Making binary objects parametric

[Daniel Lindahl]

Maybe you know about this one already, but I have a simple method for
dissecting a binary object into its sub-binaries so that you can allow the
user to define materials for the various bits and pieces.

Some years ago now I did this with the standard Archicad people objects
to give them more clothing and hair/skin colour options. Now in AC8, I
notice that Graphisoft have used the same technique with their new people
objects!

Here is how you do it:

1) Place the binary object in the plan, select it and go to 3D top
projection and resave it as a new binary object. This is important to make
the binary compatible with the version you are working in.

2) In the new object, comment out the main binary, and add in the following:

!BINARY 0,0,1 !
!BINARY 0,0,2 !
!BINARY 0,0,3 !
!BINARY 0,0,4 !
!BINARY 0,0,5 !
!BIN.....

DEL top

etc. etc..... you can keep adding part binaries until you run out of bits in
the object - there can be far more than 16. If you have all binaries
commented out except BINARY 0,0,39 and you click on the 3D window, you might get the warning "No 3D elements". Then you know you are at the end of the line!

3) Remove the leading exclamation mark from each line in turn, and check the 3D view to see what part of the object it represents. Then describe this part after the end comment for that line.

4) Group the binaries together that represent similar items, e.g. left hand,
right hand, face, and give each group separate material definitions:

MATERIAL C
Binary 0,0,1 !face
Binary 0,0,11 !left arm
Binary 0,0,12 !right arm

Create user parameters for these materials.

5) You can add more parametric enhancements to individual parts of the object, e.g. eliminate some parts with tickboxes, or stretch them using MUL. In this instance I have added a parameter "skl" (skirt length).

I visually determined the heights at the top and bottom of the skirt,
formulated a MUL-factor, and adjusted the height for inserting the part
binary to compensate for the MUL-factor.

To check that the visually determined heights were right I made the skirt
very long (2m) then adjusted the ts value until it looked right.

MATERIAL G
ts=1.050 !top of existing skirt
bs=0.750 !bottom of existing skirt
esl=ts-bs !extg. skirt is 0.300
mf=skl/esl !skirt length mul factor
ADDz ts-ts*mf
MULz mf
Binary 0,0,5 !skirt
DEL 2

6) For the 2D you can open the original object (before step 1) and copy the 2D symbol. In the new object, the 2D symbol is a wireframe jumble of lines. Delete these and paste in the copied symbol. Alternatively use PROJECT2 3,270,2.

You might recognise the girl in the attached JPG? The
legendary "Woman in Red Dress" is now a tanned blonde with a more modest dress, suitable for Dubai.

Here is the full script for her:
_________________________

! Document name: DL Woman 1
!
!
! Name : DL Woman 1.GSM
! Date : Monday, 22 November 1999
! Version : 6.00
! Written by ArchiCAD
! Revised by Daniel Lindahl

MULX A/ 0.46
MULY B/ 0.706307
MULZ ZZYZX/ 1.7
ADDX 0.2299
ADDY 0.34005

MATERIAL C
Binary 0,0,1 !face
Binary 0,0,11 !left arm
Binary 0,0,12 !right arm

MATERIAL D
Binary 0,0,2 !hair

MATERIAL E
Binary 0,0,3 !left calf
Binary 0,0,7 !left thigh
Binary 0,0,9 !right leg

MATERIAL F
Binary 0,0,4 !left shoe
Binary 0,0,8 !right shoe

MATERIAL G
ts=1.050
bs=0.750
esl=ts-bs !extg. skirt is 0.300
mf=skl/esl !skirt length mul factor
ADDz ts-ts*mf
MULz mf
Binary 0,0,5 !skirt
DEL 2

MATERIAL H
Binary 0,0,6 !top

MATERIAL I
Binary 0,0,10 !left sleeve
Binary 0,0,13 !right sleeve

MATERIAL J
Binary 0,0,14 !neck and shoulders
DEL top
_________________

This tip has already been posted on the GDL-talk forum, but Karl Ottenstein urged me to post it here as well for everyone's benefit.

Also, I should give credit where credit is due. I did not dream this one up all by myself. I was originally pointed in the right direction for discovering the innards of binaries by David Gilbert, who used to be the local AC reseller here.

Have fun hacking those binaries!

Cheers
Daniel