Arraypath with various step values
I don't think there's anything out-of-the-box that can do that. It may be possible with a custom routine, for which you would be better off posting in the Customization Forum.
But I have a question [you could say something about it if you post there]: Does "random" selection of distance values from a fixed list mean really random, or "controlled" random in some way? For example, should it not use any value more than once? A truly random selection, let's say 5 times, of values from a list could result in repeats of some value(s), or even [however unlikely] the same value being drawn for all 5 selections. Should a value that has been used be removed from the list before the next selection?
Of course, if the length of the path and the typical distances mean there will need to be more Circles than there are distances, it would be unavoidable to have repeats. But should there be some attempt to have all the different values used, and spread the repeats around?
Kent Cooper, AIA 
@Anonymous wrote:
Sorry, maybe I has not been enought clear on my question.
Indeed, the surprise is killing me, how is it supposed to look anyway?
Another
(defun c:Crayon ( / LM:rand LM:randrange _DistList rad ss en eLent sym d)
;; Rand - Lee Mac
;; PRNG implementing a linear congruential generator with
;; parameters derived from the book 'Numerical Recipes'
(defun LM:rand ( / a c m )
(setq m 4294967296.0
a 1664525.0
c 1013904223.0
$xn (rem (+ c (* a (cond ($xn) ((getvar 'date))))) m))
(/ $xn m))
(defun LM:randrange ( a b )
(+ (min a b) (fix (* (LM:rand) (1+ (abs (- a b)))))))
(Defun _DistList (data / opt d)
(setq inc 0)(initget "Yes New")
(cond
( (and data
(eq (setq opt (Getkword (strcat "\nUse Previous data :[Yes/New]"
(vl-prin1-to-string data) "<New>?"))) "Yes"))
data
)
( (and data (/= opt "Yes"))
(_DistList nil)
)
( (null data)
(while (and (null (initget 6))
(setq d (getdist (strcat "\nEnter Distance " (itoa (setq inc (1+ inc)))))))
(print (reverse (setq data (cons d data))))
)
)
)
)
(and
(setq rad 2.0 values ( _DistList values))
(while (setq ss (ssget "_+.:S:E" '((0 . "*LINE,ARC"))))
(setq en (cadar (ssnamex ss)))
(setq nsp (vlax-curve-getClosestPointTo en (cadr (last (car (ssnamex ss))))))
(setq eLent (vlax-curve-getDistAtPoint en (Vlax-curve-GetEndpoint en)))
(setq sym (if (< (vlax-curve-getDistAtPoint en nsp) (* eLent 0.5))
(progn (setq eLent 0) +) -))
(while (and (setq d (nth (LM:randrange 0 (1- (length values))) values))
(setq pt (vlax-curve-getPointAtDist en (setq eLent (sym eLent d)))))
(entmake (list (cons 0 "CIRCLE") (cons 10 pt) (cons 40 rad)))
)
)
)
(princ)
)
Similar approach as @ВeekeeCZ : added extra features like prompting for distance values
Command: CRAYON
Enter Distance 18
(8.0)
Enter Distance 26.3
(8.0 6.3)
Enter Distance 35.2
(8.0 6.3 5.2);< shows current listing
Enter Distance 4
Select objects:
Select objects: <- continue selection
Command: CRAYON
Use Previous data :[Yes/New](8.0 6.3 5.2)<New>? Y ;<--- Shows current data
Select objects:
Command: CRAYON
Use Previous data :[Yes/New](8.0 6.3 5.2)<New>?N <--- type in new data
Enter Distance 14
(4.0)
Enter Distance 28
(4.0 8.0)
Enter Distance 35.2
(4.0 8.0 5.2)
Enter Distance 4
Select objects:
HTH
@Anonymous wrote:
Thank you.
In my case I don't need to change the values, but sure it's useful see the code and keep it for the future. 😉
No worries mega-mini, was just thinking since you mention it needs to be random, whats more random than the capability to provide diffferent distance. We can however set the initial values?
Anyways, glad you like it.
@Anonymous wrote:
In my case, a really improved could be the possibility to edit manually some distance after the circles have been drawed.
Example (setted distances: 15 18 21 24).
Command drawed four circle with distances 21, 18, 18, 24. Distance between the first and the last circle is 81 (21+18+18+24). I would be able di change the second distance (maybe with an input textbox) moving all the follwing step. So i could manually change distances 21, 15, 18, 24 and moving the third and the fourth circles, distance between the first and the last circle should be 78 now.
Did you end up with my random version of routine? Or which one?
The described process...
- are you doing this fine-tuning right away with every single 'array placement'?
- if the routine zoom-in to your segment and pop-up list of actual values to you to edit... would that be ok? Or do you need to make some kind of measurements before the edits?
I'm thinking of this "edit" screen at the end of the routine... there would be listed the actual values.. you'll set what you want and it will be applied on the circles. But it's a modal dialog.
Edit: Do you need to see those circles drawn at all? Won't be enough to give you just numbers - you know, overall length and randomly generated numbers... That might be easier to do...
@Anonymous wrote:
Example (setted distances: 15 18 21 24).
Command drawed four circle with distances 21, 18, 18, 24. Distance between the first and the last circle is 81 ....should be 78 now.
I guess "random" means any order of the four given distance [ 15 18 21 24 ] but no repeats Yes? what about the next group after that? or does it mean when you reach the total of the distance list, the program terminates regardless how long the selected object is?
Please show us how it really should look @Anonymous 🙂