PipeInlineAsset orientation

By Augusto Goncalves

The pipe inline orientation can be accessed using XAxis and ZAxis properties. From the help file, we can read:

• xAxis: Input vector (in WCS) to be used to define the new plane that will contain the inline asset
• zAxis: Input X-Direction vector (WCS) for the inline asset

And, as the properties are read-only, we can change them using the SetOrientation method.

Despite the explanation, a graphical visualization can help we understand the properties. After writing a small piece of code to change the properties, we can see the following:

XAxis: change the asset orientation regarding the flow on the pipe line, as shown on the image below.

ZAxis: rotate the asset along the pipe line axis, helping place it properly, as shown below.

<p>If you need to change any of those directions, then notice that the vectors are unit vectors. Below is a sample code that changes both X and Z directions (just invert the values).</p>  <pre class="line-numbers"><code>[CommandMethod("assetOrient")]    public void CmdAssetOrientation()    {        Editor ed = Application.DocumentManager.            MdiActiveDocument.Editor;             PromptEntityOptions peo = new             PromptEntityOptions("Select inline asset");        peo.SetRejectMessage("Only inline asset");        peo.AddAllowedClass(typeof(PipeInlineAsset), true);        PromptEntityResult per = ed.GetEntity(peo);        if (per.Status != PromptStatus.OK) return;             Database db = Application.DocumentManager.            MdiActiveDocument.Database;        using (Transaction trans =             db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())        {            PipeInlineAsset pipeAsset =                 trans.GetObject(per.ObjectId, OpenMode.ForWrite)                as PipeInlineAsset;                 // get current values            Point3d position = pipeAsset.Position;            Vector3d xDir = pipeAsset.XAxis;            Vector3d zDir = pipeAsset.ZAxis;                           // change the direction the asset is comparing to the line            // for instance, a valve will change rotate along the line            Vector3d zDirInverted = zDir.Negate();                 // change the orientation of the asset            // for instace, a valve will change the in/out of the flow            Vector3d xDirInverted = xDir.Negate();                 // apply the new value            pipeAsset.SetOrientation(xDirInverted, zDirInverted);                 trans.Commit();        }    }</code></pre>