Sometimes the built-in tools for measuring in iLogic do seem a bit inadequate, and they aren't always a good fit for some of the stuff we try to use them for. It can take a bit of time to set-up, but it may pay off in the long run to create a set of custom reference Subs &/or Functions for measuring/comparing different specific types of geometry for these occasions.
In this case (which is likely simplified for testing purposes), it seems like you are comparing two regular 2d lines in a PlanarSketch. In this situation, we have several other built-in tools for comparing/measuring them, that you just have to dig a little deeper for. I created an example part file, and manually created a sketch on a plane and put two non-parallel lines on it that don't touch each other. Then I created this iLogic rule to compare the two lines. In this rule I isolated all the comparison work in a custom Function, and to keep it as useful as possible, I'm having that function return a NameValueMap (native to Inventor - could use a Dictionary or other collection type that uses Key/Value pairs). Then I use a simple multi-line MsgBox to display the results to the user. The resulting NameValueMap includes 4 name/value pairs (Parallel (Boolean), Perpendicular (Boolean), Angle (Double), and Distance (Double)).
Here's the iLogic rule code that I've got right now:
Sub Main
Dim oPDoc As PartDocument = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
Dim oPDef As PartComponentDefinition = oPDoc.ComponentDefinition
Dim oSketch As PlanarSketch = oPDef.Sketches.Item("Measure Test Sketch")
Dim oSketchLine1 As SketchLine = oSketch.SketchLines.Item(1)
Dim oSketchLine2 As SketchLine = oSketch.SketchLines.Item(2)
Dim oResult As NameValueMap = Line2dCompare(oSketchLine1, oSketchLine2)
MsgBox(oResult.Name(1) & " = " & oResult.Value(oResult.Name(1)) & vbCrLf & _
oResult.Name(2) & " = " & oResult.Value(oResult.Name(2)) & vbCrLf & _
oResult.Name(3) & " = " & oResult.Value(oResult.Name(3)) & vbCrLf & _
oResult.Name(4) & " = " & oResult.Value(oResult.Name(4)),,"RESULTS")
End Sub
Function Line2dCompare(oLin1 As SketchLine, oLin2 As SketchLine) As NameValueMap
Dim oResults As NameValueMap = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateNameValueMap
Dim oParallel, oPerpendicular As Boolean 'both False by default
Dim oAngle As Double
Dim oDist As Double
Dim oDir1 As UnitVector2d = oLin1.Geometry.Direction
Dim oDir2 As UnitVector2d = oLin1.Geometry.Direction
oAngle = oDir1.AngleTo(oDir2)
If oDir1.IsParallelTo(oDir2, .001) Then
oParallel = True
'or measure the distance between them and return that Double
oDist = oLin1.Geometry.DistanceTo(oLin2.Geometry.StartPoint)
ElseIf oDir1.IsPerpendicularTo(oDir2, .001) Then
oPerpendicular = True
If oLin1.Geometry.IntersectWithCurve(oLin2.Geometry).Count > 0 Then
'they intersect, so set oDist to zero
oDist = 0
Else
'you could attempt to measure the minimum distance between the two
Dim oD1 As Double = oLin1.Geometry.DistanceTo(oLin2.Geometry.StartPoint)
Dim oD2 As Double = oLin1.Geometry.DistanceTo(oLin2.Geometry.EndPoint)
oDist = Min(oD1, oD2)
End If
End If
If oParallel = False And oPerpendicular = False Then
'now attempt to get the 'minimum' distance between the two non parralel line segments
'since these are staight lines, this distance will be between start/end points, so compare them for minimum
Dim oL1Sp, oL1Ep, oL2Sp, oL2Ep As Point2d
oL1Sp = oLin1.StartSketchPoint.Geometry
oL1Ep = oLin1.EndSketchPoint.Geometry
oL2Sp = oLin2.StartSketchPoint.Geometry
oL2Ep = oLin2.EndSketchPoint.Geometry
Dim oSpDist As Double = oL1Sp.DistanceTo(oL2Sp) 'start point to start point (-)
Dim oEpDist As Double = oL1Ep.DistanceTo(oL2Ep) 'end point to end point (-)
Dim oSEDist As Double = oL1Sp.DistanceTo(oL2Ep) 'start point to end point (x)
oDist = MinOfMany(oSpDist, oEpDist, oSEDist)
End If
oResults.Add("Parallel", oParallel)
oResults.Add("Perpendicular", oPerpendicular)
oResults.Add("Angle", oAngle)
oResults.Add("Distance", oDist)
Return oResults
End Function
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Wesley Crihfield
(Not an Autodesk Employee)
