pytha.create_polyline_ex

Creates a polyline or a chain of edges.

Similar to the Edges -> Polyline function in the PYTHA user interface.

pytha.create_polyline_ex(type, points [,segments, [,origin [,options]]]) 

Parameter	Type	Description
type	string	"open" or "closed" indicates whether the polyline is closed
points	{{u,v [,w]}, ...}	Coordinates of the points
segments	{segment_1, segment_2, ...}	Optional: specification of the segments, where each segment may be a table to indicate the following parameters:
segment.angle	number	Angle of the arc, positive for counter-clockwise arcs
segment.radius	number	Radius of the arc (if the radius is given, orientation and select_arc should be used to specify the arc uniquely)
segment.orientation	"cw" or "ccw"	When radius is specified: clockwise or counter-clockwise orientation
segment.select_arc	"small", "large"	When radius is specified: selection of the small or large arc with that radius and orientation
segment.bulge	number	Maximum distance between the secant and the arc, positive for counter-clockwise arcs
segment.normal	{x,y,z}	Only relevant for type = "open": Normal direction for the arc
origin	{x,y,z}	Optional: offset for the whole polyline
options	{...}	Optional: a table that may contain the following options:
options.u_axis	{x,y,z}	Local coordinate u-axis for the orientation of the plane
options.v_axis	{x,y,z}	Local coordinate v-axis for the orientation of the plane
options.w_axis	{x,y,z}	Local coordinate w-axis for the orientation of the plane-normal

Return value

Type	Description
element_handle	An element handle of the newly created part

Additional information

Entry segments[n] describes the polyline-segment between point points[n] and points[n+1]. For a closed polyline, segments[#points] describes the segment from the last point back to the first. Entries may be omitted (nil or simply absent) for straight segments.

Per segment, exactly one shape specification (angle, radius + (orientation, select_arc), or bulge) should be used; if multiple are present, the first one detected in the order angle, radius, bulge takes precedence.

Example:

Closed rounded rectangle in the xy-plane, the four corners specified as 90° arcs by their bulge:

local rounded_rect = pytha.create_polyline_ex(
    "closed",
    {
        {  0,  10}, { 40,  10}, { 50,  20}, { 50,  30},
        { 40,  40}, {  0,  40}, {-10,  30}, {-10,  20},
    },
    {
        nil,                                -- straight bottom
        { bulge = 10 },                     -- bottom-right corner
        nil,                                -- straight right
        { bulge = 10 },                     -- top-right corner
        nil,                                -- straight top
        { bulge = 10 },                     -- top-left corner
        nil,                                -- straight left
        { bulge = 10 },                     -- bottom-left corner
    }
)

Open polyline with a single arc segment, defined by radius and arc selection:

local arc_chain = pytha.create_polyline_ex(
    "open",
    {
        {0, 0},
        {100, 0},
        {100, 50},
    },
    {
        nil,
        { radius = 60, orientation = "ccw", select_arc = "small", segments = 16 },
    }
)

See also:

pytha, element handles, Axes and directions, create_polyline, create_polygon_ex