GenerativeComponents & OpenBridgeModeler several general and lesser questions

Hello GC Community.

Lately we are testing possibilities of OpenBride Modeler and GenerativeComponents to see if it is possible to implement them into our company and optimize current workflow.
During test we encountered some issues which we do not fully understood as we are absolutely new with this environment, please keep this in mind while reading questions below. :)

Sorry for it is kind of long text (can replace morning newspaper :) ) but I have found it difficult to explain in lesser words, if someone is going to read it all I am impressed.
If someone is going to explain any of these questions I am even more pleasantly surprised. :)

A: GENERAL PROGRAM ISSUES:

  1. At the beginning I would like just to confirm if everything is correct. I have installed Generative Components as a “Companion Feature” to OpenBrige Modeler. Is it standard behavior that program doesn’t offer any dedicated “Node Types” for OBM? Are they planned to be introduced in future?
    To clarify I have seen dedicated “Node Types” (which helps a lot) for Building Designer in GC tutorials:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTl8a2CdeGA&list=PL7jfe0_WZE1qDoxNj7Hn4oVtQrUqiQmP-&ab_channel=BentleyOpenBuildings
  2. Following issue is, I am trying to pick some elements from existing drawing using “geometry node - solid” to use its geometry in macro, but not every solid is possible to be caught:
  • it’s possible to pick typical solid but;
  • “smart solid” elements like “barrier” or “deck” being ignored by solid;
  • also for example it’s impossible to pick “parametric cell” by a “geometry - cell” node.

The question is, if I am doing anything wrong, or do we need to wait for any OBM nodes to make it possible, or there is a workaround for this?

3.Is there any possibility to group nodes and attach to them any comment which will help to find out what its meant to be done with this group? I am worried that for larger macros it will be difficult to find exact node trees especially after weeks or months. I have found only possibility to color nodes or arrange their spacings as groups.

4.Can I export all the transactions that macro includes and attach it to many different OBM files?
I have found in GC Help suggestion to use: File > Export Transactions to GCT. Unfortunately there is no .GCT export format in my list, am I missing something?
https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/OpenBuildings%20GenerativeComponents%20Help-v10/en/GUID-B3C629BE-2144-4701-B63A-FF543DE3CEF6.html
Another try was “Utility node – Export” which brings only an element that is made by macro and locate it into another file which is not the result that we looking for.
https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/OpenBuildings%20GenerativeComponents%20Help-v10/en/GUID-9CD05E8E-2015-8FE3-8623-2B135B270736.html

B: LESSER TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH EXACT NODES:

  1. I have tried to select some nodes which are meant to lead a path for a line in next step (yellow color on picture below) by “geometry node – range”. Problem is that range adds its points to selection set (red color on picture below). Is it expected behavior? Is there any easy way to expel those points from selection set?
  2. (Ad 1.) Tried deleting points in red squares by “utility node – operation except/intersect/union” with several different combinations, without any luck.
    Seems that those operations ignores operations on points at all.
    Even tried to use “Except” operation on same points input in Rank 1 list which, if I understand correctly, should return 0/null but the result is the same points that I have attached.
    Have I chosen wrong way for organizing elements like points lines etc.?

  3. (Ad 1.&2.) Exploding points for separate X,Y,Z coordinates, flattening them and then using except/intersect option looked like a solution for problem above, operations on lists started to react. But still I don’t really see possibility to join results back to points in expected order since not always same number of X,Y,Z records was wiped.
  4. I tried to find a tool that is going to return angle between point and axis (from 0 to 360 degrees).
    Found out “utility node – function angle”, the problem is that it always look for closest distance between axis and point (from 0 to 180 degrees) moreover it doesn’t bring minus before measurement eventhough we are below axis. I assume it works as expected? Do you have any quick tip how would I change range for 360 degrees?
     
  5. Seems I encountered same problem with sweeping solid along path which is described on forum already (15.05.2021):
    https://communities.bentley.com/products/products_generativecomponents/f/generativecomponents---forum/213927/create-solid-sweepprofilealongpath
    Sweeping solid along path returns some technique problem.
     
    Do dewelopers still working on this issue?

As its suggested in forum (link above), I tried sweeping surface cross section along path (first picture below) but looks like that used cross section exploded in different directions(second picture below), moreover made an offset upon guiding line which is unacceptable. What could force that kind of behavior? Did I do anything incorrectly?

 

 
Regards,
Sebastian



Parents
  • Hi Sebastian,

    QA1-A. At this moment OpenBridge doesn't have the node types for the bridge components. but OpenBridge enhanced to utilizing GC components as OpenBridge objects for substructures through the *.gcp file(GC package file). Also, we have plan to develop custom bridge components like sound barrier, precast barrier etc.

    QA2-A. I am not sure the macro. what do you mean the macro? you are able to extract the objects from OpenBridge models through the color, level names.

    QA3-A. GC doesn't have the function to group the particular nodes. but please use Note on Utility pallet with particular node colors.

    QA4-A.

    step1. go to Transactions,

    step 2.  select edit entire transactions list.

    step3. Select File menu

    You will be able to save or import the GCT files through Save or Replace.

    Would you please send me the model files that relate with questions of B?

    yujin.lee@bentley.com 

    Thanks. 

  • Hi Yujin.

    Thank you for your interest on issues above, really appreciate your explanations.

    Ad. QA2-A.
    I have been trying to “catch” element’s geometry at the beginning of list of transactions and use it by whole path of the graph (macro).

    Node Solid.ByElement could “catch” geometry only with typical solids placed inside the drawing or only with a referenced “Deck” element which was recognized as solid, but could not catch any referenced barrier, parametric cell or smart solid element.

    Attempt to “catch” support or any barrier geometry was resulting with an error shown below.




    Was also trying to do it by Cell.ByElement since support is a parametric cell, but result was the same.

    I have sent to you model related to questions of B (it is also related to question QA2-A).
    Thank you again for your help.



Reply
  • Hi Yujin.

    Thank you for your interest on issues above, really appreciate your explanations.

    Ad. QA2-A.
    I have been trying to “catch” element’s geometry at the beginning of list of transactions and use it by whole path of the graph (macro).

    Node Solid.ByElement could “catch” geometry only with typical solids placed inside the drawing or only with a referenced “Deck” element which was recognized as solid, but could not catch any referenced barrier, parametric cell or smart solid element.

    Attempt to “catch” support or any barrier geometry was resulting with an error shown below.




    Was also trying to do it by Cell.ByElement since support is a parametric cell, but result was the same.

    I have sent to you model related to questions of B (it is also related to question QA2-A).
    Thank you again for your help.



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