Lisp to insert block at specific location and layer
I think I can imagine a simpler way, but first: Where is the Insertion Point in the Block, and how is it oriented at zero rotation? Is it the actual size of a piece of 4x6 lumber [3-1/2 x 5-1/2], or is it truly 4 drawing units x 6 drawing units in size?
Kent Cooper, AIA 
@Kent1Cooper wrote:
I think I can imagine a simpler way, but first: Where is the Insertion Point in the Block, and how is it oriented at zero rotation? Is it the actual size of a piece of 4x6 lumber [3-1/2 x 5-1/2], or is it truly 4 drawing units x 6 drawing units in size?
From some things in Post 3 I think the Block at zero rotation is vertically oriented with its insertion point at the upper left corner. I will assume that it represents the actual size of nominal 4x6 lumber.
The whole operation would be significantly simpler if you have a Block that looks like this [only the yellow and blue parts would be the actual Block content] at zero rotation and scale factors of 1:
Call it something different, such as ShearPost, if you want to retain your 4x6 Block definition with its [I think] corner insertion point. That can be used as a nested Block in this new Block definition.
Kent Cooper, AIA
@Kent1Cooper wrote:
....
The whole operation would be significantly simpler if you have a Block that looks like this ....
The gist of it, after all the preliminaries, controls, etc., given a Block defined as suggested, and if 'ent' is a variable holding the ENTity name of the selected Line:
(setq
edata (entget ent)
pt1 (cdr (assoc 10 edata)); start
pt2 (cdr (assoc 11 edata)); end
side (getpoint pt1 "\nPick to side of Line on which to add shear posts: ")
rot (* (/ (angle (vlax-curve-getClosestPointTo ent side T)) pi) 180); ROTation angle for Insert commands
); setq
(command
"_.insert" "ShearPost"
"_none" (polar pt1 (angle pt1 pt2) 1.75); half-post-width in from start
"" "" rot
"_.insert" ""
"_none" (polar pt2 (angle pt2 pt1) 1.75); from other end
"" "" rot
); command
Kent Cooper, AIA
@Anonymous wrote:
....
I noticed that when it is isn't placing the post correctly it seems to be because of the ucs is at play. in other words can we write in "ucs" "object" "world" and then have it reconize that selected pick of which side of the line as being "x" positive or negative and likewise for "y". I would think this would help with proper orientation and placement? just a thought.
My suggestion does assume the World Coordinate System. [The UCS command should have either the "object" option or the "world" option, but not both.] If you do work in other UCS's, it could be made to account for that. But my suggestion, including the different Block definition, would eliminate any need to deal with whether the X and/or Y scale factors should be positive or negative [that's exactly the reason for suggesting the different Block definition, and why I said it would be so much simpler that way]. So if your overall work is always in the WCS, no messing with a temporary UCS based on the Line object would be necessary.
Kent Cooper, AIA
@Anonymous wrote:
ok, so I will create a new block and call it "shearpost" with the insertion point as you have shown it. .... could you post the completed lisp? ....
First, try this bare-bones version. Make sure you're in the WCS first, and that you do, in fact, successfully select a Line object. If it does what you want, the error handling, and verification of appropriate selection, and Undo begin/end, and UCS and/or Layer control if you want, and all that other stuff, can be added.
(defun C:TEST (/ esel ent edata pt1 pt2 side rot)
(setq
esel (entsel "\nSelect Line at which to add Shear Posts: ")
ent (car esel)
edata (entget ent)
pt1 (cdr (assoc 10 edata)); start
pt2 (cdr (assoc 11 edata)); end
side (getpoint pt1 "\nPick to side of Line on which to add shear posts: ")
rot (* (/ (angle (vlax-curve-getClosestPointTo ent side T)) pi) 180); ROTation angle for Insert commands
); setq
(command
"_.insert" "ShearPost"
"_none" (polar pt1 (angle pt1 pt2) 1.75); half-post-width in from start
"" "" rot
"_.insert" ""
"_none" (polar pt2 (angle pt2 pt1) 1.75); from other end
"" "" rot
); command
); defun
Kent Cooper, AIA
@Anonymous wrote:
I receive this error...
;error: too few arguements..
Sorry [that's what I get for not actually testing it].... Change this:
rot (* (/ (angle (vlax-curve-getClosestPointTo ent side T)) pi) 180); ROTation angle for Insert commands
to this:
rot (* (/ (angle (vlax-curve-getClosestPointTo ent side T) side) pi) 180); ROTation angle for Insert commands
Kent Cooper, AIA
So I broke down and set up the situation. With the correction in Post 17, it works flawlessly for me. I'm not sure this will account for it, but have you perhaps defined your Block for uniform scaling [available in newer versions of AutoCAD than the one I have here]? If so, it will ask for only one scale factor, so change this [twice]:
"" "" rot
to this:
"" rot
Kent Cooper, AIA