Lisp to plot polylines or lines with specified length and azimuth at coordinates

[rcmather8279]

Hello,

First time posting here and relatively new to Lisps. I have a list of coordinates, each with a specific azimuth angle, and I have a separate list of lengths associated with the coordinates. Normally, I would draw a pline at the coordinates, use the @, enter the angle and length. This becomes repetitive when working with 50+ pairs of coordinates.

Is there a lisp or process I can use that incorporates my excel list of coordinates, azimuths, and lengths?

Example: 

I need plotted: 200' pline at 50,0 on a 270° azimuth

100' pline at 90,90 on a 10° azimuth, etc.

These lines should all be individual lines.

Thanks in advance! 

-Rob

[Kent1Cooper]

That should be possible.  Post a [small] example of a file, converted/exported in Excel to .csv format so that AutoLisp will be able to read it.

[rcmather8279]

I've attached a csv and a sample CAD file. I would like to be able to use the csv to re-produce what I drew in CAD.

Thank you for looking into this!

[Kent1Cooper · Accepted solution]

This, in simplest terms, seems to do that [minimally tested]:

(defun C:PLCSV (/ file txt cp x y a l)
  (setq file (open "X:\\YOUR\\PATH\\AND\\FILENAME.CSV" "r"));; <-- EDIT!
  (read-line file) ; header
  (while (setq txt (read-line file))
    (setq
      cp (vl-string-position 44 txt); = comma position
      x (substr txt 1 cp)
      txt (substr txt (+ cp 2))
      cp (vl-string-position 44 txt)
      y (substr txt 1 cp)
      txt (substr txt (+ cp 2))
      cp (vl-string-position 44 txt)
      a (substr txt 1 cp)
      l (substr txt (+ (vl-string-position 44 txt) 2))
    ); setq
    (command "_.pline" (strcat x "," y) (strcat "@" l "<" a) "")
  ); while
  (close file)
  (princ)
)

EDIT the drive/filepath/filename part to suit.  Turn running Object Snaps off [that can be built in if you like, as well as all the other usual enhancements].

[rcmather8279]

I am getting this in the command line. Not sure why, but it seems to be unable to find the csv file.

; error: bad argument type: FILE nil

[rcmather8279]

For reference, I saved the csv to my path, and added it in the lsp

(defun C:PLCSV (/ file txt cp x y a l)
(setq file (open "F:\Temp\Rob\STATION-AZIMUTH-LENGTH.csv" "r"));; <-- EDIT!
(read-line file) ; header
(while (setq txt (read-line file))
(setq
cp (vl-string-position 44 txt); = comma position
x (substr txt 1 cp)
txt (substr txt (+ cp 2))
cp (vl-string-position 44 txt)
y (substr txt 1 cp)
txt (substr txt (+ cp 2))
cp (vl-string-position 44 txt)
a (substr txt 1 cp)
l (substr txt (+ (vl-string-position 44 txt) 2))
); setq
(command "_.pline" (strcat x "," y) (strcat "@" l "<" a) "")
); while
(close file)
(princ)
)

[Kent1Cooper · Accepted solution]

Double up the backslashes, or change them to forward slashes.  That's necessary for filepaths in AutoLisp.

[Patchy]

I tested this, if the .csv has a long name it didn't work until I made it simple 1 character name and it works fine.

I haven't try to find out the limits of the name.

[devitg]

@rcmather8279 

test this way 

(setq file (GETFILED  "\nSelect your CSV  " "" "csv" 8))
         (setq open-file(open file "r")));; <-- EDIT!
  (setq header(read-line open-file)) ; header)
  (while (setq txt (read-line open-file))
(setq
      cp (vl-string-position 44 txt); = comma position
      x (substr txt 1 cp)
      txt (substr txt (+ cp 2))
      cp (vl-string-position 44 txt)
      y (substr txt 1 cp)
      txt (substr txt (+ cp 2))
      cp (vl-string-position 44 txt)
      a (substr txt 1 cp)
      l (substr txt (+ (vl-string-position 44 txt) 2))
    ); setq
    (command "_.line" (strcat x "," y) (strcat "@" l "<" a) "")
  ); while
  (close open-file)
  (princ)

[Sea-Haven]

If you always save to same directory can save a few clicks

(setq file (GETFILED "\nSelect your CSV " "F:\\Temp\\Rob\\" "csv" 8))