Object Making with

ArchiCAD
GDL for Beginners
by David Nicholson-Cole

BUDAPEST • MUNICH • SAN FRANCISCO • TOKYO •

LONDON • MADRID • SAO PAULO • SANTIAGO DE CHILE

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 Object Making with ArchiCAD: GDL for Beginners
© 2000. Written by David Nicholson-Cole. All rights reserved. Reproduction, paraphrasing or
translation without express prior written permission of Graphisoft is strictly prohibited.
Back cover credits: Marks Barfield Architects, creators of the British Airways London Eye,
http://www.marksbarfield.com. GDL model by David Nicholson-Cole.
Published by GRAPHISOFT R&D Rt., http://www.graphisoft.com
First printing.
Printed in Hungary.
The version of GDL described in this manual is compatible with ArchiCAD 6.5 and ArchiFM 2000.
ArchiCAD and ArchiFM are registered trademarks and StairMaker and GDL are trademarks of
Graphisoft. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

ISBN 963 00 3726 2

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About this Book
Object Making with ArchiCAD is designed to help you get more
enjoyment and productivity from ArchiCAD by taking you beyond
the confines of the Toolbox (the tools palette) into the realm of
object making with GDL (Geometric Description Language).
Objects – such as furniture, doors and windows, lamps, building
components – can be made using the existing tools – wall, roof,
floor, mesh, etc. They can be made with native GDL, scripted from
start to end; or they can be made with a combination of the
ArchiCAD tools and scripting. ArchiCAD users have long asked for
a book that will lead users from tool using to object making, and
we hope that this little primer will open up new worlds for each
user. The book is not just about GDL; it starts with object making
using the existing tools, and by progressive stages, leads you into
GDL, but we hope you will find the transition enjoyable.
Some of the examples used in the book will be available from the
support website.

About the Author

David Nicholson-Cole is an architect and teaches at Nottingham
University in the UK. He has been an enthusiastic evangelist for
GDL and a prodigious producer of GDL objects since discovering
the power (and the pleasure) of GDL. He made his mark in the
GDL world as the author of the GDL Cookbook, is a director of
The-Object-Factory.com, and a founder member of the GDL
Alliance. The GDL Cookbook logically follows after the book you
are now reading. It is an A-Z of GDL technique, and is usable in its
own right as a GDL manual. David has also travelled around the
Globe at the invitation of ArchiCAD dealers and their customers,
teaching GDL.

Acknowledgements
Object Making with ArchiCAD: GDL for Beginners was developed
in concept by Graphisoft as a means of filling the gap between the
GDL Cookbook and the existing reference manuals. It contains
easy to follow exercises in object making, and pulls together
wisdom about object making from other sources, including the
reference manuals, for which all the authoring team should be
thanked.

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 Chapter 1: Introduction to Object Making

Chapter 1
Introduction to Object
Making
An introduction to the possibilities of object making in ArchiCAD,
with or without GDL.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Object Making

1.1 About Object Making

The real 3D world can be thought of as a vast assembly of objects.
ArchiCAD’s 3D environment can be thought of as a large theatrical
stage where you assemble the cast (the objects), the set (the
drawing) and the script (the design idea). You bring the objects
together, organize them, and then – let the play begin!
Most of the objects in the ArchiCAD assembly area are building
elements – walls, columns, floors, roofs, meshes, etc., brought
together to form buildings. These objects are easily made with the
tools given to you in ArchiCAD.
Whenever you need go beyond walls and floors, etc., you can use
special objects such as furniture, windows and doors, lamps and
components. In ArchiCAD manuals, these are also referred to
extensively as Library Parts. These can be found in your library or
made specially. So, why should we bother to make objects? Well,
we can make:
– Structural elements that are right for their purpose
– Details of building construction that look authentic
– Furniture that is smart and elegant
– Components that conform to catalog numbers and
manufacturers’ specifications
– Lights that can transform the environment of a model
– Windows that open and swivel, and offer a choice of styles
– Doors that offer choices of ironwork and glazing styles
– Stairs that enable you to vary landings, risers and handrails
– Picture objects that can be placed in a model to look like
people, trees, or even whole buildings
– 2D drawing objects and tools that can enhance your
productivity and drawing accuracy.
In short, the pleasure and productivity of the ArchiCAD user can
be greatly enhanced with objects. This book is intended to ease
the ArchiCAD user safely into making objects. It is not entirely self
contained; it needs to be read with the GDL Reference Manual and
the main ArchiCAD Reference Guide. Dip into these when you
need to. If you wish to take object making further, your next stage
after this primer is to work with the GDL Cookbook, which takes
you progressively into more advanced GDL.

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 Chapter 1: Introduction to Object Making

Library Parts in ArchiCAD

When you build an ArchiCAD project, you can use the primary
modeling tools – walls, floorslabs, columns, roofs, etc. The
Toolbox also offers access library parts: furniture objects, lamps,
windows, doors. In the Toolbox or the Tools menu, you may also
find add-ons such as ArchiSITE, StairMaker, Profiler and
RoofMaker. To place an object in the project you can use different
actions, such as click and stretch, click and click again to indicate
direction, or you may encounter an entire dialog box containing
instructions and many fields in which to enter information.
In your use of ArchiCAD, you will have noticed that most library
parts offer many chances for variation (called parameters) such as
the number of mullions in a window or glazing styles in a door.
They may also offer different ways (in materials, pens and fills) of
representing themselves in the 3D view and in 2D.
This introduction to object making will make it possible to build
objects yourself; it will introduce techniques for making more than
just 3D or 2D shaped objects – you can try to make them capable
of offering variations – thus they can be parametric.
Libraries must be loaded
Whatever you make, however you make it, ArchiCAD must be
able to find the object. Every time you open ArchiCAD, it reads
through the library directories (folders) and makes an index of
what it finds. The existing ArchiCAD Library is a folder in your
installed ArchiCAD directory. ArchiCAD’s own library will be
loaded (by default) but when you are running a project, or
experimenting with GDL, you should make additional folders of
your objects. Make sure you do not make objects or folders with
the same names as ones that already exist in the libraries. When
you are working with ArchiCAD, make sure that the folder you are
saving your objects to is one of your loaded libraries.
You can either make a new library folder that relates to current
projects, or your objects can be stored in a personal library in the
ArchiCAD folder. The main point is that you know where they are,
and you have loaded them. Subfolders to keep furniture objects,
building components, window objects, textures, etc., should be
logically organized.

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Sources of Library Parts

The ArchiCAD Library
It is worth going through the ArchiCAD Library included with your
package before you start creating library parts on your own.
Investigate what already exists. This will give you an idea of what
you can use and do not need to make; and the example in there
will give you ideas of what is possible. You will be able to see how
parameters change and this will make you think about what
qualities you might like to include in objects that you make – such
as user friendliness, clear organization and description of
parameters, stretchiness, 3D authenticity and intelligible 2D
symbols.
Complementary Libraries
Several specialist libraries are available on CD from Graphisoft or
their partners (e.g., People and More, MasterLibrary, etc.). If you
explore the Internet, you will find an increasing number of
websites devoted to ArchiCAD objects including The Object
Factory (www.the-object-factory.com) or Objects On Line
(www.objectsonline.com). The Graphisoft website gives you an
up to date list of addresses of such sites. You will find that, with
the free GDL Object Web Plug-in, ArchiCAD objects can be viewed
in a browser, changed parametrically, and rendered, almost as if
you were examining them from within ArchiCAD.
DXF and DWG Libraries
Most building component manufacturers offer disks of DXF files
although most of these are 2D only. It is always worth getting
these, as DXF files can be used in ArchiCAD, and you will be able
to make use of them. 2D DXF and DWG can be brought straight
into the Project plan. Where you see the opportunity to make
library parts out of DXF or DWG originals, you may be able to take
advantage of the parametric power available to you in GDL.
For 3D, you can also make objects with other applications from
3rd parties – Zoom, Alias Wavefront, Design Workshop, AutoCAD
– save them as a DXF, then bring them into ArchiCAD as a library
part. The DXF/DWG Conversion Guide included in your
ArchiCAD package explains this procedure in more detail.

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When you bring the 3D DXF into ArchiCAD as a library part, you
can opt for:
– Don’t Process: The object does not get converted to 3D. Only
the 2D parts will get imported. This is the default setting.
– Binary 3D: The object comes in as 3D, but it is encapsulated
into an uneditable block of machine code that is neat, tidy and
stretchy (and more reliable when rendering), but leaves you
no opportunity for further editing or parametric modifications.
– GDL Script: With this option, all the 2D and 3D data will be
imported, but you will be faced with a colossal quantity of
script. Nothing brought in from DXF is solid; it is a vast mass
of polygons and lines, and in no particular order. If you
attempt to edit these you will need a lot of luck and
guesswork. The most you can be sure of editing successfully
are Material names, and a simplified 2D symbol.
You may be disappointed with the result. You will have to spend a
lot of time learning the new applications. 3D objects made in other
applications will leave you with little or no control over the
materials and parametric properties. In particular, you may find
that the lack of control over the number of polygons leaves you
with a model that has so many polygons that your rendering times
become unacceptable. With such an excess of polygons, you may
find it difficult to export your ArchiCAD model to a 3rd party
renderer such as Art•lantis Render.
If you take the time to learn GDL, you have the advantage over
other CAD users, in that you can make a 2D or 3D library part in
GDL that is parametrically variable, and save the resulting varied
forms as separate DXFs.
Add-ons that make Objects
There are a number of third party programs that can create or edit
ArchiCAD library parts, for example, StairMaker and ArchiSite. You
will also find a growing number of object-making Add-ons
provided by Graphisoft such as RoofMaker and Profiler.
Objects created by these Add-ons contain GDL scripts as well as
other, application-dependent data.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Object Making

1.2 Making your own Library

Parts
Without GDL – using ArchiCAD’s Tools
Walls, Floorslabs, Roofs and other ArchiCAD 3D tools are available
in the Toolbox as custom building blocks, regardless of their
originally intended purpose. You could, for example, model a
dining table easily by using walls and slabs. The legs could be tall,
small slabs, or short walls. The tabletop would be a slab. If the legs
were splayed as in a trestle table, you could use the Roof tool. The
resulting structure can be saved as a library part, thereby making it
available for repeated use in other projects as well.
Library parts originating from the floor plan can be saved either as
GDL scripts or in binary format. GDL scripts are editable, so you
can enhance the library part’s 3D appearance by modifying its
script. You can do useful work on a GDL script, mainly in editing
materials and pen values. Binary library parts offer lightning fast
imaging speeds, but do not allow editing, and have no parameters
other than ones enabling stretchiness – width, depth and height. If
you want to perform other modifications, you must return to the
original floor plan document, modify the model, and save it again
as the same or as another binary library part.
If you save floor plan elements as a GDL script, the complexity of
the resulting script will depend on the element types you have
used. The Slab tool will produce a mass of CPRISMs, which are
relatively easy to modify. The Wall tool will create XWALLs which
are harder but not impossible to modify, but are easier to build
with in the first place. The Roof tool creates CSLABs which are
manageable. Some of the most interesting possibilities are with the
Mesh tool, which makes commands called MASS, allowing one to
create rounded surfaces.
Sometimes the objects you make by assembling pieces of floor
slab, wall and roof are more easily built on their side, rather than
upright. Windows and doors can be built flat on the floor and
ArchiCAD will convert them to be upright.
Sometimes you will not be able to make an object all at once. You
may have to make the legs first and save those, then make the
superstructure, save that, then make additional parts, and save
them. There are primitives such as cylinders, cones and domes in
the ArchiCAD Library that you might also use as part of your
object. You can then bring all those subsidiary parts together in the
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 Chapter 1: Introduction to Object Making

floor plan, and save the whole result as your final library part.
Later in this book there is an exercise to demonstrate this
procedure. Be warned though, that this final object will only work
if all the subsidiary objects can be found in the loaded libraries.
For the more experienced object maker, it is possible to combine
the Toolbox with a knowledge of GDL. Because you cannot rotate
objects in the ArchiCAD floor plan (other than around the Z axis)
you will quickly see the benefit of learning even a small amount of
GDL, in which you can rotate shapes however you want. Shapes
are drawn out in the floor plan with the wall, roof or slab tool,
saved as little chunks of GDL and then added into a larger GDL
project that the writer is working on – moved and rotated into
position, amended or simplified.
Not all objects need to be 3D. It is possible to use the 2D tools of
lines, text and fills to draw out standard symbols, select them, and
‘save special’ as a library part. If you already have a 3D object that
you wish to use purely as 2D, you could select it, ‘explode’ it, and
save the resulting lines as a new 2D library part. This does not
damage the original 3D part.
All library parts are objects, but when you save them you can
decide if they are to be an Object (a piece of furniture or a
building component), a Window, or a Door. You can go on to re-
open the object and resave it as a Lamp.
Assemblies built with the Toolbox do not have to be saved as
library parts. They can be grouped or saved as modules and
reused; but if you wish them to behave properly as objects and
allow further editing, they must be saved as library parts.

Making Objects with GDL

GDL, even a small knowledge of GDL, allows you to go far
beyond the possibilities offered by the simpler methods above. If
you can describe what you want, in writing, you can make objects
with GDL. That’s why it’s called Geometric Description Language.
– Because GDL has many 2D and 3D commands, you can make
interesting objects that cannot be made with the Toolbox
– they can be shapely and elegant.
– Because you can define diameters, spacing, thickness,
materials and pens, your objects can allow variations
– they can be Parametric.
– Because you specify elements in a GDL model by precise
dimensions, angles or parameters, the objects will be exactly
what you want them to be – they can be accurate.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Object Making

– Because you can write IF statements, you can build rules of

behavior into your objects, such as manufacturers’
requirements, checks on incorrect parameters, self-sizing
components etc. – they can be Smart.
– Because you can write routines that loop around and repeat
commands many times, you can economically build large or
repetitive structures that would be futile to build with the
Toolbox – your objects can be Tools.
– Because you can rotate, slide and resize elements in the script,
your objects can change their shape
– you can make Mechanisms.
As a bonus, GDL enables you to be utterly accurate – if you
specify a cylinder to be 3.60 meters long, that is what it will be, not
3.597623. You also have the ability to decide which parts of a
model can cast shadows, which pen color parts of the object
should be drawn with. You can decide what resolution of
curvature should be applied to individual components of the
library part. You can generate your own materials – shiny, matte,
transparent or glowing – so that they will work even with an
ArchiCAD in a different language from yours. GDL objects are
independent of dimensional settings; you can build something in
metric that will work if the user works in imperial, or vice versa.

How do you make an Object?

Look around you, examine the 3D objects that surround you, as
you read this book. Observe, if you can, the essential primitive
forms that compose each object. Most objects can be seen as
composed of blocks, prisms, cylinders, cones, tubes or surfaces.
Ask yourself what detail needs to be included; discard detail that is
not essential or will be impossible to model. Use a level of detail
that is within your abilities to model either from the Toolbox or
with GDL script. Impossible 3D tasks such as surface rippling or
perforation can often be solved by using textures.
If you are not using GDL, view the object in terms of the familiar
tools of wall, slab and roof.
If using GDL, you can see it in terms of blocks, spheres, cylinders
and cones. As your GDL skills grow, you can add prisms, sweeps,
plane and meshed surfaces and tubes.

Does it need to LOOK right, or BE right?

An object that is used to furnish the interior of a house may only be
required to give a luxurious impression of the interior, an authentic

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 Chapter 1: Introduction to Object Making

‘lived in’ look. It only needs to LOOK right. This could be built with
ArchiCAD’s own tools or with GDL, and the dimensions could be
‘eyeballed’ – that is, you use the grid as a guide and get the size as
accurate as your eye tells you it needs to be.
Another object may be required to be totally accurate, so that you
can derive accurately dimensioned sections and plans from it. It
may be required to drive a CADCAM system (cutting tool) or a
rapid prototyping machine. So you must be satisfied that it IS right.
For this, you are better off working in GDL from the beginning.

The Idea of an ‘Investment object’

Ask yourself if the object you want to make is to be used more
than once, if it could be useful in other projects. You might be the
one person in the office making objects for other people, and
therefore you need to make the object usable by others. If you
make it parametric and smart, it might take you longer to make an
object that could more quickly be made with the Toolbox. But if
the object has versatility and can be applied to many more
projects, the time taken to make the object well is a good
investment and your users will be grateful for the effort.
Furthermore, objects made with the Toolbox are no longer
editable if the original floor plan file that made them has been lost.
A piece of GDL that is well written can be extended and made
more powerful when your own knowledge of GDL improves or
when a new edition of ArchiCAD offers more features. A well
written object could be taken on by someone else in the office,
years after you have left, and improved to take advantage of the
features in a future version of ArchiCAD.

Can you learn GDL?

Many objects do not need to be built with GDL – the ArchiCAD
tools may be enough. Experienced ArchiCAD users who are
scared of GDL get very skilful in transforming the simple 3D tools
of wall, slab and roof into most complex objects. But they will
never have the pleasure of making their objects parametric.
If you are prepared to go beyond the Toolbox, GDL is an easy
scripting language compared with those available in the other
CAD packages. GDL is based on BASIC, the easiest of the
programming languages. Millions of people learned BASIC during
the pioneer years of microcomputing, and GDL remains the most
useful and practical descendant from BASIC. Experts who used to
say that BASIC was not powerful enough for commercial

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Object Making

applications can be confounded by a well written piece of GDL.

ArchiCAD users who make the bold step of tackling GDL are
frequently surprised at how easy it is compared with what they
expected. Users can suddenly find a practical use for all that
Mathematics they learned at school.
Total beginners can please themselves with rapid progress up the
learning curve. They can make objects that impress their friends
and colleagues, and genuinely improve the quality of their work.
Experts in GDL continue to find additional depths and techniques
in GDL, and with energy and programming experience they can
extend the possibilities. As soon as they begin to feel they have
reached the limit, Graphisoft’s next edition of ArchiCAD provides
new areas of exploration and power.

Object Making in the ArchiCAD Manuals

Besides this book, you can read about object making in other
manuals and guides:
ArchiCAD Reference Guide: tool and library descriptions (see table
of contents and index of that volume).
DXF/DWG Conversion Guide: Bringing in objects from other CAD
environments.
Library and Environment: Illustrated listing of most of the library
parts supplied by Graphisoft in the standard ArchiCAD Library.
Step by Step Tutorial: Making library parts (see table of contents of
that volume).
GDL Reference Manual: Syntax of GDL commands, in depth
information on every aspect of GDL except programming.
The GDL Cookbook: Project-based approach to learning GDL that
teaches both GDL and the technique of programming with GDL
from beginner to expert level.
Project Framework: Discussion of how to get the most out of
ArchiCAD in the professional office, with good explanations of
organization of your libraries.
Note: The GDL Cookbook and Project Framework are not part
of the ArchiCAD package and can be purchased commercially.
Consult your local reseller.
You could also consider keeping a personal notebook of your
progress with object making. By noting your successes, you can
build up a personal fund of expertise.

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 Chapter 2: Making Objects without GDL

Chapter 2
Making Objects without
GDL
Before learning GDL it is wise to become fully conversant with
object making using ArchiCAD own tools.

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Chapter 2: Making Objects without GDL

Making Objects without GDL

Most ArchiCAD users become skilled at making objects using the
normal building elements in the Toolbox before they tackle GDL.
So, let us make sure you are fully conversant with object making
before moving on to discover the power of GDL.
Make the object using the Slab, Wall and Roof tool, and select it in
the floor plan window with the cursor. Then:
1. If the object has been made the right way up, choose Save
Special/ArchiCAD Object in the ArchiCAD File menu. Save it
into one of your loaded libraries.
2. If the object has been made the right way up, or on its side,
view in the 3D window in plan or elevation, Save the resulting
view as a library part – a .GSM object. Save it into one of your
loaded libraries.
3. If the object is 2D, draw it into the 2D symbol window of a
new library part.
ArchiCAD creates a written script for the new library part,
including the 3D script, a 2D script or symbol, and routines to
ensure stretchiness. This process is called Autoscripting. When
you have made objects, you will be able to view the scripts –
highly educational! The GDL it generates could be called
‘Industrial GDL’; quite off putting and a lot more complicated than
the ‘Creative GDL’ that you can attempt with the help of this book.

Getting Started
Before making your first object with the Toolbox, ensure that you
are conversant with the use of the Magic Wand (for transforming a
Fill to a Slab, or a Slab to a Roof), setting Grids, using the
Coordinate Box, and with using the Settings boxes for the various
tools in the Toolbox. Open a new ArchiCAD file, load a new folder
to use as your library and save the new file to that folder or to
somewhere convenient. Set the grid to 1’-0” or to 300 mm. Zoom
in to somewhere near the Origin of the Floor Plan, so that you are
viewing an area of the grid that is a little larger than the furniture
you wish to build. Make sure this is the real Origin, not a
temporary one.
If you have made a temporary origin somewhere else and cannot
find the main origin, just click on the temporary origin and hit the
delete key. The main origin will blacken.

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Let’s Make something in 2D

Try making this North point. As this is purely a 2D symbol, there is
no scripting to do. You could use this for electrical symbols,
kitchen or bathroom furniture, or as a complicated symbol for
trees and plants.
Draw it in the Project Plan. You can use any of the 2D tools to do
this, including Lines, Arcs, Fills, Hotspots and Text. To make it into
a library part, use method 1: Select the drawing, then use File
menu>Save Special>ArchiCAD Object. Save it into a loaded
library. Then bring it straight back by selecting a library part from
the Toolbox and placing it in the Floor plan next to the original
drawing. You will find that the most recent library part saved is the
first object that appears when you place an object in the plan.

If you do not place any hotspots, you will get what is called ‘the
bounding box’ around the object, as illustrated (right), and it will
be stretchy. If you place hotspots, even as few as one, you get no
bounding box, but the hotspot that you placed will be visible (it
will no longer be stretchy). So if you place one hotspot, you
should place more. If you use the Fill tool instead of the Line tool,
you will find that ArchiCAD places the hotspots for you at all the
significant nodes. If you want it to be stretchy, then place hotspots
at the extreme left, right, top and bottom edges (unless the Fill tool
reaches these extremities).
You could try another method. You can use File menu>New
Library Part>Object, and open the object master window, with a
range of buttons allowing you to display scripts or graphical
windows. You can draw in the 2D symbol window with the same

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2D tools as in the main ArchiCAD floor plan. Save the object into
your loaded library. Use this method only when you have become
more familiar with this palette.

Let’s Make a 3D Object – a Table

The next object, a table, is to be made ‘the right way up’ and for
this, the Slab tool is most useful. Build up a table, starting with the
table top, and add the legs and frame. For each part, use the
settings dialog box to get the height of the slab correct. Remember
that the height (altitude) of the slab is the top and the thickness is
the amount of slab below the top. If you build from walls, the
altitude of a wall is its base, and the height of the wall is above the
base. Save it using File>Save Special>ArchiCAD Object.

Remember also that you need to set the materials of the tabletop
and legs using the Slab Settings dialog box.

To make sure that each leg is consistent, make one correctly, then
Edit>Drag a Copy to each corner of the table. If you use the grid,
you can make the table reasonably accurate in dimensions. If you
keep an eye on the Coordinate Box and type in your X and Y
locations, you can make the table extremely accurate. You can
make it even more accurate by setting Grid Snap to ON, and using
a small grid of say 10 mm or 1/2”.

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If you use the Arc/Circle tool’s ellipse line option and then ‘magic
wand’ a slab to it, you could make a more stylish and elegant
table. This table will be stretchy, but if you stretch it, the section
sizes will deform.
No matter how well you make it this way, it will never permit you
to make parametric alterations to height, leg spacing or timber
sizes. This is where a little knowledge of GDL comes in.

Let’s Make a 3D Window

Windows have to be made flat on the floor, and are best made
with the Slab tool. Again, it is best to build it over the origin, and
the origin should be symmetrically at the centre of the lower sill of
the window. The outside face of the frame must lie at zero height
on the ground plane. Normally, slabs have their tops on the
ground plane, so be careful to set your window frame at the right
height. Draw out a rectangular slab first which defines the overall
opening size. Then select this slab, and with the Slab tool selected
draw another rectangle within the first slab. This draws a hole in
the slab and effectively makes the frame hollow. Make sure that it
is the right height – the depth of the frame. Set the material of this
slab to frame material. You can now draw another slab into the
window, set this to 10 mm (3/8”) thick and set it to “Glass” for top
bottom and sides. Make sure the height of the glass is well
positioned in height, within the frame. For added realism, you can
add a smaller frame to play the part of a casement, and a small
slab below the XY ground plane to be a sill.

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The illustration above shows how the window should sit on the
XY ground plane. Check that the frame/casement/glass
relationships are working correctly.
In this case, the project origin is neatly positioned at the centre of
the sill. This is not absolutely necessary because ArchiCAD will
make adjustments when it saves the window so that the origin
finishes up in the right place. But it is tidy and more disciplined to
get it right at the start.
When you are done laying slabs, select all the slab elements of the
window, and view them from the direction that you would need to
see them if the finished window in the floor plan. Select Image>3D
Projection Settings. You can use either shaded view or wireframe
view.

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The camera should be positioned at 90˚ and the view type should
be Parallel Views>Side view.

The 3D view will look like this, and if you ask for it to be
Wireframe, you will be able to see the frame and glass outlines.
This is as it will appear in the floor plan, when set into a wall.

Save that view as a Library Part and when asked, click on the
Window icon. Check the box that hides redundant lines. Make
sure you save it into a loaded library. If you have not already done
so, make a folder in your personal library for windows and doors.
If you clicked the window or door icon, ArchiCAD forces the
camera view to be 90˚ Parallel>Sideview even if you got the 3D
view incorrect!

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Now, back in the floor plan, build a wall, and then select a
window to put into it. The window you have just saved will be the
first one that ArchiCAD offers you. Place it into the wall, making
sure that the Eyeball cursor is clicked to the outside face of the
wall (the face with more hotspots). You can now view the result
and change its parameters – of size only.
The technique of making windows is similar with door
construction. But you would need GDL to change the door style,
to make it open and shut and to select a choice of glazing or
ironwork styles.

Let’s Make a Furniture Object using

Walls
Many objects are easier to make lying on their side, because of
their complexity or shape. They may be far easier to build in
profile than to build as a stack of objects assembled vertically.
You can make skillful use of the Wall tool. Walls are most useful as
they can be set to a thickness and height and can be snapped to
follow lines with the Magic Wand. They are more controllable at
following curves than the Slab tool. Their only trouble is their
annoying tendency to join together. In the Options menu, turn off
Clean Wall Intersections.
This Barcelona chair illustrates the use of the Wall tool perfectly –
it could be made with the Slab tool but only with the greatest
difficulty.

Making the Frame and Seat

First, over the Origin, within an outline box of 750x750 mm, draw
the outline of the chair frame using the Spline line tool. Then set
the Wall tool to be “Stainless Steel”, 12mm thick and 50mm high.

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Snap the Wall tool to the lines with the space bar depressed; this
causes the little walls to follow the lines. Select and group the
walls; drag a copy of the wall group to one side. Now use the
Elevate command to raise that wall group by 700 mm. Now move
that wall group back until it is exactly over the first. You now have
the steel frame of the chair.

For the upholstery, change the wall settings to 750 mm high and
60 mm thick, and made of “Textile” (or “Leather” or “Asphalt”).
Draw the walls for the upholstery yourself; the seat is flat, and the
back is slightly curved using the curved Wall tool option.
When you have something like the Barcelona chair in the diagram,
set the cameras exactly as you did for the Window – 90˚ position
for camera with Parallel Side view (elevation) selected. Save the
3D view as a library part into your loaded library; this time, click
the object icon, not the window or door.
Place the chair into your project and enjoy!

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Let’s Make a Roof Truss

Try this exercise, which provides a link between the section and
the plan windows.
Construct a small one-room building, and place a pitched roof
over it. Make the walls higher than the roof and then use the Trim
to Roof command to make the walls and roof fit each other. Insert
a window and door if you like. Now using the Section/Elevation
tool from your Toolbox, draw a section through the building, and
view the section.

You can make use of the Line tool to set up guidelines to make
sure that your timbers lie at the right angles and have the right
depths
When you have the section in the foreground, the 3D tools go grey
because you cannot use 3D tools in the section. But you can draw
with the 2D tools, Text, Lines, Fills and Hotspots. Use the Fill tool
to outline a small truss. This ensures that your future truss will fit
the roof perfectly. Select the fill and continue to draw into it, and
you will be able to cut holes. Thus you form the outline of the
whole truss.
Now select the fill, copy it, move to the floor plan and paste it.
Move it so that one end corner of the truss is over the Origin –
preferably one of the truss bearings. The hotspots will help you.
Now you can magic-wand-click the Slab tool to follow the outline
of the Fill.
Make sure before you use the Slab tool that it is close to the
ground – set the thickness to 40 mm, the top of the slab to 20 mm

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and the material to timber. Thus the truss is nicely centered above
and below ground zero.

You may have a bit of trouble with the Magic Wand. Snap-click to
the outline of the fill first to get the outline of the truss. Then select
the slab (making sure it is the slab and not the fill that you have
selected) and then snap-click each of the holes in the fill. This will
drill holes in the slab. You should finish with a small truss like the
one above. If you get a lot of slab bits and no holes, delete the
waste slabs and try again with the sequence above. Make yours
more complicated if you want to, with more members, or more
varied width of members.

Now view the truss from the same angle as you used for the
window and the chair – 90˚ position for camera with parallel
elevation view selected. Save the 3D view as a library part, click
the object icon, and you have your truss.
Now bring this truss into the floor plan, and space the new trusses
along the building. Use the section view first, to make sure your
truss aligns perfectly with the original fill pattern. The hotspots will
help. Autoscripted objects are automatically stretchy so be careful

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when handling them. You do not want to stretch them

accidentally. Use Edit>Drag a Copy or Multiply to move and
duplicate them, and use the Coordinate Box if you want exact
spacing.
This same method can be used to make extraordinarily complex
structures – the limitation being that they will not be parametric,
and they will all be rectilinear in section.

Let’s Make an Object using existing

Library Parts
You can make more complex or curvy objects using library parts
that are in one of your loaded libraries. The standard ArchiCAD
library contains a directory of special structures such as cones and
vaults. Before you try to do this, just check which libraries are
loaded (from the File menu) and if need be, load the default
ArchiCAD Library.

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This little oval cocktail table has been built entirely from the
‘Cone65’ object in the existing ArchiCAD Library. Try building
something using the same or other objects in that directory. Some
of these are somewhat confusing to manipulate, but the library
parts settings dialog box makes it easy to play with the parameters
if you display the 3D view of the object.

The settings box with visual icons makes it easier to select an

object from the library
If you perceive that an object that you wish to make is to be made
up of many components, then you can make them, one piece at a
time, save them into a loaded library, then assemble the final
object from the components and save that.
Remember that if you ever wish to view the final object, you will
always have to be able to find the constituent parts in a loaded
library. If you alter one of the components, it may result in an error
when the final object is viewed. We have become used to seeing
the ‘Missing objects’ dialog box coming up at some time or other.
This is useful; if you read it, the warnings of duplicate library
objects and of missing ones require action.
If the composite object never needs to be edited again, then you
could view it in plan 3D (method 2) and then save as a binary.
Thus all the subsidiary objects are included and you do not need
to worry about missing the components.

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Let’s Make an Object that we can cut

to shape
The oval table is an example of nested objects (objects within the
larger object). As a further example of nested objects, we could
make a major element of a building, a rounded vault, and further
refine it with the ability to form a crossing - a groin vault.
This is something we cannot do with the Slab tool. Try using the
more powerful Wall tool and draw the vault on its end. With the
circular wall variant of the Wall tool, we can draw the outline of a
vault. If you are more ambitious, follow this example making it as
a Gothic vault (instead of a Romanesque) by having two sections
of curved wall meeting each other.
Set the camera in Side view at 90˚, view it in 3D, then save as a
vault object. Call it “main_vault.GSM” if you like.

Picture of the basic wall in plan to form a flattened circular vault,

above it, the resulting library part – stretchy in three dimensions
Bring it into the floor plan and you now have a stretchy vault. You
can change its length, width and height. So it may have been
round when you first built it, but it could now be elliptical if you
wish. Drag a copy of your vault object and place it near the first
one. Stretch the new one but keep it the same width. We are going
to cut (or mitre) the vault at 45˚ angles to make it usable as a vault
for the crossing.

Toolbox icon of the Marquee tool with the polygon and rectangle
variants

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Now you may have noticed that one function of the Marquee tool
is to act as a cutter when you view in 3D. Everything within the
marquee is displayed, and everything outside is ignored. It’s a
great way to do instant 3D sections.
The marquee can be a rectangle or it can be a polygonal shape,
like a fill. First draw one 2D line along the end edge of the vault,
between the end hotspots. Now when you hover the cursor over
the end of the vault, you get a little ‘tick’ mark to indicate the half
width of the vault. Now draw two 2D lines from this half point at
45˚ angles to indicate the line you wish to cut along. By using the
Shift key, you can ensure that these lines are at exactly 45˚.
Now select the Marquee tool and select the polygonal variant of
the marquee. Draw along the 2D lines as accurately as possible
and then encircle the rest of the vault that you intend to retain.

Plan of the shimmering marquee over the vault object. Note that
the thin 2D lines ensure that your cutter is at exactly the right
angle. Use the Coordinate Box if you like to type the angle in.
Now view this in 3D axonometric and you will be delighted to find
that you have a groin vault mitred at 45˚. If the cutting effect does
not occur, close the 3D window, use the Display>Rebuild
command, and then try 3D again. Now use the 3D projections to
set the camera position to 270˚ and the view type to Parallel>Plan.
Using method 2, save this as a library part and you can call it
“vault_groin.GSM”. Return to the floor plan, click on the Object
tool icon, click in the plan, and your new object arrives.

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Picture of the single vault in 3D axonometric view. Go to 3D Plan

view at 270˚ to save this as a new object.
Now this object has default ‘Bounding Box’ hotspots. You can
customize your hotspots. Select it, and choose File>Open Library
Part. Open the 2D Symbol window, and place your own 2D
hotspots at the corners, including one at the pointy apex of the
groin-vault and one in the middle. This will remove the bounding
box altogether. The hotspot at the pointy corner can now be used
as a hinge around which to Edit>Multiply>Rotate another three
groin-vaults.
Do this multiplication, and you will get a plan view like this.

Plan View of the four vaults in plan view, alongside the original
wall piece

Picture of the four vaults in 3D axo

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You can now add in the uncut vault objects alongside these,
stretch to appropriate lengths and before you know it, you have
your church roof. You can use the same technique to take a
sideways ‘bite’ out of a large vault and have a pair of smaller vaults
intersecting. All this can be done without GDL, and yet, when they
see it, your friends and colleagues will be convinced you have
become a GDL expert.

Picture of the final structure, with arches and some columns

How far can we take Object Making without

GDL?
Entire buildings can be library parts. ArchiCAD is a powerful tool
for building modelling, and a finished building is an elaborate
combination of layers, stories, library parts and building elements.
In a city, every building has different story heights and your layer
titles for a single building model are going to be concerned with
city blocks, street furniture and landscape. In a building, your
layers are concerned with differentiating internal walls from
external, furniture from construction parts.
If you are doing City modelling, your project model will be the
entire city area or a city block, and the elements in it will be the
terrain, the roads and landscaping. The buildings are best brought
in as individual library parts.
If you wish to include buildings you have already made, you
should open the file of the building, try to make the windows of
“Ice” or of a less transparent material, hide all layers to do with
internal furnishing and small details (unless they can be seen

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through windows) and hide the site on which it sits. Then select
the entire building using the fat marquee, or view it in 3D in plan
view. Either way, you will get all stories showing. If you had a
basement that you wished to omit, then use Image>Select Image
Items and you can decide which stories to omit. Save as a Library
Part.

If you save it as editable, you are in danger in the long term of

losing the subsidiary library parts (such as windows) that it was
built from. It may also fail to render due to spurious errors. Save as
binary, and you can safely export it to your City Model; place it
anywhere and at any height and it will work. You would need a
copy of the original if you wish to go back and modify any part of
it, as the only editing you can do to a binary is to make it stretchy.
If you do not want the binary building library part to be stretchy,
open the building objects, open its 2D Symbol window, and place
2D hotspots where you think would be appropriate – corners,
turrets, entrance canopy, ridges, etc., and then save again. That
will turn off the bounding box hotspots.
If you only need facades, you can also build an entire facade on
the ground, using the Slab, Wall and Roof tools. Then save it using
the 3D view with the camera at 90˚ in the Parallel>Elevation view.
Bring it back into your floor plan and assemble the building from
facade library parts. Again, we advise that these are binary, to
avoid any lost subsidiary components, and to reduce the risk of
rendering errors.

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Notes on the naming of parts

All saved objects end with the letters .GSM; windows end with
.WIN; doors end with .DOR; and so on. Even Mac users work with
this convention. Do not alter these suffixes either when saving or
at a later time. Do not alter the names of objects in the libraries or
your project file will not be able to find them next time it loads.
The best method is to think of a good name at the time of saving.
Avoid using generic names for library parts – ‘Table.GSM’ sounds
like a good name for a table – but the next time you open your
project file, you may find a quite different table appearing because
one of that name already exists in a different folder.
‘Table_jdoe_02.GSM’ is unlikely to exist already in the ArchiCAD
Library. Use that, and your project file will be able to find it.

Summary of Object Making in this chapter

– You can make complex objects without GDL using the 3D
tools or using library objects that already exist. They will be
stretchy but not smart, and not parametric in anything except
stretchiness.
– These can be 2D or 3D and can be saved from the floor plan,
or from the 3D view.
– Windows and Doors can be made without using GDL.
– The Wall tool is powerful for object making without GDL.
– Using the Magic Wand, you can ‘steal’ shapes from ArchiCAD
and turn them into Objects.
– Using the Marquee tool, you can cut library objects into
smaller shapes.
– You can take object making to the extreme of having entire
buildings or landscapes as objects.
– Take care with the naming of library parts – avoid using
generic names for objects.

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Chapter 3
Starting with GDL
Now it’s time to gather your courage and make a start with GDL.
It’s not as difficult as you expect!

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3.1 Starting with GDL

Chapter 1 discussed reasons why you might want to build with
GDL. Now it is time to give it a try. Do not be nervous. You will
find it easy if you take it in stages.
Open the Object Making Master window
From ArchiCAD, select from the File menu>New Library Part>
Object. You will get a Master window like this, with a vertical bar
of buttons down the left-hand side. The wide buttons allow scripts
to be displayed in the large white window. The small white
buttons allow the scripts to be displayed in floating palettes.

When you have the Parameters button pressed, you get a ‘New’
button at the top – enabling you to create new parameters for
length, materials, pen colors and more.
Before starting with some easy exercises, let’s look at the function
of the scripts and windows available to you. Bear in mind that for
the beginner in GDL, the only scripts that you really need are the
3D and the 2D scripts.
The Parameter table is where you can build the Object Settings
dialog box that the user will see when they use your object. This

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allows the user to enter materials, diameters, angles, pen colors

and much much more. By hitting the New button, and filling in the
small details, you can create parameters.
The Master Script can be used for housekeeping tasks such as
checking user errors and defining materials. This is read by the
other scripts. If you type in a common piece of information like
the radius of a tube or the width of a chair seat, it becomes
available to all the other scripts. It saves you from repeatedly
typing the same information into each script.
The 2D Symbol is a window into which you can paste a 2D
image, or draw using 2D tools, but it will only be displayed if there
is no 2D script. With GDL knowledge, you are better off trying to
write a 2D script.
The 2D Script can be used simply to tell GDL to draw in 2D
whatever it finds in the 3D script (PROJECT2). It can be used to
force the 2D Symbol window to be the 2D symbol (FRAGMENT2).
Its most creative use is for you to write a parametrically organized
script to draw what the object will look like in 2D. By designating
Hotspots, the 2D script can also make the object stretchy and easy
to pick up. If the 2D script is left blank, the object will display
whatever is drawn into the 2D Symbol window. If you leave both
blank, the object will not show in the project.
The 2D Full View shows what is generated by the 2D Script. This
will not normally show what is in the 2D Symbol window.
The 3D Script is the primary means of building parametric 3D
objects. If the object is simple, almost all the work can done in the
3D Script. This is the engine room of most library parts.
The 3D View is generated by the 3D Script – not to be confused
with the 3D window of the main project.
The Properties Script enables you to write Components and
Descriptor commands if the object is to be in a schedule.
The Parameter Script is the place where you can build pop-
down menu selections to be used in the main parameters box.
The Comment is a small text field in which you can write a set of
instructions to your user on how to use the object, or record a log
of the development of the object.
The Preview Picture is a window containing a small bitmap
image of a view of the object. It tells the user what the object will
look like in its setting, and could come from Art•lantis Render or
an ArchiCAD photorendering. This becomes the icon of the object
in the settings dialog box.

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The User Interface Script enables you to build a custom dialog

box with your own text fields and images, with buttons and input
fields for the user to enter parameters. It is great for complex
objects where the user might need more explanation of the
purpose of parameters.
Relax! When you start GDL, you only need the 2D and 3D scripts.

3D Entities
The easiest 3D elements to build with are Block, Cylinder, Sphere
and Cone. Their syntax is very simple.
– BLOCK x,y,z
x being the width, y the depth and z the height.
– CYLIND h,r
h being the Height, and r the Radius.
– SPHERE r
r being the Radius.
– CONE h,r1,r2,90,90
h being the Height, and r1 the Radius at the base and r2 the
Radius at the top. The 90, 90 are the angles at which you cut
off the top and bottom. You can vary these numbers to get
interesting effects.

First steps in 3D GDL

Open the 3D Script and try writing BLOCK 1,2,3. Look at the
result in the 3D window – a tall cuboid. Now try writing, CYLIND
1,2. A short but very fat cylinder appears at the near left corner of
the cuboid. Finally, try writing SPHERE 1.5 – a large ball appears
at the same corner, partially submerged in the fat cylinder. Finally,
try the CONE. All these objects have been built at the same
location, called the Global Origin. Even at this stage you will
already want to improve the appearance of the object. It is all the
same color, depending on the default PEN. So above the Block
command, write PEN 1, and write MATERIAL 'Whitewash' (or
use the name of a material that is known to you in your materials
library).
PEN 1
MATERIAL 'Whitewash'
BLOCK 1.0, 2.0, 3.0
CYLIND 1.0, 1.0
SPHERE 1.0
CONE 4, 0.5, 0.1, 90, 90

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The dimensions you are writing are in meters. The native

dimensioning system of GDL is always meters, no matter what you
set your main project to be using. In your project file, you could
be working in feet and fractional inches, centimeters, millimeters.
But GDL is ‘hard coded’ so you need to work to one dimensional
system. If you wish to use feet or inches, you can, but you must
write them with punctuation, e.g., BLOCK 1”,2”,3’-0”. It
reduces a risk of confusion (for humans) if you write dimensions
with a decimal form, as 2.0, not as 2.
Click in the 3D window (of the library part, not the project) and
you will see this. These objects all exist in the same space and
overlap each other, so we need to find a way to separate them.
The wireframe view shows each of the objects and the shaded
view shows you how well GDL permits objects to ‘collide’ like this
without harm.
If, when you click the 3D window, it refuses to draw because of
an error, return to your script and click on the Check Script button.
This will point to the line where the error occurred, usually
because of an incorrectly placed comma, or a typo.

3D Space and the 3D Cursor

You need to move about in 3D space to be able to place elements
such as the legs of a chair, or a tabletop. This is done with ADD
commands. These work on the logical idea that the 3D world can
be thought of in three rectilinear directions called X, Y and Z. You
should be familiar with the idea of X, Y and Z from the normal
ArchiCAD environment – the Coordinate Box allows you to enter a
dimension in X or Y, and you can also enter radial dimensions and
angles. In GDL, Z is used to provide vertical movement.

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The three-pointed object that you can see in a GDL 3D view

reminds you which ways are X, Y, or Z. This is like a 3D Cursor.
When you word process, you are used to the idea of a cursor –
wherever you place the cursor, you can begin typing, and
whatever you type appears. In GDL, there are two cursor symbols.
The one labelled ‘G’ is the Global cursor and shows you the origin
of the model. The one labelled ‘L’ is the Local Cursor. Wherever
this is, your next 3D command will happen. Using the ADD
command, you can move the cursor about in 3D space. ADDX,
ADDY, or ADDZ move the cursor in those axial directions. The ADD
command moves the cursor in three axes at once.
When you are writing GDL in 2D, you have a similar concept of X
and Y based 2D space, and you do not have to worry about
height. Using the ADD2 command, you can move about in 2D
space providing you specify both the X and Y distances.
Unfortunately, you do not have a visible cursor.
In reality, the 3D world is too complex to be defined ONLY in
absolute terms of X, Y and Z. So you will be glad to know that you
are also able to Rotate the cursor (using the ROT command) and
move radially, and work at different angles from the pure
horizontal and vertical. You are also able to shrink or expand the
cursor (using the MUL command which multiplies) so you can
easily deform or mirror elements of your model.
A few simple examples will illustrate how all of these work.

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Take the previous script and play with it.

!Cursor Movement
PEN 1
MATERIAL 'Whitewash'
BLOCK 1.0, 2.0, 3.0
ADD 1.0,1.0,1.5
ROTy 90
CYLIND 1.0,1.0
ADDz 2.0
MULz 0.5
SPHERE 1.0
ADDz -2.0
CONE 5, 0.5, 0.1, 90,90
DEL 5

In this example, we have started by adding a Label. Using the

exclamation mark, you can type anything you like after this and
the machine will ignore it. But it is most useful to the human eye
and brain. It is always good to label your scripts with a name and a
date. It is also a good discipline to write GDL commands in upper
case and to write labels and other text in lower case.
The Block is built as in the previous example. The cursor moves in
the X direction, using the ADDX command. Write this as one word
‘ADDX’ followed by the distance. Then using the ‘ROTY’ command,
the cursor can be rotated around the Y axis. Now the Cylinder gets
drawn – although cylinders always grow vertically, the vertical axis
is now laying on its side, so the cylinder grows sideways. Now you
can ADDZ which raises the cursor vertically in its new orientation.
We want to draw the Sphere, but as a bit of fun, use a MUL
command to halve its height and make it elliptical. MULZ 0.5
makes it half as high, but leaves width and depth unchanged.

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The importance of DEL

Finally, it is a good discipline to return the cursor back to the
origin. GDL remembers every cursor move you have made. The
DEL command undoes or ‘forgets’ these movements, allowing the
cursor to retreat back to the origin, leaving the 3D elements
behind. As we have done four cursor commands, the DEL 4 will
neatly return the cursor to the origin.
You may be familiar with the difference between Absolute
distance (distance from the Origin) and Relative distance (distance
from where you are now to the next position). In GDL, you
navigate around the 3D model making Relative jumps. Because
you can also Rotate and Multiply, you are in danger of getting lost
– after a few lines you could be ‘deep in spaghetti’. After each set
of moves, you should return to the origin using DEL before doing
the next job. For example, in a chair model, you could build the
legs, then return to the origin before starting work on the seat.

Do not forget the 2D script

Finally, when you save the GDL model, and bring it into the
project floor plan, you will be dismayed to find that it does not
display – it has no symbol, and at best you will have nothing more
than a hotspot. So for the present moment, open the object again,
open the 2D script window and write a single line:
PROJECT2 3,270,2
This is a ‘killer’ command that in one line, displays the 3D object
in 2D, regardless of its complexity. Later, when we get onto 2D
scripting, the PROJECT2 command can be explained in more
detail, along with other 2D GDL commands.

Summary of GDL, to this point

– Start with the easy 3D commands.
– Use UPPER case for commands, lower case everything else.
– Write (!)Labels to define a piece of work.
– Write GDL commands in UPPER case, and everything else in
lower case.
– Set a Material and Pen color.
– Use Check Script to see if errors occur.
– Be careful with commas and spelling.
– Click in the 3D window to see the object build.
– Do one bit, return the cursor and then do next bit; and so on.
– Do not forget to make a short 2D script.

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3.2 Let’s build a 3D Object

From ArchiCAD, choose File>New Library Part>Object. We are
going to build a simple chair. Remember that this tutorial is about
GDL, not chair design, so please do not be concerned that it is a
simple chair. It needs to be.
Start in the 3D Script with a BLOCK command for one leg of the
chair. Let the chair have a general size of 50 mm (2”) for legs and
other thicknesses. Later we can introduce subtleties of form and
size. Starting from the left-hand front corner, use the ADD commands
and work your way around the chair, planting legs as you go.
!Legs
MATERIAL ’Pine’: PEN 1
BLOCK 0.05,0.05,0.45
ADDx 0.4
BLOCK 0.05,0.05,0.45
ADDy 0.4
BLOCK 0.05,0.05,0.45
ADDx -0.4
BLOCK 0.05,0.05,0.45
DEL 3
Notice that it is wise, even for such a simple object, to write a
label, to define the material and pen color. These two can be
included on the same line using a colon to separate the
commands. You may not have the Material names used here, so
put in the names of materials that you know to be loaded.
The operation to make the legs involves three ADD commands, so
we can use DEL 3 to bring the cursor back to the origin. Then rest.
Now for the Seat. This should be of a different material so start
with the label and a new material statement. Lift the cursor and
draw the block. Note that the block has to be high and big enough
to cover the legs. When you use quote marks, it does not matter if
they are double or single quotes as long as you are consistent.
!Seat
MATERIAL ’Textile’
ADDz 0.45
BLOCK 0.45,0.45,0.05
DEL 1
Now for the Back. Note that we are working with BLOCK on this
chair. As your confidence increases, you will expand the range of
GDL commands you use to achieve form. There is usually more
than one way to make any shape.

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!Back
MATERIAL ’Pine’
ADD 0,0.4,0.45
BLOCK 0.05,0.05,0.45
ADDx 0.4
BLOCK 0.05,0.05,0.45
DEL 1
MATERIAL ’Textile’
ADD 0.05,0,0.15
BLOCK 0.35,0.05,0.30
DEL 1
DEL 1
To complete this, you will want to see this in your floor plan. You
must write a 2D Script if it is to be visible. Open the 2D script
window and write the single line ‘PROJECT2 3,270,2’. Close
the object, return to the floor plan. Click the Object tool in the
Toolbox, click in the plan, and your chair will appear, with its own
hotspots provided by ArchiCAD.
The chair may not win a design award, but it is your first GDL
object – so reward yourself and then try another task.

Let’s make this chair parametric

If you stretch a non parametric object, it deforms proportionally, but
unrealistically. Square table legs become rectangular, cylindrical legs
become elliptical. If you stretch a parametric object, it retains
important properties such as diameters and thicknesses. The
primary reason for using GDL has to be to enable objects to be
parametric. So this simple chair needs to be upgraded.
First make some parameters
Click on the chair object and open it again for editing. In the
parameter building box, click the ‘New’ button 5 or 6 times to
make new lines in the building box. They are lettered C, D, E, F,
and so on, and they always start with a value of zero. Click in the

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parameter name box of the first one and write in a name for the
leg thickness parameter. Call it ‘tsec’ which is a 4-letter shorthand
for timber section. Write in the larger field something like ‘Timber
sectional size’ or equivalent. This is what the user will read when
they open your object – so make your description a model of
clarity. Then enter a starting value, such as 0.05 meters. If your
system settings are in another unit system, write in 50 mm, or 2” or
whatever suits you.
Add in more parameter names. Try ‘seathit’ for Seat height,
‘legmat’ for Leg material and so on. Think about the parameters
you might want to change. You will find a button in the same
parameter building box that you can pop-up to reveal a palette to
tell GDL whether the parameter is a Dimension, a Material, Pen
color or whatever. This palette will be covered in more detail as
the exercises develop.

Rules for parameter naming

A and B at the top of the parameters box are ‘Magic parameters’ that
govern the width and depth of objects. You do not have to use them.
You could use ‘wid’ and ‘dep’ along with the other parameters. Let’s
use A and B here because they will enable the object to be stretchy.
Change them both to the equivalent of 45 cm or 18”.
The rules for names of parameters are simple. Use more than one
letter so that you can remember what the parameter means. Single
letters are best used as ‘counters’ or ‘flags’ when you get further
into GDL. It’s important to be able to read your script weeks later
and still understand what you meant. ‘Legmat’ is far more
expressive than ‘L’. It takes more typing, but that is a small worry
compared with the importance of understanding. It’s easier to
make typing errors with long parameter names, so avoid over-long

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names like ‘leg_cross_section’. The letters must be sequential (no

spaces) but you can join words with an underscore e.g. ‘leg_mat’.
Parameters are not case sensitive, but as a discipline, stick
exclusively to lowercase for parameters, upper case for commands.
The most important rule is that you must not use words that are
already GDL commands (or archaic GDL commands). So names
like ‘block’, ‘strlen’, ‘open’ and ‘nod’ cannot be used.
Now convert the 3D script
The next task is to convert the script from dimensions to parameters.
Once you have written a few GDL scripts, it becomes second
nature to think out the structure of an object in terms of parameters
and write directly into the script using parameters. You develop a
personal lingo of words like ‘len’, ‘wid’, and ‘dep’ that you can use
in all objects. Start by changing all the leg section widths to ‘tsec’,
then gradually change all the others. Notice that, because the block
starts from the near-left corner, the distance it has to move to draw
each leg is the dimension of the chair less the leg thickness, for
example, width(A) minus tsec – and so on. Try it for yourself.
!Simple chair, parametric
PEN pcol
!Legs
MATERIAL legmat
BLOCK tsec,tsec,seathit-tsec
ADDX A-tsec
BLOCK tsec,tsec,seathit-tsec
ADDY B-tsec
BLOCK tsec,tsec,seathit-tsec
ADDX -(A-tsec) !Note the use of brackets
BLOCK tsec,tsec,seathit-tsec
DEL 3
!Seat
MATERIAL seatmat
ADDZ seathit-tsec
ADD 0.001,0.001,0 !Nudge upholstery by one pixel
BLOCK A-0.002,B-0.002,tsec
DEL 2
!Back
MATERIAL legmat
ADD 0, B-tsec, seathit-tsec
BLOCK tsec,tsec,bakhit
ADDX A-tsec
BLOCK tsec,tsec,bakhit
DEL 1
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MATERIAL seatmat !Upholstery

ADD tsec,0,bakhit/3
BLOCK A-tsec*2,tsec,bakhit*2/3
DEL 1
DEL 1
Evolution of form
As part of the changes, we can improve the 3D appearance. In the
simple chair, the rear upholstery of the seat was in exactly the
same 3D space as the uprights for the back. If you nudge the
upholstery forward and to the right by one 3D pixel (one
millimeter) and reduce the seat size by two pixels, the chair will
render better in 3D.
The idea of 3D ‘systems analysis’
The back is a little more complicated. Previously, we used actual
dimensions. Now we have to do a little systems analysis on the
chair. It is logical that the upholstery of the back is equal to the
width of the chair minus twice the leg thickness. We have to apply
simple systems analysis to all 3D objects if parametric scripting is
to work at all.
Now you can write the X,Y and Z values as arithmetic expressions.
Star (*) means multiply, slash (/) means divide.
Error checking
As you work your way through the script, keep clicking in the 3D
view window of the GDL object to see if the logic of your
arithmetical expressions are making sense. If they are not, it may
be a bad spelling. A wrongly spelled parameter will result in a
value of zero, or could produce an error message. Click on the
‘Check Script’ button and read the error message – if you get one.
Fixed parameters
We made an assumption that the back upholstery would be 2/3 of
the back height. This is what we call a “manufacturer’s rule.” So
you fix this in the script without giving the user a choice. If you
wanted it to be variable, you could provide additional parameters
to enable the user to control the appearance.
3D is more powerful if it is parametric
You can see that it is possible to write 3D scripts that are 100%
based on parameters and not on real dimensions. This is the key to
making objects smart and powerful. Once ArchiCAD users have
grasped this they realize that there was something useful in all that

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algebra they learned so painfully at school. Later with GDL, you

may find that your school trigonometry comes in handy, too!
Save the chair object, look at it in the floor plan, view its settings
window, and play with it. Change the materials, height and leg
thickness. If you have done everything correctly, it should behave
parametrically.

3.3 First steps in 2D scripting

Use a script for a more effective 2D symbol
In the first version of the simple chair, you used the command of
PROJECT2 3,270,2 – a ‘killer command’ that does it all. To
achieve this, it has to do a hidden-line 3D drawing of the object as
seen in plan view. The result of this can be that your floor plan
takes too long to load or regenerate if you have many such objects
in the project. So we advise that you always use a 2D script unless
the object is too changeable or complex to script. Let’s try a small
script for this chair.
The RECT2 command is a 2D command that is similar to BLOCK,
but it is more flexible as you can specify the X and Y of the
opposing corners, e.g., RECT2 x1,y1,x2,y2. All 2D commands
end in the letter ‘2’.
Let’s try two ways of doing this chair. We could follow the same
sequence as the 3D script, using the ADD2 command to move
around and plant each rectangle. Alternatively, we could stay at
the origin and just issue all the RECT2 commands without having
to move anywhere.
The ADD2 command is a move command in 2D, but requires both
X and Y. For an X move, give a value for Y of zero.
!Simple chair, parametric
PEN pcol
!PROJECT2 3,270,2 !make this into a comment
RECT2 0,0,A,B !Seat
ADD2 0,B-tsec
RECT2 0,0,tsec,tsec !Leg
ADD2 A-tsec,0
RECT2 0,0,tsec,tsec !Leg
DEL 2
!Back
RECT2 tsec,B-tsec,A-tsec,B

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The commands for the seat and legs follow the logic of the 3D
model. You can use DEL to cancel cursor movements, just as in
3D. Unfortunately, you do not have a visible 2D cursor to tell you
where it is – you just have to keep a mental track of its location.
The command for the back upholstery sits in one place and issues
the RECT2 command by exact XY locations. We can keep the
PROJECT2 command in the script, but make it inactive by turning
it into a comment line.

Save the object and place it on the floor plan. You will find that it
generates the symbol instantaneously. It will also have hotspots.
You will also find (to your delight?) that the chair is stretchy.
Write your own hotspots
If you wish to guarantee that hotspots are where you want them to
be and that the object will be stretchy, you are better off writing
them yourself. Open the chair object again, and add the following
lines to the script you have written. Place the lines BEFORE the
ones that contain the rectangle commands. Hotspots only need the
X and Y location.
HOTSPOT2 0,0 !4 Corner stretch spots
HOTSPOT2 A,0
HOTSPOT2 A,B
HOTSPOT2 0,B
HOTSPOT2 A/2,B/2 !Pick up spot
If you have used ArchiCAD, you will know that hotspots have
three main purposes: allowing objects to be picked up; making
them stretchy; and giving them ‘gravity’ (helping them to snap
against wall surfaces or each other). Design and place your
hotspots as and where you need them.
Later in 2D GDL you can try commands like CIRCLE2, LINE2 and
ARC2.

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3D made more curvy

Before long, you will want to break out of the rectilinear tyranny
of BLOCK and RECT2. The syntax of cylinder (CYLIND), CONE
and ELBOW are easy to use. With those three, you can build
interesting tubular structures, such as the tubular frames of steel
furniture. There isn’t space to deal with them in this chapter. Now
that you have got this far, you may find it an easy challenge to
explore on your own.

Summary of GDL, in this section

– You can write GDL entirely in dimensions.
– It is better to write GDL in parameters.
– Use parameter names that look logical, like ‘seatmat’.
– Remember to click the pop-up palette that tells you if a
parameter is length, material or pen color.
– Describe the purpose of the parameters clearly.
– Try to make the entire 3D script parametric.
– Click in the 3D view window frequently.
– After each 3D task is achieved, DEL back to the origin before
starting the next task.
– Writing a 2D script is easy and saves time in the long term.
– Hotspots are vital for making objects stretchy.
– Try cylinders, cones and elbows for extra quality and
authenticity.
– Now, at last, you have a useful application for that algebra you
learned at school.

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 Chapter 4: Practical Uses for GDL

Chapter 4
Practical Uses for GDL
Even in the early dawn of your GDL knowledge you can apply it
to useful tasks. It’s the best way to learn.

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4.1 Practical Uses for GDL

The simple chair was useful for breaking the ice with GDL; let’s
now try two objects that could be genuinely useful to you in
ArchiCAD. These objects will continue to widen your vision as to
what is possible with GDL, and will provide you with more rules,
techniques and advice on getting the best out of GDL.

GDL in 2D
It is possible to build objects entirely as 2D, but for many building
components and furniture items, it is not so necessary. These can
usually be built with the 2D tools and saved as objects – as
previously demonstrated. In other cases, you can drop a 3D object
from the ArchiCAD Library into the floor plan, and ‘explode’ it –
making it a 2D group of lines. However, if you can think of
something that offers parametric properties, or you are scripting
something that you have already built in 3D, then there is a good
reason to learn scripting in 2D.
Let’s remind you of some of the common commands in 2D. Cross
reference the corresponding section of the GDL Reference Guide.
HOTSPOT2: allows you to post hotspots where you want them to
be. Normally GDL will give you ‘bounding box’ hotspots, but it is
far more powerful to place them where they will be useful – to
make objects stretchy, to mark out points along a circle, or to
make objects easier to pick up.
LINE2 x1,y1, x2,y2: draws a line from point x1,y1 to x2,y2.
RECT2 x1,y1, x2,y2: draws a rectangle from point x1,y1 to
x2,y2.
CIRCLE2 x, y, r: draws a circle at point x,y, of radius r.
ARC2 x, y, r, alpha, beta: draws part of a circle on
point x,y, of radius r, starting with angle alpha and ending at angle
beta – moving in an counterclockwise direction.
POLY2 and POLY2_ (underscore) are more powerful than any of
the above. You can draw any of the above shapes, plus many
other shapes, including ones with drilled holes and with a variety
of fill patterns.
ADD2, MUL2, ROT2, DEL are concerned with cursor movement,
and you have already seen them in use with the simple chair
example.

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Let’s build something in 2D – and make it

snappy
From ArchiCAD, choose File>New Library Part>Object. Let us
make a 2D Symbol for a bed. The only point in making it in GDL is
for it to be parametric and to obey rules – to stretch intelligently, to
‘snap’ to certain sizes. You can make an object smart by setting up
a number of ‘IF statements’ which help GDL decide what course to
take. Some choices can be determined by the user playing with
the parameters, other rules would be treated as “manufacturer’s
rules” and are written (‘hard-coded’) into the script.
Let us set up some simple rules. Beds, if single are 75 cm or 90 cm
wide. If double, they are 135 cm or 150 cm wide. Beds are always
195 cm long. Beds may have headboards. Bedposts are 5 cm
square. The beds will be stretchable, but we do not want the beds
to be infinitely variable – that would be unrealistic. As each bed
enlarges by pulling on its hotspots, we want it to snap to the
correct size. ‘A’ is used as the parameter for width, and we do not
need to use ‘B’ in this case.
In the 2D script, we start with a label and then state one of the
main rules – bed length. Then the stretchy hotspots follow. These
are always best written BEFORE you write any significant elements
of script – because GDL is read in the order in which it is written,
the stretchy hotspots tell the object how big to be, and the rest of
the script does the job of drawing the object at the required size.
!2D Bed Symbol
len=1.95
HOTSPOT2 0,0
HOTSPOT2 A,0
HOTSPOT2 0,len
HOTSPOT2 A,len

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The object can be ‘smart’ with IF... ENDIF

statements
From the hotspots, the script knows the value of A and can decide
what kind of bed it is. The IF statements use the ‘greater than’ and
‘smaller than’ expressions to decide on the correct bed width. IF
statements can be written on a single line or, as in this script, can
be written in the form shown here. The first line ends with the
word THEN, followed on the next few lines with the things to be
done as a result of the IF question. You round off the IF
statement with the ENDIF statement. As long as you go in the right
order (each IF statement checking in order of size), you finish up
getting the right bed. You see here an example of a multi-
statement line. You can use the colon to allow separate statements
to exist on the same line (a space saving device).
The idea of Flags
The variable called ‘bed’ is created and this is a way for the script
to remember what sort of bed it is. This variable is called a ‘Flag’, a
shorthand way for GDL to remember which option has been
requested. In this example, the first digit of twelve ‘1’ tells GDL
that it is a single bed and the second digit ‘2’ tells it that the bed is
of the wide variety. The flag is used here to decide on the pillows
layout. In more complex objects, flags are vital as a way of
remembering the configuration. In a car-model, flags can
remember the type of car, left/right hand drive, lights on/off, doors
open/shut, seats visible/hidden, passengers present, steering
direction of the wheels.
!Calculate widths and flags
IF A<0.75 THEN
wid=0.75:bed=11
ENDIF
IF A>0.76 THEN
wid=0.90:bed=12
ENDIF
IF A>0.91 THEN
wid=1.35:bed=21
ENDIF
IF A>1.36THEN
wid=1.50:bed=22
ENDIF
HOTSPOT2 wid,0
HOTSPOT2 wid,len
HOTSPOT2 wid/2,len/2

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These last few hotspots are placed at the actual corners of the bed
as a result of the IF statements. Next, it is time to draw the actual
bed object.
RECT2 0,0, wid,len !Main Bed shape
!Pillows
IF bed=11 OR bed=12 THEN !Single
ADD2 wid/2, 0.2
RECT2 -0.35,-0.15, 0.35, 0.15 !pillow
DEL 1
ENDIF
IF bed=21 OR bed=22 THEN !Double
ADD2 wid/4, 0.2
RECT2 -0.32,-0.15, 0.32, 0.15 !pillow
ADD2 wid/2, 0
RECT2 -0.32,-0.15, 0.32, 0.15 !pillow
DEL 2
ENDIF
We use the flag (11, 12, 21, 22) to decide how to lay out the pillows.
Notice that by using OR, we can make the IF statement more
interesting. We use the parameter of ‘wid’ to know where to place
the pillow. In this case, we have a fixed size for pillows. Check by
clicking on the 2D view frequently to see how the script is working.
You will notice that some lines of the script are indented. This
makes it easier to read. Two good rules are to indent cursor
movements, and to indent the lines following an IF... THEN line.
If you haven’t saved already, this is a good time to save.
Boolean choices – let the user decide
We could add sophistication and user friendliness such as some
turned down sheets and a head board. So create two parameters,
and make them of the sort ‘Boolean’. This governs the making of a
binary choice, an On/Off, Yes/No question. You get a tick box.
Tick them in the ON condition. GDL sends the script a result of
zero (OFF) or one (ON).

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!Sheets
IF shbk=1 THEN
POLY2 4,1, !Poly2 is an alternative
wid-0.4,0.4, !to the cluster of LINE
wid,0.8, !commands below
wid-0.4,0.8,
wid-0.4,0.4
! LINE2 wid-0.4,0.4,wid,0.8
! LINE2 wid-0.4,0.4,wid-0.4,0.8
! LINE2 wid-0.4,0.8,wid,0.8
LINE2 0,0.4,wid-0.4,0.4
LINE2 0,0.6,wid-0.4,0.6
ELSE
LINE2 0,0.4, wid,0.4
LINE2 0,0.6, wid,0.6
ENDIF
!Headboard and Hotspots
IF hdbd THEN
RECT2 0,0, 0.05,-0.05
RECT2 wid,0, wid-0.05,-0.05
RECT2 0.05,-0.01,wid-0.05,-0.04
HOTSPOT2 0,-0.05
HOTSPOT2 wid,-0.05
ENDIF
In the case of the ‘shbk’ flag, you ask if it equals one. Since these
two flags ‘shbk’ and ‘hdbd’ can only be 0 or 1 (false or true), you
can write in a simpler way as shown for ‘hdbd’. ‘IF hdbd THEN’
means that anything other than zero will be regarded as true.
The outline of the turned sheet could either be written with a
series of LINE2 statements, or you could try your hand at a
POLY2 statement. You have to write the XY coordinates of the
points of the polygon using parameters where possible, and you
need to repeat the first point at the end of the XY list. This ensures
that the polygon closes up. The POLY2 statement is followed by
the number of points in the list, and a control code of 1 (to draw
the lines). A POLY2 is cleaner code in that it can write many or all
of the lines you need in the one command.
If curiosity has not already driven you to try this, save the bed
object, place it in the floor plan, and practice stretching it,
backwards and forwards. See how it snaps from one size to
another. You could elaborate it further, giving the mattress
rounded corners (with ARC2), adding a footboard, and perhaps

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adding a tiny circle at the most important stretchy hotspot to make

it easier to pick up. This is like a small joystick or 2D cursor.
CIRCLE2 A,0,0.01
Note that we have not set Pen color here as the user can do that in
the settings box. The bed-object is transparent – you can see other
objects below it – but you could try making opaque ones with fill
patterns in later 2D scripts for which you certainly need POLY2.

Summary of GDL in this section

– Useful 2D objects can be written entirely in GDL.
– The range of 2D GDL commands is small and simple.
– IF statements are the first step to making an object ‘Smart’.
– Not all rules and choices need be in the user’s parameter box.
Some rules can be “manufacturer’s rules”.
– If the answer to a user’s question is ON or OFF, then use a
Boolean parameter.
– Stretchy Hotspots should be written before the object.
– Flags can be used to store characteristics of the object.
– A Polygon is ‘cleaner code’ than a mass of lines and allows 2D
objects to be opaque.

4.2 Let’s make a 3D Door

We made a window earlier using the Slab tool. If this window is
stretched, the frame will be distorted. You need GDL to build a
window that will stretch but retain correct frame dimensions. With
GDL you can also build in smart features like glazing bar options,
ironwork, etc. A door is very similar to a window in the way it is
made, so let’s try one, and make it possible to open and shut the
door.
Remember, the primary rule about doors/windows is that they
should be built flat on the floor, and that the floor surface – the XY
plane – represents the external face of the wall that the window/
door will fit into. ‘A’ represents the width of the door and ‘B’ will
be the height of the door – when it is upright in a Wall.
From ArchiCAD, choose File>New Library Part>Door. (Note that
you can build the door as an Object first and transform into a Door
later.) We will build this door with BLOCK, because it is easy to
use. We will not bother with rebates at this stage. Once you are
more confident with GDL you can add in these refinements. One

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thing we will do with this exercise is to make a simple pop-up

menu – the key to making GDL objects VERY user friendly.
Build the door frame
First make some parameters for frame width, frame depth and
frame material. In this example, the parameter box is working in
millimeters. Use whatever suits you, but remember – scripts are
‘hard coded’. If they are not parametric, they must be in meters (or
in imperial with foot and inch signs). Then type in a simple script
for the frame.

!Simple Door
!Frame
MATERIAL fmat
ADDx -A/2
BLOCK fwid,B,fdep !left frame stile
DEL 1
ADDx A/2-fwid
BLOCK fwid,B,fdep !right frame stile
DEL 1
ADD -A/2,B-fwid,0
BLOCK A,fwid,fdep !door head
DEL 1
If you know precisely what door you want and how big it is, you
may be tempted to write it out in dimensions, not parameters. But
when you get more committed to the idea of your objects being
‘investment objects’, you will always prefer to write in parameters
than in dimensions.
BLOCK is always built from the near left corner, so when you
move the 3D cursor, you need to make adjustments, by deducting
the frame width. It is easier if you make each part of the frame and
use DEL to get back to the origin before doing the next part.

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Now make the door

Now you can add in parameters for the door – thickness, material,
and opening angles. It is useful to have 2D and 3D opening angles
independent.

!Door
IF dang3<0 THEN dang3=0
IF dang3>90 THEN dang3=90
LET dwid=A-fwid*2 !Door width
LET dhit=B-fwid !Door height
MATERIAL dmat
ADDx dwid/2 !Move to right hand frame
ROTy 180-dang3 !Rotate door
ADDz -dthk !Settle it into rebate
BLOCK dwid,dhit,dthk
DEL 3
It is a good idea to keep the BLOCK command simple by defining
the value of Door width and Door height beforehand. This is not
important for the simple flush door – but it makes life much easier
if you want to make a panelled door later.
The use of the LET command is voluntary. If you write ‘dwid=A-
fwid*2’ that is not a matter of fact – it is a Command for ‘dwid’ to
have a new value. By putting LET in front of it, you are making it
plain that you are issuing a command. The GDL interpreter is not
worried whether you use LET or not – but it is easier for the
human reader to understand it. If you were to read the script
aloud, you would pronounce the equal sign (=) as ‘become’, as in
‘LET dhit become B-fwid’.
The door needs to hinge off one frame. It is a house rule in GDL
that doors hinge off the right-hand frame unless they are mirrored.
For the door to hinge correctly, you must move the 3D cursor to
the right hand frame and build the door from that point. This is
much more complicated than doing it from the left frame because
the BLOCK command always grows in a rightward direction. To
hang correctly, this door needs to appear to be growing in a
leftward direction. Therefore, rotate it by ‘-dang3’, and it will grow
out through the frame in diametrically the wrong direction. Now
add 180˚ to the angle so it becomes a rotation of ‘180-dang3’ and it
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finishes in the right direction. You have to learn little tricks like this
when using GDL. Play with the angles to understand this process.
You need one small ADDZ to let the door ‘sink’ into the rebate.
When the door is in a wall, you will be able to use the Mirror or
Rotate function to change the way it will turn. In a later chapter,
we will make elements using PRISM, and you would not have to
do such mental gymnastics with PRISM – because you can make it
grow in a leftward direction from the hinging edge.
It is the IF statement that allows GDL to be smart, so for a door, the
first smart thing we can do is to stop the door being turned so that
the hinge would break. GDL models do not have gravity or
collision protection, so some error correcting IF statements will
save your door from ‘breaking’. Below is the door in 3D, half open.
It is still on the ground, but will be upright when placed in a wall.

The Door needs a 2D symbol

Before you can place it in the ArchiCAD environment, you need to
give the door a 2D symbol. Firstly, it is easiest to use the
PROJECT2 command to generate the symbol. The syntax is
PROJECT2 view_type, camera_angle,
drawing_method.
Remember that PROJECT2 tells GDL to draw in 2D whatever it
finds in 3D. Please check in the corresponding chapter of the GDL
Reference Guide and you will see that PROJECT2 is remarkably
versatile, allowing you to choose a viewtype that sees the object in
a huge variety of angles – plan, elevation and various forms of
axonometric. The camera angle is normally 270˚ for objects, and
90˚ for door/window objects. The drawing method is either
wireline(1) or hidden line analytic(2).
The PROJECT2 we used for the simple chair drew the chair in
Plan. For a door or window we need to draw a view of the door as
if the camera was placed at 90 degrees and viewing the doorset in

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Elevation, looking at the head of the window. It also needs to view

the doorhead so that the external wall is the top of the drawing.
!Simple Doorset 2D script
ROT2 180 !turns camera the right way up
PROJECT2 4,90,1 !views side view from 90˚
DEL 1 !back to origin
The ROT2 command turns the camera the right way up. Then the
PROJECT2 command draws the doorset, and by doing it in
wireframe, the frame is clearly visible.
Make sure the door works
If you haven’t already saved, this is the time to save. The door will
be saved as a .DOR file. If you built the door as a .GSM object file,
go to File>OpenLibrary Part>Open Object as Door, and then save;
it will now be a door.
Return to the ArchiCAD project floor plan, draw a wall. Click on the
Door tool and place your new door. The one you have just saved
will be the first door that gets placed. Check that it works in 3D
view. Try altering its settings. You can move the frame in and out of
the opening. You can open and shut the door. You will find that
only the 3D doorswing is working. We haven’t written the 2D yet.
You may also wonder how the hole in the wall is drilled. GDL cuts
a rectangular hole in the wall, ‘A’ in width and ‘B’ in height. When
you get further with GDL, you will find out how to cut holes of
more interesting shapes using the WALLHOLE command.
Improve the 2D performance of the door
With PROJECT2, the 2D symbol can only show what the 3D
object is doing, and for more powerful work, we would like to
show the doorswing differently between 2D and 3D. In plan
drawing, architects usually draw a doorswing in the open position,
but in 3D modelling, it is often desired to leave the door shut.
!Simple Door
!ROT2 180 !these commands disabled
!PROJECT2 4,90,1 !but retained as comments
!DEL 1
!Frame
ADD2 -A/2,0
RECT2 0,0,fwid,-fdep !left stile
DEL 1
ADD2 A/2,0
RECT2 0,0,-fwid,-fdep !right stile
DEL 1
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!Door
IF dang2<0 THEN dang2=0
IF dang2>90 THEN dang2=90
dwid=A-fwid*2 !Door width
ADD2 dwid/2,0
ROT2 180-dang2
RECT2 0,0,dwid,dthk
ARC2 0,0,dwid,0,dang2
DEL 2
Whenever you can, use the same algorithm as in the 3D script – it
may make the script longer, but it’s easier to write. Start with the
frames, and finish with the script for the door – using the same
little 180˚ trick used to get the door to swing the right way.
Because we want to be sure this is correct, we keep the
PROJECT2 command working and visible. Indeed, if you write in
a temporary Pen color (e.g., PEN 1 in front of the PROJECT2 and
PEN 10 in front of the rest of the script), the different pen colors
will show the 2D symbol building up. Because we are looking at
the door from the 90˚ camera angle, the frames end up in the
‘negative-Y’ side. So, most Y values in the script are minus. Where
you had BLOCK, you replace it with RECT2. Where you had ADD,
you replace it with ADD2. Where you had ‘dang3’ you replace with
‘dang2’.
When you have finished working, you can convert the PROJECT2
routine into a series of comments. Remove the PEN commands.
Leave these to the user to supply in the settings box of the door.
Save the Door object, return to the floor plan and admire your
handiwork. You should now be able to set different opening
angles for 2D and 3D.
Scale Sensitive 2D symbol – with Global Variables
Architects also like 2D objects to be scale sensitive. At 1:100, the
door may be a line, and the frame a simple shape, at 1:20, the door
should be shown in detail, with a rebated doorframe. It is possible
for the GDL object to know the current scale of the drawing and to
change accordingly.
ArchiCAD keeps an active memory of everything that is going on
in the current project. GDL can interrogate this memory and make
use of it. The current Drawing Scale, the current Northpoint, the
object’s position in the Floor plan, the current Story, the current
Wall thickness, etc. These ‘Global Variables’ are described in
Appendix A of the GDL Reference Manual.

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Let’s just consider drawing scale. This is called GLOB_SCALE or

A_ (A-underscore) for short. If the drawing is 1:100, A_ will be
100. If it is 1/8 inch to 1 foot, it will be 96. So we can design a
better shape for the doorframe that will look detailed at 1:50 or
larger. Let’s assume that the rebate is 12 mm. You can now write a
polygon to draw a realistic looking door frame. Polygons (and
Prisms in 3D) are hard work, but if you sketch them out first, and
think in terms of parameters, it is not so difficult.
!Simple Door - 2D script
!ROT2 180 !these commands disabled
!PROJECT2 4,90,1 !but retained as comments
!DEL 1
!Frame
ADD2 -A/2,0
LET rb=0.012 !Rebate
IF GLOB_SCALE>51 THEN
RECT2 0,0,fwid,-fdep !left stile simple
ELSE
POLY2 7,5, !left stile complex
0,0,
0,-fdep,
fwid+rb,-fdep,
fwid+rb,-dthk,
fwid,-dthk,
fwid,0,
0,0
ENDIF
DEL 1
ADD2 A/2,0
IF GLOB_SCALE>51 THEN
RECT2 0,0,-fwid,-fdep !right stile simple
ELSE
POLY2 7,5, !right stile complex
0,0,
0,-fdep,
-fwid-rb,-fdep,
-fwid-rb,-dthk,
-fwid,-dthk,
-fwid,0,
0,0
ENDIF
DEL 1

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As you work through this, have the 2D View window open, and
keep checking that the frames are turned the right way. You can
change the current scale by activating the scale button at the
bottom left of the 2D View window. You can now finish by
providing an alternative symbol for the door itself – the rectangle
can now be used for 1:50 or larger, and a simple line for smaller
drawing scales.
!Door
IF dang2<0 THEN dang2=0
IF dang2>90 THEN dang2=90
dwid=A-fwid*2 !Door width
ADD2 dwid/2,0 !Move to right hand frame
ROT2 180-dang2 !Hinge the door
IF GLOB_SCALE>51 THEN
LINE2 0,0,dwid,0 !Simple line
ELSE
RECT2 0,0,dwid,dthk !Rectangle
ENDIF
ARC2 0,0,dwid,0,dang2 !Door swing
DEL 2
Master Script is useful here
Notice again that you have to tell it again what ‘dwid’ (door width)
is. This is because 2D and 3D scripts do not talk to each other. If
you placed values for ‘rb’ (rebate), ‘dwid’ (door width) and the
error correcting routines into the Master Script, this could save you
some typing, centralize some of your fixed parameters, and inform
both the 2D and the 3D scripts of the correct values.
Build a pop-up menu with the VALUES command
For the 3D object door object, you would like to have a choice of
door styles, but how does one ask the user? In the days of
ArchiCAD 5.0, one had to have style 1, style 2, etc. Now you can
create a pop-up menu that allows the user to choose by name.
You can even have a visual display that shows each door as a

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picture. You must have noticed this in the new Door objects in the
ArchiCAD 6.5 door library.
We can make a start here by offering a simple choice of a solid or
a panelled door.
First make a new parameter. Let’s call it ‘doortyp’. As the pop-up
menu will offer a choice of door styles in words, select the
parameter type ‘Abc’ which will be for text. Make a new parameter
for panelling material, called ‘panmat’.

Now go to the Parameters Script. This is where you build pop-up

menus. Type in a VALUES command, starting with the name of
the parameter (in quotes), followed by a list of the menu choices
(also in quotes). Separate the choices by commas.
VALUES ‘doortyp’ ‘Flush Door’, ‘Panelled Door’

It may take a few seconds for GDL to notice, but after a while,
‘doortyp’ will realize that it has a pop-up menu and will allow you
to choose one or the other. The little triangular symbol will appear
at the right of the parameter entry. As the choice of door style is
one of the most important parameters of the door, you could click
on the ‘Bold’ button to make the font heavier, and you could use
the little arrows at the left to push the parameter to the top of the
list. Then you should make a parameter for Panelling Material.
This pop-up menu brings two major benefits – the object is more
user friendly and it is impossible for the user to make a spelling
error or choose a silly option. Before we get too confident, we
have to put this pop-up menu to good use. Return to the 3D script
and make the choice work.

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You only need a simple IF statement to help the 3D Script decide

which door to display. Let’s take the original 3D text for the door
and add in the IF-statements and build a script for a panelled door.
!Door - 3D Script
IF dang3<0 THEN dang3=0
IF dang3>90 THEN dang3=90
dwid=A-fwid*2 !Door width
dhit=B-fwid !Door height
MATERIAL dmat
ADDx dwid/2 !Move to right hand frame
ROTy 180-dang3 !Rotate door
ADDz -dthk !Settle it into rebate
IF doortyp='Flush Door' THEN
BLOCK dwid,dhit,dthk
ENDIF
IF doortyp='Panelled Door' THEN
BLOCK dwid/6,dhit,dthk !Left
ADDx dwid*5/6
BLOCK dwid/6,dhit,dthk !Right
DEL 1
ADD dwid/6,dhit-dwid/6,0
BLOCK dwid*4/6,dwid/6,dthk !Toprail
DEL 1
ADDx dwid/6
BLOCK dwid*4/6,dwid/4,dthk !Footrail
DEL 1
MATERIAL panmat
ADD dwid/6,dwid/4,dthk/4
BLOCK dwid*4/6,dhit-dwid/4-dwid/6,dthk/2
DEL 1
ENDIF
DEL 3
If you are sharp eyed, you will look at the script above and see
that we could simply have used IF... ELSE... ENDIF,
because we only have a choice of two styles. And you are right.
This is a simple door; but when you build doors for actual use,
you may wish to have five or six styles. Some of the door style
choices in the ArchiCAD library run well into double figures. It is
easier to have separate IF-statements for each choice.
You may also wonder how the script arrived at dividing the door
width into sixths, to arrive at the sizes of the vertical door sections,
compared with the panel size. This is another example of

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Manufacturer’s rules. One manufacturer may have several ways of

proportioning their doors. You may need a style for each one.
Finally, a door is incomplete without its ironwork, but that is
beyond the scope of this chapter. It could be scripted in with the
door, or if you had a set of door handles already built, it could be
brought in as another object, using the CALL command, and
placed in the correct position on the door.
A first look at Property Scripting
When you do a listing of your building, an easy one line command
will help you. The DESCRIPTOR command describes your object.
Open the Properties script and try this easy script, using the
parameter ‘doortyp’, which was the user’s choice of door.
DESCRIPTOR doortyp

Let’s finish the door

If you are serious about doors, you can see that there are many
more things you could do. You could enter the manufacturer’s
serial codes for door type, introduce many variations on the
panelling solution, offer choices of ironwork, specify fire
resistance, kickplates or letter boxes and more.
If you want to build double doors or bifold doors, it would be
possible to build these into the same object – but then you might
make it less user friendly if it becomes excessively complex. It is
better to Save As... the door under a new name. Save as a double
door, then using the same frame details, provide the modified
script for double doors – not forgetting that you need to update
the 2D script, too.
Preview window – get yourself an icon
You must have noticed that most ArchiCAD Library parts have nice
pictorial icons – how do you get these for yourself? Set up a nice
3D view of the object you have made, and photo-render this,
preferably into a window sized 128x128 pixels. You can make it a
bit larger, but keep it square. Select the image and Copy; from the
Library part parameter building box, click on the button marked
Preview Picture. Paste the image into that. Save and Close it. Now
reload the object, and you will have a nice preview picture for the
object, as well as an icon for it.

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Summary of GDL in this section

– Doors and Windows must be built on the XY ground plane.
– The Origin should be at the center, lower sill or threshold.
– Hinging the door is not difficult – build the door from the
hinging point.
– Build error-correcting statements into the script.
– The 2D symbol can be made with PROJECT2, in Side View.
But a truly scripted 2D symbol may be more powerful.
– 2D symbols can adapt to the scale of the drawing if it is
scripted.
– Global Variables – very interesting! Look at Appendix A of the
GDl Reference Manual.
– PRISM is more powerful than BLOCK.
– Master Script can hold information and perform error
correcting routines for both 2D and 3D.
– Pop-up menus are easy to build, user-friendly and reduce
errors.
– Even simple objects can have a short Properties script.
– Make a Preview picture.

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 Chapter 5: The Power of PRISM

Chapter 5
The Power of PRISM
We discover a 3D command that adds real power to GDL.

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5.1 The Power of PRISM

PRISM is the most versatile element in 3D GDL
We have found that BLOCK is acceptable for building elementary
furniture and frames, but you rapidly discover that BLOCK is too
primitive for serious work. Apart from its rigid shape, you have to
move the cursor to the location of the block, and the block always
grows from the near left corner. Many objects have recognizable
shapes or curves in them that require you to draw their outline
shape correctly. PRISM is the answer.

Prisms can be multi-colored, bent, rounded, cut, drilled,

chamfered and hollowed out. They are quite useful.
You can define the outline of a prism by listing the XY locations of
its nodepoints. Although 0,0 might be one of its points, this is not
essential. Your cursor can remain at the origin and your script can
calmly draw prisms that are hundreds of meters away because it is
entering the precise XY locations of each node.
The code for many prisms can also be ‘stolen’ from ArchiCAD. Try
this next idea.

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This prism has been drawn out with the Slab tool in the ArchiCAD
floor plan. To illustrate how prisms work, the nodes have been
numbered in the order in which they were clicked. There are 13
points if you include the first point twice – the idea being that you
fully close the prism by returning to the start.
Now draw out a prism yourself of roughly the same shape (no
need to number the nodes). As a regular discipline, try to draw
slabs in the counterclockwise direction, because GDL is happier
working that way. Mathematically, counterclockwise is a ‘positive’
direction if you start trying to curve edges. Draw it so that one of
the points coincides with zero – the global origin.

Instant GDL
Everything in ArchiCAD is in fact GDL (under the surface). You
can click on anything in an ArchiCAD floor plan – wall, roof, floor,
mesh, even library part – and find out what its GDL code is by
dragging and dropping it into a GDL script window. 3D objects
should be dragged into a 3D script window, and 2D into 2D.

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We can transform this slab to GDL immediately. From the File

menu, choose New Library part>Object, and arrange the 3D script
window in a narrow column on the right of the screen. Rearrange
the project floor plan so that it is occupying 2/3 of the screen and
is to the left, and overlapping the 3D script window slightly. Now
click on the slab and, holding it, simply Drag it across and Drop it
into the 3D script window. There is a slight knack to this, so try it a
few times if it does not work the first time.
BODY -1
MODEL SOLID
RESOL 36
!!Slab-018
PEN 1
ADDZ 4.1
BODY -1
cPRISM_ "Whitewash", "Whitewash", "Whitewash",
13, 0.1,
0.0, 0.0, 15,
4.28548, 0.0, 15,
4.28548, 0.949196, 15,
5.279549, 0.949196, 15,
5.279549, 2.155116, 15,
3.405484, 2.155116, 15,
3.405484, 3.067704, 15,
-0.000425, 3.067704, 15,
-0.000425, 2.00845, 15,
-2.444858, 2.00845, 15,
-2.444858, 0.949196, 15,
0.0, 0.949196, 15,
0.0, 0.0, -1
BODY -1
DEL 1
This resembles what you will get in the 3D script window. Instant
GDL! All Slab tool objects are converted into ‘CPRISM_’; this is a
prism in which the top, bottom and side surfaces are specified by
name or number. The next line contains the number of nodes and
the thickness, and then follows the list of XY locations. Each one
ends in the number 15, and the final node ends in a -1. The 15 is a
‘masking code’ and simply tells the slab to be drawn as a Solid and
tells all the edge lines to be drawn. The -1 tells GDL that the slab is
finished (and also that the end point is the same as the start point).
This is the default, so leave these as they are unless you want to
omit nodepoints.
Note that the slab was started from the main origin of the project,
so that the first node listed is 0,0. Note also that the XY locations
are accurate to a millionth of a meter. This is a lot of reading for
the GDL parser, and if you write creative GDL, you can write in
much cleaner numbers.

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You can also do ‘Instant GDL’ in 2D

Try drawing a polygon with the Fill tool. Drag and Drop the result
into a 2D Script window – another example of instant GDL!
About Prisms...
Prisms come in several forms.
PRISM number of nodes, thickness,
X1,Y1,...... Xn,Yn
For a simple prism, you do not need materials or the underscore,
and you do not even need to close the prism. The default is for it
to be a closed solid. By adding an underscore and 15 at the end of
each line, you get much the same thing, but with added potential.
PRISM_ number of nodes, thickness,
X1,Y1,mask,...... Xn,Yn,mask, X1,Y1,-1
Normally, the value of the masking code is always 15. The power
of masking in the underscore version of PRISM is that you can omit
faces and lines of the prism and you can curve corners, and drill
holes through the prism. The curved corners are made using the
technique of the ‘Polyline’. It is too early to lead you through all
these possibilities now, but you need to know that they are available.
CPRISM_ topmat,botmat,sidemat,
number of nodes, thickness,
X1,Y1,mask,...... Xn,Yn,mask, X1,Y1,-1
CPRISM_ is what you get when you make ‘instant GDL’ with the
Slab tool. This has all the powers of PRISM_ but it also allows you
to change the colors of the top, bottom and side faces.
You also have the following types of prism which are suitable for
later study:
– BPRISM_ is an extension of CPRISM_ but allows you to bend
the prism by adding a radius of curvature. It bends
downwards, but if you precede it with a mirroring routine
(MULZ -1), it will bend upwards.
– FPRISM is an extension of CPRISM_ but allows you to have
curved or chamfered top edges (hills) by specifying the angle,
height and material of the hill. This is useful for suggesting
softness, e.g., in furniture. However, it creates a lot of
polygons and lines in 3D view.
– SPRISM_ is an extension of CPRISM_ but allows you to have
a cut plane taken through the prism. As it is possible to use an
actual command CUTPLANE, this version of the Prism is not so
frequently used.

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Clean up the Prism

Return to the cPrism we dragged and dropped earlier. If you just
want a pure prism, clean away the statements before and after the
prism. The function of these is explained more in chapter 6. If you
find an ADDZ command like the one in this example, it is a leftover
from a previous Slab tool setting, so you can delete that, along
with DEL. You are left with a simple CPRISM_ command:
CPRISM_ "Whitewash", "Whitewash", "Whitewash",
13, 0.1,
0.0, 0.0, 15,
4.28548, 0.0, 15,
4.28548, 0.949196, 15,
5.279549, 0.949196, 15,
5.279549, 2.155116, 15,
3.405484, 2.155116, 15,
3.405484, 3.067704, 15,
-0.000425, 3.067704, 15,
-0.000425, 2.00845, 15,
-2.444858, 2.00845, 15,
-2.444858, 0.949196, 15,
0.0, 0.949196, 15,
0.0, 0.0, -1
If you are doing a very simple solid one-color prism, you do not
need all the 15s and the -1, so you can delete those. You can also
remove the ‘c’, the underscore and the material definitions. One
single material definition is enough for the whole prism. You can
also use the GDL text editor’s Find and Replace function to remove
some of the surplus spaces to make the code look more compact.
So you are left with an even simpler PRISM command:
MATERIAL “Whitewash”
PRISM 13, 0.1,
0.0, 0.0,
4.28548, 0.0,
4.28548, 0.949196,
5.279549, 0.949196,
5.279549, 2.155116,
3.405484, 2.155116,
3.405484, 3.067704,
-0.000425, 3.067704,
-0.000425, 2.00845,
-2.444858, 2.00845,
-2.444858, 0.949196,
0.0, 0.949196,
0.0, 0.0
In creative GDL, you have to decide how your model is to be
written.

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– Do you have a single prism shape that is not going to change

much even if the user changes parameters? If so, use this
method, always working from the main origin of the project,
to ensure that at least one node of the prism is zero.
– If the shape is truly parametric, such as a window or door
frame, then you should do a sketch on paper of the prism,
number each node in an anti clockwise direction, then start
writing the prism methodically using parameters, or significant
dimensions where appropriate.
Have a look in the GDL Reference Manual (by now you should
find it a lot easier to browse) and read the section on PRISMs in
the chapter dealing with 3D Shapes. If it is still hard going, you
will find it easier after you have been through this chapter.
Comma confusion?
In some countries, it is common to write decimal points as
commas, e.g., 1,25. In other countries it is common to write
thousands with commas for example, a million is 1,000,000. If you
have a localized ArchiCAD, this is how numbers may appear in the
parameters box. But in GDL, the scripts are hard coded so only
one convention can be followed. Dots are used to form the
decimal point, and commas are used to separate numbers. Many
of the errors in your early efforts in creative GDL will be with
misplaced dots and commas. Pay strict attention to them.

5.2 Let’s make a 3D Window

Now that you know about prisms, we can build a window using a
prism for the window, drilling a hole through to form the frame,
and even allowing the possibility of a curved top to the window.
We can also form a sill using a prism.
Remember the basic rule of making a window (this is the third
wall-opening-filler in the book now) which is that it is made flat
on the XY ground plane, viewed from 90˚ and saved. Then, when
it is brought back into ArchiCAD and placed in a wall, it is the right
way up and able to cut a hole. The second rule is that ‘A’ governs
the width and ‘B’ governs the height – ideally, the origin should be
centrally positioned at the sill of the window.
First, create a new window by choosing File>New Library
Part>Window. Enter some parameters to get started with. These
here are in mm, but you can work your chosen dimension system.

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The first task is to make a prism for the outline of the window,
using A and B. You have to use PRISM_ (underscore) because
you are planning to drill a hole in the prism to form the window
frame. Work in a counterclockwise direction. Click in the 3D View
window when you have finished. Do not click until you have
finished – an incomplete Prism statement will result in an error.
Start with a Label and Material statement.
!Window Frame
MATERIAL frammat
PRISM_ 5,fdep,
-A/2,0,15,
A/2,0,15,
A/2,B,15,
-A/2,B,15,
-A/2,0,-1

Now you add the XY locations of the hole – based on the frame
width. End each XY with a 15. The number of nodepoints will be
increased because the number that make up the hole are added to
the number for the outline. You need 5 points to form a 4-sided
prism. So you will have to add another 5 points for the hole. We
recommend that you write the number of nodes as an expression
‘5+5’. This way, you can always remember how you arrived at the
final number. Here, this might seem elementary, but when you get
onto more complex prism shapes you will find this a useful tip.
As you work your way round the prism, make appropriate
additions and subtractions of the frame width ‘fwid’. If you finish
with something silly, then you may have put your plus and minus
signs in the wrong place. If you get an error you may have

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forgotten to keep the commas continuous to the end, or you may

have forgotten to change the nodepoints from 5 to 5+5.
PRISM_ 5+5,fdep,
-A/2,0,15,
A/2,0,15,
A/2,B,15,
-A/2,B,15,
-A/2,0,-1, !end of outline
-A/2+fwid,0+fwid,15, !start of hole
A/2-fwid,0+fwid,15,
A/2-fwid,B-fwid,15,
-A/2+fwid,B-fwid,15,
-A/2-fwid,0+fwid,-1 !end of hole

Now you can add the Glass. For a fixed light, this will be the same
outline as the inside line of the hole in the frame. Therefore, to
build your glass easily, you can simply copy and paste the list of
points for the hole. Assume that the glass is at the midpoint of the
frame so lift the glass, and assume that the glass is 6 mm thick.
!Glass
MATERIAL glasmat
ADDz fdep/2
PRISM_ 5,0.006,
-A/2+fwid,0+fwid,15,
A/2-fwid,0+fwid,15,
A/2-fwid,B-fwid,15,
-A/2+fwid,B-fwid,15,
-A/2+fwid,0+fwid,-1
DEL 1
We have assumed that the frame is rectangular in section. This is
quite adequate for general 3D visuals and general arrangement
drawings for a building. If you wanted to include highly detailed
information about the frame profile, including rebates, etc., you
would have to use another command called TUBE. With TUBE,
you define a profile and pull that profile through a series of points
– the outline of the window – to form the frame. TUBE is beyond
the scope of this book, but when you have more experience with
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GDL, try it! For construction drawing purposes, you could put this
level of detail into the 2D symbol script, including scale sensitivity.
Add the Sill
This is more difficult. So far, the whole frame has been safely on
the ground, and we have only had to define its outline, and it was
produced in the right place. Prisms only grow upwards from the
XY ground plane. So the sill has to be made on end with the
PRISM command; then turned over and aligned with the window.
Make it at the origin first.

!Sill
MATERIAL frammat
PRISM 5,A,
0,0,
silproj,0,
silproj,fwid/2,
0,fwid,
0,0
This basic sill sticks up in the air. But you can see that by rotating
it 90˚ around Y and recessing it to the corner of the main frame, it
will be an easy job. Put the ROT and ADD commands in front of the
Sill prism, and remember to DEL afterwards. The right-hand image
shows the sill finally positioned, just before the DEL command is
issued.
!Sill
MATERIAL frammat
ROTy 90
ADDz -A/2
PRISM 5,A,
0,0,
silproj,0,
silproj,fwid/2,
0,fwid,
0,0
DEL 2

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Don’t forget the 2D Symbol

For an easy life, you can use this regular do-it-all script. You might,
however, wish for a high performance symbol that has scale
sensitivity. In this way, you can keep the 3D object simple, but
allow the 2D drawings to display rebated frames and casements.
Chapter 4 used the Door example to demonstrate the procedure.
!Simple Window 2D script
ROT2 180
PROJECT2 4,90,1
DEL 1

The window is seen here with the door from chapter 4

Save the window file, return to the ArchiCAD floor plan, draw a
wall and drop this window into it. Place a section line in front of it.
Practice stretching the window. Notice that the frame remains the
correct size, even though you can stretch the window greatly. If it
was a smart window, you could get it to work out when it was
wide enough to need intermediate mullions.

You can see at a glance that the use of PRISM leads to a clean 3D
image, whereas the use of BLOCK (as for the door) left a number
of untidy lines on the 3D view.

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Try WALLHOLE
We all know that GDL windows and doors automatically cut a
rectangle based on A (width) and B (height). If this is too
simplistic for you, it is possible to dictate exactly what shape the
window should cut in the wall, irrespective of the actual window
frame that will fit. WALLHOLE is a command that is like a cookie
cutter – punches a hole in the wall, yet is easy to use - having the
same syntax as PRISM_. In fact, if you take the outline of the
window frame, that perfectly defines the list of XY locations for
the hole. It is not required for a simple window like this, but it is
valuable to know about WALLHOLE so that you are able to provide
a complex window shape when you need it.
The major limitation of WALLHOLE is that you cannot have indents
in the shape. A ‘D’ shape is acceptable, but an ‘L’ shape is not. If
you wanted to make a twin arch window, which requires a ‘B’
shape, you could overlap two ‘D’-shaped WALLHOLEs together.
Have a look through the Windows and Doors Specials chapter of
the GDL Reference Manual for more detailed explanation. Copy
and paste the original outline prism command, and then change its
label and the title.
!Cut the Hole!
WALLHOLE 5,1,
-A/2,0,15,
A/2,0,15,
A/2,B,15,
-A/2,B,15,
-A/2,0,-1
In place of the Prism thickness, you have a status code. This can
be either 0 or 1. If you make it 0, the reveal to the window will
adopt the color of the window frame (or whatever was the most
recent Material statement.) If you make it 1, the reveal will display
the characteristics of the wall.
Give it a curvy window head – Flags and Polylines
This is too early to go into the matter of polylines, but you might
like a glance at the future – and decide you like it. If you add a
masking value of 1000 to the 15 you can make the PRISM_ outline
follow a tangential curve. Let’s try this.
First you need to make a small pop-up menu. Make a new
parameter ‘winshape’, and write a short VALUES statement in the
Parameter Script.

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VALUES 'winshape' 'Rectangular','Round-topped'

Now, at the top of the 3D script write a short routine to parse the
result. This generates a value for a flag, ‘ws’.
IF winshape='Rectangular' THEN ws=0
IF winshape='Round-topped' THEN ws=1
We introduced the idea of flags earlier, in chapter 4, to remember
which sort of bed was required.
Final 3D script – we see the power of WALLHOLE
Let’s run through the whole of the 3D script from start to end.
!Window Frame
IF winshape='Rectangular' THEN ws=0
IF winshape='Round-topped' THEN ws=1
!Cut the Hole!
WALLHOLE 5,1,
-A/2,0,15,
A/2,0,15,
A/2,B,13,
-A/2,B,13+1000*ws,
-A/2,0,-1
Now you see why you need WALLHOLE. When you want a non-
rectangular window opening, WALLHOLE is essential. If you add
1000 to the mask value at the END of the curve, it will fly round
from the previous location forming a tangential curve. By
multiplying 1000 by ‘ws’ you can switch the curve ON and OFF.
Do the same thing to the actual frame.
!Window Frame
MATERIAL frammat
PRISM_ 5+5,fdep,
-A/2,0,15,
A/2,0,15,
A/2,B,13,
-A/2,B,13+1000*ws,
-A/2,0,-1,
-A/2+fwid,0+fwid,15,
A/2-fwid,0+fwid,15,
A/2-fwid,B-fwid+fwid*ws,13,
-A/2+fwid,B-fwid+fwid*ws,13+1000*ws,
-A/2+fwid,0+fwid,-1

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There is a problem with the inside line of the hole. Because the
XY points at the inside head of the rectangular window are where
they are, a pure tangential curve will not run smoothly parallel to
the external outline. So you have to raise those two points to the
same height as the highest point on the external outline. Use the
flag ‘ws’ again to do this. The changes in the script are marked in
bold. If you are typing this, try it without the modification and you
will see the difference in quality.
Another point is that you do not want the curve to be interrupted
by many edge lines. Change the 15 to 13 at the start and end of the
curve; do this for the WALLHOLE and for the PRISMs for the Frame
and the Glass. If you check the section on prisms in the 3D Shapes
chapter of the GDL Reference Manual you will see that a masking
value of 13 removes the vertical lines. Leave them at 15 first, then
change them to 13, and compare the result in 3D.
!Glass
MATERIAL glasmat
ADDz fdep/2
PRISM_ 5,0.006,
-A/2+fwid,0+fwid,15,
A/2-fwid,0+fwid,15,
A/2-fwid,B-fwid+fwid*ws,13,
-A/2+fwid,B-fwid+fwid*ws,13+1000*ws,
-A/2+fwid,0+fwid,-1
DEL 1
As the internal line of the frame is the same as the outline of the
glass, you are able to copy and paste the list of XY locations. The
Sill does not change.
!Sill
MATERIAL frammat
ROTy 90
ADDz -A/2
PRISM 5,A,
0,0,
silproj,0,
silproj,fwid/2,
0,fwid,
0,0
DEL 2

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 Chapter 5: The Power of PRISM

This is just a start. Now you have worked through this example,
you may be willing to try more adventures on your own with
PRISM.

Summary of GDL in this section

– Prisms are the most useful command in creative GDL – they
can be bent, rounded, cut, drilled, chamfered and hollowed
out.
– You do not need to move the cursor to build prisms, because
the XY of each of their nodepoints can be defined. You may
only have to lift them into position.
– You can shorten the time of building prisms with ‘Instant
GDL’ using Drag and Drop.
– ‘Instant GDL’ is best built from slabs placed on the main
origin. It is best used if prism shape is not going to change
much. Otherwise, define the prism with parameters.
– The most common cause of errors when writing prisms is
confusion with commas.
– Wall holes for openings are normally rectangular (A and B),
but you can define a special shape with the WALLHOLE
command.
– Flags can be set as a result of a pop-up menu, and then used
to modify the shape of the object.

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 Chapter 6: Looking into Autoscripted GDL

Chapter 6
Looking into
Autoscripted GDL
It is valuable to look into the scripts of objects generated without
GDL and know how to modify them.

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Chapter 6: Looking into Autoscripted GDL

6.1 Looking into Autoscripted

GDL
There is a middle road in Object Making
Earlier, we practised making objects without GDL. We have now
tried making objects with GDL. It may seem to you that the
message of this book is that making objects without GDL should
make you feel guilty. This is not so! You can make excellent
objects without GDL, but you know that you are rejecting the
chances of them being parametric. By contrast, if you make
objects with GDL, you will feel virtuous – but you may become so
enthusiastic about GDL that you try to do all the work yourself.
You can suffer from exhaustion putting in the hours, and
frustration if the results are not as good as hoped for.
However, there is a middle road that you can follow. You can get
ArchiCAD to do much of the work for you and then come in at the
half way point and add some of the qualities that make the object
parametric. You can also make individual components using the
‘Instant GDL’ method, then move them into the GDL script, and
use ADD and ROT to position the component.
First, let’s look at an object completely made with ArchiCAD’s own
tools and saved as an object.
Making objects in the ArchiCAD environment
Anybody who uses ArchiCAD eventually has the curiosity to open
the 3D script of an object made in the ArchiCAD environment –
and has been thoroughly scared. The auto-scripted object contains
a mass of complex ‘industrial’ code that is off putting to look at,
and unstructured. It is good enough for the GDL interpreter – but
it is not for humans to fully understand. By comparison, ‘creative’
GDL that has been composed by a human looks clean and
uncluttered – if it is written with parameters, it is capable of
extension into something more powerful from just a humble
beginning.
If you can become familiar with the look and organization of
autoscripted code and make use of it in easy steps, it is not as
scary as you first thought.
Let’s remind you again how to make objects using ArchiCAD’s
own tools. We have two main methods. Make the object using the
Slab, Wall and Roof tools, select it in the floor plan window. Select

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with the pointer tool the object you have made from these 3D
tools. Then:
1. If the object has been made the right way up, use the
ArchiCAD File menu to Save Special as an ArchiCAD Object.
Save it into one of your loaded libraries.
2. If the object has been made the right way up, or on its side,
view in the 3D window in plan or elevation, Save the resulting
view as a library part – a .GSM object. Save it into one of your
loaded libraries.
Examine the 3D script of a typical autoscripted object
Open the table that was used as an example in Chapter 2, or make
yourself a quick table now using method 1 above. We will run
through explaining what is contained in the script, and then look
at ways of shortening and modifying it. Try to make it approx 1.5
m wide by 0.9 m deep.

The 3D script starts out with some labelling. It’s good to have date
and title and author at the start of the script. Do likewise when you
write creative scripts.
! Name : table_01.GSM
! Date : Monday, May 1, 2000
! Version : 6.50
! Written by ArchiCAD
MULX A/ 1.521409
MULY B/ 0.919806
MULZ ZZYZX/ 0.7
ADD 0.771409, 0.45, -0.0
BODY -1
MODEL SOLID
RESOL 36
The three MUL commands enable the object to be stretchy. When it
was first made, the table was drawn by eye in the floor plan, so it
was approximately 1.5 meters by 0.9 meters, and the height was
0.7 meters.

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ZZYZX is what GDL denotes for the height. This rather curious
name arises from the need to call it something related to Z. But it
could not be called Z as many older objects from ArchiCAD 4.5
and earlier used Z for other purposes and might no longer work in
5.0 and later. The GDL development team chose ‘zzyzx’ after a
small town in Arizona, the last town in the US telephone directory.
Because the autoscript is accurate to a millionth of a meter, you get
a vast number of trailing decimals.
Now you can see how stretchiness work in autoscripted objects. If
you stretch the table to 2.0 meters, the MULX command will
‘multiply everything in the X direction by A/1.521409’. As ‘A’ has a
newly stretched value of 2.0, the multiplication will be 2.0/
1.521409. This will make it slightly wider. If you stretch the height
to be 1.2 meters, the vertical components will all be multiplied by
1.2/0.7. The MULY command works in the same way.
The ADD command is an offset – this is in case you built the object
a long distance from the origin of the main floor plan. Some people
build their objects hundreds, sometimes thousands of meters from
the project origin. If you build very close to the project origin (it
must be the main project origin, not a temporary one) then this
offset will be very small. This offset will place the object’s own
origin within its own curtilage, usually, the bottom left-hand corner.
As this table was built centrally over the project origin, you can see
that the offset is approximately half the width and depth of the
table – so that it is putting the table’s own origin at one corner.
The BODY -1 command is one that autoscripts always carry. These
are a command to the GDL interpreter to ‘ensure the 3D integrity of
each object’. They are not necessary in creative GDL until you get
into more complex tasks such as the TUBE command.
MODEL SOLID just tells the object to be solid. This is the default
condition, so if you did not write it, your model would still be solid
even without the command. RESOL 36 tells it that all rounded
surfaces are to have 36 polygons to make up a full circle. 36 is the
default value for this, so you do not really need this either.
GLOB_SCRIPT_TYPE = 3
GLOB_CONTEXT = 3
GLOB_SCALE = 100
GLOB_NORTH_DIR = 90.0
GLOB_FRAME_NR = -1
GLOB_EYEPOS_X = -0.780905
GLOB_EYEPOS_Y = -0.557944
GLOB_EYEPOS_Z = 0.3
GLOB_TARGPOS_X = -1.26576
GLOB_TARGPOS_Y = -0.292552
GLOB_HSTORY_HEIGHT = 4.7

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These ‘GLOB’ items are called Global Variables. They are not doing
anything here except recording the conditions that prevailed when
the object was made. At the time the table was made the North
point was in the 90˚ direction, there was no animation taking place
(so the Frame number is set to -1), the camera eye and target
positions were noted, the drawing scale was 1:100. These are not
commands, they are a historical record.
You can find out more about Global Variables in Appendix A of
the GDL Reference Manual. Meanwhile, you can cheerfully delete
all lines beginning with ‘GLOB’.
!!Slab-016
PEN 1
ADDZ 0.67
GLOB_LAYER = " Library Constructions"
GLOB_ID = "Slab-016"
GLOB_INTID = 14
BODY -1
CPRISM_ "Limestone, shiny", "Limestone, rough",
"Limestone, rough",
5, 0.03,
-0.771409, 0.469806, 15,
0.75, 0.469806, 15,
0.75, -0.45, 15,
-0.771409, -0.45, 15,
-0.771409, 0.469806, -1
BODY -1
DEL 1
This is the first real 3D element in the script. It is obviously the
tabletop as it is only 3 cm thick and is 0.67 meters off the floor.
The tabletop was made with a Slab tool, and this always translates
into a ‘CPRISM_’. The syntax for CPRISM_ was explained in
chapter 5. The prism is lifted by 0.67 and drawn; then the DEL
command returns the cursor to the origin.
!!Slab-016
ADDZ 0.57
GLOB_INTID = 15
BODY -1
CPRISM_ "Limestone, shiny", "Limestone, rough",
"Limestone, rough",
10, 0.1,
-0.642659, 0.337009, 15,
0.615665, 0.337009, 15,
0.615665, -0.322618, 15,
-0.642659, -0.322618, 15,
-0.642659, 0.337009, -1,
-0.616168, 0.307869, 15,
0.583876, 0.307869, 15,
0.583876, -0.288179, 15,
-0.616168, -0.288179, 15,
-0.616168, 0.307869, -1
BODY -1
DEL 1

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This is the frame under the tabletop. It is obviously the frame

because the height of the prism is 0.57 metres, and the thickness
of the prism is 0.1 meters. The frame is in fact a prism with a hole
through it. The masking values shows you how a drilled hole
works in GDL – the 15s are points on the outline, the first -1 means
that the outline is complete, and the second occurrence of -1
means that the outline of the hole is complete.
The following commands are obviously table legs as they are all
0.67 meters in thickness, and are not lifted above the XY ground
plane. If you analyze the XY points, they are all approximately
square in a sectional size of 65 mm.
!!Slab-017
GLOB_ID = "Slab-017"
GLOB_INTID = 16
BODY -1
CPRISM_ "Limestone, shiny", "Limestone, rough",
"Limestone, rough",
5, 0.67,
-0.658554, 0.355553, 15,
-0.597624, 0.355553, 15,
-0.597624, 0.286676, 15,
-0.658554, 0.286676, 15,
-0.658554, 0.355553, -1
BODY -1
!!Slab-017
GLOB_INTID = 17
BODY -1
CPRISM_ "Limestone, shiny", "Limestone, rough",
"Limestone, rough",
5, 0.67,
0.567981, 0.355553, 15,
0.62891, 0.355553, 15,
0.62891, 0.286676, 15,
0.567981, 0.286676, 15,
0.567981, 0.355553, -1
BODY -1
!!Slab-017
GLOB_INTID = 18
BODY -1
CPRISM_ "Limestone, shiny", "Limestone, rough",
"Limestone, rough",
5, 0.67,
-0.658554, -0.269636, 15,
-0.597624, -0.269636, 15,
-0.597624, -0.338512, 15,
-0.658554, -0.338512, 15,
-0.658554, -0.269636, -1
BODY -1
!!Slab-017
GLOB_INTID = 19
BODY -1
CPRISM_ "Limestone, shiny", "Limestone, rough",
"Limestone, rough",
5, 0.67,
0.567981, -0.269636, 15,
0.62891, -0.269636, 15,
0.62891, -0.338512, 15,

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0.567981, -0.338512, 15,

0.567981, -0.269636, -1
BODY -1

What about the 2D Script?

Look at the 2D script – it may well look just as complicated, but
made of LINE2 and POLY2 commands. If you modify the shape
or size of the 3D object significantly, you may have to delete the
whole 2D script and replace it with a PROJECT2 command and
some Hotspots at the corners.

This can be tuned up – to be parametric

If you have the object open, save a copy of it under a new name –
‘Table_02.GSM’ perhaps. Now make new parameters for Materials,
Pen colors and Frame depth.

Simplify A and B to exactly 1.5 m and 0.9 m, the dimensions we

wanted in the first place when building the inaccurate table. Here,
the parameter box is in millimeters. Do not forget to keep strictly
to meters when writing in the actual script.
Rebuilding the 3D Script
Modify the labelling at the top to remind yourself when you
altered the object. Retain the first two MUL commands so that the
table will remain stretchy, but clean them up with the exact values
of A and B. Delete the MULZ command – this will be done
parametrically. Delete the offset, but remember to delete the
equivalent offset command in the 2D script – or the symbol and
the actual table will not coincide in location.
Put in a parametric PEN command, provide a label for the
tabletop, and remove all the redundant GLOBs and BODYs.
! Name : table_01.GSM
! Date : Monday, May 1, 2000
! Version : 6.50
! Written by ArchiCAD
! modified June 2000 by DNC

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MULX A/ 1.50
MULY B/ 0.90
PEN pcol
!Tabletop
ADDZ zzyzx-tthik
cPRISM_ topmat, framat, framat,
5, tthik,
-0.75, 0.45, 15,
0.75, 0.45, 15,
0.75,-0.45, 15,
-0.75,-0.45, 15,
-0.75, 0.45, -1
DEL 1
For the tabletop, change the ADDZ command to be the total table
height minus the tabletop thickness. Then change the tabletop
thickness to our new parameter of ‘tthik’. Then clean up all the
‘millionth of a meter’ decimals to clean rounded dimensions. As
the CPRISM allows you to specify top material, bottom material
and side material within the command, replace all that Limestone
with your new material parameters of ‘framat’ and ‘topmat’.
Although it takes a bit more thinking about, you can do the same
thing to the frame under the table top, simplifying all the
dimensions down to two decimal places, and making it so that the
frame has a thickness of 30 mm. Accepting that the height of the
frame is 0.1 meters, you can work out how high it has to be raised
by the ADDZ command.
Notice that after the tabletop and the table frame commands are
complete, the GDL returns the cursor to the origin. This is good.
!Tableframe
ADDZ zzyzx-tthik-0.1
cPRISM_ framat, framat, framat,
10, 0.1,
-0.64, 0.34, 15,
0.64, 0.34, 15,
0.64,-0.34, 15,
-0.64,-0.34, 15,
-0.64, 0.34, -1,
-0.61, 0.31, 15,
0.61, 0.31, 15,
0.61,-0.31, 15,
-0.61,-0.31, 15,
-0.61, 0.31, -1
DEL 1
If you have followed thus far, you have momentum and you can
push this process to completion. Label and change the table legs in
the same way. Alter the height of the legs to the height of the table
minus the tabletop thickness. Change the materials to ‘legmat’.

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!Legs
CPRISM_ legmat, legmat, legmat,
5, zzyzx-tthik,
-0.658554, 0.355553, 15,
-0.597624, 0.355553, 15,
-0.597624, 0.286676, 15,
-0.658554, 0.286676, 15,
-0.658554, 0.355553, -1
CPRISM_ legmat, legmat, legmat,
5, zzyzx-tthik,
0.567981, 0.355553, 15,
0.62891, 0.355553, 15,
0.62891, 0.286676, 15,
0.567981, 0.286676, 15,
0.567981, 0.355553, -1
CPRISM_ legmat, legmat, legmat,
5, zzyzx-tthik,
-0.658554, -0.269636, 15,
-0.597624, -0.269636, 15,
-0.597624, -0.338512, 15,
-0.658554, -0.338512, 15,
-0.658554, -0.269636, -1
CPRISM_ legmat, legmat, legmat,
5, zzyzx-tthik,
0.567981, -0.269636, 15,
0.62891, -0.269636, 15,
0.62891, -0.338512, 15,
0.567981, -0.338512, 15,
0.567981, -0.269636, -1
DEL TOP
To finish, you can issue a DEL TOP command. This is similar to
the DEL command, but it DELs everything, including all the MUL
commands at the beginning. If you write DEL 2, this will work
just as well. DEL 2 is better because it requires you to count the
cursor commands at the start of the script, which means that you
are in full control of the process – DEL TOP is just a guess.
Find and Replace, to clean up the script
Finally, you could use the Find and Replace command to weed out
all those spaces in the original script. Type 3 spaces in the Find
field and one space in the Replace field. Place your text cursor at
the top of the script, and hit the ‘Replace All’ button. Your text will
be cleaned up nicely.

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Add the final touches of quality

This Table could now be used, but there is an extra level of quality
we can give it. The tabletop and frame were ‘tidied up’ – their
eyeballed dimensions were converted to exact clean ones. The
table legs could now appear somewhat uneven where they join
the frame. If you use the BLOCK command, or better, use CPRISM,
you could provide much better table legs. As the legs were square
sections, approx 6-7 cm wide, let’s make them exactly 7 cm wide,
and modify the CPRISM_ so that it is axially symmetrical, as
follows:
!One Leg
CPRISM_ legmat, legmat, legmat,
5, zzyzx-tthik,
0.035, 0.035, 15,
-0.035, 0.035, 15,
-0.035,-0.035, 15,
0.035,-0.035, 15,
0.035, 0.035, -1

Copy the prism command that produces one of the legs, and adapt
the XY locations as shown. Do a little sketch like this, and number
each corner. You can see that the prism starts from the top right,
and works its way anti-clockwise around the tableleg. It is
important to make sure the start point [1] is the same as the end
point [5]. Use the diagram to make sure you get your minus signs
in the right place.
You can simplify it even further. The only point in using CPRISM
is if the materials of top, bottom and sides are different. For
creative GDL with a solid prism that is all one color, you can use
plain PRISM, and declare the Material value beforehand. You can
remove the 15s and the underscore. Make sure you also remove
the trailing comma.
!One Leg - simplest statement
MATERIAL legmat
PRISM 5, zzyzx-tthik,
0.035, 0.035,
-0.035, 0.035,
-0.035,-0.035,
0.035,-0.035,
0.035, 0.035
Now that you have a single leg, you can use the ADD command
and post a leg to each corner of the frame. Now that the frame and
leg are defined precisely, you will have a precise connection of

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frame and leg that will look good close up. If you remember, the
internal line of the table frame was defined in meters. So you can
use the same dimensions.
!All Leg - simpler statement
MATERIAL legmat
ADD -0.61, 0.31, 0
PRISM 5, zzyzx-tthik,
0.035, 0.035,
-0.035, 0.035,
-0.035,-0.035,
0.035,-0.035,
0.035, 0.035
DEL 1
ADD 0.61, 0.31, 0
PRISM 5, zzyzx-tthik,
0.035, 0.035,
-0.035, 0.035,
-0.035,-0.035,
0.035,-0.035,
0.035, 0.035
DEL 1
ADD 0.61,-0.31, 0
PRISM 5, zzyzx-tthik,
0.035, 0.035,
-0.035, 0.035,
-0.035,-0.035,
0.035,-0.035,
0.035, 0.035
DEL 1
ADD -0.61,-0.31, 0
PRISM 5, zzyzx-tthik,
0.035, 0.035,
-0.035, 0.035,
-0.035,-0.035,
0.035,-0.035,
0.035, 0.035
DEL 1
As each leg is built, you use DEL 1 to get back to the origin, and
wait for the next command.

The table legs now have a clean relationship with the frame – as
in a mortice and tenon joint
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You are probably getting worried by this time about the amount of
typing involved. If you make the maximum use of Copy and Paste,
the amount of typing is not huge as most of your effort is in
modifying commands rather than typing from new.
You might also want the option to change the leg shape from
square to cylinder or cone. For this you would need to reorganize
the script so that the legs are capable of having different shapes.
The key to this is the SUBROUTINE. This is where a group of code
is used often. Instead of retyping it again and again, it is better to
give it a number, and just call it by number with a GOSUB
command when a leg needs to be drawn. This tableleg is the ideal
opportunity to illustrate the use of the subroutine. See chapter 7
for more on subroutines.
!All Leg - simpler statement
MATERIAL legmat
ADD -0.61, 0.31, 0
GOSUB 100:!Draw one leg
DEL 1
ADD 0.61, 0.31, 0
GOSUB 100:!Draw one leg
DEL 1
ADD 0.61,-0.31, 0
GOSUB 100:!Draw one leg
DEL 1
ADD -0.61,-0.31, 0
GOSUB 100:!Draw one leg
DEL 1
Somewhere, further down in the script, after an END command,
you can have a subroutine numbered 100 that contains the PRISM
statement.
Cautionary note for modifying objects in this way
If you make objects using the Wall tool, and try this method of
modification, you need to be more experienced. The CPRISM is
really a very friendly command when you get used to it – so it is
easy to modify objects made with the Slab tool. The Wall tool
generates XWALL commands in the autoscript, and these are more
resistant to human intervention. As the Wall tool is frequently used
for objects that are captured in side view from 90˚, there are some
additional ROT commands at the start of the 3D script which are
best left untouched.

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6.2 Come back to ‘Instant GDL’

This is the method whereby you make a component in the
ArchiCAD floor plan, then drag and drop it into a script window.
(See chapter 5.) This method is not advisable for entire objects for
which methods 1 and 2 are perfectly suited. But it is the ideal way
to make components such as fretwork, curvy shapes, outlines for
furniture legs and a hundred other uses. These can be stitched into
the structure of your creatively scripted object. It is possible to do
the same for 2D objects, such as fills and lines.
Use 2D to help your 3D model
Surprisingly, the greatest assistance to creative 3D GDL is the 2D
Fill tool. Drag and drop a 2D fill into the 2D Script window. Then
copy and paste the 2D fill (which by this time is a POLY2_B
command) into the 3D window and convert it to a 3D command.
A lot of 3D commands involve drawing out a 2D profile and then
doing something with it: EXTRUDE extrudes, REVOLVE lathes the
section around an axis; SWEEP pulls a profile through 3D space,
twisting or rescaling the section as it goes; TUBE also draws a 2D
profile through 3D space, allowing it to be twisted and mitred as it
goes; PYRAMID pulls the nodes on a 2D profile to one point;
RULED takes the points on a 2D profile and allows you to form a
3D solid by repeating the same number of nodes at different
heights. These all use the same syntax for XY points as POLY2_B.
All of these profiles support the use of Polylines. These are outside
the scope of this book. If you use the 2D Fill tool and force lines to
be curves, and then copy them to GDL, you will find many lines
with 900 and 4000 in them. These define centres and radii of
curvature. If you copy and paste these 2D profiles and use them in
this way, you don’t entirely have to know how they work. They
just do.

Try instant GDL with a REVOLVE

There is not time to go into all of these, but let’s try one –
REVOLVE. Look up REVOLVE in the GDL Reference Manual. This
method makes it easy beyond your expectations to make a lathed
object. Basically you only have to draw a 2D profile in the
Positive-Y zone – that means all point above the X axis – and you
can revolve it. When you draw the profile, you have to close it.
The easiest way is to select a ‘silly’ point somewhere well away
from the main profile. If it is in the negative-Y zone, you will easily
identify it when it is converted into GDL code.

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Create a New Library Part from the File menu, and position the 2D
window to the right of the screen, so that it is next to the project
floor plan. Drag and Drop the 2D fill into the 2D Script window.

PEN 1
SET FILL "25 %"
POLY2_B 22, 3, 1, 91,
-0.000071, 0.06026, 1,
0.048921, 0.06026, 1,
0.048921, 0.051348, 1,
0.055658, 0.217545, 900,
0.0, 25.2526, 4001,
0.120465, 0.064357, 1,
0.13148, 0.020407, 900,
0.0, -80.7543, 4001,
0.173089, 0.03834, 1,
0.180185, 0.036271, 900,
0.0, -147.4796, 4001,
0.18728, 0.03834, 1,
0.229512, 0.016782, 900,
0.0, -74.8857, 4001,
0.239313, 0.063174, 1,
0.327746, 0.331473, 900,
0.0, 17.8153, 4001,
0.325639, 0.048983, 1,
0.325639, 0.059626, 1,
0.374715, 0.059626, 1,
0.179133, -0.056834, 1,
-0.000071, 0.06026, -1
HOTSPOT2 -0.000071, 0.06026
HOTSPOT2 0.048921, 0.06026
HOTSPOT2 0.048921, 0.051348
HOTSPOT2 0.120465, 0.064357
HOTSPOT2 0.173089, 0.03834
HOTSPOT2 0.18728, 0.03834
HOTSPOT2 0.239313, 0.063174
HOTSPOT2 0.325639, 0.048983
HOTSPOT2 0.325639, 0.059626
HOTSPOT2 0.374715, 0.059626
HOTSPOT2 0.179133, -0.056834
HOTSPOT2 -0.000071, 0.06026
Copy only the list of XY points across to the 3D script window,
and delete the hotspots and all the rest.
Delete the last point in the list (which is simple a repeat of the first
point). Delete the second last point (which is the ‘silly’ point).

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Now add the REVOLVE command above the list of points. The
word REVOLVE is followed by the number of points (was 22, now
20), the angle through which the profile should be revolved (360˚)
and finally a masking value, which you can assume to be 63.
PEN 1
MATERIAL 'Whitewash'
RESOL 16
REVOLVE 20,360,63,
-0.000071, 0.06026, 1,
0.048921, 0.06026, 1,
0.048921, 0.051348, 1,
0.055658, 0.217545, 900,
0.0, 25.2526, 4001,
0.120465, 0.064357, 1,
0.13148, 0.020407, 900,
0.0, -80.7543, 4001,
0.173089, 0.03834, 1,
0.180185, 0.036271, 900,
0.0, -147.4796, 4001,
0.18728, 0.03834, 1,
0.229512, 0.016782, 900,
0.0, -74.8857, 4001,
0.239313, 0.063174, 1,
0.327746, 0.331473, 900,
0.0, 17.8153, 4001,
0.325639, 0.048983, 1,
0.325639, 0.059626, 1,
0.374715, 0.059626, 1

If this lathed shape is a stone baluster, you only have to precede the
command with a ROTY -90 command and it will stand upright.
The RESOL command is most important. The RESOL command
tells GDL that you only want 16 polygonal faces to the shape. You
can ruin your model with too many polygons. Multiply these stone
balusters by a few hundred and your computer may not have
enough memory to render, and you may have an unrealistic
number of polygons if you wish to export to DXF or Art•lantis.
The benefit of being a GDL user is that you can control the
number of polygons with a simple RESOL command.

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Summary of GDL in this section

– The table example is so simple that you may feel that, by now,
you are quite capable of scripting this in native GDL without
needing the autoscript. But it has been a good means of
demonstrating the contents of an autoscripted object.
– The easiest things to change into parameters are the names of
materials – they can be replaced with variable names.
– The methods used in this chapter are fine for complete
objects. But if you are working at creative GDL and simply
want a quick solution, try ‘Instant GDL’.
– Many 3D objects use the same syntax as the 2D Fill tool, so
you can make interesting 3D objects easily.
– It is important to control the number of polygons in the model
– if you are building any objects that are repeated in great
numbers you must use GDL to define the number of polygons
in each solid.

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Chapter 7
GDL Roundup
There is a lot more to GDL than we have been able to cover in this
slim volume. This section runs through some of the further
possibilities in a brief form.

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7.1 GDL Roundup

This book is an introductory tutorial for GDL, a tour through the
easy foothills. If your interest has been aroused, there is further
reading for you. No doubt, the best way to learn GDL is to attempt
some practical tasks, which will be both useful to you in your
work and will teach you additional techniques in GDL.
In GDL, there are four main areas of knowledge
– We have to analyze the 3D nature of the object we wish to
build. See how much of it can be done with simple blocks or
cylinders, and then how much of it will require more complex
commands such as PRISM, REVOLVE and TUBE.
– The GDL itself. The syntax of each command, which
command to use under the circumstances, how to control
polygons, how to define text style and materials – and much
more. You need to become conversant with 3D and 2D
syntax.
– The programming language of GDL. This has not been
covered in detail in this tutorial, but it is possible to write long
complex scripts in GDL using Loops and Subroutines. GDL is
based on BASIC, a programming language that was devised in
the 70s, became universally known to users of the Apple␣ II,
Commodore Pet and Tandy TRS-80 machines of the early
eighties; and now it has been rather forgotten. In GDL, it lives
on! GDL can read and write data/text files, include complex
calculation routines with a GDL script, such as structural
calculation or predicting the outline points of a surface in 3D
space.
– GDL can react according to conditions in the main ArchiCAD
model. We saw in Chapter 4 how a doorframe could respond
to the current drawing scale. With knowledge of the thickness
and materials of the current Wall, a Window can be more
powerful. With knowledge of the object’s position in 3D space
and the location of the current camera, the object knows how
far away the camera is, and in which direction. Thus, it can
turn to face the camera if it’s a flat tree; or simplify itself if its a
complex object that is too far away to require drawing in
detail.
See also....
The GDL Cookbook covers all of these topics in greater detail,
and provides practical working examples to help you learn.

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The programming language of GDL

You have discovered that you can write GDL without being a
programmer. If you can issue a few GDL commands, move the
cursor around, write some IF statements that make the object
smarter and safer, then you have been programming. In fact,
programming is an activity all of us do – ants do it when looking
after their eggs, squirrels do it when hoarding their winter food,
lions do it when hunting zebra, children do it when playing with
their toys and developing social relationships. Adults do it
whenever they get in their car and drive to work.
Programming simply means the organization of a set of actions
conditioned by a number of IF statements that decide which
actions shall be taken. It also implies many repetitive actions – in
real life, you could stack hundreds of books on a shelf and make
decisions for each one as you proceeded to sort them in
alphabetical order, by ISBN or size.
To get further with GDL you will need to learn about Subroutines
and Loops.

7.2 Subroutines
Subroutines are used to avoid repetitive typing
You can take a piece of text that will have to be repeated
frequently, give it a number, and then call the subroutine with a
GOSUB command. For example, in the case of our basic chair in
Chapter 3, if your chair has an elaborate leg that takes a hundred
lines to describe and you have four legs to do, you would not
want to type that all out again, in fact you would not even want to
copy and paste the leg four times.
!All the legs
GOSUB 100:!One leg
ADDX A
GOSUB 100:!One leg
ADDY B
GOSUB 100:!One leg
ADDX -A
GOSUB 100:!One leg
DEL 3
Subroutines are used to give structure to a long script
The main script can consist of a number of GOSUB commands to a
series of subroutines that build elements of the model. These are
logically based on your 3D analysis.

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!Chair
GOSUB 200:!All the Legs
GOSUB 300:!Draw the Seat
GOSUB 400:!Build the Back
END !-----------------------------
100:!One single leg
BLOCK tsec,tsec,seathit-tsec
RETURN
200:!All the legs
GOSUB 100:!One leg
ADDx A
GOSUB 100:!One leg
ADDy B
GOSUB 100:!One leg
ADDx -A
GOSUB 100:!One leg
DEL 3
RETURN
In this case, you would refer to the first part of the script as the
‘executive script’, with most of the actual work being done by the
subroutines that follow the END command. Let’s summarize some
easy to remember ‘must-do’ rules.
The subroutines must all be written after the END command.
Subroutines must start with a number and a label, and end with
the command RETURN. Subroutines may call other subroutines.
Subroutines must be self contained; the number of DELs must
exactly equal the number of cursor movements.
Subroutines are used to help with decision making
When you have defined a flag, like ‘ws’ for window shape, to be
valued 0, 1 or 2, you can issue a GOSUB command that includes
the flag in the line number. For example:
GOSUB 100+ws !Window
END:!-----------------------------------
100:!Rectangular window
...........
RETURN
101:!Round topped window
...........
RETURN
102:!Gothic window
...........
RETURN

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7.3 Loops
Machines never tire of doing repetitive work. With a GDL object,
you may have many spokes in a wheel, many shelves in a
furniture system, many balusters in a handrail, many rungs on a
ladder. If we have a means of telling GDL how many we want, and
what spacing we want it at, we can get the work done for us.

The FOR... NEXT Loop

We can do this with the FOR... NEXT loop. We can do it in
several ways, but the most common is to do it by counting
numbers, by distance or by angle. Let’s show three simple
examples.
Loop by counting numbers
We want to plant a handrail at the racecourse and want to plant 6 x
1 meter high poles at 0.6 meter intervals, then cap it with a long
rod. We assume an imaginary counter called ‘k’, and we increment
it by 1 each time the program goes around the loop. So it starts
with a value of 1, does one pole, advances to the position of the
next pole, and waits. Then it meets the NEXT k command. As the
job is not finished, it returns to the FOR line, increments ‘k’ again,
and plants another pole. Eventually, it completes the task, and
NEXT k recognizes that it has finished and allows the program to
continue, whereby it DELs back to the origin.
!Long fence using numbers
RESOL 10
MATERIAL 'Whitewash': PEN 1
pspac=0.6 !Pole spacing

FOR k=1 TO 6 STEP 1

CYLIND 1.0,0.05
ADDX pspac
NEXT k
DEL 6

!Capping piece
ADD -0.05,0,1.0
ROTY 90
CYLIND 3.1,0.05
DEL 2
Note that a trick is used to improve the look of the capping rail. By
making it slightly longer (by one diameter) than the sum of the
distances of the poles, it looks more authentic.

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We can improve the way the loop is coded in one small way. The
first one worked fine, but we had to DEL all the cursor moves
AFTER the loop was complete. This method includes the DEL
inside the loop, so that the loop is cleanly self-contained.
FOR k=1 TO 6 STEP 1
ADDX pspac*(k-1)
CYLIND 1.0,0.05
DEL 1
NEXT k
Now we place the ADDX command before the cylinder. The first
time, the value of (k-1) is zero, so if you multiply ‘pspac’ by zero,
the distance added is zero. So it plants the first pole. Then it DELs
back to the origin. When ‘k’ is equal to 2, the distance moved is
‘pspac*1’ so it draws the next pole, then returns to the origin.
Notice that in both cases, we specified the stepping rate to be ‘1’. If
it is ‘1’, you can omit that STEP command, but if it is anything else
at all, you must specify the STEP, or GDL will assume a value of 1
– which could be misinterpreted as 1.0 meters, or 1.0 degrees!
Loop by Distance
The next method is when you do not know how many will be
needed, but you know their spacing. This says, ‘starting from point
zero, advance a distance of ‘d’ (which is zero) and plant a pole.
Then return to zero. Then increment the value of ‘d’ by ‘pspac’,
then advance ‘d’ (which by now has been incremented), plant
another pole, then return to zero. Do this until you have covered a
total distance of 3.0 metres.’
pspac=0.6 !Pole spacing
FOR d=0 TO 3.0 STEP pspac
ADDx d
CYLIND 1.0,0.05
DEL 1
NEXT d

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Loop by Angle
There are many occasions when your object has interesting circle
geometry. Here is the same handrail, but now it’s on a curved
track. We use the FOR... NEXT loop to distribute the posts at an
angular spacing of 15˚.
This brings the opportunity to introduce you to two more GDL
commands: ELBOW and RADIUS. ELBOW is like a cylinder but it
curves at a defined radius, to a defined angle.
ELBOW curve radius, alpha angle, tube radius
In this case, it is a 180˚ curve angle. Because elbows always grow
upwards, you have to precede the command with a ROTX -90
and lift it to the height of the top of the posts.
RADIUS small radius, large radius
RADIUS does something similar to the RESOL command.
However, RESOL is too simple. In this elbow, we have two curves,
the main curve and the tubing curve. If we have a large resolution
so that the rail looks right, the tubing will have too many
polygons, and the computer could be crippled trying to shade all
those surfaces.
If you issue a RADIUS command, all radii equal to or less than the
small radius will have a RESOL 6, and all radii equal to or greater
than the larger one will have a RESOL of 36. All radii with in
between values will have in between values of RESOL. It is a very
useful command.
!Circular racecourse rail
RADIUS 0.05,0.3
crad=3.0 !Curve Radius
ADDz 1.0
ROTx -90
ELBOW crad,180,0.05
DEL 2

ADDx crad
FOR ang=0 TO 180 STEP 15
ROTz ang
ADDx crad
CYLIND 1.0,0.05
DEL 2
NEXT ang
DEL 1
We have to move to the centre of the circle first. Turn to face in
one direction using the ROTZ command, move out to the rail with
an ADDX command, and draw the post. Withdraw to the centre
again, increment the value of ‘ang’ by 15˚, then do the next one.
One final DEL returns you to the starting place.

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Other ways of Looping

You have other methods of looping,
– DO... WHILE: do an action while a condition applies, for
example a dimension or an angle will eventually be equal to
less than zero; until then, keep doing it.
– WHILE condition DO... ENDWHILE: does the same as
above.
– REPEAT... UNTIL: go on doing something until a condition
is met – for example, when a dimension or angle is equal to or
less than zero, or the numbers in a memory buffer have been
used up.
The FOR... NEXT loop meets almost all your requirements. Most
loops are based on counters, or incrementing until a distance or
angle are achieved. You will know when a situation suitable for
REPEAT... UNTIL is the best way for you to loop.

Look at the GDL Reference Manual

This primer has been written in the hope that as your approach to
GDL becomes more confident, you will be more willing to dip into
the actual manual. The explanations may not be as dry or technical
as you first thought.

Other possibilities
There are many more capabilities in GDL than we have had space
for in this primer. There are just too many to cover in one tutorial.
But you can find out more by reading further or taking a course in
GDL. If you made it this far the hard way – by reading and doing
some of the exercises – you may be prepared to try some of these
yourself.

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Capabilities of GDL that this tutorial leaves for future

investigation:
– Organizing the parameter box with titles and ‘cascading’
parameters.
– More powerful pop-up menus – with numbers and pictures.
– Numeric arrays (tables) available to the user as parameters.
– Making curvy skin-based surfaces using COONS or MASS.
– Planar 3D GDL objects when they do not need to be solid.
– Smart 2D symbols using FRAGMENT2, which combine drawn
symbols with 2D scripting.
– Applying ‘Polyline’ curves to the outlines of prism, poly,
extrude, revolve and other objects.
– Using ‘masking’ to control the way objects and surfaces look
in 3D drawings and in photorendering.
– Using a CUTPLANE, CUTSHAPE and CUTPOLY to carve and
drill solid shapes, to make them more complex.
– Attaching PICTUREs to surfaces – for trees, people, facades.
– Calling other library objects (such as taps or door handles).
– Making Lamp objects with controllable light sources.
– Using trigonometry to calculate the pathway of tubes and
edges through curved and parabolic pathways.
– Reading and displaying the system date, time, project name,
and much more, using the REQUEST command.
– Defining your own materials, line types and fill patterns.
– Storing numbers in memory and bringing them out later
(Arrays and PUT & GET).
– Building a graphic User Interface that replaces the normal
parameter box and makes the GDL object look more
professional.
– Self-labelling objects – the font and text size can be defined to
be parametric and scale sensitive.
– Setting up animation possibilities by changing the object’s
shape according to the frame number in the animation.
– Knowing where the camera is, and changing accordingly.
– Knowing which story the object is on.
– Reading and writing text based datafiles.

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Chapter 7: GDL Roundup

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 Index

Index

2D 13
2D Script 38, 49
First steps with ~ 44
"killer command" 38
3D 14, 98
~ Cursor 35
~ Entities 34
~ Pixel 43
~ Projections 16
~ Script 34
~ Space 35
~ View 36

A
ADD 36
Add-ons 5
add-ons 3
ADD2 44, 48
ARC2 45, 48
ArchiSite 5
Art•lantis Render 5, 95
Autoscripted GDL 82

B
BASIC 9, 98
Binary 5
Binary 3D 23
BLOCK 34, 39
Boolean choices 51
BPRISM_ 69

C
Chair 18, 39
CIRCLE2 45, 48
Commas 71
Comment 33

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Index

CONE 34 L
Cones 22
CPRISM 6 Label 37
CPRISM_ 69 Lamp 7
CSLAB 6 LET 55
CUTPLANE 69 Libraries
CYLIND 34, 102 ArchiCAD ~ 4
Complementary ~ 4
D DXF and DWG ~ 4
listing ~ parts 10
DEL 38 loading ~ 3
Door 53 LINE2 45, 48
DWG 4 Location awareness 58
DXF 4, 95 Loops 101
DXF/DWG Conversion 4 DO... WHILE 104
FOR... NEXT 104
REPEAT... UNTIL 104
E WHILE 104
ELBOW 46, 103
Error checking 43
M
Magic Wand 12, 21
F Manufacturers' Rules 43, 63
Fill tool 13 Marquee 25
Find and Replace 70, 89 Masking codes 68
Flags 50, 76 MASS 6
FPRISM 69 Master Script 33, 60
Master window 32
G MATERIAL 34
MUL 36, 83
GDL Cookbook 2, 98 MUL2 48
GDL Object Web Plug-in 4
Global Variables 58, 85 O
H Object Factory 4
Objects On Line 4
hotspot 13
HOTSPOT2 48 P
Hotspots 45
Parameter Script 33
I Parameter table 32
Parametric 7, 40, 87
IF... ENDIF 50 POLY2 48, 52
IF… ENDIF 62 POLY2_ 48
Instant GDL 67, 93 Polylines 76
Internet Pop-up menu 60, 76
Objects on the ~ 4 Preview Picture 33
Investment object 9 Preview picture 63
PRISM 66, 69
PRISM_ 69
Prisms 66, 69

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 Index

Profiler 5 Z
PROJECT2 38, 44, 56, 75
Properties Script 33, 63 Zoom 4
ZZYZX 84
R
RADIUS 103
RECT2 48
RESOL 95, 103
REVOLVE 93
Roof Truss 20
Roof vault 25
RoofMaker 5
ROT 36
ROT2 48

S
Scale
drawing ~ 58
Slab tool 14, 18
SPHERE 34
SPRISM_ 69
StairMaker 5
Status code 76
Stretchiness 41, 49, 83
stretchiness 12
SUBROUTINE 92
Subroutines 99

T
Table 14, 83

U
User Interface Script 34

V
VALUES 60, 76

W
Wall tool 18
WALLHOLE 57
Window 15, 71

X
XWALL 6

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 Contents

Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to Object Making 1
1.1 About Object Making _____________________________________________________ 2
Library Parts in ArchiCAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Sources of Library Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.2 Making your own Library Parts ___________________________________________ 6
Without GDL – using ArchiCAD’s Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Making Objects with GDL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
How do you make an Object? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Does it need to LOOK right, or BE right? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The Idea of an ‘Investment object’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Can you learn GDL? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Object Making in the ArchiCAD Manuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Chapter 2: Making Objects without GDL 11

Making Objects without GDL ________________________________________________ 12
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Let’s Make something in 2D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Let’s Make a 3D Object – a Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Let’s Make a 3D Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Let’s Make a Furniture Object using Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Let’s Make a Roof Truss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Let’s Make an Object using existing Library Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Let’s Make an Object that we can cut to shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
How far can we take Object Making without GDL? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Notes on the naming of parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Summary of Object Making in this chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Chapter 3: Starting with GDL 31

3.1 Starting with GDL _______________________________________________________ 32
3D Entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
First steps in 3D GDL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
3D Space and the 3D Cursor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Do not forget the 2D script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Summary of GDL, to this point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
3.2 Let’s build a 3D Object ___________________________________________________ 39
Let’s make this chair parametric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
3.3 First steps in 2D scripting _______________________________________________ 44
Summary of GDL, in this section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

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Chapter 4: Practical Uses for GDL 47

4.1 Practical Uses for GDL ___________________________________________________ 48
GDL in 2D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Let’s build something in 2D – and make it snappy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Summary of GDL in this section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
4.2 Let’s make a 3D Door ____________________________________________________ 53
Summary of GDL in this section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Chapter 5: The Power of PRISM 65

5.1 The Power of PRISM _____________________________________________________ 66
PRISM is the most versatile element in 3D GDL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Instant GDL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
About Prisms... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
5.2 Let’s make a 3D Window_________________________________________________ 71
Don’t forget the 2D Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Try WALLHOLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Summary of GDL in this section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Chapter 6: Looking into Autoscripted GDL 81

6.1 Looking into Autoscripted GDL __________________________________________ 82
This can be tuned up – to be parametric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
6.2 Come back to ‘Instant GDL’ ______________________________________________ 93
Try instant GDL with a REVOLVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Summary of GDL in this section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Chapter 7: GDL Roundup 97

7.1 GDL Roundup __________________________________________________________ 98
The programming language of GDL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
7.2 Subroutines ____________________________________________________________ 99
7.3 Loops _________________________________________________________________ 101
The FOR... NEXT Loop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Other ways of Looping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Look at the GDL Reference Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Other possibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Index 107

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