Automated Trim/Break at a specified dist for a Line

[ameador]

I am using ABS07.

I posted this on Autodesk's Discussion Group, but I thought maybe some of you would have ideas as well.

Had a user ask if there was a way to "automatically" trim/break a line (or pline) at a 3" offset.

Aka...we have lines that cross each other, we'd like to click on the intersection then choose which line or pline gets trimmed up and the distance that gap will be (set it to 3" or whatever).

Does that make sense?

Anyone know how to automate that? Maybe a script? Or a couple of commands for a hotkey?

[RobertB]

Why not use wires?

[ameador]

This is actually for our Plumbing group.
They are not using 3D content at all.
Simply lines or plines, depending upon the drafter.
They are using lines/arcs/circles only....it just happens to be they are using the ABS07 software to do it in.

So wires....not really an option for them. But I do know what you mean, those you can manipulate the crossing over ea other views/functions.

[ameador]

I just posted over in the ACAD customization section here:
http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=105698

I think I have a way...but I'm not quite sure the method to get the user input.

I am attempting to make a script to break lines at a specific distance.


_break
int
f
@-3,0
@6,0



(there is an enter at the end of the code to finish out the script)

However, I need the user to select the intersection of the lines and whichever one is highlighted is the one that gets broken.

Needless to say...I'm curious...do I need to use a lisp instead of a script in order to retrieve user input (aka select the intersection)?

[RobertB]

This is actually for our Plumbing group.
They are not using 3D content at all.
Simply lines or plines, depending upon the drafter.
They are using lines/arcs/circles only....it just happens to be they are using the ABS07 software to do it in.

So wires....not really an option for them. But I do know what you mean, those you can manipulate the crossing over ea other views/functions.Ok, so what about schematic lines?

[ameador]

Unfortunately, they're not gonna budge on getting to use just plain ole lines/plines.

I'm trying to work w/ their cad person to get "real" pipe systems created.
But in the mean time...trying to see if we can't get this working for them.
Not to mention this will be a nice to for us to use when we have some of the linework come in from our vendors for equipment and we want to "hide" stuff when it passes over/under.

[RobertB]

I'm sure if you search for "pipe break" or "line gap" or "break intersections" in the AutoLISP forum you will find some code.