How do I offset 3d Polyline

[free2fly]

Hello everybody! How do I offset 3D polyline?

[CarlB]

You can't (thus the response "Cannot offset that object."). I doubt AutoCAD can offset any 3d object.

[ReMark]

There are two third-party solutions you may wish to consider.

 

The first is by a company called DotSoft. They offer, for a fee, a 3D Polyline routine that does a number of things, among them, offset a 3D polyline. You can find their website at http://www.dotsoft.com.

 

The second is at a website called "Freecadapps". They deal in freeware and shareware. You can download a copy of Geotools.exe which contains Tool #19 - a mix of 3D polyline editting tools including the ability to offset such a linetype. You can find their website at http://www.freecadapps.com.

 

I cannot vouch for the validity or reliability of either company as I have no direct personal experience with either of them. But if you have a dire need to possess such a routine then by all means investigate thoroughly and make an informed decision. Good luck.

[Lazer]

You can't (thus the response "Cannot offset that object."). I doubt AutoCAD can offset any 3d object.

 

Same ere I gave this ago and had no luck, I also looked at the links above this post and also had no luck

[ReMark]

To member "deelay".

 

I'm sorry to hear you had no luck. I always make it a point to confirm any links to make sure they work.

 

Re: DotSoft. At the main web page click on AutoCAD (at the top of your screen), then Products, then Productivity and finally click on ToolPac. Keep in mind this site charges for their routines. ToolPac 9.0 will cost you $195.

 

Re: freecadapps. Try this more direct link. I was able to download the necessary file.

 

http://www.freecadapps.com./swdetails.php?page=search&value=&orgvalue=&review=4371&rowcolor=ffffcc

 

Please post if you are still experiencing trouble finding the referenced sites or the specific information I have mentioned. I will endeavor to help as best I can. Good luck.

[Lazer]

Its ok ReMark

Got there and both links work, not tried the free one yet 2 see if it offsets a 3d polyline though. i'll have a go tomorrow

[free2fly]

Thank you everybody. I will try downloading both the programs.

[fuccaro]

[...] i'll have a go tomorrow

 

Dont Delay Do It 2day

 

Ok, I posted this just for fun. It has nothing to do with the topic.

[Joe Kycek]

'I wrote this sub a few years back, it is used for

'offsetting a 3dpoly, both horizontally and vertically, onto

'a specific layer.

 

 

' SubName: Offset3dPoly

' Author: Joe Kycek, Date: 3/24/02

' Scope: Offset a 3dPoly with horizontal and vertical distances.

'

'

' Requirements:

'

' a) A 3dpoly object

' b) A horizontal offset distance from the 3dpoly to

' the new 3dpoly.

' c) A vertical offset distance from the 3dpoly to

' the new 3dpoly.

' d) A layer for the new 3dpoly.

'

' Return:

'

' i) A new 3dpoly object.

'

'Notes:

' 1) A positive horizontal distance value offsets to the Right.

' 2) A positive vertical distance value offsets vertically Up.

' 3) Just like the regular Offset command in AutoCad: Offsets

' that do not mathematically fit, may bring unexpected results.

' This sub uses the AutoCad offset function to achieve a part

' of its goals. So the rules regarding the standard

' AutoCad offset command apply.

'

Sub Offset3dPoly( _

o3dpoly As Acad3DPolyline, _

dDistanceHorizontal As Double, _

dDistanceVertical As Double, _

s3dPolyLayer As String, _

o3dpolynew As Acad3DPolyline)

 

Dim v2dPoly As Variant

Dim v3dPoly As Variant

Dim v3dPolyFlat As Variant

Dim o2dPoly As AcadPolyline

Dim o2dPolyOffset As AcadPolyline

Dim StartX As Double

Dim StartY As Double

Dim StartZ As Double

Dim EndX As Double

Dim EndY As Double

Dim EndZ As Double

Dim i As Integer

On Error GoTo 10

 

'Get the 3dpolys' coordinate array.

v3dPoly = o3dpoly.Coordinates

v3dPolyFlat = o3dpoly.Coordinates

 

 

'With the 3dpolys' coordinate array; flatten

'the z elevations to 0, so we can create a 2dpoly.

For i = 0 To ((UBound(v3dPolyFlat) + 1) / 3) - 1

v3dPolyFlat(3 * i + 2) = 0

Next

 

'get the 3dpolys starting and ending coordinates

'to be used later for checking.

StartX = v3dPoly(0)

StartY = v3dPoly(1)

StartZ = v3dPoly(2)

EndX = v3dPoly(UBound(v3dPoly) - 2)

EndY = v3dPoly(UBound(v3dPoly) - 1)

EndZ = v3dPoly(UBound(v3dPoly))

 

 

'Create a 2dPoly with the same x,y coordinates as the 3dpoly.

'Use this object later; for offsetting.

Set o2dPoly = ThisDrawing.ModelSpace.AddPolyline(v3dPolyFlat)

 

 

'If the 3dpoly is closed, or the 3dpoly's start and end coordinates are

'the same; then close the 2dpoly object: for offseting.

If o3dpoly.Closed = True _

Or _

StartX = EndX And StartY = EndY And StartZ = EndZ Then

o2dPoly.Closed = True

End If

 

 

 

'The api does not support a zero 2dpoly offset. But we could

'be creating a new 3dpoly that is vertically straight up or down from

'the original 3dpoly, with no offset,

'so... an if statement is needed here;

 

If dDistanceHorizontal 0 Then

 

'Create a 2dpoly object array; by the offset distance supplied.

v2dPoly = o2dPoly.offSet(dDistanceHorizontal)

 

'Create a new 2dPoly object from the object array.

Set o2dPolyOffset = v2dPoly(0)

 

'Get the offsetted 2dpoly coordinates

v2dPoly = o2dPolyOffset.Coordinates

 

'delete the offsetted 2dpoly.

o2dPolyOffset.Delete

Set o2dPolyOffset = Nothing

 

Else

 

'the horizontal offset is 0, so use the non-offsetted

'coordinates from the the new 2dpoly.

v2dPoly = o2dPoly.Coordinates

 

End If

 

'Next, Modify the offsetted 2dpolys' coordinates; by adding the

'original 3dpoly's z elevations plus the supplied Vertical additive.

For i = 0 To ((UBound(v2dPoly) + 1) / 3) - 1

v2dPoly(3 * i + 2) = v3dPoly(3 * i + 2) + dDistanceVertical

Next

 

 

'Create the new 3dPoly.

Set o3dpolynew = ThisDrawing.ModelSpace.Add3DPoly(v2dPoly)

 

 

'if the 2dpoly is closed, then close the new 3dpoly

If o2dPoly.Closed = True Then

o3dpolynew.Closed = True

End If

 

'Set the layer for the new 3dPoly.

o3dpolynew.Layer = s3dPolyLayer

 

 

10:

 

'delete the 2dpoly.

o2dPoly.Delete

Set o2dPoly = Nothing

 

End Sub

[ReMark]

Well that's one way to introduce yourself with a first post.

 

Welcome to the CADTutor forum. Perhaps you should post this in the AutoLISP forum.

[Joe Kycek]

Thanks, but:

Why should I post this code in the Lisp Forum?

[Joe Kycek]

Private Sub CreateAWall()

Dim o3dpoly As Acad3DPolyline

Dim o3dpolynew As Acad3DPolyline

 

 

'This is just one example on how to use the

'Offset3dPoly sub, from a form.

 

 

'Lets create a 10' foot high wall that is 1' foot thick and is

'5' feet away from the original 3dpoly picked; and follows

'the picked 3dpolys' elevations.

 

 

frmMain.hide

 

On Error GoTo 10

 

'Pick the 3dpoly (I am using my own custom getentity utility)

Set o3dpoly = GetEntityByFilter("3D PolyLine", "3DPOLYLINE")

 

'let the Offset3dPoly sub do the work:

Offset3dPoly o3dpoly, 5, 0, "0", o3dpolynew

Offset3dPoly o3dpolynew, 0, 10, "0", o3dpolynew

Offset3dPoly o3dpolynew, 1, 0, "0", o3dpolynew

Offset3dPoly o3dpolynew, 0, -10, "0", o3dpolynew

 

 

10:

 

Set o3dpoly = Nothing

Set o3dpolynew = Nothing

 

frmMain.Show

 

End Sub

[workster]

Hi, I wish to use the sub routine mentioned on this thread (I need to offset some 3D Polylines), so can someone please explain how I use it within ACAD 2009? What extension do I save the text in, or do I need to do something different?

 

Thanks in advance.

[bucks87]

I have the same problem as workster. I have got other LISP codes to work but cant seem to get this to work? Is it a LISP or something different? Someone please help.

[jmott07]

I know its four years later, but you can use the Rectangular Array command for 3d objects. Just set your Rows to 1, Columns to however many object you want, Row offset to 0", Column offset to desired offset, and angle to desired angle. It works fine for me. Good luck and i hope im not too late.

[Joe Kycek]

:)Has anyone tried the code?

[seth007]

The code looks like its VB

 

The rec array is just a copy of the object, and not really an offset...

 

I personally think an offset of an 3d line (or object is not possible) without first converting it to a 2d, and once it is converted to 2d, do an offset and set vertices to old z values.This will give you the feel as it has been off setted, but I don't think that is mathematically correct...

 

(Btw this could be achieved by a program, be it LISP or com)

 

:wink:

 

I think most people will settle for a copy of the 3d object in a certain direction and length.

[Joe Kycek]

Greetings,

 

I had a bit of time on the weekend, so I

developed a gui for my Offset3dPoly code.

The code is in autocad vba dvb format.

I tested the code in civil3d 2008 & civil3d 2010.

Hope it helps.

Offset3dPoly.zip

[Joe Kycek]

Oops, forgot to add an autocad command line

'command' for it... So once the vba is run once; the

command "op3" is available at the command line to

re-open the dialogbox. So uploading a new file.

Offset3dPoly.zip

[seth007]

thanks, I'll give it a try...