Designed for Ease of Use

The Geometric Modelling Library consists of the main library (gml.dll) and a small loader application (gml.exe), which initialises the UI and handles the loading of any add-ins present.

 Internally, the main library is structured as 3 independent layers:

• GML Base: contains the fundamental structures and systems upon which the rest of the library is founded. Examples here include: lists, array containers (CGML_Array) and events.
• GML Core: the core contains higher level entities such as Triangulation, PointSet and NURBS curve and surfaces as well as associated algorithms such as decimation, data reduction, degree elevation and reduction.
• GML App: this top layer contains the GUI and rendering functionality to enable interactive debugging and visual representation.

Linking to the Geometric Modelling Library

A user can connect to the Geometric Modelling Library at any of these layers, to create their own software that uses the GML. Including the Geometric Modelling Library is simple! Each layer in the library has an "include file" that gives access to all of the functionality in itself and lower levels.

Extending the Geometric Modelling Library through the add-in mechanism

The Geometric Modelling Library architecture is designed to facilitate extensibility, by allowing you to develop extension add-ins alongside the main GML library. By following the simple steps detailed in the user guide you can create your own add-in that extends the UI menus with their own functions, while exploiting the existing selection and display functionality. All add-ins connect to the GML at the App level as they make use of the UI components.

The add-in mechanism allows you to encapsulate your own IP without losing the ability to redistribute it alongside the core GML. It also allows you to quickly develop routines that can be debugged graphically within the GML GUI without having to develop their own renderer and UI, making prototyping and research easy. Click here to see where Renishaw used the Geometric Modelling Library to build blade surface reconstruction software.