So thank you again for your response.

In my 2D-only object, I've utilized almost all 16 layers, in an effort to make the object as versatile as possible. And with your suggestion, I made them toggle-able with parameters. Now, I'm wondering if I could introduce some very basic parametric elements, beyond just "on/off" for the FRAGMENTS. My current object is all 2D elements to represent a millwork section, and I'd like to make the countertop depth parametric, as one example. However, I found this snippet in the GDL center; is this accurate?

I also attached my current object, if anyone wants to take a closer look.

Thanks all!

Betreff: Creating 2D-only Objects that can be updated at scale and in-place?

Barry Kelly — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:20:01 GMT

The fragments are not parametric, just static images.

So they are good if you just want option A or B or C.

To have a truly parametric symbol, you will need to actually script the detail with GDL commands (lines, rectangles, polygons) using parameters to control the sizes.

Barry.