Learning GDL

[Anonymous]

I have been thinking for a while now
about the problem of learning GDL
with library versions later than AC 7
When I started learning GDL in AC 4.5
one way I used was to save a door or
window in the library under a different
name and fix the errors in the scripts
which there were plenty. Now, in later
versions of the library, the scripts,
especially for doors and windows, are
so complex and rely so heavily on macros
that have macro calls themselves that it
is impossible to use this method to learn GDL.
I am thinking that while the AC 6.5 and AC 7 libraries
are still available from Graphisoft US technical Resources
that it would be useful for people trying to learn
GDL to get one of these libraries and study it
because the GDL code is so much easier to understand
and has few macro calls in the scripts
especially for doors and windows.
Thank you,
Peter Devlin

[Rakela Raul]

and Peter, thanks for providing the link to gdl cookbook3 in a diff tread...i went thru quickly and learned a few things, not even close to enough though !! but i'll be taking it in my next vacation...promised...

a few nites back i tried to rotate a solar panel object and my only leftover brain cell couldnt do it....but archirotate did it in seconds.....that italian man is not as bad as they said after all thanks again

[Anonymous]

Hello Raul,
With the GDL Cookbook 3 and DNC's update and
the AC 6.5 library you will do fine.
Basically, the changes in GDL in AC 8 and later
have to do with editable hotspots and group operations
and some new commands that can be learned using
the GDL manual. It is not, as some say, that the
Cookbook is obsolete, it is not, it now just slightly incomplete.
Everything in the Cookbook is still valid.
Peter Devlin

[Erich]

Peter,

This is spot on for how I am learning GDL. It works a treat!

Within a few days, it is easy to develop enough rudimentary skills to do basic objects in either 2D or 3D. From there you can slowly build complexity into those basic objects. There is no need to do everything at once.

In addition to the AC library, I only have the 11 version right now, I have found the smart parts collection a good example to look at to get a feel for a clear way to do things. That is, if one should be lucky enough to have some of those parts. Now the next challenge is to figure out how to customize the UI.

Oh, it also helps to have been a physics geek in an earlier life.

[Anonymous]

Erich,
Mostly my comments have to do with doors and windows.
It is true that most other objects do not have scripts
nearly so complex and obscure. This complexity started
in AC 8.0 with use of many more macros than in earlier versions
and has gotten steadily worse since. Have you looked at the
scripts for a door or window ? If you think you are going to
try to understand the scripting of a door or window you might
consider downloading the AC 6.5 library. I wonder if the doors
and windows in the INT library are as complex as in the US version.
Thanks,
Peter Devlin

[Erich]

Peter,

Yeah, I have taken a look at the scripts for doors and windows in AC 11. They are quite daunting. That is why I wanted to point out that looking a some of the simpler parts is a good way to start you off. Once you get a handle on the general scheme of how things work then build on that knowledge and increase the complexities. I will take a look at those older libraries though.

BTW thanks for the door part description in one of yoru other posts.