Reactor To Dimension Selection

[chuh]

I just need to know if this is possible. I'd like to get there on my own, but knowing if it can be done before I start is always nice =).

All dimensions have ext #1 and ext #2. I'd like some type of reactor, once dimension is selected, to temporarily and graphically identify on screen which is which. Possible?

Thanks for looking.

[BlackBox]

Yes, it is possible.

The reactor is going to be the simpler part to code, as compared to the transient graphics, IMO... But still entirely possible.

Cheers

[chuh]

Perhaps, but I could do something simple like just change the color of each extension to something else right?

[BlackBox]

Perhaps, but I could do something simple like just change the color of each extension to something else right?

Perhaps I've misunderstood your original post....

Are you asking for help setting up a reactor that identifies extension line #1 vs #2 on selection (both otherwise being the same color in dimension style), or are you asking if you can just change your dimension style so that each is a different color?

[chuh]

Perhaps I've misunderstood your original post....

Are you asking for help setting up a reactor that identifies extension line #1 vs #2 on selection (both otherwise being the same color in dimension style), or are you asking if you can just change your dimension style so that each is a different color?

lol...both.

I suppose explaining the end goal always helps right? What I'd like to be able to do is setup a reactor that only responds when a single dimension is selected. Once selected it would somehow (graphically) identify on screen which extension was #1 and #2. This would allow the drafter to easily change the linetype of the extension leg without having to guess which one is which.

So I figured that it would be easier to simply have the color of the extension lines change upon temporary selection in order to identify the #1 and #2 as an easy identification method.

Could I use the :vlr-openedForModify under the vlr-object-reactor? And then could I use :vlr-objectClosed to restore the proper color once the object is deselected?

Thoughts?

[BlackBox]

lol...both.

I suppose explaining the end goal always helps right? What I'd like to be able to do is setup a reactor that only responds when a single dimension is selected. Once selected it would somehow (graphically) identify on screen which extension was #1 and #2. This would allow the drafter to easily change the linetype of the extension leg without having to guess which one is which.

So I figured that it would be easier to simply have the color of the extension lines change upon temporary selection in order to identify the #1 and #2 as an easy identification method.

Could I use the :vlr-openedForModify under the vlr-object-reactor? And then could I use :vlr-objectClosed to restore the proper color once the object is deselected?

Thoughts?

That always helps. Haha

I know of no way to change the color of only a single Extension Line, which is where I though to suggest transient graphics.

Visual LISP Reactor Rule #13486: You cannot modify an Object being modified (that's only possible in higher level languages, such as .NET API). Most use ObjectModified Event to 'track' which Objects are being modified following a CommandWillStart Event (aka storing ObjectId[s]), so that at those ObjectIds can be 'processed' at CommandCancelled, CommandEnded, or CommandFailed Event (when said Object's are closed in the Database). Not really helpful here, but wanted to clarify.

.NET API can get around this in a few different ways... Simplest for this situation to my mind, is to simply react to either *SelectionChanged Event, which is not exposed to LISP if memory serves, but would allow you to draw transient graphics when selected)... Or employ PointMonitor Event to only display transient graphics when hovering the applicable Object (like a Tool Tip, etc. that draws a red circle over Ext Line 1 coordinate, and yellow circle over Ext Line 2 coordinate as example).

Cheers

[chuh]

That always helps. Haha

I know of no way to change the color of only a single Extension Line, which is where I though to suggest transient graphics.

Visual LISP Reactor Rule #13486: You cannot modify an Object being modified (that's only possible in higher level languages, such as .NET API). Most use ObjectModified Event to 'track' which Objects are being modified following a CommandWillStart Event (aka storing ObjectId[s]), so that at those ObjectIds can be 'processed' at CommandCancelled, CommandEnded, or CommandFailed Event (when said Object's are closed in the Database). Not really helpful here, but wanted to clarify.

.NET API can get around this in a few different ways... Simplest for this situation to my mind, is to simply react to either *SelectionChanged Event, which is not exposed to LISP if memory serves, but would allow you to draw transient graphics when selected)... Or employ PointMonitor Event to only display transient graphics when hovering the applicable Object (like a Tool Tip, etc. that draws a red circle over Ext Line 1 coordinate, and yellow circle over Ext Line 2 coordinate as example).

Cheers

Thanks for the info BlackBox. I'll munch on this for a bit and see how I want to approach it.

[peter]

Here is a way to directly change the linetype of extension lines.

P=

;___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
;
; Written By: Peter Jamtgaard Copyright 2015
; Extension Line Linetype Function (Change linetype of extension lines by selecting the extension line)
;___________________________________________________________________________________________________________;


(defun C:ExtLt (/ entSelection 
                  lstEntity 
                  lstPoint0 
                  lstPoint1 
                  lstPoint2 
                  lstSelection 
                  objSelection
                  strExtensionLine 
                  strLineType)
 (if (and
      (setq lstSelection (entsel "\nSelect Extension Line in Dimension: "))
      (setq strLinetype  "Center")
      (tblObjName "Ltype" strLineType)
      (setq lstPoint0    (cadr lstSelection))
      (setq entSelection (car lstSelection))
      (setq lstEntity    (entget entSelection))
      (setq objSelection (vlax-ename->vla-object entSelection))
      (setq lstPoint1    (cdr (assoc 10 lstEntity)))
      (setq lstPoint2    (cdr (assoc 11 lstEntity)))
      (if (< (distance lstPoint0 lstPoint2)
             (distance lstpoint0 lstPoint1))
       (setq strExtensionLine "ExtLine1Linetype")
       (setq strExtensionLine "ExtLine2Linetype") 
      )
     )
  (DimensionExtensionLineToggle objSelection strExtensionLine strLineType)
 )
)

;___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
;
; Toggle to toggle the extension line linetype
;___________________________________________________________________________________________________________;

(defun DimensionExtensionLineToggle (objSelection strExtensionLine strLineType)
 (if (= (vlax-get objSelection strExtensionLine) "ByBlock")
  (errortrap '(vlax-put objSelection strExtensionLine strLineType))
  (errortrap '(vlax-put objSelection strExtensionLine "ByBlock"))
 )
)

;___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
;
; Errortrap Function
;___________________________________________________________________________________________________________;

(defun ErrorTrap (symFunction / objError result)
 (if (vl-catch-all-error-p
      (setq objError (vl-catch-all-apply
                     '(lambda (X)(set X (eval symFunction)))
                      (list 'result))))
  nil
  (if result result 'T)
 )
)

(vl-load-com)