New GDL Features in ArchiCAD 12

Index

Purpose of the document
List of new features

1. Purpose of the document

This document informs you about the new GDL features in ArchiCAD 12. You can find the definition of the new and changed commands in the GDL Reference Guide. Some of these topics are described in the Basic Library Documentation, too. The links in this document refer to the latter one, if available.

2. List of new features

`hotline` and `hotarc` commands

These two commands generate line and arc status in the 3D model. These line can be clicked and can be used for alignment in 3D.

User Interface enhancments

The User Interface scripting capabilities of Library Parts were enhanced.

ui_pict_button: button with picture
ui_infield{3} method 5: pushbutton/checkfield with text
ui_infield{3} method 6: pushbutton/checkfield with picture
ui_infield{3} method 7: checkbox with clickable text

Fill enhancements

define LINEAR_GRADIENT_FILL, define RADIAL_GRADIENT_FILL: define linear and radial gradient fills
define TRANSLUCENT_FILL: define fills, which mix the foreground and the background colors in the given percentage
define IMAGE_FILL: define fills, which create a fill by using an image as a pattern
poly2_b{4} method 7: 2D polygon which provides full parametrization of gradient fills; this means a parameter for the inner radius for radial gradients
REQUEST ("class_of_fill", index, class): Request fill class

New/changed global variables

Partial Structure Display

GLOB_STRUCTURE_DISPLAY informs about the partial structure display option settings (integer): 0: entire structure, 1: core only, 2: without finishes
WALL_SKINS_PARAMS[i][15] finish skin status: 0: not finish skin, 1: finish skin

Curtain Wall elements

Following global variables ara available for listing and labels only.

CWALL_ID - user ID of the curtain wall
CWALL_FRAMES_LENGTH - length of frames in the curtain wall
CWALL_CONTOUR_FRAMES_LENGTH - length of frames on contour in the curtain wall
CWALL_MAINAXIS_FRAMES_LENGTH - Length of frames on primary gridlines in the curtain wall
CWALL_SECAXIS_FRAMES_LENGTH - length of frames on secondary gridlines in the curtain wall
CWALL_CUSTOM_FRAMES_LENGTH - length of other frames in the curtain wall
CWALL_PANELS_SURF - surface of panels in the curtain wall
CWALL_PANELS_SURF_N - surface of north panels in the curtain wall
CWALL_PANELS_SURF_S - surface of south panels in the curtain wall
CWALL_PANELS_SURF_E - surface of east panels in the curtain wall
CWALL_PANELS_SURF_W - surface of west panels in the curtain wall
CWALL_PANELS_SURF_NE - surface of northeast panels in the curtain wall
CWALL_PANELS_SURF_NW - surface of northwest panels in the curtain wall
CWALL_PANELS_SURF_SE - surface of southeast panels in the curtain wall
CWALL_PANELS_SURF_SW - surface of southwest panels in the curtain wall
CWALL_SURF - surface of the curtain wall
CWALL_LENGTH - length of the curtain wall
CWALL_HEIGHT - height of the curtain wall
CWALL_SLANT_ANGLE - slant angle of the curtain wall
CWALL_THICKNESS - thickness of the curtain wall
CWALL_PANELS_NR - number of panels in the curtain wall
CWALL_PATTERN_ANGLE - pattern angle of the curtain wall

CWFRAME_TYPE - type of the frame ('Invisible', 'Generic', 'Butt-glazed' or the name of the GDL object)
CWFRAME_CLASS - class of the frame (0 - mullion, 1 - transom, 2 - boundary, 3 - custom)
CWFRAME_POSITION - location of the frame (0 - primary gridline, 1 - secondary gridline, 2 - boundary, 3 - other)
CWFRAME_DIRECTION - slant angle of the frame (0..90)
CWFRAME_WIDTH - width of the frame
CWFRAME_DEPTH - depth of the frame
CWFRAME_LENGTH - length of the frame
CWFRAME_MAT - material of the frame

CWPANEL_TYPE - type of the panel ('Generic' or the name of the GDL object)
CWPANEL_CLASS - class of the panel (0 - main, 1 - distinct, 2 - custom)
CWPANEL_VERTICAL_DIRECTION - slant angle of exterior surface of the panel (-90..90)
CWPANEL_HORIZONTAL_DIRECTION - angle of exterior surface of the panel from Project North (-180..180)
CWPANEL_WIDTH - width of the panel
CWPANEL_NOMINAL_WIDTH - nominal width of the panel
CWPANEL_HEIGHT - height of the panel
CWPANEL_NOMINAL_HEIGHT - nominal height of the panel
CWPANEL_THICKNESS - thickness of the panel
CWPANEL_SURF - surface of the panel
CWPANEL_GROSS_SURF - gross surface of the panel
CWPANEL_NOMINAL_SURF - nominal surface of the panel
CWPANEL_PERIMETER - perimeter of the panel
CWPANEL_MAT_OUTER - material for the exterior surface of the panel
CWPANEL_MAT_INNER - material for the interior surface of the panel
CWPANEL_MAT_CUT - material for the edge of the panel
CWPANEL_FUNCTION - function of the panel (0 - fixed, 1 - door, 2 - window)
CWPANEL_ORIENTATION - opening orientation of door/window panel ('left'/'right')

CWJUNC_TYPE - type of the junction (name of the GDL object)

CWACC_TYPE - type of the accessory (name of the GDL object)
SYMB_A_SIZE - width of the accessory
SYMB_B_SIZE - height of the accessory
SYMB_Z_SIZE - length of the accessory

New interface for deterministic addons

GDL opened a new interface for the GDX add-ons with deterministic result. For such add-ons their developer states that the add-on always returns the same value for the same input parameters - the result is independent from the time or external data sources (f.ex. files). Such add-ons calls can be handled in a much more efficient way.

initaddonscope: Opening the connection to the add-on.
preparefunction: Preparing a function by passing parameters.
callfunction: Executing a function and get the results.
closeaddonscope: Closing a connection to the add-on.