Transformation (copy) by vector and distance ?

[artmusicstudio]

hi experts,
i did not really find an answer in the api, so

when i draw a 3d line (any direction) ,

can i take it's vector and then transfom an object from its origin (= startpoint of my vector)
ALONG this vector with a defined (@distance_z) distance ?

instead of calculation the target 3d-point ? this would make placing object along a line much easier.

thanx stan

[Dan Rathbun]

If @drawn is an edge, then:

from = @drawn.start.position move_vec = from.vector_to(@drawn.end.position)

[artmusicstudio]

hi dan,
ok, this one moves any object along the vector , but for this i have again to calculate the start and end point of the edge first.

the question is, when i already have a calulated and drawn line of any length,
how can i move along this line (=vector) by defining a DISTANCE (in the 3d-direction of this line?

so the endpoint would be calculated automatically by the ruby ?

like:

vector = edge xxx
object = whatever
distance = float-value
object.move (vector, distance)

stan

[TIG]

startp = edge.line[0] ### edge.line is [start_point, vector_to_end_point]
vector = edge.line[1]
object = reference_to_a_group_or_instance
distnc = a_length ### 1.234.m etc, remember that a float is always taken as 'inches'
vector.length = distnc

then

object.move!(vector)

or

object.transform!(vector)

[Dan Rathbun]

IF moving a Group:

vector = edge.start.position.vector_to(edge.end.position)
group = whatever
distance = edge.length
vector.length = distance
group.move!(vector)

P.S: use transform! instead of move!, if you want the operations on the undo stack.

[Dan Rathbun]

IF moving an primitive object:

vector = edge.start.position.vector_to(edge.end.position)
group = whatever
distance = edge.length
vector.length = distance
object.parent.entities.transform_entities( vector, object )

[artmusicstudio]

hi dan,
i came now back to this part of the ruby.
is it possible to COPY instead of MOVE somehow? i tried several things, but ther is no

group.copy!

obviously in the ruby syntax.

the trial of mine:

#within a bigger loop  >>> FL
#.....
new_line1 = @entities2.add_line @rl1a, @rl2a # define line for vector
length = new_line1.length
#									
rasterarray_h = length.divmod(5.0/@faktor/@teiler_cm ) # gaps shall be near 5 cm
raster = length / rasterarray_h[0] # calculate gap between verticals ( == true length)
#							
@stab = @entities2.add_group
@stab.name = "stab_senkrecht"
entities_stab = @stab.entities   # the group to be copied along new_line1

@rl1a = [(fl)*  const1+var2*var3  , (fl)*  const2+var4 , 0 + (fl)*(@pmod * @rise)+@railsgapunten]
@rl2a = [(fl)*  const1+var2*var3  , (fl)*  const2+var4 , 0 + (fl)*(@pmod * @rise) + var6+@railsgapunten]
#			
edge = entities_stab.add_line @rl1a, @rl2a # create 1st vertical in the group
#			
puts "#{__LINE__} ; edge created"
puts "#{__LINE__} ; raster ; #{raster}"
puts "#{__LINE__} ; length ; #{length}"
puts "#{__LINE__} ; rasterarray_h[0] ; #{rasterarray_h[0]}"
#			 
for v_line in 1..rasterarray_h[0] # copy group along new_line1 in distance raster
#puts v_line
vector = new_line1.start.position.vector_to(new_line1.end.position)
vector.length = v_line*raster # every step 1 raster more
#@stab.move!(vector)   # TRIAL 1 ???????
#@stab.parent.entities.transform_entities( vector, @stab )   # TRIAL 2 ???????
			
end  # v_line loop

thanx for helping again. copying in 3d by distance would be a great step further......

stan

[TIG]

http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/developer/docs/ourdoc/group.php#copy

group2 = group.copy

This makes a copy of the group exactly on the top of original group, AND in the same context as the original group***.
You can then transform that copy.

group2.transform!(some_transformation)

Be aware that this group2 copy is a 'second instance' of the original group, so any changes you make to one will appear in the other [just like with a component] - you can use group2.make_unique to resolve this; it will generate a warning about deprecated methods BUT this is a known error in the API code and should be removed one day when the API is upgraded...

Also be aware that group.copyt can fall foul of some entities-observers from other tools, and cause them to splat - it's a known bug in the API and should get fixed one day...

***Another way to add a 'copy' of a group, BUT put it into another context uses this:

group2 = another_entities.add_instance(group.entities.parent, group.transformation)

Then transform the group2 as desired...
You can of course apply the new group's transformation as you add its instance...
Here's an example including the make_unique...

group2 = another_entities.add_instance(group.entities.parent, another_transformation) group2.make_unique

To do it in the same context use:

group2 = group.parent.entities.add_instance(group.entities.parent, another_transformation) group2.make_unique

[artmusicstudio]

hi tig,
thanx so much, but this one really makes me crazy.....

what ever i do , the move! - instructions MOVES but does not copy, it's magical...( i tried all your codes, the code from the api....)

my code so far ( i am on the level of @entities2 (coming from a method above this one)

new_line1 = @entities2.add_line @rl1a, @rl2a # define line for vector
length = new_line1.length
#									
rasterarray_h = length.divmod(5.0/@faktor/@teiler_cm )
raster = length / rasterarray_h[0] # calculate gap between verticals ( == true length)
#
# so the raster is the 3d-distance on the vector from new_line1
#
group = @entities2.add_group
entities_stab = group.entities
@rl1a = [(fl)*  const1+var2*var3  , (fl)*  const2+var4 , 0 + (fl)*(@pmod * @rise)+@railsgapunten]
@rl2a = [(fl)*  const1+var2*var3  , (fl)*  const2+var4 , 0 + (fl)*(@pmod * @rise) + var6+@railsgapunten]
#
edge = entities_stab.add_line @rl1a, @rl2a # create 1st vertical
#			
#entities = @entities2 # tried this, too..
#			
for v_line in 1..rasterarray_h[0]
#			
    vector = new_line1.start.position.vector_to(new_line1.end.position)
    distance = v_line*raster
    vector.length = v_line*raster/2
#
    group2 = group.copy
    group2 = group.move!(vector)  
# and the line is moved, not copied....or the original group disappears? there shold be lots of vertical lines in distance of "raster".....
#			
end
#

grrrrhhh....
i make a break now, the brain is just about to explode.......

stan

[TIG]

group2 = group.copy group2 = group.move!(vector)

group2 = group.copy group2.move!(vector)

Should leave group where it was ???