"Geometry" Section

This section describes geometries (or solid sequences of segments) of the object. Since an object may have more then one geometry, there may be several Geometry sections. Then a number follows the section name: Geometry1, Geometry2, ...

To add a new Geometry section:

  1. Apply the Insert Sections command from the Edit menu or from the context menu in the table window.
    The Insert Section dialog will come up.
  2. In the dialog, choose the Geometry option and click OK.
    A new Geometry section will be added to the table. It will have three rows: Properties, Start and LineTo.

Sometimes it is possible that Geometry sections exist in the table but you can't see them because they are hidden.
The View Sections dialog lets you show/hide the table sections.

To show the Geometry sections:

  1. Apply the View Sections command from the Edit menu or from the context menu in the table window.
    The View Sections dialog will come up.
  2. In the dialog, check the Geometry option and click OK.

Each Geometry section lists the segments which make up the geometry.
A segment may represent a dot, a part of line, a circular or elliptic arc, a part of spline. In the table, the end of one segment usually coincides with the beginning of the adjoining segment.

All the coordinates appear with respect to the the coordinate system of the object.

You can add a segment to the active section:

  1. Use the Add Row command from the Edit menu or from the context menu in the table window.
  2. A new LineTo segment will be added to the end of the current Geometry section. Then you can set its parameters.

 

Properties.X

This parameter defines whether the geometry (the set of segments) is visible or not.
The value appears in the binary format:
TRUE - the set of segments is visible;
FALSE - the set of segments isn't visible.

The default value is TRUE.

By changing this flag, you may hide or display geometries of an object.

In the formulas, this parameter is addressed in the following way
(N presents the the number of the geometry):

Geometry<N>.Visible

The Number presents the the number of the geometry.

Properties.Y

This parameter defines whether the fill of the object is visible.
It is available for closed geometries only. The value is binary:
TRUE - show fill;
FALSE - hide fill.

The default value is TRUE.

In the formulas, this parameter is addressed in the following way
(N presents the the number of the geometry):

Geometry<N>.Filled

Start

The starting point of the set of segments. The X and Y fields contain the respective coordinates.
In the Formulas mode, you see the data in tenths of millimeters, in the Values mode the data is displayed in the current unit of measure.

Each Geometry section has only one Start parameter.

LineTo

A line segment.

This segment is defined by two points:

1) Begin point:  the coordinates are taken from the X and Y fields of the previous segment.
2) End point:  the coordinates are stored in the X and Y fields of the row.

In the Formulas mode, you see the data in tenths of millimeters, in the Values mode the data is displayed in the current unit of measure.

ArcTo

An arc of a circle.

This segment is defined by three points:

1) Begin point:  the coordinates are taken from the X and Y fields of the previous segment.
2) End point:  the coordinates are stored in the X and Y fields of the row.
3) A point on the arc:  the coordinates are stored in the A and B fields of the row.

In the Formulas mode, you see the data in tenths of millimeters, in the Values mode the data is displayed in the current unit of measure.

EllipseTo

An elliptic arc.

This segment is defined by three points and two additional parameters:

1) Begin point:  the coordinates are taken from the X and Y fields of the previous segment.
2) End point:  the coordinates are stored in the X and Y fields of the row.
3) A point on the arc:  the coordinates are stored in the A and B fields of the row.

In the Formulas mode, you see the data in tenths of millimeters, in the Values mode the data is displayed in the current unit of measure.

4) The ratio of the large semi-axis to the small semi-axis:  contained in the C field.
If this value equals 1, an elliptic arc becomes a circular arc.
5) The large semi-axis angle:  contained in the D field.
The angle value is indicated with respect to the frame of reference of the object.

In the Formulas mode, you see the angle in radians, in the Values mode the angle is displayed in degrees. The angle is usually within 0 to 180 degrees range.

SplineStart

The starting segment of the spline.

It is defined by two points:

1) Begin point: the coordinates are shown in the X and Y fields.
2) Guide point:  the coordinates are stored in the A and B fields.

In the Formulas mode, you see the data in tenths of millimeters, in the Values mode the data is displayed in the current unit of measure.

The SplineStart segment in the table should be followed by one or more SplineKnot segments.

SplineKnot

A segment of the spline.

It is defined by four points:

1) Begin point: the coordinates are taken from the X and Y fields of the previous segment.
2) Begin Guide point: the coordinates are taken from the A and B fields of the previous segment.
3) End point:  the coordinates are shown in the X and Y fields.
4) End Guide point:  the coordinates are stored in the A and B fields of the row.

In the Formulas mode, you see the data in tenths of millimeters, in the Values mode the data is displayed in the current unit of measure.

 


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