Creating Custom Objects
Creating custom objects in ArchiCAD is easy and does not require knowledge of GDL script. For any object such as Quoins and Stone Archways we have created these with the slab tool and viewed the slabs from the top edge and saved them as a library part. Lets take the process of creating a simple Quoins. (Quoins are now available as a parametric object under division 04 Masonry as wall extras in version 8) First we select the slab tool and set the thickness of the Quoins (lets say 1”) and also the material of the object (lets say Stone-Limestone, shiny). Now we create the Quoin elements we want to model in plan view, which simulates the elevation view of these elements. We select these elements and view them from the edge (which will be the top view of our library part) and save from the 3D window as a library part.
This figure shows how to view our elements before saving them as an object. We then view the elements in the 3D window and then select “File” - “GDL Objects” – “Save 3D Model as…” naming it properly and placing it in our Library.
We then select “Editable GDL Script” (so it can be modified with scripting in the future for additional flexibility) and select “Save” to save the object. Since we saved this object from the top edge we can now place the Quoins in the plan view at the corner of our building. This new object will now be the default setting for the Object Tool.
We also want to make sure that our project library is loaded in our file so we go to “File – Library Manager” to open the manager and add in the project Library and then save the project so this library will now be attached to our plan file.
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