Array in 3D
 
 
 

With the TransformBy and Clone methods of an object, you can create a 3D rectangular array. In addition to specifying the number of columns (X direction) and rows (Y direction) like you would for a 2D rectangular array, you also specify the number of levels (Z direction).

For more information on using arrays of objects in 3D, see “Create an Array of Objects” in the AutoCAD User's Guide.

Create a 3D rectangular array

This example creates a circle and then uses that circle to create a rectangular array of four rows, four columns, and three levels of circles.

VB.NET

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry
 
Public Shared Function PolarPoints(ByVal pPt As Point2d, _
                                   ByVal dAng As Double, _
                                   ByVal dDist As Double)
 
    Return New Point2d(pPt.X + dDist * Math.Cos(dAng), _
                       pPt.Y + dDist * Math.Sin(dAng))
End Function
 
<CommandMethod("CreateRectangular3DArray")> _
Public Sub CreateRectangular3DArray()
  '' Get the current document and database, and start a transaction
  Dim acDoc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
  Dim acCurDb As Database = acDoc.Database
 
  Using acTrans As Transaction = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
      '' Open the Block table for read
      Dim acBlkTbl As BlockTable
      acBlkTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.BlockTableId, _
                                   OpenMode.ForRead)
 
      // Open the Block table record for read
      BlockTable acBlkTbl;
      acBlkTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.BlockTableId,
                                   OpenMode.ForRead) as BlockTable;
 
      // Open the Block table record Model space for write
      BlockTableRecord acBlkTblRec;
      acBlkTblRec = acTrans.GetObject(acBlkTbl[BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace],
                                      OpenMode.ForWrite) as BlockTableRecord;
 
      '' Create a circle that is at 2,2 with a radius of 0.5
      Dim acCirc As Circle = New Circle()
      acCirc.Center = New Point3d(2, 2, 0)
      acCirc.Radius = 0.5
 
      '' Add the new object to the block table record and the transaction
      acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acCirc)
      acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acCirc, True)
 
      '' Create a rectangular array with 4 rows, 4 columns, and 3 levels
      Dim nRows As Integer = 4
      Dim nColumns As Integer = 4
      Dim nLevels As Integer = 3
 
      '' Set the row, column, and level offsets along with the base array angle
      Dim dRowOffset As Double = 1
      Dim dColumnOffset As Double = 1
      Dim dLevelsOffset As Double = 4
      Dim dArrayAng As Double = 0
 
      '' Get the angle from X for the current UCS 
      Dim curUCSMatrix As Matrix3d = acDoc.Editor.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem
      Dim curUCS As CoordinateSystem3d = curUCSMatrix.CoordinateSystem3d
      Dim acVec2dAng As Vector2d = New Vector2d(curUCS.Xaxis.X, _
                                                curUCS.Xaxis.Y)
 
      '' If the UCS is rotated, adjust the array angle accordingly
      dArrayAng = dArrayAng + acVec2dAng.Angle
 
      '' Use the upper-left corner of the objects extents for the array base point
      Dim acExts As Extents3d = acCirc.Bounds.GetValueOrDefault()
      Dim acPt2dArrayBase As Point2d = New Point2d(acExts.MinPoint.X, _
                                                   acExts.MaxPoint.Y)
 
      '' Track the objects created for each column
      Dim acDBObjCollCols As DBObjectCollection = New DBObjectCollection()
      acDBObjCollCols.Add(acCirc)
 
      '' Create the number of objects for the first column
      Dim nColumnsCount As Integer = 1
      While (nColumns > nColumnsCount)
          Dim acEntClone As Entity = acCirc.Clone()
          acDBObjCollCols.Add(acEntClone)
 
          '' Caclucate the new point for the copied object (move)
          Dim acPt2dTo As Point2d = PolarPoints(acPt2dArrayBase, _
                                                dArrayAng, _
                                                dColumnOffset * nColumnsCount)
 
          Dim acVec2d As Vector2d = acPt2dArrayBase.GetVectorTo(acPt2dTo)
          Dim acVec3d As Vector3d = New Vector3d(acVec2d.X, acVec2d.Y, 0)
          acEntClone.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(acVec3d))
 
          acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acEntClone)
          acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acEntClone, True)
 
          nColumnsCount = nColumnsCount + 1
      End While
 
      '' Set a value in radians for 90 degrees
      Dim dAng As Double = 1.5708
 
      '' Track the objects created for each row and column
      Dim acDBObjCollLvls As DBObjectCollection = New DBObjectCollection()
 
      For Each acObj As DBObject In acDBObjCollCols
          acDBObjCollLvls.Add(acObj)
      Next
 
      '' Create the number of objects for each row
      For Each acEnt As Entity In acDBObjCollCols
          Dim nRowsCount As Integer = 1
 
          While (nRows > nRowsCount)
              Dim acEntClone As Entity = acEnt.Clone()
              acDBObjCollLvls.Add(acEntClone)
 
              '' Caclucate the new point for the copied object (move)
              Dim acPt2dTo As Point2d = PolarPoints(acPt2dArrayBase, _
                                                    dArrayAng + dAng, _
                                                    dRowOffset * nRowsCount)
 
              Dim acVec2d As Vector2d = acPt2dArrayBase.GetVectorTo(acPt2dTo)
              Dim acVec3d As Vector3d = New Vector3d(acVec2d.X, acVec2d.Y, 0)
              acEntClone.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(acVec3d))
 
              acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acEntClone)
              acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acEntClone, True)
 
              nRowsCount = nRowsCount + 1
          End While
      Next
 
      '' Create the number of levels for a 3D array
      For Each acEnt As Entity In acDBObjCollLvls
          Dim nLvlsCount As Integer = 1
 
          While (nLevels > nLvlsCount)
              Dim acEntClone As Entity = acEnt.Clone()
 
              Dim acVec3d As Vector3d = New Vector3d(0, 0, dLevelsOffset * nLvlsCount)
              acEntClone.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(acVec3d))
 
              acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acEntClone)
              acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acEntClone, True)
 
              nLvlsCount = nLvlsCount + 1
          End While
      Next
 
      '' Save the new objects to the database
      acTrans.Commit()
  End Using
End Sub

C#

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry;
 
static Point2d PolarPoints(Point2d pPt, double dAng, double dDist)
{
    return new Point2d(pPt.X + dDist * Math.Cos(dAng),
 pPt.Y + dDist * Math.Sin(dAng));
}
 
[CommandMethod("CreateRectangular3DArray")]
public static void CreateRectangular3DArray()
{
  // Get the current document and database, and start a transaction
  Document acDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
  Database acCurDb = acDoc.Database;
 
  using (Transaction acTrans = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
  {
      // Open the Block table record for read
      BlockTable acBlkTbl;
      acBlkTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.BlockTableId,
                                   OpenMode.ForRead) as BlockTable;
 
      // Open the Block table record Model space for write
      BlockTableRecord acBlkTblRec;
      acBlkTblRec = acTrans.GetObject(acBlkTbl[BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace],
                                      OpenMode.ForWrite) as BlockTableRecord;
 
      // Create a circle that is at 2,2 with a radius of 0.5
      Circle acCirc = new Circle();
      acCirc.Center = new Point3d(2, 2, 0);
      acCirc.Radius = 0.5;
 
      // Add the new object to the block table record and the transaction
      acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acCirc);
      acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acCirc, true);
 
      // Create a rectangular array with 4 rows, 4 columns, and 3 levels
      int nRows = 4;
      int nColumns = 4;
      int nLevels = 3;
 
      // Set the row, column, and level offsets along with the base array angle
      double dRowOffset = 1;
      double dColumnOffset = 1;
      double dLevelsOffset = 4;
      double dArrayAng = 0;
 
      // Get the angle from X for the current UCS 
      Matrix3d curUCSMatrix = acDoc.Editor.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem;
      CoordinateSystem3d curUCS = curUCSMatrix.CoordinateSystem3d;
      Vector2d acVec2dAng = new Vector2d(curUCS.Xaxis.X,
                                         curUCS.Xaxis.Y);
 
      // If the UCS is rotated, adjust the array angle accordingly
      dArrayAng = dArrayAng + acVec2dAng.Angle;
 
      // Use the upper-left corner of the objects extents for the array base point
      Extents3d acExts = acCirc.Bounds.GetValueOrDefault();
      Point2d acPt2dArrayBase = new Point2d(acExts.MinPoint.X,
                                            acExts.MaxPoint.Y);
 
      // Track the objects created for each column
      DBObjectCollection acDBObjCollCols = new DBObjectCollection();
      acDBObjCollCols.Add(acCirc);
 
      // Create the number of objects for the first column
      int nColumnsCount = 1;
      while (nColumns > nColumnsCount)
      {
          Entity acEntClone = acCirc.Clone() as Entity;
          acDBObjCollCols.Add(acEntClone);
 
          // Caclucate the new point for the copied object (move)
          Point2d acPt2dTo = PolarPoints(acPt2dArrayBase,
                                         dArrayAng,
                                         dColumnOffset * nColumnsCount);
 
          Vector2d acVec2d = acPt2dArrayBase.GetVectorTo(acPt2dTo);
          Vector3d acVec3d = new Vector3d(acVec2d.X, acVec2d.Y, 0);
          acEntClone.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(acVec3d));
 
          acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acEntClone);
          acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acEntClone, true);
 
          nColumnsCount = nColumnsCount + 1;
      }
 
      // Set a value in radians for 90 degrees
      double dAng = 1.5708;
 
      // Track the objects created for each row and column
      DBObjectCollection acDBObjCollLvls = new DBObjectCollection();
 
      foreach (DBObject acObj in acDBObjCollCols)
      {
          acDBObjCollLvls.Add(acObj);
      }
 
      // Create the number of objects for each row
      foreach (Entity acEnt in acDBObjCollCols)
      {
          int nRowsCount = 1;
 
          while (nRows > nRowsCount)
          {
              Entity acEntClone = acEnt.Clone() as Entity;
              acDBObjCollLvls.Add(acEntClone);
 
              // Caclucate the new point for the copied object (move)
              Point2d acPt2dTo = PolarPoints(acPt2dArrayBase,
                                             dArrayAng + dAng,
                                             dRowOffset * nRowsCount);
 
              Vector2d acVec2d = acPt2dArrayBase.GetVectorTo(acPt2dTo);
              Vector3d acVec3d = new Vector3d(acVec2d.X, acVec2d.Y, 0);
              acEntClone.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(acVec3d));
 
              acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acEntClone);
              acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acEntClone, true);
 
              nRowsCount = nRowsCount + 1;
          }
      }
 
      // Create the number of levels for a 3D array
      foreach (Entity acEnt in acDBObjCollLvls)
      {
          int nLvlsCount = 1;
 
          while (nLevels > nLvlsCount)
          {
              Entity acEntClone = acEnt.Clone() as Entity;
 
              Vector3d acVec3d = new Vector3d(0, 0, dLevelsOffset * nLvlsCount);
              acEntClone.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(acVec3d));
 
              acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acEntClone);
              acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acEntClone, true);
 
              nLvlsCount = nLvlsCount + 1;
          }
      }
 
      // Save the new objects to the database
      acTrans.Commit();
  }
}
VBA/ActiveX Code Reference