The Profiler Add-On

About the Profiler Add-On

What is the Profiler Add-On?
The Profiler Add-On makes it easier for you to create tubular or revolved surfaces (profiles). The Add-On has two commands: the "Create a Tubular Object" and the "Create a Revolution Surface".
By the "Create a Tubular Object" command you have to specify two sets of grouped connecting items (lines, arcs or splines). The first serves as the profile, the second as the path. Paths can be a grouped set of walls, a slab, a roof, or a fill as well.
By the "Create a Revolution Surface" command you have to specify a set of grouped connecting items (lines, arcs or splines) and a line. The first serves as the profile the second as the axis.
Both commands generate a new ArchiCAD Library Part (.gsm) file and puts down to the appropriate place on the floor plan.

Tube:

Revolve:

How to use the Profiler Add-On?

Tube:
You have to specify a profile and a path. There are two ways of doing that.

First method:
First you select the "Create a Tubular Object" command in the Tools/Profile menu then draw the profile and the path after each other. You have to start with the profile. In this case the profile has to be a closed polygon. When you closed the polygon you can start drawing the path immediately. With this method you can have only straight lines in the profile and path polygons. After all of these the below dialog box will be displayed.

Second method:
Create the profile and the path. Both can be any number of connected objects (lines, arcs and splines). Group them together separately. Now you have two grouped sets of elements, the profile and the path. Paths can be a grouped set of walls, a slab, a roof, or a fill as well. Both profile and path can be opened or closed. Select both of them and in the Tools/Profile menu select the "Create a Tubular Object" command. After that you have to specify the point of the profile which will go around on the path: click a point on the profile. Then you have to specify the starting point of the path: click a point in the path. The below dialog box will be displayed:

In this dialog box you can set the name and the attributes of the newly created GDL object. Make your choice and click OK. The object will be created and placed automatically on the floor plan. The object file with the specified name will be placed to the first active library.

Revolve:
You have to specify a profile and an axis. There are two ways of doing that.

First method:
First you select the "Create Revolution Surface" command in the Tools/Profile menu then draw the profile and the axis after each other. You have to start with the profile. In this case the profile has to be a closed polygon. When you closed the polygon you can start drawing the axis immediately. With this method you can have only straight lines in the profile polygons. The axis is always a single straight line. After all of these the below dialog box will be displayed.

Second method:
Create the profile and the axis. The profile can include any number of connected objects (lines, arcs and splines) which are grouped together. It can be opened or closed. The axis is a single straight line. Select both of them and in the Tools/Profile menu select the "Create Revolution Surface" command. The below dialog box will be displayed:

In this dialog box you can set the name and the attributes of the newly created GDL object. Make your choice and click OK. Click one for the insertion point of the object and the object will be created and placed with its center point to the clicked place. The object file with the specified name will be placed to the first active library.

Remarks:

Parameters of a Tube object:

Material (type: Material) Default: Set in the dialog
Changes the material of the object.
Fill on Plan (type: Fill) Default: Set et in the dialog
Changes the floor plan fill type of the object.
Change direction (type: Boolean) Default: Off
Mirrors the profile on the path.
Closed (type: Boolean) Default: On
Closes the first and last surface by an open path.

Parameters of a Revolve object:

Material (type: Material) Default: Set in the dialog
Changes the material of the object.
Fill on Plan (type: Fill) Default: Set in the dialog
Changes the floor plan fill type of the object.
Angular offset (type: Angle) Default: 0.0
Tilts the object.
Angle (type: Angle) Default: 360.0
Changes the angle of the revolution.
If you want to modify the material, please use only the above parameter. Never use the generic material setting on the third tab page of the Object Settings dialog.
By the Revolve, the axis has to be completely on one side of the profile.
If you use the above first methods please be sure to draw straight lines only.
In certain cases, especially if you extrude or revolve splines the creation of the object can take a long time.

Disclaimer:
The Software is provided to you "AS IS," and you acknowledge that it may contain errors. Graphisoft disclaims any warranty or liability
obligations to you of any kind.