How to make Guidelines permanent visible?

Hi…

is there a way to make guidelines permanent visible in Rhino 6/7?

Thanks

Michael
www.flexiCAD.com

Hi Michael -

No, but that feature request is on the list as RH-43040.
Thanks,
-wim

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Hi Michael - I fussed around with a guidelines tool - maybe it will help, for now -

CLines.rhp (34.5 KB)
CLinesV7.rui (35.2 KB)

Make sure to un-block the rhp file in Windows.

Commands:
AddCLine Add a ‘CLine’ or optionally as a Rhino guiide.

CLineDocSettings - not really useful I think - the scale factor part is from a previous version but you can set the layer

ConvertToGuides - converts linear curves on CLines layer to Rhino guides

ConvertToReference - does not do anything to the curve but moves any curve to the CLine layer

RefreshCLines - resets the extents of the CLines to suit the current view - this one is quite helpful as the lines are real lines in the document and not infinte lines.

-Pascal

2 Likes

Hi Pascal,

very nice, I will forward this to my customer.

Thank you very much

Michael

It’s amazing. I love it

hi Wim, i am confused i read a while ago or so i remember talks about infinity lines or guidelines, here i find some evidence yet does C line not autocomplete on mac os nor does it exhibit anything much different to extend, while guides or toggle guides do/does not seems to exist at all, at least not in v7, help does not reveal anything its like non existent :man_shrugging:t3:

So am I - There is no question mark in your post but I suppose you are asking about something?
The Cline command seems to work fine on macOS in Rhino 7 here. So does the AddGuide command.
-wim

it does not autocomplete, also what is this command meant for since it basically does the same as extend.

are you frying me because i didn’t use a ? omg :face_with_hand_over_mouth: come on…
thinking about it, i thought that elaborating on my confusion is enough to gain help… which you did anyway… but still you fried me. well whatever.

thanks thats what i was looking for, i managed to oversee it when looking for some word starting with guide… now i also understand the OP’s concern, it would make sense to have them visible at all times at some point, but i can see that the current autohide while only toggling for drawing commands is nicely thought through. they are just in the way for the rest of the time anyway imo.

If anyone interested in guides here are my alias
Remove *** XX XXX *** Comments before including in text file

Creates a blue layer called xxx_guide (changeable)
Guides are scaled by 10 (changeable)

  • On Of Delete
  • X Y Z and 2 points
  • Offset
  • DupBorder
  • Intersect
  • Circle
  • Divide points

Could be better but no skills in Scripts


; *** AA AID DRAW ***
aa ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 _Enter _Line pause pause _SelLast _Scale _Enter 10 _BringToFront _-Properties _Object _Layer xxx_guide _EnterEnd
aax ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter Enter _Line b pause r5000,0,0 '_SelLast _BringToFront _-Properties _Object _Layer xxx_guide _EnterEnd
aay ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter Enter _Line b pause r0,5000,0 '_SelLast _BringToFront _-Properties _Object _Layer xxx_guide _EnterEnd
aaz ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter Enter _Line b pause r0,0,5000 '_SelLast _BringToFront _-Properties _Object _Layer xxx_guide _EnterEnd
aac ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter Enter _Circle pause pause '_SelLast _BringToFront _-Properties _Object _Layer xxx_guide _EnterEnd
aap ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter Enter _Offset _pause _pause _pause '_SelLast _BringToFront _-Properties _Object _Layer xxx_guide _EnterEnd
aai ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter Enter _Intersect pause '_SelLast _BringToFront _-Properties _Object _Layer xxx_guide _EnterEnd

; *** AA AID VISIBILTY ***
aas ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter Enter _-SelLayer xxx_guide Enter
aab ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter Enter _DupFaceBorder _pause '_SelLast _BringToFront _-Properties _Object Enter _Layer xxx_guide Enter
aao ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter Enter -_Layer On xxx_guide Enter
aaf ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter Enter -_Layer Off xxx_guide Enter
aad ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter Enter _-SelLayer xxx_guide Enter _Delete

; *** AA AID POINTS ***
aapo ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter 'Select pause '_PointsOn '_SolidPtOn
aapf ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter '_PointsOff
aapd ! _-Layer New xxx_guide r xxx_guide 0,0,255 Enter _Divide pause pause pause pause _SelPt '_SelLast _BringToFront _-Properties _Object _Layer xxx_guide _EnterEnd

; *** AA AID QUIERY ***
aaqd '_Distance
aaqv '_Volume
aaqa '_Area
aaql '_List
aaqp '_Properties
aaqw '_What

Let me know if you like

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HI Wim

Is there any news about these guidlines ?

I’m using my simple but yet very efficient shortcuts

Many functions - Not just making guidelines visible

Guidelines construction

X, Y, Z, from 2 points, circles, intersect
Missing because I did not manage

  • collinear line to a segment
  • offset to segment
  • DupFaceBorder

Guidelines management

Select, Delete, On, Off

Still

  • Undo command won’t work correctly because of the imbricated commands used
  • Zoom is affected and it’s sensibility
  • No intersect guideline to a plane (as for Intersect) would be FANTASTIC

I think “guidelines” should

  • just be likes any other lines curves but set in a kind of “invisible layer”
  • if infinite, not affecting Zoom

In fact there could be a toggle to create any shape extrusion, polysurface, object as a guideline, use any function, or convert any object to a guideline (back and forth).
Handy to keep volumes, shapes, construction elements, as long as needed in a workflow, then to be deleted at once when done.
eg. Curves left over while extruding, polluting the drawing (often seen in demos…)

Would that be possible ?
Or is it just setting guidelines visible ?

Thanks by advance

1 Like