Block spacing guide

[bpatrick]

I am trying to develop a vba subroutine to help me insert blocks of fire alarm speakers. The speakers have to be spaced at various spacing. What I would like to do is manually insert a speaker and have some sort of square around the block while I am inserting it. The "temporary" square would be of dimensions which I assigned it. So if I was trying to insert speakers at 40 foot intervals I would have a 40' x 40' box around my speaker block while I am manually inserting it. You can think of it as sort of a "ruler" or guideline for inserting my block. I don't want the box inserted... just to appear while I am manually inserting a block. I am "ok" with VBA but I just can't figure out how to approach it. Any tips or direction would be helpful.

[Lee Mac]

Have you tried the "DIVIDE" or "MEASURE" commands to accomplish similar results?

[bpatrick]

Thanks for the quick response Lee. I did look into the Divide and Measure commands after seeing your post. I don't believe that would be the most efficient approach based on my circumstances. Essentially I am quickly "roaming" through hundreds of rooms and just clicking to drop a block where I need it.

 

If I am able to have a square guide as a cursor, showing my allowed spacing then I could quickly run through and drop lots of blocks in different rooms on a floor plan.

 

Let me know if I am misunderstanding anything regarding Divide and Measure but I don't believe they are uniquely suited for this case.

[David Bethel]

I would have thought that you would be looking more towards a circle in lieu of a box.

 

maybe (grvecs) would help.

 

[b][color=BLACK]([/color][/b]initget 1[b][color=BLACK])[/color][/b]
[b][color=BLACK]([/color][/b]setq c [b][color=FUCHSIA]([/color][/b]getpoint [color=#2f4f4f]"\nCenter Point:   "[/color][b][color=FUCHSIA])[/color][/b][b][color=BLACK])[/color][/b]

[color=#8b4513]; r=radius[/color]
[color=#8b4513]; a=start_angle[/color]
[color=#8b4513]; s=segments/2[/color]
[color=#8b4513]; i=increase_angle[/color]
[color=#8b4513]; pl=point_list[/color]

[b][color=BLACK]([/color][/b]setq r 20 a 0 s 16 i [b][color=FUCHSIA]([/color][/b]/ pi s[b][color=FUCHSIA])[/color][/b] pl nil[b][color=BLACK])[/color][/b]
[b][color=BLACK]([/color][/b]repeat [b][color=FUCHSIA]([/color][/b]* s 2[b][color=FUCHSIA])[/color][/b]
   [b][color=FUCHSIA]([/color][/b]setq pl [b][color=NAVY]([/color][/b]cons [b][color=MAROON]([/color][/b]polar c [b][color=GREEN]([/color][/b]+ a i[b][color=GREEN])[/color][/b] r[b][color=MAROON])[/color][/b] pl[b][color=NAVY])[/color][/b]
         pl [b][color=NAVY]([/color][/b]cons [b][color=MAROON]([/color][/b]polar c a r[b][color=MAROON])[/color][/b] pl[b][color=NAVY])[/color][/b]
         pl [b][color=NAVY]([/color][/b]cons 1 pl[b][color=NAVY])[/color][/b]
          a [b][color=NAVY]([/color][/b]+ a i[b][color=NAVY])[/color][/b][b][color=FUCHSIA])[/color][/b][b][color=BLACK])[/color][/b]
[b][color=BLACK]([/color][/b]grvecs pl[b][color=BLACK])[/color][/b]

-David

[Lee Mac]

I wish I knew more about the grvecs function - that and the grread and grdraw are always a mystery to me. And the ACAD help on grvecs isn't too helpful either..

[David Bethel]

Lee,

 

GRVECS and GRDRAW are pretty simple. Different input style, same basic output ( temporary lines displayed on the screen )

GRREAD is a totally different animal and has always had a bad rep as far as consistancy.

 

I've never used the translation mode matrix with grvecs. -David

[Lee Mac]

Oh I see, so you are effectively creating the list in reverse, hence the last (cons 1 pl) sets the colour.

 

And a suppose you are creating a list of points around the circle between which lines will be drawn.

 

Thanks David, I understand it a little better now

 

Cheers

 

Lee

[bpatrick]

Thanks again guys. I will look into GRVECS (which I am not familiar with). If there are any recommendations using VBA I would greatly appreciate them.

[Lee Mac]

I believe this uses grvecs or something similar - you may find it useful to learn from:

 

The Genius that is ASMI

[bpatrick]

Yep, that looks very similar to what I'm trying to do (just a different application). Looks like I need to learn some LISP. I was hoping for VBA since I'm familiar with that... but I will take what I can get since I can't find anything else. This forum is very helpful... thanks for the tips and pointing me in the right direction!

[Lee Mac]

No problem, happy to help

 

If you have any more questions, just feel free to ask.

 

Lee