Shade 10 GDL Exporter
From ShadeCamp
The GDL Exporter converts Shade object data into the GDL format, and saves it as an ArchiCAD object file. The GDL Exporter is a legacy plugin and not included in the default installation of Shade 10.
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GDL Exporter Specifications
Dividing 3D Objects
When converting Shade 3D objects to GDL format, some types have to be divided into straight lines or planes. You can choose any subdivision level from the Surface Subdivision pull-down menu in the GDL Object Exporter Options dialog box. Be aware that the settings specified in the Surface Subdivision pulldown menu in the Rendering Options dialog box, or specified by object names including characters such as <, >, and @, are ignored.
If you choose “Fine” or “Very Fine” for the subdivision level, the result will be closely approximated to the original surface, although the file size becomes greater, which results in slow operation in ArchiCAD. “Regular” or “Coarse” may be good enough for normal exports.
Line Objects
Shade curved lines (open line objects, closed line objects, and lines forming curved surfaces, revolved objects or extruded objects) are divided into straight lines or planes for GDL as follows. Note that they do not include the cases where the lines between adjacent anchor points are straight. Only curved line segments will be divided.
Revolved Disks
A disk that is used as a basis of a revolved disk is exported as a connected line. In this case, the disk will be divided into 45-degree unit, which is the result of splitting 360 degrees into 8 parts.
For example, if the disk has a 100-degree angle, the disk will be divided at 0 degree, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 100 degrees, regardless of the subdivision level. The subdivision is not performed in the revolving direction.
Curved Surfaces
When a curved surface is exported, the vertical and horizontal lines forming the surface are individually divided with the specified subdivision level, then the surface is divided into triangles.
Polygon Meshes
Polygon Meshes are divided into triangles when exported.
Other Objects
Revolved objects (GDL REVOLVE) in the revolving direction, extruded disks (GDL EXTRUDE), and spheres (GDL SPHERE) are not subdivided.
Surface Attributes
Note: Mapping is not supported.
In ArchiCAD, you can modify parameters for each element individually as well as together in one operation where the surface attributes are set for parts or when using master surfaces.
Up to 126 surface attributes are exported as the parameters of GDL objects. Surface attributes beyond 126 are also exported as materials, although you cannot change the parameters for them in ArchiCAD.
2D Scripts
The Shade Top view is exported as a 2D script. | ||
