QCAD.org Forum

Hello all, first time poster here, and new user of QCAD, which really is a spectacular value / piece of software. I am a longtime Vectorworks user, but I don't use it enough to justify licensing it any more. I scripted in that program a lot and out of sheer muscle memory, I'm looking to script some of the more "convenient" tools I liked from that program. ...many of which required a 'handle to the selected object'

I've done due diligence for about 45 mins now, searching/browsing the API docs and simply can't figure out how (using QCAD simple API) to "get a handle to a selected object", i.e the "entity"....the 'e' argument... so that I can rotate it 90º with a keystroke. I've killed enough time now to execute the RO command manually about 500 times and rapidly approaching a negative return on investment time wise. Of course the learning is worth it.

Would anyhow happen to have, or know where I might find perhaps...and example of the correct ECMAScript syntax to acquire a handle to the selected object for modification with the simple API?

The goal here is to rotate selected entity[s] (bounding box if multiple selection) by 90º to the right or left (CCW/CW) using ALT-L and ALT-R (or some other modification key). In either case, I'd rotate around the bounding box center of the entity[s])

I'll keep searching, but a nudge in the right dirction would be appreciated. Thx!

TomK

You can use

Edit > Quick Modify > Rotate Counter-Clockwise [F5]

and

Edit > Quick Modify > Rotate Clockwise [F6]

You can configure the angle under

Edit > Application Preferences > Edit > Rotate

This also works for example while pasting.

Thank you Andrew, that is handy for sure! Wonderful work with QCAD BTW.

I would be interested still in learning to script a bit more, and starting with selected items (vs created). Would you happen to have an example lying around still? The rotate left/right, while desired for practical use, was also intended to be a learning exercise.

Thx in advance.

TomK

Thank you for your kind feedback.

There are many script examples (essentially all tools of QCAD) available in our repository at:
https://github.com/qcad/qcad/tree/master/scripts

For example this script that converts all selected splines that are completely straight to lines:
https://github.com/qcad/qcad/blob/031b5 ... eToLine.js

You can also find some script tutorials to get started at:
https://www.qcad.org/en/tutorial-script-programming

TomK,

The Simple API is not really suited for scripting addons.
Addons are for example scripts that are triggered by a shortcut key sequence as do most QCAD tools, see:
https://www.ribbonsoft.com/archives/sho ... uts_en.pdf
Remark that there are not many free combinations left over.

tkyler wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 16, 2023 1:18 pm

searching/browsing the API docs and simply can't figure out how (using QCAD simple API) to "get a handle to a selected object",

Not with the Simple API ... In general this works: ids is now a list of ID's (if any) and you need to query these entities by their ID.
https://qcad.org/doc/qcad/3.0/developer ... 79a957c678

Any modification to these queried entities is not immediate, you need to cast them back to the drawing.

tkyler wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 16, 2023 1:18 pm

I've killed enough time now to execute the RO command manually about 500 times

If all around the same point as explained later then you could rotated them as a multiple selection.
One doesn't have to rotate 500 entities one by one.
If each around an individual point then you need 'Alt-L or Alt-R (or some other modification key)' for each too.
Why inventing the wheel? The functions already exists ... F5 & F6.
Use a 30 degrees step and a shift multiplier x3 ... Shift F5 & Shift F6 is then 90 degrees CCW or CW.

The bounding box of an REntity type in variable 'entity' or 'e' or whatever the variable name is: Methods with bounding boxes, see:
https://qcad.org/doc/qcad/3.0/developer ... r_box.html

The learning curve of scripting under QCAD can be steep.
Do not expect to have an overview of the vast QCAD API in the first 45 mins.

Similar topic: https://www.qcad.org/rsforum/viewtopic. ... 273#p42035

Regards,
CVH