Products and Services
GDL Adapter
GDL Adapter is an ARX plug-in for AutoCAD and Architectural Desktop. GDL Adapter makes GDL (Geometric Description Language) parametric object technology available in the AutoCAD environment.
GDL objects can be defined, positioned and modified by managing their parameter sets. Such parameters are, in the case of a bookshelf, its width, length and height, the number of shelves and the materials used.
Parametrics allow you to place several instances of the same GDL object, but with visual differences. For example, when using a filing cabinet object, the number of drawers can be a parameter freely set by the user. Differently placed instances of the same cabinet could have a different number of drawers.
With GDL Adapter, you can insert GDL objects into an AutoCAD project file as AutoCAD Blocks. These can then be edited and modified using all AutoCAD commands, as well as GDL Adapter's predefined commands. GDL Adapter keeps track of the inserted GDL objects, and allows the easy alteration of parameters at any stage in a project's lifetime. If you change the parameters of an inserted GDL object in a currently loaded AutoCAD drawing, GDL Adapter will automatically adjust the object according to the modified parameter set.
Note: For best results, always use the complete object library supplied with GDL Adapter.
Features of Adapter
- Intuitive User Interface
- Parametric Functions
- Real time visual placement
- Favorite Objects Palette
- Using Common AutoCAD Functions
The Object Setting dialog box provides an overview of a GDL Catalog and its contents. On the left side of of the Object Setting window, GDL objects are displayed in a hierarchical tree structure, similar to Windows Explorer. Small previews of the objects appear in the upper part of the window. Clicking on the thumbnail of an object will display a larger, high resolution 3D image that can be viewed from different angles by manually rotating it.
Thanks to the intelligence of the GDL scripting language, all parametric choices can be examined and the subsequent object changes monitored, either before or after it is placed into a project. By using the Multi-Selection Method, it is possible to change the same parameters of several GDL objects simultaneously.
Similar to the standard placement methods used in AutoCAD, objects can be viewed before they are placed, and can also be rotated before their final insertion.
The Favorites feature allows users to work fast and efficiently with the same objects. Frequently used objects can be stored in a floating palette that features graphic previews of these objects. Users can then simply drag and drop them into their workspace.
GDL objects placed in AutoCAD project files behave like normal AutoCAD blocks when common AutoCAD editing functions are performed on them.
In AutoCAD 2000, several functions are available for selected GDL objects from the menu, which is activated by clicking the right mouse button.
Most editing menu functions (e.g. Move, Rotate, Scale) do not affect the parametric nature of objects, even if GDL Adapter is not loaded or installed. You can even duplicate placed parametric objects by using the 'Copy' command from the 'Modify' menu. However, copying or cutting and pasting an object using the 'Edit' menu's commands will result in a plain AutoCAD Block, because the object loses its parametric nature.
To change the location of an already placed GDL object, it is sufficient to select the object and move it by its base point.
To move objects with greater precision, enable Object Grips.
