Profiler resolution

[Anonymous]

I couldn't find this covered previosly anywhere, my apologies if it has been.

Does anyone know how ArchiCAD's profiler decides what resolution it will profile along a curved path? A typical example is a curved handrail to a curved balcony, which comes out badly segmented. I wondered if the resolution relates to the magic wand settings, but it doesn't seem to. The GDL script when you open the created objects has plotted nodes along this path using tube, but how has profiler decided how much to segment along the curve? Is it completely internal within the profiler operation and uneditablejavascript:emoticon(':?:')

[Anonymous]

Ray wrote:
Does anyone know how ArchiCAD's profiler decides what resolution it will profile along a curved path?

Tools/Magic Wand Settings... a VERY useful settings dialogue box

woodster

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your reply Woodster.

I first thought this too, as I said in my initial e-mail. But try and try again, no matter what I have the magic wand settings set to it seems it doesn't affect the resolution of the curve. Or am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

Magic wand works for us.

You are SPACE clicking on the path?

Have you got a picture of your segmented handrail?

[Anonymous]

Here is an example where it really shows. A curved PFC fascia to an awning.

And no, I'm not space-clicking. Using profiler you don't space click, you just select the profile and the path made as grouped lines and arcs or polylines, before you go to Tools>Profiler.

Magic wand settings are working fine for us in the usual manner with space clicking using a tool on another polyline / arc or whatever.

[Erika Epstein]

Set the resol in the magic wand settings box per Woody's pic. Then make your object.

Changing the resol in the gdl script of an object made by profiler will not change how many segments were created.
How profiler makes the object is a multi-segmented tube. The number of segments is pre-determined by the magic wand settings.

The attached screen shot shows 3 different profiler objects made from the same 'C' shape . The left was set to 72, the middle 18 the right 8.

[Anonymous]

To be fair I use my magic wand on the 'deviation from curves' setting at about 20mm and get a good result.

It is possible to only select your profile before using the profiler tool and select your path later by space clicking (or drawing manually), and also by selecting both profile and path to begin with. Not sure if any difference in the result though, anyone?

[Anonymous]

Ray wrote:
And no, I'm not space-clicking. Using profiler you don't space click, you just select the profile and the path made as grouped lines and arcs or polylines, before you go to Tools>Profiler.

Space clicking is a good way to do it; select onlt the profile, then go to the Profiler.

Woodster

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your replies. However, I'm still completely frustrated!!!

I've been trying everything that all of you have suggested and more besides. I'm setting the magic wand settings before going to profiler, and have tried all the settings. Still it does not affect the result.

One example is attached.

Just to check, this should be working with the tubular profile tool, as opposed to the revolve profile (which I realise can be altered in the script by altering resol).

And a polyline path with arcs in it, should work, shouldn't it? The only way I can seem to get the result I need is by converting the arc to line segments by space clicking on the polyline with the line tool after setting the magic wand settings as desired. But this shouldn't be required should it?

One other possibilty?? I'm on ArchiCAD 8.1, this isn't something that has changed in 9 is it??

What am I missing? What's wrong with me, My setup, ArchiCAD, My computer. Have I failed to sacrifice sufficient goats to GOD CAD?

[Erika Epstein]

Ray,
Profiler is rather quirky as you have experienced.

1. Select the profile
2. the with shift key down also select the path. [The path if not made with a polyline should have the lines and arcs grouped. I also had groups activated.[
3. active the profiler tool by opening its settings box.
4. check your various settings in it and click OK
5. put your cursor on the point of your profile that you want to correspond to with the path. see attached. where black pencil is.

click and is object created.

Note that the finished object ended with the 'c' shape pointing out how you wanted it. the first time I did it the profile had the open part of the 'c on the right and it came out fine. Subsequently as has happened before I had to mirror the shape to get it to face the correct way. I've never noticed a rationale behind this. So make one , check it in 3D, and flip it if necessary.

I hope this helps.