topic Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin? in Archicad Python API

When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

leilei — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 10:33:04 GMT

Hello,
Does anyone know this question? I want to know when I can use graphisoft python plugin.Probably which version can use it? AC23 or AC24...

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Tibor Lorantfy — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 08:44:31 GMT

Hi,

Python Add-On development is still in the experimental phase, we are investigating the possible solutions.
One of those is to create a Python wrapper for the existing C++ API. We have an early implementation of that, but that may change. We'll make our choice depending on the real user requirements. So I cannot answer your question yet, but we are open to use cases, feel free to share your thoughts.

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

leilei — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 09:36:27 GMT

Hi Tibor,

I found that allplan's SmartPart operation is very similar to AC's GDL.So whether the operation of the AC python plugin will be like the allplan python plugin.

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

poco2013 — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 16:19:38 GMT

My Comments:

A Python Wrapper would certainly be the quickest and most direct approach but there are other issues to consider if this immense effort is to be useful.
My concern is the present diversion of data access in Archicad. IFC, Properties, Expressions, GDL, & API data structures all have a slice and none have total access to all data. This severely limits practical user applications and creates confusion.
Also, some consideration should be made for small, quick macros, which don't require much planning or expertise necessary to accomplish those quick data display issues.

Finally, I hope Archicad does not 'reinvent the wheel' as they just did with expressions, by introducing another language format. Hopefully, Graphisoft will take a look at their sister corp, which has managed to simplify (somewhat) the marriage of both the configuration and display of data through their python/worksheet system. Not saying that even that can't be improved on. This is certainly not something that should be rushed into and should certainly first be reviewed by a skilled, diverse user base.

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Ralph Wessel — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 06:12:53 GMT

poco2013 wrote:
My concern is the present diversion of data access in Archicad. IFC, Properties, Expressions, GDL, & API data structures all have a slice and none have total access to all data.

The API has access to all of the above. Therefore, a Python wrapper potentially could too. But as Tibor says, it depends on what would provide the most benefit. Posting potential use-cases for Python scripts would be informative.

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

poco2013 — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 20:52:34 GMT

By way of example:
Frequently a quick means of performing area analysis is required. Typically done external to Archicad using Excel, etc. By area analysis, I mean -- FARs, setbacks, permeable, impermeable, overhangs, undisturbed areas and the percent & overall of each- All in a tabulated SS. -- You get the idea. In some software, this is only a half dozen lines of code in either Python or Ruby. i.e. a macro. Generally, this requires summing selected zones and subtracting others. Certainly this can be done now with the Archicad API -- But a PETA & difficult when you need to change the formulas.

The key is a means of doing a 'quick' search, sort, selection & enumeration based on some criteria.
Also, important is the use of regular expressions to simplify discovery - RegEX. Python has this feature as a add-on -- Hopefully, it will be included?

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Akos Somorjai — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 11:15:02 GMT

poco2013 wrote:
By way of example:
Frequently a quick means of performing area analysis is required. Typically done external to Archicad using Excel, etc. By area analysis, I mean -- FARs, setbacks, permeable, impermeable, overhangs, undisturbed areas and the percent & overall of each- All in a tabulated SS. -- You get the idea. In some software, this is only a half dozen lines of code in either Python or Ruby. i.e. a macro. Generally, this requires summing selected zones and subtracting others. Certainly this can be done now with the Archicad API -- But a PETA & difficult when you need to change the formulas.

The key is a means of doing a 'quick' search, sort, selection & enumeration based on some criteria.
Also, important is the use of regular expressions to simplify discovery - RegEX. Python has this feature as a add-on -- Hopefully, it will be included?

Hi,

First, regex -- most external libraries can be used in the Python code.

Could you please post a sample Python script that achieves what you need in another software? I'm curious how much of that is available in our Python interface at the moment.

Best, Akos

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

poco2013 — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 12:41:17 GMT

Ahhhh –

I was not exactly clear in my “proposed example” What I was suggesting was a python function to return a array, dictionary or tuple to objects meeting a criteria. We can argue about the criteria but basically the standard such as ID, properties/parameters/attributes, layers etc..As of now in VW, a single parameter is returned to a single object or a sum of objects. In Chief Architect, parameters must be collected in labels and stored in Global memory before use. None of this is a major problem but is less intuitive. Easier to first obtain a array of GUID's then interrogate each or the array of GUID via a single function and/or a enumeration and then obtain back the parameters/properties/expression results of interest.

After data is collected, basically areas but sometimes conditionals/status, the calculations and display is routine and depends on the programs capabilities. Without a means of data display in layout, all of the above is fruitless. I particularly like VW's User Spreadsheets but even there could be more versatile.

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 13:36:05 GMT

I have to share same concerns as Gerry about this topic as well. Let me give a quick example of problem I had past week. I created a simple parameter for a wall which would read "override surface" information and based on that assign some predefined value. This is quite a simple programing task, as it would require one FOR loop and possible one IF statement nested inside the FOR loop. However, we currently do not have this capacity inside expressions, I only managed to use IF expressions, which seams to be mandatory of both TRUE and FALSE condition. So the sollution was to go into grasshopper, read custom expressions (which you have to do trough string) and than create a custom xml file which could be loaded inside archicad expressions. The given xml file contains a series of nested IF statements, which is quite hard to follow as such. I do believe python wrapper could access all of those informations from AC and make this task quite easy.

I am sorry if I missed some potential options which could solve this issue in a different manner.
Regards,
P

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Ben Cohen — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 23:47:18 GMT

Hi

As a long time GDL developer this is very very exciting!!
Giving us the power of the API with something like python would just be amazing.
I have so many questions, but the main one is when ?

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 04:13:56 GMT

I also want to know when ArchiCAD API can use Python. And how to use Python is API easily for creating ArchiCAD tool.

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 06:34:19 GMT

This would be huge!
Very few people with architecture education coming from universities know how to write C/C++ very well but python is widely used in the design industry and way easier to learn. By making the API accesible with python code it woul allow a lot more people and practices to creatively explore whats possible with ArchiCAD without the limitations of the partial systems(like GDL). The grashopper connection is a really good step in this direction but i would like to have an easy accesible way to pull data out of ArchiCAD, do whatever i want with it and play it back into the program.

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 09:27:59 GMT

I have experience in using the C ++ interpreter for automation ARCHICAD in add-ons from 2014 year.
I would be very happy if this experience was useful to use it in the forming ideas for python plugin development.

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

leceta — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 18:22:59 GMT

With python, I would write custom add-ons. I struggle to be more specific... any example seems to be anecdotical, as long as the problem domain is so large.

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 08:03:46 GMT

C ++ is very powerful and fast.
In my opinion, it is imperative to provide for C ++ developers the ability to call the procedures and data of their add-ons from the phiton scripts.
It is tested and works fine.

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Anonymous — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 17:45:58 GMT

I would appreciate if we could have some reply from Graphisoft developers, on approximate time of the year when we could finally have the access to python API. Would it be end of this year? Or first half of 2019? Or later?
Thank you in advance.

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Tibor Lorantfy — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 14:09:16 GMT

nedostizni wrote:
I would appreciate if we could have some reply from Graphisoft developers, on approximate time of the year when we could finally have the access to python API. Would it be end of this year?

Our goal is to publish the first version of the Python API (v0.1 Experimental Version) by the end of this year.

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 20:02:17 GMT

Hi Tibor,

Thank you for the very nice news!! Finally!

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

poco2013 — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 20:15:18 GMT

Yes -- Good news indeed!!!

Is there going to be a Beta Site that we can sign up for? I think it would be wildly optimistic to expect that everything will be perfect the first time out?

Re: When can I use the graphisoft python plugin?

Ben Cohen — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 02:16:26 GMT

I am really looking forward to this. I have watched a few of the Revit - Python videos and this has got me excited .