topic Re: gbXML Export in Collaboration with other software

gbXML Export

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:42:57 GMT

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone on this forum who has helped me so far. I've learnt alot and I couldn't have done it without you. Also to the company ' Encina ' who make fantastic add-ons for ArchiCAD has really helped me with my work and understanding ArchiCAD better.

I've just used the gbXML export add on for the first time and I can't belive how easy it was to use. This has saved me from having to draw the building envelope in that horrible software Ecotect, which is where the model is going to be used for the solar analysis etc. The image below shows my building, but from ArchiCAD how can I add the floors to the export and also the windows ? Now the windows were created by the curtain wall tool, then I manually ' fillied in the gaps ' with the wall tool, ( the windows are not ordinary windows so I made them myself ) so this could be why they haven't been exported... Actually thinking about it, I don't think this add on was designed to export the windows...

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you

Re: gbXML Export

Ralph Wessel — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:51:55 GMT

NStocks wrote:
Now the windows were created by the curtain wall tool, then I manually ' fillied in the gaps ' with the wall tool, ( the windows are not ordinary windows so I made them myself ) so this could be why they haven't been exported... Actually thinking about it, I don't think this add on was designed to export the windows...

The gbXML Export add-on does export windows, but not curtain walls (API access to curtain walls is problematic at present - hopefully improved in AC14).

If the windows don't appear in Ecotect, there are two possible answers:
1) Something in the zones or model are preventing a clean export
2) Ecotect isn't importing them

I need more information to work it out. First, which version of Ecotect are you using? Also, can you email the gbXML file to me for checking? You can also check for yourself - windows and doors in the gbXML are tagged as an "Opening". Open the file with any text editor and search for that tag. It will look something like

<Opening id="opn4" openingType="NonSlidingDoor" constructionIdRef="ctn5">

[Edit: You should fully model your building with walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, doors, and windows. The gbXML won't contain any more than your model does.]

Re: gbXML Export

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:06:03 GMT

I'm using the Autodesk Ecotect Analysis 2010 version ( latest ). I now fear that the floors are causing the problems, they were created with slab but I'm not sure why they wouldn't export. I will send you the file.

Thank You

Re: gbXML Export

Ralph Wessel — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:54:50 GMT

NStocks wrote:
I'm using the Autodesk Ecotect Analysis 2010 version ( latest ). I now fear that the floors are causing the problems, they were created with slab but I'm not sure why they wouldn't export. I will send you the file.

OK, I've looked at your gbXML. I also opened it in IES (image attached). First up, there is only one door in the gbXML and no windows. The only 'openings' are huge gaps between the walls.

Did you actually place windows in the model, i.e. using the Window tool, or did you simply draw walls bounding curtain wall elements? It looks like the latter.

Second, the gbXML does include a roof and floors. However, the rooms do not seem to be vertically connected, i.e. the walls below don't connect to the ceilings above. This can happen if your room zones are too short and don't make contact with the slab above. Perhaps you should email your model as well.

Re: gbXML Export

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:59:00 GMT

Yes, I made the windows using the Curtain Wall tool, then bounded the curtain wall to the floors by using the wall tool. This probably explain why there are just large openings, as you know the curtain wall doesn't 'cut' the wall like windows do.

Thank You

Re: gbXML Export

Ralph Wessel — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:46:44 GMT

NStocks wrote:
Yes, I made the windows using the Curtain Wall tool, then bounded the curtain wall to the floors by using the wall tool. This probably explain why there are just large openings, as you know the curtain wall doesn't 'cut' the wall like windows do.

Correct. To produce a good gbXML file, model walls with the wall tool, floors/roofs with the slab/roof tool, windows with the window tool, and doors with the door tool.

It's far easier to produce windows with the window tool anyway - they integrate well with other building elements, particularly walls. You must have spent quite a while shaping the walls around those curtain walls.

Re: gbXML Export

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:51:34 GMT

Ralph wrote:
NStocks wrote:
Yes, I made the windows using the Curtain Wall tool, then bounded the curtain wall to the floors by using the wall tool. This probably explain why there are just large openings, as you know the curtain wall doesn't 'cut' the wall like windows do.
Correct. To produce a good gbXML file, model walls with the wall tool, floors/roofs with the slab/roof tool, windows with the window tool, and doors with the door tool.

It's far easier to produce windows with the window tool anyway - they integrate well with other building elements, particularly walls. You must have spent quite a while shaping the walls around those curtain walls.

Yes it did take quite a long time, but this is the easiest way for me to do it. Whilst I made a custom window, I wasn't sure how you get the library part ' out of ' the 3D window... Is there anything I can do regarding the floors and windows to make them go into Ecotect from Archicad ?

Thank You

Re: gbXML Export

Ralph Wessel — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:11:37 GMT

NStocks wrote:
Yes it did take quite a long time, but this is the easiest way for me to do it. Whilst I made a custom window, I wasn't sure how you get the library part ' out of ' the 3D window... Is there anything I can do regarding the floors and windows to make them go into Ecotect from Archicad ?

The floors are already in the gbXML (as you can see in the IES image). If they don't appear in Ecotect, then you need to contact Autodesk to find out why.

To get windows in the gbXML, put windows in your ArchiCAD model. If you need help creating your windows, start a new topic showing what you have done so far and asking how this could be done with windows rather than curtain walls.

Re: gbXML Export

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:21:13 GMT

I'm starting to place the windows, directly in Ecotect as this saves time, for sure I will be learning how to create custom windows as will come in useful when we start out next project on Monday ( not sure what the brief is yet... ) In Ecotect, it shows two planes one the floor and one the ceiling., but they don't seem to join i.e there is a (300mm ) gap between floors. I know this is probably something I should be asking on the autodesk forum, I've already posted on there but it doesn't seem as active as this forum.

Thank you again Ralph.

Re: gbXML Export

Ralph Wessel — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:43:10 GMT

NStocks wrote:
In Ecotect, it shows two planes one the floor and one the ceiling., but they don't seem to join i.e there is a (300mm ) gap between floors.

Check the level and height of each interior zone - it should touch or overlap its respective floor and ceiling (i.e. the slab or roof element). If in doubt, show the zones in 3D and visually check that they fill the room interiors.

Re: gbXML Export

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:55:50 GMT

Nathan,

You might try tracing the profile of the curtainwall using an empty freeform window object.

Leave the curtainwall windows where they are, just build the main wall out of a single big wall instead of lots of little infill walls, then place the freeform window into the big wall and adjust the shape in elevation to match. I just described how to use the object here -

http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=164050

I would imagine the gbXML exporter would then correctly recognise them as windows.

(Evening Ralph!)

Re: gbXML Export

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:33:28 GMT

Hi Peter,

I've looked at that before, and I have just re-loaded the library parts, however I don't see the Freeform window under the window tool... Is there anyway I can resolve this ?

EDIT: I have just played around with the library and got it to work... Strange, I think my whole library needs a good clean up...

Thank You

Re: gbXML Export

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:37:14 GMT

This tool is great ! It's going to save me a whole load of time in the long run, but I'm still pleased I used the curtain wall tool previously as I now know how flexible that can also be !

How do I add more hotspots to the freeform window ?

Re: gbXML Export

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:58:26 GMT

I was just about to reply to your old message!

In 3d / elevation drag any of the midpoints hotspots to create a new corner. New midpoint hotspots will be formed either side automatically.

Just a note about the 2d cutplane position which is also a little tricky to understand. It measures upwards from where the base of the window was when inserted. If you insert the window with a cill level of 0.00m and move the individual nodes into position, it should work fairly logically, but you will have to adjust it manually if you change the floorplan cutplane level. It isn't automatic, unfortunately.

Re: gbXML Export

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 11:31:19 GMT

I'm making good progress with the window tool, however the window is not visible on the floor plan... Any ideas ?

This tool is extremely fast !

Thank You

Re: gbXML Export

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:23:57 GMT

NStocks wrote:
I'm making good progress with the window tool, however the window is not visible on the floor plan... Any ideas ?

The main problem I noticed was I can't seem to get it to display on multiple stories, even when set to projected. Is this the problem you're having, or can you not even see it on the storey you placed it on?

The only solution for the multi storey problem I can think of is to temporarily set the freeform window's cutplane height to the equivalent height it would be on the next storey up, use the marquee to select just the area of the window, create a patch, and paste it on the next storey up. You may need to use display order to bring the curtain wall in front of the patch in plan. Change the windows cutplane height back to where it should be for the lower storey.