Alteration to a lisp file

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

Hi,

I use this lisp file attach to create a flex duct from a polyline, it all works perfectly and its a great lisp file...  could someone help me make an alteration to it...  I would like it to fill the flex in with a solid hatch with a transparency of 50 and set to bylayer...  but the outline to be set to colour white....   

is this possible? can anyone help...

many thanks in advance

[devitg]

@matthew.mccormack2257W Please upload your sample.dwg  with before an after.  

[Kent1Cooper · Accepted solution]

Yes, it's possible, but the permission notice in the header area would not allow me to do it for you.  But I find that if I UNGROUP the result, draw LINEs across the ends, and JOIN those with the two interweaving Polylines that the command draws, HATCH works fine with object-selection of that JOINed Polyline [which kind of surprised me, given the convolutedness of the interweaving].  You can set your white color to the flex-duct elements in the FlexColor variable [in the "Change these if you want" section near the top].  The GROUPing should be omitted, in favor of the JOINing into a single Polyline, or you could postpone rather than eliminate the GROUPing, and have it GROUP that Polyline and the HATCH together.

[paullimapa]

any reason for not contacting the author  www.TheSwamp.org  to make these modifications for you?

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

Thank you, yeah I dont know how to get in touch with them... theres no 'contact us' page or anything... 

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

doesnt it state in the permission notice header... you hereby granted permission to use, copy and modify this software? therefore permission is granted.... 🙂

"You are hereby granted permission to use, copy and modify this ;
;;; software without charge, provided you do so exclusively for ;
;;; your own use or for use by others in your organization in the ;
;;; performance of their normal duties"

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

I've since got in touch with the makers and asked the same question to them for the modifications... fingers crossed they can help... 

Thank you all for taking the time to reply my post, its most appreciated... 🙂

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

I've reached out to the owners of the lisp file, by going on the website theswamp.org with the same question about altering the lisp file.... but someone has replied on their site saying the answer to my question is on the Autodesk forums....   so I've comeback here in the hope someone can help... 

[Kent1Cooper]

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@matthew.mccormack2257W wrote:

doesnt it state in the permission notice header... you hereby granted permission to use, ....

".... provided you do so exclusively for your own use or for use by others in your organization in the performance of their normal duties"

---

I don't qualify under the "provided" clause.

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

Thank you, I do underdstand

but could you copy down the alteration bit of lisp code in here and I'll make the alteration to the file myself....

then I'll make the alteration to the file myself for my own purpose, then that'll get round the provided clause bit.... 

as you know it states, provided you do so for your own use...

Just wish I knew how to write in lisp language, then it'll save me asking the question and troubling anybody else....

[Kent1Cooper]

Everything about saving the Polylines into a selection set after each is drawn [created by Offsetting in this case, but drawn in yours], drawing Lines across the ends and adding those into the selection, Joining them all together, and Hatching the result, is available in PLWtoOutline&Hatch.lsp, >here<.  [Peruse the rest of the topic for some refinements that may be relevant to you.]  Can you make enough sense of it to incorporate those parts?  You would need to add the transparency to the Hatch pattern, which can be done with a CHPROP command following the HATCHing.

[john.kaulB9QW2]

I believe you are not getting the answer(s) you need because of your lack of wanting to learn--at least on TheSwamp-. TheSwamp has always been a place where programmers hang out to teach and share (the site costs a lot of money to run, and it does not exist just so people can request programs). Note: the better programmers tend to be a bit busy (hence why they are `better programmers`) so if you alter your question(s), try a little yourself, and be patient, and ask questions you wish to learn about, you may get a bite.

You essentially want only one alteration to the file, and I don't think CAB intended for that program to never be altered and shared (he probably just slapped that license on and never paid much attention to it) but Mr. Cooper is correct; CAB is a very nice guy, worked on that routine for a long time, and his wishes should be honored (if you want changes, learn how and you should try to do the changes yourself). Sorry, if that sounds gruff but I'm not trying to be.

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

If re-read my question, I have nothing but praise for the creators of the lisp file, by telling them its a great lisp file and its helped me out alot.... So i can and do appreciate they're busy and i certainly dont expect them to drop everything they're doing to just come and help me out if and when I or the alike shout out... What I didn't appreciate is being knocked back and forth from one site to another when all I'm asking for some help/guidance in the lisp file I'm using... I'm just trying to go down the right avenues in getting something altered.... so my apologies if you think I was being rude.....  so this is why I do wish I could write lisp language so I can make the alteration and have ago at it myself but I haven't got my head around how lisp language fully works yet, so yes I am a beginner at it...  🙂

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

I tried to be polite and grateful in every given answer that anybody has taken their time to respond with... I really do appreciate their help.... 🙂

[john.kaulB9QW2]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a beginner (we all stand on the shoulders of giants)! And I'm not saying you intended to be rude (please do not read my response that way).

CAB was specific about where to get updates (updates at theSwamp). Mr. Copper has already given you WHERE to look in that file, now you just need to start asking questions. 🙂

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

Thank you...  I've looked into that lisp file you've stated PLWtoOutline&Hatch.lsp to see if i can work out where the bit of the code I need, copied over what I thought was the bit i need and pasted it into the lisp I need it copied into but it hasnt worked for me so beg my ignorance in not knowing enough about lisp language but obviously I'm not copying over the right bit or don't know how to get it working... 

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

here's a copy of the question I asked to the originator(s)... the response I got was that the answer is on the Autodesk forums...