topic Re: Trap Door / Hatch Door / Concealed Door / Gas Strut Door Panel in Modeling

Trap Door / Hatch Door / Concealed Door / Gas Strut Door Panel

SimonSDesign — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:24:35 GMT

A Gas Strut Door like this in the reference images is in huge demand and is currently almost impossible to model in AC unless you code it yourself. Can we please get a door that can be placed on floors? I have tried it with a roof and skylights but that is not a valid alternative and does not provide the desired outcome.

Here is what the door should be capable of:

Recognize floor thickness, but also allow for manual adjustment.
If placed on an edge, we need an option to apply fascia and trim material staggered so there is a visible seam for realism.
The 2D cut through should look like the real thing and not like a schematic symbol.
Optional finish material from the building material library to match the deck.
Finish material needs to be adjustable in thickness to match the decking.
We need a new door label option for this type of door.
The door should be able to open to the sides, similar to a French or double door.
The plan view should allow the standard background fill and cut fill options.

Operating system used: Windows 11

Re: Trap Door / Hatch Door / Concealed Door / Gas Strut Door Panel

SenecaDesignLLC — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 13:10:13 GMT

I have a very basic one, but it's a skylight so it has to go in a roof element

Re: Trap Door / Hatch Door / Concealed Door / Gas Strut Door Panel

SimonSDesign — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 12:14:21 GMT

That was my first approach as well, but it just doesn’t cut it in terms of appearance and flexibility. I then started using ChatGPT to help me write the GLD script because I don’t know anything about scripting. Surprisingly, that actually worked somewhat, and I ended up with a customizable dummy hatch that I can place on the floor. It doesn't cut the hole by default and looks pretty basic, but at least I can change the material and have a visible line on the plan.

hoping GS is catching up on this and makes something.

Re: Trap Door / Hatch Door / Concealed Door / Gas Strut Door Panel

mthd — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 03:05:52 GMT

Please show us the steps and the result, as this might end up being a tip of the month ?

Let AI do the scripting ? Yes please. Better still, let an Archicad AI do the scripting for us instead.

Re: Trap Door / Hatch Door / Concealed Door / Gas Strut Door Panel

SimonSDesign — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 11:18:59 GMT

It's a working script, but it still has some issues with frame and decking alignment. However, that's something I can fix with the right prompting of the AI. I can upload the final script and steps here as soon as I have time to get back to it.

Not sure what tip of the month is, but hey, whatever it takes to get GS to work on it😂

I have recently implemented various workflow adjustments and improvements by clearly communicating my goals to AI regarding how I want tasks to function and appear. I am now able to show steps in foundation heights color-coded based on their relation to the sea level, and then created a scripted label that automatically labels the top of footing and top of wall in the same relation.

Re: Trap Door / Hatch Door / Concealed Door / Gas Strut Door Panel

mthd — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 02:39:00 GMT

@SimonSDesign I have never scripted or even edited a script. I believe that AI scripting inside AC is where AI could become very handy for us all. For tip of the month please see the front page of the community.

Re: Trap Door / Hatch Door / Concealed Door / Gas Strut Door Panel

Lingwisyer — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 03:22:48 GMT

Improved documentation for the language would probably be needed before AI would be able to script reliably. That would be a huge improvement in itself. I wonder how good the API documentation is. Not knowing C++ or python I have not read it...