door panels help

[Anonymous]

I'm completely new to gdl and I'm sorry if this is discussed somewhere else... although I cant seem to find anything.
Basically I was shocked to see the limited number of door panels available for the bifold doors in the AC9 library. I just need plain glass panels with a simple frame just like the storefront doors. Can someone please explain how to achieve this? Is it possible to edit the door objects to use panels of the other door objects? If this is possible, what about the door handles.
I got as far as finding the door panel 'Macros' and then my complete lack of gdl knowledge drove me here to ask for help... or perhaps even someone could link me to an object to download anywhere?

[Gerald Hoffman]

Hi Neil,

You will not be able to do a door like this from the AC standard library. CadImage sells an add on Door & Window Library that can do this although I have not been able to get a bottom track. It is quite flexible once you get the hang of it and I use it for both doors and windows all the time. It costs a little up front but sure cuts down on the frustration level which makes it well worth the cost.
Here is a quick and dirty 3D view. You can add trim to both sides and there are quite a few choices of hardware types.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestion. This seems like a valuable tool.... If I wasn't a student I would invest in such add-ons, only I can't afford to do so. I guess I'll have to use the existing library for 2d and then model them with slabs for 3d. I was just hoping I could do it easily in gdl...even though I don't have time to learn it right now...

[Anonymous]

Neil,
There is a PDF that comes with AC 9 in the documentation folder
that can be accessed in the help menu called AC9_SE_Illustrated_Doors.pdf.
In it is described how to create and use a custom door panel in a AC 9 SE
door library part. I noticed that the bifold door has a custom panel option
so you can make your own panel in the floor plan save it as an object
and then have the bifold door use that panel. At least that is what
the PDF claims can be done with Special Edition doors.
I do not know if the AUS version of the library has these these features.
I hope so.
Peter Devlin

[TomWaltz]

neil wrote:
Thanks for the suggestion. This seems like a valuable tool.... If I wasn't a student I would invest in such add-ons, only I can't afford to do so. I guess I'll have to use the existing library for 2d and then model them with slabs for 3d. I was just hoping I could do it easily in gdl...even though I don't have time to learn it right now...

Neil

yes, you could do this in GDL, but it's not what I would call a good tutorial for a beginning programmer!

I think your idea will probably get what you need without too much aggrevation.

That said, if time ever allows, I would recommend you take a look at the "Object Making" PDF that comes with Archicad. It explains a lot about how to make objects by partiallly modeling what you want, and partially scripting its behavior.

[Anonymous]

Peter wrote:
Neil,
There is a PDF that comes with AC 9 in the documentation folder
that can be accessed in the help menu called AC9_SE_Illustrated_Doors.pdf.

Looking into this I found that is is for the recent US Special Editon library, and being in New Zealand, I never thought to download it. However now with this door situation I thought I would check it out (even though it says only for users of a licensed US version).
I opened it up and this time I was amazed at the panel options for the doors. I could do just what I wanted, and as Peter said, I think you can make custom panels too (although now I don't need to)

Now I just need to sort out how to use them in my project as they recommend not using this library with existing projects (I found it to mess it up when I opened it with this library). Im sure I'll find a way to just use the doors. And by the time I finish this project there will hopefully be a "special edition" library for us non US users. (not that I seem to notice any differences other than there being far more doors and windows).

...and Tom, thanks for the recommendation. When I do find the time to learn some GDL I will start off with the help documentation and I'm sure this PDF will be helpful.