Hi all,
I wanted to share with you a new set of test commands that is meant to enhance the ClippingPlane functionality. This work is still under development and there are many parts still missing. Your feedback is essential to iron out the workflow and functionality and to make it useful in the context of your work. Please give it a try and let us know your thoughts.
I apologize for a lengthy post, but I thought it is best to put all the information in one place.
Notes:
- Please test with the V6 build 9/9 or later.
- All of the commands are test commands, which means that you will have to type the whole command name in full in order to run it (no auto complete).
This is what the new set of commands support:
- Improved UI to create one or array of section plane(s).
- Use the section plane(s) to clip, align the view and align to the active construction plane.
- Extract sections for a selected set of objects. Extracted geometry include curves, caps and hatches. Attributes can be set per-sectioned objects or current layer.
- Extract slices with thickness set by the user.
- The ability to clear (un-clip) section plane(s) from one or all views with option to delete extracted sections and slices.
- Edit extracted sections and their options.
- Edit extracted slices and their options.
- Provide and elementary way to set layersâ hatch data.
- Blocks are supported and should section properly.
- Extracted sections update when dragging and transforming the clip section(s).
Still to come:
- Section plane(s) properties.
- A way to generate the layout and nest extracted sections. (orient to XY-Plane or align in Layouts).
- SectionPlaneArray enhancements: Load array of distances (for the SectionPlaneArray) from file. Support other ways to create arrays (along curves for example)
- Create summary reports of extracted sections.
- Figure out the workflow to view and edit extracted sections in Layout and Details.
- Add support to âPositive/Solidâ vs âNegative/Voidâ objects.
- Sections manager. Allow access to sections properties without having to select the corresponding section plane(s) on the model.
- Create extrusion slices when the object to slice is extrusion object, and the normal direction of the section plane is parallel to extrusion direction.
Here is what will NOT supported soon:
- Per object clipping. You can extract per-object geometry, but right now all geometry is clipped in display. This feature might not be coming within the V6 timeframe.
- Hatch, linetype & line thickness as an object property for surfaces & polysurfaces. Also linetype and line-thickness for surfaces. There is however a workaround to set layersâ hatch properties that is explained below.
- Linetype and line-thickness is also set per-layer for now. Jagged or non-planar clipping planes. This feature is not implemented yet.
- History does not automatically update when changing object attributes in V6 therefore changing object color for example, does not update the color of extracted sections unless call âHistoryUpdateâ or move the SectionPlane.
The Commands:
1) SectionPlane
Creates a clipping plane and option to clip one or all views
Command Flow:
1- Run SectionPlane command.
2- First and second points.
3- Visible-side point.
4- Optional: select view(s) to clip.
Options:
1- 3Points: set the SectionPlane so it goes through 3 points. This helps define a plane in any direction using 3 points.
2- Clip: option to clip one or more views. Clip=No will create the clipping plane, but does not clip any view. There is a command to clip or orient to view below.
3- Name: assign name to the SectionPlane.
4- If âClipâ, there is âAllâ option to clip all views.
2) SectionPlaneArray
Creates an array of clipping planes.
Command Flow:
1- Run SectionPlaneArray command.
2- First and second points.
3- Visible-side point.
4- Optional new placement point.
Option:
1- 3Points: set the initial SectionPlane so it goes through 3 points.
2- Name: assign name to SectionPlanes.
3- Group: To group all SectionPlanes.
4- Number: number of SectionPlanes.
5- Distance: distance between SectionPlanes.
6- BothSides: create SectionPlanes on both sides.
6- Flip: flip the visible side of the SectionPlanes.
3) ViewSections
Clip, set view and set construction plane to any given SectionPlanes (or ClippingPlanes).
Command Flow:
1- Run ViewSections command.
2- Select SectionPlanes.
3- Select a Viewport.
Option:
1- Clip: clip the view.
2- SetView: align the view to the SectionPlane.
3- SetCPlane: Align the construction plane to SectionPlane.
4) SetLayerHatchData
Set the hatch pattern, rotation and scale for the specified layer. This information is added to the layer as a UserData.
Command Flow:
1- Run SetLayerHatchData command.
2- Set option.
Option:
1- Layer: set the layer by name.
2- Pattern: hatch pattern.
3- Rotation: hatch rotation.
4- Scale: hatch scale.
5) ExtractSections
Extract curves, caps and hatches of the SectionPlanes and specified objects.
Command Flow:
1- Run ExtractSections command.
2- Select SectionPlanes (or ClippingPlanes).
3- Select objects. Press Enter to select all visible objects.
Option:
1- Crvs: extract intersecting curves.
2- Caps: extract caps when the sectioned object is solid.
3- Hatches: extract hatches per layer (need to set layer hatch pattern using SetLayerHatchData command).
4- Attributes: either by clipped object or by current layer.
6) ExtractSlices
Extract slices from specified objects.
Command Flow:
1- Run ExtractSlices command.
2- Select SectionPlane(s)
3- Select objects. Press Enter to select all visible objects.
Option:
1- Thickness: slice thickness.
2- Attributes: either by clipped object or by current layer.
7) ClearSections
Unclips viewports for the selected ClippingPlanes with an option to delete extracted sections, if any.
Command Flow:
1- Run ClearSections command.
2- Select ClippingPlanes.
3- Select a Viewport. press Enter if none
Option:
1- DeleteSections: delete extracted sections, if any.
2- All: unclip all views.
8) EditSections
Edit the SectionPlane object list and extracted sectionsâ options.
Command Flow:
1- Run EditSections command.
2- Select SectionsPlanes (or ClippingPlanes).
3- Select objects.
4- Set options.
Option:
1- UpdateOptions: set to Yes if need to update extracted data options.
Following option show only when UpdateOptions=Yes:
2- Crvs: extract intersecting curves.
3- Caps: extract caps when the sectioned object is solid.
4- Hatches: extract hatches per layer (need to set layer hatch pattern using SetLayerHatchData command).
5- Attributes: either by clipped object or by current layer.
6- All: use same options for all subsequent SectionPlanes.
9) EditSlices
Edit the ClippingSlices object list and data options.
Command Flow:
1- Run EditSlices command.
2- Select SectionPlanes (or ClippingPlanes.)
3- Select objects.
4- Set options.
Option:
1- UpdateOptions: set to Yes if need to update extracted data options.
Following option show only when UpdateOptions=Yes:
2- Thickness: slice thickness.
3- Attributes: either by clipped object or by current layer.
4- All: use same options for all subsequent SectionPlanes.
