access and set IGH_DataAccess DA from outside grasshopper canvas

Hi,

I would like to inquire if it is possible to access and set IGH_DataAccess DA from outside grasshopper canvas.

I have a custom grasshopper component that I would like to run in NX 10(NX also use .net framework and can run dll file) instead of rhino. Instead of rewritting all the components and restructure everything. I was thinking of writing an interface that just translate the input from NX 10 data to grasshopper and then call the components like methods.

Is such a thing possible?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Rutten on February 1, 2016 at 3:58am

It'll be almost impossible to execute the SolveInstance() methods of components externally. Your best bet is simply assign data to parameters, expire the correct objects, let Grasshopper solve the new state and then harvest data from other parameters. Would that be an acceptable approach?

Permalink Reply by yushi on February 1, 2016 at 5:36pm

Hi David,

Thanks for the reply, I am not sure I understand what you are saying by "expire the correct objects and let Grasshopper solve the new state and then harvest data from other parameters".

In a nutshell from what I understand, I can call/open grasshopper NX then feed the parameter in grasshopper to the component, let grasshopper solve it and then harvest the data after and close grasshopper?

Permalink Reply by David Rutten on February 2, 2016 at 3:54am

Yes. Although it is not possible to close Grasshopper, it will remain loaded while Rhino is running. But you can open/close gh files, directly create components, set data, trigger solutions and harvest data.

The main problem is getting access to the Grasshopper instance from the outside. I have no experience with that, but perhaps the easiest solution is to create a GHA plugin (which doesn't expose any components, it just runs inside Grasshopper) and then connect to your plugin using WCF or something.

Permalink Reply by yushi on February 3, 2016 at 9:23pm

Hi David,

Thanks for the response, this is a bit beyond my ability as a programmer. I think I'll copy paste the code inside solveinstance into new separate methods.

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