PARAM-O

[Gordana Radonic]

Hello everyone,

Have you started using PARAM-O? What are your impressions, experiences so far? Any examples to share?

I am curious to hear what do you think about it.

Kind regards,
Gordana

[Anonymous]

I installed update 5000 for AC24 which includes the "param-o" feature for creating objects. I thought this could be a good feature soi I tried it out. Please note that I am very skilled at using 3D MCAD software from a variety of vendors. I thought I would start with something simple, a toroid with square corners. I figured all I had to do was place 2 cylinders of different radii on the same reference point and the do either a "difference" operation in the solid modelling options or a "minus" operation from the math options. In the node diagram there are 2 cylinder nodes and then either a difference or minus node. I connected the 2 cylinder nodes to the 2 inputs of either the difference or minus node but nothing changed in the 3D window. I would have assumed that I should have seen a cylinder with a hole in the middle but that was not the case. Is there something I am missing? Does it need another node? Currently I create special items in my 3D MCAD software, export it in .3ds format and then import that item into AC which converts the item into a GDL object. Unfortunately it still requires that I op;en the GDL object and make some changes regarding the surface appearance as not all of the attributes of the original get transferred in the process. I still want to give PARAM-O a good look see but I can't find any documentation on how to use it. All responses are welcome. Regards.

[James Murray]

Can PARAM-O make the wall decoration shown in this marketing image? If so, is there a tutorial or a sample available?

[Karl Ottenstein]

Graphisoft has recently created this page with downloadable sample PARAM-O objects for learning:

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/knowledgebase/129865/#

James: One of those examples is "Wave facade" but is super simplistic and not the object in your screenshot. I'd like to download that one too, if it is indeed in PARAM-O, as a learning example.

[DGSketcher]

There is a distinct lack of user responses here, perhaps that is a marker of how few are interested in using PARAM-O?

As a Mac user I haven't had much time to look at it. Unfortunately in the time I have it just seems to flag up numerous gaps in the coding options, particularly in conditional actions e.g. if/then/else and a distinct lack of user information with examples for the various node actions. I was one of those thinking it may offer an easier programming environment; maybe it does if you can work with the limitations. I will be sticking with the relatively simple to learn & powerful GDL.

Perhaps the PARAM-O resources would be better deployed to adding colour to the GDL scripting environment to identify functions & typos e.g. keywords, variables, strings etc and adding the ability to expand or collapse sections of code e.g subroutines to limit time scrolling to find the next piece of code to edit.

[Jim Allen]

I posted 2 responses on Param-O here:

https://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=71290&p=323993#p323993

and here:

https://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=72497&p=323992#p323992

I have made a few objects already:

A parametric washtrough, parametric spur shelving, parametric rainwater hopper and downpipe, parametric rectangular and circular manhole covers.

I really enjoyed building these, and am looking forward to making some more.

I'm planning on building some benches, coat hooks, specialist benches, teaching storage walls and better parking bays.

The latter is going to be very tricky with the current toolset though. I might have to wait for at least the next version for that.

[Anonymous]

It seems like my model units in param-o are in SI / Metric units. Is there a way to use param-o in feet and inches?

[vdentello]

Allowing param-o to capture slab boundaries for exemple or wall contours would be something nice to add.

[Karl Ottenstein]

LowFalutin wrote:
It seems like my model units in param-o are in SI / Metric units. Is there a way to use param-o in feet and inches?

Not yet. I hope it is at the top of their priority list. The argument is that GDL and the internals of ARCHICAD are all metric, however the fact that we can actually enter feet and inches (FFI) while coding GDL itself makes that kind of irrelevant. Seems to me that PARAM-O should honor the working units and allow entry in whatever the current working units are.

[Martin Jules]

Karl wrote:
Graphisoft has recently created this page with downloadable sample PARAM-O objects for learning:

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/knowledgebase/129865/#

James: One of those examples is "Wave facade" but is super simplistic and not the object in your screenshot. I'd like to download that one too, if it is indeed in PARAM-O, as a learning example.

Is this a free-form wall, karl?