Buildes generates building information. It reads a text file from the user describing building components and exports the information in the requested format. Currently it can export to POV-Ray and OpenSCAD formats. Ultimately the goal is to export to the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) for interoperability.
Buildes is a designer’s program for describing parts of the building. From this description it provides the data needed to visualize, construct and maintain the building throughout its life.
The following are foundational issues that had to be resolved before a program like Buildes could be implemented. It is provided here to give the user a high level overview of how Buildes can be used.
The coordinate system used by Buildes is meant to be transparent. Most of the dimensional user input is expected in real-life methods such as length, width and height values (width refers to thickness e.g. a wall). Often the user is expected to provide coordinates using object names and symbols designating the location of the parts in question (see Snaps for more information on this). However in some cases, the user may need to enter Cartesian coordinates in the form of (x, y, z).
By default Buildes uses the left-handed Cartesian coordinate system. To demonstrate, holding out your left hand extend the index finger, you will be pointing forward along the positive z-axis. With your thumb at 90 degrees from your index it will be pointing upwards in the positive y-axis. If you extend your middle finger to be perpendicular to your index finger, it will be pointing to the right along the positive x-axis. This system expects you, the designer to be immersed in the same world as your building. Assuming you are standing in the site looking at the front of your building, to your right is the positive direction of the x-axis, in front you are looking at the positive direction of the z-axis and going up to the sky is the positive y-axis. If you have used popular modeling software like POV-Ray you should be at home with this default coordinate system.
If you are boggled, do not fret because Buildes can still work with your preferred coordinate system. See section Entry Coords for how to change the entry coordinate system.
In order to provide predictable consequences, Buildes adheres to certain rules about how objects are created.
There are three object shapes possible in Buildes which include line, arc and circle shapes. These shapes are internally combined in different ways to form the actual components that the user uses to construct the building. Each shape type is created around the origin before additional attributes or adjustments are applied.
Buildes utilizes a textual interface. It reads the text typed by the user in order to create building information. It provides a set of components that behave like various building components and it expects the user to use these objects in two steps.
One of the foundational ideas is the use of snaps. These are coordinates at key parts of an object that make it aware of its shape, size and location/proximity. snaps are consistently named for all objects so the user can reference them during object manipulation to increase precision.
The number and location of snaps differ for different types of objects. In addition to snaps, there is also a consistent way to designate edges.
Generally, to select a snap-point, the user provides a symbol that includes the combination of the object name and the desired snap-point name separated by an underscore. For example if an object is named object01 and it has a snap-point called p1. That location on the object can be referenced by providing the symbol object01_p1.
See a general but more detailed description in Snap-points section and for details on each object, see relevant sections in Reference Pages for more information.
