{{Unreferenced, date=July 2019 In

computer-aided design Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or ) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve c ...

, Geometric Description Language (GDL) is the

programming language A programming language is a system of notation for writing computer programs. Programming languages are described in terms of their Syntax (programming languages), syntax (form) and semantics (computer science), semantics (meaning), usually def ...

of Archicad library parts. GSM is the

file format A file format is a Computer standard, standard way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file. It specifies how bits are used to encode information in a digital storage medium. File formats may be either proprietary format, pr ...

of these CAD objects.

Area of usage

These objects are similar to blocks in

AutoCAD AutoCAD is a 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) software application developed by Autodesk. It was first released in December 1982 for the CP/M and IBM PC platforms as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics control ...

, but unlike blocks, these are parametric, and the 2D and 3D features are connected, so in any view one can get the correct visualization (for example a side view on the section, top view on plan, and perspective in the 3D view). GDL scripts define an Archicad library part in its main roles, these are 3D model, 3D model projected to section/elevation or to 2D plan, 2D plan view,

user interface In the industrial design field of human–computer interaction, a user interface (UI) is the space where interactions between humans and machines occur. The goal of this interaction is to allow effective operation and control of the machine fro ...

display and behaviour and listing quantities. All versions of the Archicad contain their own default libraries, also objects like furniture, windows, doors, trees, people, cars, construction elements, etc. There are several commercial websites for selling high-detailed intelligent parametric objects, which are perhaps better and more variable than the default libraries, for example there are a lot of environmental objects like plants, people or garden elements, which are not included in the original software.

Licensing

GDL is a free technology (although Archicad itself is a commercial software), it is allowed and possible to develop GDL based object libraries using free tools like

Graphisoft Graphisoft SE is a European multinational corporation that designs software, and is headquartered in Budapest, Hungary. As a subsidiary of Nemetschek, Graphisoft develops Building Information Modeling software products for architects, interior ...

LP_XMLConverter and Graphisoft GDL Web Plug-In (Discontinued).

Technical information

The GDL programming language is

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-like. It has the same control flow statements and variable logic. In 2D and 3D in GDL, all the model elements are linked to a local right-handed

coordinate system In geometry, a coordinate system is a system that uses one or more numbers, or coordinates, to uniquely determine and standardize the position of the points or other geometric elements on a manifold such as Euclidean space. The coordinates are ...

. For placing an element in the desired position, you have to move the coordinate system to the desired position (and orientation), then generate the element itself. Every movement, rotation or stretching of the coordinate system is called a

transformation Transformation may refer to: Science and mathematics In biology and medicine * Metamorphosis, the biological process of changing physical form after birth or hatching * Malignant transformation, the process of cells becoming cancerous * Trans ...

. Transformations are stored in a

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, which can be extended by further transformations and can be cut by deleting one or more transformations from the top of it. GDL maintains

forward compatibility Forward compatibility or upward compatibility is a design characteristic that allows a system to accept input intended for a later version of itself. The concept can be applied to entire systems, electrical interfaces, telecommunication signal ...

, which means that an Archicad library part will be readable with every subsequent Archicad program, but not necessarily with any earlier versions.

External links

GDL Center, GRAPHISOFT's GDL knowledge base and community centerGDL Cookbook 4Archicad GDL vs Revit Families
CAD file formats Procedural programming languages Dynamically typed programming languages Domain-specific programming languages