Hidden Global Variables and/or Functions

[Red]

Does anyone out know some hidden global variables and/or functions for slabs, roofs, fills, mesh, etc…… We have come across a few of them throughout the years that were not published in the GDL Manual and other helpful GDL books. The reason I’m asking is that we are currently developing AC Add-ons, but have ran into roadblocks along the way.

BTW since GDL is an open source language (please correct me if I'm wrong) are there published lists out that we have not seen, and if not why is this not public knowledge?

[Anonymous]

Red,
I am not aware of any "hidden global variables and/or functions"
unless this would include such things as the undocumented -1
status value in the MASS command.

Could you give us an example or two of some that you have found ?

I can think of one circumstance where it might appear that there
is a new unpublished global and that is the use by someone
of the "Free users' globals" as in the Laurent Godel's Driller Kit.
Thank you,
Peter Devlin

[Karl Ottenstein]

Not aware of any hidden globals either.

As far as documentation beyond the GDL manual (and Cookbook), have you downloaded the "Basic Library" documentation from:
http://www.graphisoft.com/support/developer/documentation/index.html

Information most intermediate to advanced GDL programmers should have.

Karl

[Laszlo Nagy]

The GDL Global parameters are described in detail at the following page:

http://www.graphisoft.com/support/archicad/archiguide/generalparameters.html

It is true this was done by me for 6.5, so I will have to update it for AC 9.

Another one that lists Zone GDL Globals is here:

http://www.graphisoft.com/support/archicad/archiguide/zonefixparameters.html

Also, there is an article about listing parameters. At the end of this you can find a table that shows which Listing parameter corresponds to which GDL Global variable:

http://www.graphisoft.com/support/archicad/archiguide/listingparameters.html

[Anonymous]

Laszlo,
It would be great if you could update The GDL Global parameters
descriptions because I know some things have changed.
For instance, there are many more global_context values
than the six that used to be.
It is hard for me to figure out the meaning of some of these
new values from reading the manual.
A description of them would be much appreciated.

Thank you,
Peter Devlin

[Laszlo Nagy]

Yes, I will, I just need to make time for it, because right now I am working on another big Project for Graphisoft which has top priority. But it is not forgotten and I will do it.

[Red]

Peter wrote:
Could you give us an example or two of some that you have found ?

Needed: Variables assigned for determining the “A” & “B” (length & width) dimensions for roof slabs and/or floor slabs, & variables assigned to determining axial measurements between nodes.



I am trying to frame out specific sections of roof and floor slabs, and may make use of the same for wall framing. To do so, I must be able to determine the vector lengths of each edge surface. Additionally, I need to be able to determine the removed edge length (from the original “X” or “Y” dimensions) for a roof slab when any shaped form is removed from the slab through the perimeter or when a hole is contained within a slab.