topic Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for? in Libraries & objects

Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

Sam Karli — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 22:33:07 GMT

Hi,
there are layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview, but I cannot use them at all and seemingly the docs about them is quite "compact".

At first it mentions that you can call the separate layers as macros ("A rétegek különösen hasznosak a jelkép részleteinek csoportosítására és ismételt felhasználására (ilyenkor mindegyik réteg makróként viselkedik). Rajzoljon egy ábrát a 2D-s leírás-ablakban a rendelkezésre álló grafikus eszközökkel, majd hivatkozzon erre az ábrára a rétegszámmal a GDL 2D-s leírásban.")

I tried to use it like

call "1"

or something but id didn't work.

The GDL Reference Guide doesn't seem to know about it.

Is it work, is there a material about it?

My goal is to have a GDL object that has different visibility on the containing story and the above stories (but to achieve it with only by drawing and not by coding much). Is it possible?

Thx.

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

Barry Kelly — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 01:40:01 GMT

You don't use "CALL" for the layers like you would a macro.
You want the FRAGMENT2 command where the 'fragment_index' is the layer number.

Barry.

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

DGSketcher — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 09:27:06 GMT

You may find this page and the rest of the site useful...

http://gdl.graphisoft.com/gdl-docs/gdl-guide/chapter-5-2d-shapes/binary-2d/

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

Sam Karli — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 15:25:44 GMT

Thanks for the answers, these solved the problem.

One more question:
I control the visibility of the object (a staircase) through GLOB_CSTORY_ELEV and GLOB_HSTORY_ELEV variables in order to show it on some storys (since settings allow only current and current + 1; I would need up to current+2 stories).

Is there a solution not using elevations (that can be affected if story heights change) bur stories?

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

Anonymous — Tue, 16 May 2017 19:42:13 GMT

Where can i find the layers to use with Fragment2 ? I am on version 20 and i dont see those 16 buttons in the GDL editor...

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 16 May 2017 23:19:43 GMT

If you open the 2D Symbol Window in the Library Editor, that is where you can draw the various FRAGMENTS of the GDL Object's 2D. You can use the Fill, Line and Arc/Circle Tools. When you select any of these Tools you will see that the Layer pop-up in the Info Box has these "Layer" 1 to 16. These are the FRAGMENTS you are looking for. Those Fills, Lines and Arcs/Circles can be placed on various FRAGMENTS and then you can use the FRAGMENT2 command in the 2D Script to decide which FRAGMENTS to display and how.

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

Barry Kelly — Wed, 17 May 2017 03:01:18 GMT

Also you the layer dialogue (CTRL+L) to turn those layers on or off.

There used to be buttons to turn the layers on/off but in newer versions they are gone and you must use CTRL+L.

Barry.

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

Anonymous — Wed, 17 May 2017 07:54:54 GMT

Thanks! I didn`t use this feature before but i am trying to learn the bascis of GDL object making. Where is the origin point/insertion point of the 2D Symbol? Is it the small X dot?

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

Barry Kelly — Wed, 17 May 2017 08:10:09 GMT

Constantin wrote:
Thanks! I didn`t use this feature before but i am trying to learn the bascis of GDL object making. Where is the origin point/insertion point of the 2D Symbol? Is it the small X dot?

Yes that is the 0,0 co-ordinate.
You only need to draw in the fragment layers if you do not want to create code in the 2D script.

You can also minimise the 2D script window and the 2D symbol window so you can see them side by side.
Then you can select and drag what you have drawn in the 2D symbol window across to the 2D script window and it will automatically create the code for you.
Now you can safely delete what is in the 2D symbol window because you have the script for it.

Barry.

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

Anonymous — Wed, 17 May 2017 08:36:12 GMT

I tried to copy paste and it tells me there is nothing on the clipboard.
By the way, is it possible to generate a 3D script in the same way?

Edit
I also tried to select and drag it but couldn`t get a code

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

Anonymous — Wed, 17 May 2017 08:47:35 GMT

Ok I got it working after a few trials

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

Barry Kelly — Wed, 17 May 2017 09:26:47 GMT

I should have said when you drag don't let go of the left mouse button.
You must hold it as you drag from one window to the other.
The cursor will change to an arrow with a box under if it is gong to work.

Unfortunately no you can't do it with 3D elements as there is no 3D symbol window where you can construct 3D elements - that would be nice though.

The 2D view and 3D view windows are simply views of what you have already scripted in the 2D & 3D scripts.

Barry.

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

David Maudlin — Wed, 17 May 2017 11:31:17 GMT

Constantin wrote:
By the way, is it possible to generate a 3D script in the same way?

You cannot do it within the GDL editor, but you can drag elements from the main ArchiCAD 2D (Plan) window into the GDL 3D Script window and the code will be automatically generated. Use the Project Origin in the 2D Window in the same location as the GDL origin.

David

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

Barry Kelly — Thu, 18 May 2017 01:11:30 GMT

David wrote:
You cannot do it within the GDL editor, but you can drag elements from the main ArchiCAD 2D (Plan) window into the GDL 3D Script window and the code will be automatically generated.

I always forget this - but I am usually happy scripting from scratch.
I do use it though to create an automatic CALL statement.
Place the object as you want it in the 2D Archicad window and drag it into the 2D script window and then you have a Call with all the parameters listed.
Edit and delete the parameters as needed - it can save a lot of time and cutting & pasting when you have a lot of parameters involved.

Barry.

Re: Layers 1..16 in GDL 2D preview: what for?

matjashka — Wed, 24 May 2017 18:51:28 GMT

The 16 layers are very handy for creating AutoCAD-like drafting blocks with some built-in smarts.

Try this: create a new object based on Drawing Symbol subtype (basically a GDL object that lacks 3D script) and then

1) in the Parameters, create 16 new parameters called show1, show2, ..., show16, each one a Boolean type which means it's an on/off switch.

2) in the 2D script crate the following 16 lines:

IF show1 THEN FRAGMENT2 1, 0
IF show2 THEN FRAGMENT2 2, 0
(...)
IF show16 THEN FRAGMENT2 16, 0

You can draw whatever you want on the 16 "internal" layers and just turn on/off what you don't need. Very handy for details.