How to upload and download VisualARQ styles in food4Rhino

by | Dec 3, 2018

This tutorial describes the steps for uploading VisualARQ styles in food4Rhino and for downloading and importing them into your document.

Uploading a VisualARQ style

We will assume there are already some styles created in your document. (Read below the different style types).

1. Generate the .val file.

  1. Run the _vaStylesExport command.
  2. Select the option New file and click on the Browse button to save the .val file in your PC. Click Next button.
  3. Select the styles to export from the list. A .val file may contain 1 or multiple styles from different objects.

2. Upload the .val file in food4Rhino

  1. Login in food4Rhino: https://www.food4rhino.com/
  2. Click on your User name.
  3. From the “My content” tab, select Add Resource.
  4. Fill the form to add a new resource.
    • Type: choose “VisualARQ style”
    • Title: name that will be displayed within the thumbnail.
    • Short description: a few words to explain what the .val file includes.
    • Body: long description of the object style. We recommend the following description structure, as you can see in this example.
      • Object type
      • List of Components
      • List of editable parameters
      • Thumbnail image: make it clear.
    • Other images: add more images showing the different variations of the same object style.

Downloading and importing the .val in your document.

1. Download the .val file from food4Rhino.

  1. Login in food4Rhino.
  2. Go to the VisualARQ styles section in food4rhino, select the desired VisualARQ style, and click on the Download link.

2. Import the .val file in your document

  1. Run the _vaStylesImport command.
  2. Browse to select the .val you have downloaded. Click Next.
  3. Select the styles to import from the list and click Import button.

About VisualARQ styles

A VisualARQ style defines the features of a VisualARQ object. New styles can be created in three different ways, depending on the object type:

  • By native parameters: the different components and editable parameters are already defined and vary to each object type. This option is available for these objects: wall, curtain wall, beam, column, door, window, opening, railing, slab, roof, space, table, tag, section, opening elevation, section view and plan view. (Example)
  • By block: a 3D block and/or a 2D block are used for the object 3D and plan view representation respectively. This option is available for these objects: column, door, window, opening, furniture, element and annotation. (Example)
  • By Grasshopper definition: objects created from a Grasshopper definition, also called “Grasshopper styles”. The number of components and parameters are unlimited and are defined in the Grasshopper file. This option is available for these objects: column, door, window, opening, beam, railing, stair, slab, roof, furniture, element and annotation. (Examples)