GDL part for a Peeled Log railing

[Anonymous]

Help!
I'm drawing tree houses with guard rails like the one pictured.

It would be nice to create a GDL part similar to Rail Wood Balustrade 12 by modeling the balusters as peeled logs (4 or 5 different ones that repeat).

I have no idea how to work in the GDL Window yet or how the modelling of elements is defined.... daunting task.

Can someone talk me in from novice land to 'know-enough-to-be-dangerous' status?

Basic 3d Shapes such as 'ARMC' from the GDL Ref Manual looks applicable, and might also apply to a separate goal of modelling the main trunk and branching of a tree.

Suggestions?
Thanks!

[David Maudlin]

Dave:

The approach I used when scripting tree trunks was the SWEEP command, with some random variables (RND command) for variety. You might start with a an existing railing Object, then try substituting SWEEP parts for some of the straight parts.

David

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much David.
As I finally get back to this, I have not studied working in GDL.
Total novice. But it looks like you can draw anything in Archicad this way.
I tried to look at the script for the 'Rail Wood Balustrade 12' to see which commands define the spindle shapes but couldn't quite get it. I'll go back over it again and return with more questions if that's ok.

Thank you sir!

[David Maudlin]

Dave wrote:
But it looks like you can draw anything in Archicad this way.

Yes.

Dave wrote:
I tried to look at the script for the 'Rail Wood Balustrade 12' to see which commands define the spindle shapes but couldn't quite get it.

It can get complicated with the Graphisoft parts. I took a quick look at Rail Wooden Balustrade 12, and in its Master Script a macro m_Rail Wooden Balustrade is called which generates the balustrade posts. The posts themselves appear to be at the end of the 3D Script (subroutine 1000). I usually copy the Variable Name I am looking for in the scripts, then use the Find & Replace command to search the script(s) for their location. This is a bit complicated to figure out, but will automatically generate what you want when done.

David