Topic: I would like to create a custom distance

[CECE_CAD]

I would like to create a custom distance command.  Would it be easier to begin with the regular distance command or to use "getdist"..?

[MP]

It would be easier to begin with getpoint.

[CECE_CAD]

ok, I will try that..

I have started reading George O. Head "AutoLISP" in plain english.  So I'm really just learning how to do this.

Thanks

[CAB]

Here is what a search pulled up.
Get Distance

Get Length

Look at some of the shorter routines.

BTW, we love questions.

[CECE_CAD]

Cab, those are more advanced then me...   I will have to use the book I'm reading to follow them.. I will do my best, all I'm really trying to do is make a distance command that allows more then two points..  I saw a lisp with the links you provided me that I'm sure will work I just have to understand how it works..

Thanks

Here is what a search pulled up.
Get Distance

Get Length

Look at some of the shorter routines.

BTW, we love questions.

[ronjonp]

Here is a simple distance adding routine using picked points...each line is commented to show what is going on:

Code: [Select]

(defun c:test (/ pt1 pt2 dist cntr);;localize variables pt1 pt2 dist cntr
  (setq cntr 0);;set distance counter to 0
  (while (if pt2;;if pt2 exists set pt1 = pt2 for start point
   (setq pt1 pt2);;pt2 exists so set pt1 = pt2
   (setq pt1 (getpoint "\nSelect point: "));;pt2 does not exist yet so select point
)
    (progn
      (setq pt2 (getpoint pt1 "\nSelect next point: ");;next point to select
    dist (distance pt1 pt2);;get the distance between the points
    cntr (+ dist cntr);;add the distance to the counter
      )
      (grdraw pt1 pt2 1);;visually show line between picked points
      (princ (rtos cntr));;print the results to command line using "rtos" to convert the counter to a string
    )
  )
)

Hope this helps you understand.

Ron

[Josh Nieman]

Here is a simple distance adding routine using picked points...each line is commented to show what is going on:

Code: [Select]

(defun c:test (/ pt1 pt2 dist cntr);;localize variables pt1 pt2 dist cntr
  (setq cntr 0);;set distance counter to 0
  (while (if pt2;;if pt2 exists set pt1 = pt2 for start point
   (setq pt1 pt2);;pt2 exists
   (setq pt1 (getpoint "\nSelect point: "));;pt2 does not exist yet so select point
)
    (progn
      (setq pt2 (getpoint pt1 "\nSelect next point: ");;next point to select
    dist (distance pt1 pt2);;get the distance between the points
    cntr (+ dist cntr);;add the distance to the counter
      )
      (grdraw pt1 pt2 1);;visually show line between picked points
      (princ (rtos cntr));;print the results to command line using "rtos" to convert the counter to a string
    )
  )
)

Hope this helps you understand.

Ron

Excellent post!  Thanks much for the break down.  I'm learnededing.

[ronjonp]

Good to hear 

[gile]

Hi,

here's the one I use.

You can specify 2 points or select an object, if the selected object is a polyline boyh total length and selacted segment length are returned.

Code: [Select]

(defun c:dist (/ p1 p2 ent obj tot par)
  (vl-load-com)
  (if (setq p1
     (getpoint
       "\nSpecify the first point or <Select an object>: "
     )
      )
    (progn
      (while
(not (setq p2 (getpoint p1 "Specify the second point: "))
)
      )
      (princ (strcat
       "\nDistance : "
       (rtos (distance p1 p2))
     )
      )
    )
    (if (and (setq ent (entsel))
     (not (vl-catch-all-error-p
    (setq p2
   (vl-catch-all-apply
     'vlax-curve-getEndParam
     (list (setq obj (vlax-ename->vla-object (car ent))))
   )
    )
  )
     )
)
      (progn
(setq tot (vlax-curve-getDistAtParam obj p2))
(if (wcmatch (cdr (assoc 0 (entget (car ent)))) "*POLYLINE")
  (progn
    (setq p1  (vlax-curve-getClosestPointToProjection
obj
(trans (cadr ent) 1 0)
(mapcar '-
(trans (getvar "viewdir") 1 0)
(trans '(0 0 0) 1 0)
)
      )
  par (vlax-curve-getParamAtPoint obj p1)
    )
    (princ
      (strcat
"\nTotal distance: "
(rtos tot)
" Selected segment: "
(rtos
  (- (vlax-curve-getDistAtParam obj (1+ (fix par)))
     (vlax-curve-getDistAtParam obj (fix par))
  )
)
      )
    )
  )
  (princ (strcat "\nDistance : " (rtos tot)))
)
      )
      (princ "\nNon valid entity.")
    )
  )
  (princ)
)

[VovKa]

my variation of ronjonp's routine

Code: [Select]

(defun test (/ p1 p2 Dist)
  (setq Dist 0.0)
  (while (and (or (setq p1 p2)
  (setq p1 (getpoint "\nFirst point: "))
  (setq p1 (getvar "LASTPOINT"))
      )
      (setq p2 (getpoint p1 "\nNext point: "))
)
    (setq Dist (+ Dist (distance p1 p2)))
  )
  (prompt (strcat "\nTotal distance: " (rtos Dist)))
)

[CAB]

And my variation.

Code: [Select]

(defun c:test (/ p1 p2 Dist vecs)
  (setq Dist 0.0)
  (while (and (or p1
                  (setq p1 (getpoint "\nFirst point: "))
  (setq p1 (getvar "LASTPOINT"))
      )
      (setq p2 (getpoint p1 "\nNext point: "))
)
    (setq Dist (+ Dist (distance p1 p2))
          vecs (append vecs (list p1 p2))
          p1 p2)
      (grvecs (append vecs '(1)))
      (print (strcat "  Running total is " (rtos Dist)))
  )
  (prompt (strcat "\nTotal distance: " (rtos Dist)))
)

[ronjonp]

Nice CAB I like the grvecs portion so the line is redrawn if you pan.

[VovKa]

a "dirty" variation, but with all "pline's" cool stuff

Code: [Select]

(vl-load-com)
(defun c:test (/ Obj)
  (setq Obj (entlast))
  (command "._PLINE")
  (while (/= (getvar "CMDACTIVE") 0) (command PAUSE))
  (if (not (equal Obj (setq Obj (entlast))))
    (progn (prompt
     (strcat "\nTotal distance: "
     (rtos (vla-get-Length (setq Obj (vlax-ename->vla-object Obj))))
     )
   )
   (vla-Delete Obj)
   (vlax-release-object Obj)
    )
  )
)


[CECE_CAD]

CAB, This works great.. Could you help me understand it a little more?

(/ p1 p2 Dist vecs)  = your setting p1 p2 as your local variables, is this correct? "dist" is for distance? what is "vecs"

(setq Dist 0.0) = starting with a zero point?

(while (and (or p1 = are you telling the program to look for the first point I pick?

(setq p1 (getpoint "\nFirst point: ")) = then telling it to use p1 as starting messuring point?

(setq p1 (getvar "LASTPOINT")) = Does this set the first point picked to be your starting point?

(setq Dist (+ Dist (distance p1 p2)) = your adding the first two points together

vecs (append vecs (list p1 p2)) = not to sure, but does this allow you to keep picking other points for the distance?
          p1 p2)

     (grvecs (append vecs '(1))) = again not sure..

      (print (strcat "  Running total is " (rtos Dist))) = showing my distance as I'm picking points?  What is "rtos"?
  )
  (prompt (strcat "\nTotal distance: " (rtos Dist))) = then total of all points after I select enter?


Not sure how I did, but can you let me know? 

Thanks..

And my variation.

Code: [Select]

(defun c:test (/ p1 p2 Dist vecs)
  (setq Dist 0.0)
  (while (and (or p1
                  (setq p1 (getpoint "\nFirst point: "))
  (setq p1 (getvar "LASTPOINT"))
      )
      (setq p2 (getpoint p1 "\nNext point: "))
)
    (setq Dist (+ Dist (distance p1 p2))
          vecs (append vecs (list p1 p2))
          p1 p2)
      (grvecs (append vecs '(1)))
      (print (strcat "  Running total is " (rtos Dist)))
  )
  (prompt (strcat "\nTotal distance: " (rtos Dist)))
)

[CAB]

You did good.
Here is a commented version & I fixed two mistakes that I did in my haste.

Code: [Select]

(defun c:test (/ ; Local Variables
               p1    ; First point
               p2    ; Next point:
               Dist  ; Distance acumlated
               vecs  ; vectors to draw
               )
  (setq Dist 0.0)
  (while  ; loop until p2 is nil, i.e. ENTER pressed
    (and  ; make sure p1 & p2 are not nil
      (or p1 ; get p1 only on the first time
                  (setq p1 (getpoint "\nFirst point: "))
  (setq p1 (getvar "LASTPOINT"))
      )
      (setq p2 (getpoint p1 "\nNext point: "))
    )
    (setq Dist (+ Dist (distance p1 p2))  ; accululate the distance
          vecs (append vecs (list p1 p2)) ; get more vectors
          p1 p2)                          ; shift the point p1 to next point p2
      (grvecs (append '(1) vecs))         ; add color & draw vectors
      (prompt (strcat "  Running total is " (rtos Dist)))
  )
  (prompt (strcat "\nTotal distance: " (rtos Dist)))
  (princ) ; don't leave anything extra on the command line
) 
 
Let me help you figure things out on your own.
At the command line type VLIDE [enter]
Expand the FILE menu, select New File
Paste this routine in the <Untitled-1> window.
With your cursor highlight the "rtos" function, then press Ctrl-Shift-A
The Apropos window appears. In that window Highlight RTOS and click on the Question Mark button
The Help window will appear.

HTH