Rotate view to match a selected object...

[Jerry_Barnes]

I'm looking for a way to rotate my model space view to match the angle of a rotated object such that the view rotates to make that object horizontal. The important catch here is I want the zoom factor to remain the same as before the rotation. For example, setting the UCS to some angle and using plan command will do that, but it zooms out to Extents. I wish for the view to rotate but remain so that I am still looking at the same zoomed-in area. 

[ecfernandez]

Hi @Jerry_Barnes, I think the zoom-in cannot be the same since you are changing the UCS. However, try the ZOOM command, then PREVIOUS, to see if the program takes your view to where you had it before the UCS change.

Regards! 

[Joe-Bouza]

Rotate the viewport use the object for reference angle. 

[Jerry_Barnes]

Which command would I use to rotate the viewport in order to input the angle?

[Pointdump]

Hi Jerry,
How about DVIEW >> TWIST?
Dave

[rgrainer]

check it:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/visual-lisp-autolisp-and-general/set-twist-angle-of-a-viewport-lisp-m... 

[AllenJessup]

I use this Lisp. Please pay attention to the test at the top of the file.

[BrianHailey]

I'm don't have access to C3D at the moment but perhaps ALIGNSPACE? It may change the scale but if you are using a standard scale for your viewport, it should be trivial to set it back to what it originally was.

[doni49]

Here's a lisp routine that I wrote years ago that comes close to what you're asking for.  You have to select two points that you want to make horizontal.

;|
         Author:   Don Ireland

         Purpose:  To allow user a more intuitive method of rotating a view.

         Date:     4/96

         Version:  3.0

         History:  1-23-03 Added the "Default" angle of the current dvtwist setting.
                   12-6-04 Added error checking to see if you are Paperspace/or a locked viewport.
       

|;
(defun rtd (a)
  (setq a(/ (* a 180) pi))
)
(load "vplocks")
(defun c:dvtwist( / vpl? twist)
  (if (mspace?)
    (progn(if (and (/= "Model" (getvar "ctab"))(setq vpl?(vplocked?)))(lockmviews -3))
    (setq twist(rtd(Getangle (strcat "\nEnter New Horizontal Angle <" (rtos (getvar "viewtwist"))">:  "))))
    (if (not twist)(setq twist (getvar "viewtwist")))
    (command "dview" "" "Tw" (- 0 twist) "")
    (setvar "snapang" (- 0 (getvar "viewtwist")))
    (if (and vpl? (/= "Model" (getvar "ctab")))(lockmviews 3)));end progn

    (progn(princ "\nThis command is not available in Paperspace.  Please switch model space.")
    (princ))
  )
)
(defun c:dvt()(c:dvtwist))

[Joe-Bouza]

Jeff Mischler showed me this. takes about 5 seconds

 @Jerry_Barnes , @BrianHailey , @AllenJessup , @rgrainer , @doni49 

SHIF>>@ PICK END OR NEAR ON LINE 

 F8 AND YOUR VIEW IS ROTATED TO THE OBJECT.

The just gip the corners ti the paper

[doni49]

@Joe-Bouza It looks like you're rotating the view itself.  I've done that in the past two.  But then I end up needing to change the viewport border to fit within my titleblock's drawing area.

[Joe-Bouza]

@doni49 , correct

I have already started the day with Combined shampoo and conditioner, and Velcro sneakers. So, I am ahead of the game saving time (LOL) ... all in good fun

[tguytonS8TYU]

Used to have a LISP that you could DV TWIST by using a line. Anyone know of a LISP?

Very nice tool that Carlson utilizes and it uses entities.

[doni49]

There's a reply in this thread with my lisp routine included.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/civil-3d-ideas/sac-saveas-older-format/idi-p/5758574?search-action-id... 

Beware that I just realized it uses a lisp routine (VPLOCKS) that I found online a long time ago and don't remember who the author was.  I'll post that here.  My code uses this to check if the current viewport is locked (and can't be rotated).

(defun mspace?( / )
   (or
     (= 1 (getvar "Tilemode"))
     (/= 1 (getvar "cvport"))
     )
   )


(defun vplocked?()
  (and
    (setq *acad* (vlax-get-acad-object))
    (setq *doc* (vla-get-activedocument *acad*))
    (setq vp (vla-get-activePviewport *doc*))
    (= :vlax-true (vla-get-displaylocked vp))
  )
)

 ;;;Lock/unlock paper space viewports
 ;;;  mode = 1 lock all         - (lockmviews 1)
 ;;;  mode = 2 lock selected    - (lockmviews 2)
 ;;;  mode = 3 lock active      - (lockmviews 3)
 ;;;  mode = -1 unlock all      - (lockmviews -1)
 ;;;  mode = -2 unlock selected - (lockmviews -2)
 ;;;  mode = -3 unlock active   - (lockmviews -3)
 (defun lockmviews (
      mode
      /
      cmdecho
      ss ssl ss1
     )
   (setq cmdecho (getvar "cmdecho"))
   (setvar "cmdecho" 0)
   (if (and
  (/= (abs mode) 3)  ;use the active viewport
  (= 0 (getvar "tilemode"))
  (/= 1 (getvar "cvport"))
  )
     (progn
       (setq ss T)
       (c:ss)
     ) ;_ end progn
   ) ;_ end if
   (cond
     ((= 1 (getvar "tilemode"))
      (alert "Switch to paper space and try again.")
     )
     ;;Lock all ------------------------------------------------------------
     ((= mode 1)
      (setq
        ss1 (ssget "X" '(( 0 . "VIEWPORT")))
        ssl (sslength ss1)
        )
      (if (<= 0 ssl)
        (progn
          (command "._mview" "Lock" "On" ss1 "")
   (princ (strcat "\n" (itoa (1- ssl)) " viewport(s) found and locked. "))
   )
        (princ "\nNo viewports found. ")
        )
     )
     ;;Unlock all------------------------------------------------------------
     ((= mode -1)
      (setq
        ss1 (ssget "X" '((0 . "VIEWPORT")))
        ssl (sslength ss1)
        )
      (if (<= 0 ssl)
        (progn
          (command "._mview" "Lock" "Off" ss1 "")
   (princ (strcat "\n" (itoa (1- ssl)) " viewport(s) found and unlocked."))
   )
        (princ "\nNo viewports found. ")
        )
     )
     ;;Lock Selected---------------------------------------------------------
     ((= mode 2)
      (command "._mview" "Lock" "On")
      (setvar "cmdecho" 1)
      (while (and (< 0 (getvar "cmdactive"))
    (wcmatch (getvar "cmdnames") "*mview*")
      ) ;_ end and
        (command pause)
      ) ;_ end while
      (setvar "cmdecho" 0)
     )
     ;;Unlock selected------------------------------------------------------
     ((= mode -2)
      (setvar "cmdecho" 1)
      (command "._mview" "Lock" "Off")
      (while (and (< 0 (getvar "cmdactive"))
    (wcmatch (getvar "cmdnames") "*mview*")
      ) ;_ end and
        (command pause)
      ) ;_ end while
      (setvar "cmdecho" 0)
     )
     ;;Lock active----------------------------------------------------------
     ((= mode 3)
      (lockactivepvp T)
      (princ "\nActive viewport locked. ")
      )
     ;;Unlock active--------------------------------------------------------
     ((= mode -3)
      (lockactivepvp nil)
      (princ "\nActive viewport unlocked. ")
      )
     (T nil)
   )     ;end cond
   (if ss
     (c:ss)
   ) ;_ end if
   (setvar "cmdecho" cmdecho)
   (princ)
 )     ;end lockmviews

 (defun lockactivepvp(   ;get the active paper space viewport
        lock  ;nil = unlock, non-nil = lock
       /
        app doc pvport
       )
   (setq
     app (vlax-get-acad-object)
     doc (vla-get-activedocument app)
     pvport (vla-get-activepviewport doc)
     )
   (if lock
     (vla-put-displaylocked pvport :vlax-true)
     (vla-put-displaylocked pvport :vlax-false)
     )
   (vlax-release-object doc)
   (vlax-release-object app)
   pvport
   )

[Joe-Bouza]

 I rotate the vport plain simple fast

[MMcCall402]

I've been using ALIGNSPACE for years.  I set the rotation first, then the scale.

If I'm working with more than a couple sheets I'll make a rectangle in model space at the scale of my drawing sheets and copy it around to get the site coverage I need.  I'll use those rectangles with the Alignspace command and align them to my sheet borders.  Sets the rotation and scale in one shot.