HELP!!! GDL calculations based off of a slab

[Anonymous]

I need a lil help, I am trying to do some calculations for decking coverage by using the slab tool, May not be the best way to go about it but I did not start this calculation I am just trying to update it. I need to know is there any command in GDL that can give ne the over all X, Y , and Z dimension of a slab, or the length of the sides of a slab. Please let me know so I can get this wrapped up. Thanks

[Anonymous]

The SLAB_TOP_SURF global is available to a label part and gives you the top surface area.

It is also trivial to get slab areas in the interactive scheduler.

Getting the X and Y extents of an arbitrary polygon is a bit more of a chore.

[Anonymous]

The current calc is using SLAB_TOP_SURF to calculate the footage of board needed. We have changed our specifications for installing the deck boards from running horizontal and only using 1 length to running diagonal and using 3 different lengths depending on how deep the deck is. So I was hoping to be able to find a way to distinguish the slab size in x and y to determine which length of board to calculate (without using multiple links or composite names). I figured it was a long shot but I thought I would ask. Thanks for you help I am going to have to go back to the drawing board.

Thanks Dereck

[Anonymous]

You could model the planks to their nominal dimensions and use SEOs as a circular saw to trim them to fit 😉

This is not really as crazy as it sounds since you can use the original deck slab as the operator and use the intersection function in the SEO.

[Anonymous]

I need something a lil simpler, I work for a log home manufacture and I am trying to keep things as simple as possible, we do to many drawings with to few ppl. I love the Idea though and can think of quite a few times to use it on other jobs and some of our modeling projects. Thanks for the Idea
Dereck

[Anonymous]

There may be a way. If I think of something I'll let you know. I'm sure it could be done as a slab accessory but that would be, as the programmers say, non-trivial.

[Anonymous]

programming is never trivial! the more I get into it the more I realize I don't know, but I am learning fast. Thanks for your help! If anyone else has an Idea please post it.

thanks Dereck