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This application is controlled by the application menu on top of the screen
(figure 1.24) and the selection menu on bottom of the screen
(figure 1.18). It is used to build and manipulate 2D
objects made up of points, segments, arcs and splines. Circles and straight
lines are only used as construction aids.
- The application uses elementary geometry to define points, straight
lines, circles, segments and arcs. For example, by using the tangency
property, it is possible to define a circle tangent to three straight lines or a
straight line tangent to two circles.
- The application uses splines---a series of points---to define open or
closed curves.
- The application is able to cut one object with another object, except
the circles and straight lines, which are only construction aids. It is for
example possible to cut an object by a straight line. However, the straight
line will not be affected by this operation.
- The application is able to round off angles.
- The application is able to duplicate an object n times by using the
classical affine transformations: symmetry, rotation, homothety.
- The application is able to "outline" figures.
- The application is able to invert arcs and segments.
- etc.
Figure 1.24: The CONSTRUCTION application menu
Let us recall that points, straight lines, circles, arcs, segments, splines,
coordinates (current points, endpoints, etc.) can be selected via the selection
menu. We will thus denote by <POINT>
, <LINE>
, <CIRCLE>
,
<SEGMENT>
, <ARC>
, <SPLINE>
, <COORD>
the operation of
selecting one of these elements or part of it. Furthermore, a <VALUE>
is
created by using the calculator or its shortcuts, see sections
1.5.2,1.5.2 for more detail.
In the meta-syntax of description of the construction language, we will note
xxx a series of operations defined by
<xxx> = ... . ;
We will use
the following symbols:
- A B to denote the concatenation of A and B (and)
" we wait for A then B".
- A|B to denote an alternative (or) " we wait for A or
B" (this operation has less priority than
concatenation).
- * to repeat the ensuing expression 0 or several times.
- " to denote nothing, which in all cases is used to achieve
something.
- parentheses ( ) to change priorities.
Example:
The expression: <xxx> = ( A | ") *(B|C) E ; can be used to enter character
strings beginning or not by A, composed of a series of B or
C and ending with E.
Examples of valid strings:
ABBCCCCE E AE CBCBCBCBCBCBCBE
ABBBBBBBE BE ABE BCBCBCBCBCBCBCE
BBBBBBBBBE CE ACE CCCCCCCCCCCCCCE
We will call
- point_coor the selection of POINT or COORD;
- constraint the selection of POINT, COORD,
LINE, CIRCLE,
[4] SEGMENT or ARC;
- elements the selection of POINT, COORD,
LINE, CIRCLE,
[4] SEGMENT, ARC or
SPLINE.
- etc.
In the meta-syntax, this reads:
<point_coor> = <POINT> | <COORD>;
<constraint> = <point_coor> | <LINE> | <CIRCLE> | <ARC>
| <SEGMENT>;
<element> = <constraint> | <SPLINE>;
In the definition of constraint, the ARC is identified with its supporting
circle. Similarly, the SEGMENT is identified with its supporting straight line.
Remark:
In the database the elements are described by:
POINT | (a,b) with: x=a; y=b |
LINE | (a,b,c) such that ax+by+c=0 |
CIRCLE | center(a,b) and radius r |
SEGMENT | (P1,P2) with P1=(x1,y1) and P2=(x2,y2) |
ARC | center at P1 passing through P2 and with angle , |
| with P1=(x1,y1) and P2=(x2,y2) |
SPLINE | (number of points, head of the list of points) |
At the level of the CONSTRUCTION application, all menus other than the
CONSTRUCTION menu are filtered through the applications SELECTION,
CALCULATOR, GENERAL and GRAPHIC SCREEN MANAGEMENT. Thus clicking
in one of these menus has no direct effect on the application, except possibly
changing the selection mode or entering a value. Only the boxes of the
application menu and the selections govern the CONSTRUCTION application.
For this reason, we will denote by XXXX the operation of clicking in the
XXXX box of the current application menu. There will be no confusion with
boxes of the same name in other menus.
Example:
- the operation of selecting a circle is denoted CIRCLE
- the operation of clicking in the CIRCLE item of the
CONSTRUCTION menu is denoted CIRCLE
Those two "circles" must not be confused with each other. Similarly, if we
click in the CENTER item of the selection menu, we will select the center of
an arc or a circle which produces a COOR. On the other hand, if we click
in the CENTER item of the CONSTRUCTION menu (top), we obtain
CENTER.
The state of the system is a set of
variables used by the application. The global variables of the application are:
- %DISTANCE used to define a signed
distance which is useful for constructing points,
lines, segment, etc.
- %RADIUS used to define the
radius of an arc or circle, etc.
- %ANGLE used to define the
angle of an arc or between 2 lines, etc.
- %RATIO used to define the
ratio of an homothety, etc.
- %NUMBER used to define the
number of duplications during transformations.
These variables can be modified at almost any moment.
We denote by <state modif>
a modification of the state of the system,
which is to say a modification of the value assigned to one of the variable.
<state modif> = *( <distance> | <radius> | <angle> | <ratio> | <number> )
- Modification of %DISTANCE: <distance>
= DISTANCE
( <VALUE>
| IDEM)
- Modification of %RADIUS: <radius>
= RADIUS
(VALUE | IDEM)
- Modification of %ANGLE: <angle>
= ANGLE
(VALUE | IDEM)
- Modification of %RATIO: <ratio>
= RATIO
(VALUE | IDEM)
- Modification of %NUMBER: <number>
= NUMBER
(VALUE | IDEM)
IDEM saves the previous value of the state variable.
POINT
*( <COORD>
| <POINT> ( <CIRCLE> | <LINE>
| <ARC> | <SEGMENT> | <SPLINE> )
| <LINE> <element>
| <CIRCLE> <element>
| <SPLINE> <element>
);
- First alternative, COORD: Creation of the point of current
coordinates by operating the selection menus:
MOUSE P, XY POINT, XY FILE, INTERS, EXTREM,
MIDDLE, CENTER.
- Other alternatives: We construct a point after having
selected two elements.
- If one of the elements is a
POINT let point P be the projection of this POINT on the
other element
- if this other element is a line we create a point at distance
%DISTANCE from P on the line in the direction of the line
- otherwise we create point P.
- If none of the two elements is a POINT, we create the intersection
point of the two elements. Since there are in general two points in the
intersection of a line and a circle, or of two
circle, we choose ``our" point by retaining the one closest to the points
used to select the elements.
Examples of point construction
We start by clicking in the POINT box of the construction menu to switch to
point construction mode. Then
- we click in the MOUSE P box of the
selection menu. After that, each click in the graphic window constructs a
point.
- we click in the XY POINT box of the
selection menu. Each time we enter a couple of numbers on the
calculator--- typed on the keyboard and followed by = or (CR)
---we
construct a point.
- we click in the XY FILE box and we enter
a file name. A point is constructed for each couple of numbers in the
formatted file.
- we construct points of intersection between two elements (line,
segment, circle, arc, spline) by selecting a couple of such elements.
LINE *( <constraint> <constraint>
| IDEM *<SEGMENT>
);
If the constraints are (the order is irrelevant):
- CircleOrPoint := circle | point_coor;
- CircleOrPoint CircleOrPoint: the line created is tangent to
the two circle at the points closest to the ones used to select the two
circle
- line line:
- if the two lines intersect, the line created is the bisecting line of the
two others.
- if the two lines are equal, we create a line that is parallel to them
and at distance %DISTANCE on the side of the selection point.
- otherwise we create a line parallel to the two line at the same
distance from both.
- line circle: the line created is parallel to the line and
tangent to the circle at a point closest to the one used to select the
circle.
- line point_coor: the line created makes an
angle %ANGLE with the line and passes through the point_coor.
In the other alternative (IDEM), we construct the line that supports the
*segment.
CIRCLE
*( <radius> *( CENTER <point_coor> | <constraint> <constraint>)
| <constraint> ( <radius> <constraint>
| <constraint> ( <radius> | <constraint> ))
| CENTER <point_coor> *(<radius> | <constraint>)
| IDEM *<ARC>
);
Explanation of the various cases (the order is irrelevant):
- radius CENTER point_coor: circle of center at point
point_coor and radius
[4] %RADIUS.
- radius constraint constraint: circle of radius
%RADIUS and constrained to be tangent to the two selected elements.
- constraint constraint constraint:
circle constrained to be tangent to the three selected elements.
- CENTER point_coor constraint: circle with a given center and
tangent to the selected constraint.
- IDEM * arc: circle supported by the * arc
(same center and same radius as the *arc).
ARC *( CENTER <point_coor> *( <angle> <constraint>
| <radius>
| <constraint> (<angle> | <constraint>))
| <radius> *( CENTER <point_coor>
| <constraint> <constraint> )
| <constraint> ( <radius> <constraint>
| <constraint> (<radius> | <constraint>))
| IDEM *<CIRCLE>
);
Explanation of the various cases (the order is irrelevant). To construct an
ARC, we first create a circle satisfying the same constraints and then
we create an arc on this circle.
- CENTER point_coor
angle constraint:
arc with a given center starting at the point where it is tangent to the
constraint and with an angle angle from this point.
- CENTER point_coor radius:
arc with a given center, given radius %RADIUS and angle
- CENTER point_coor constraint constraint:
arc with a given center starting at the point where it is tangent to the
first constraint, ending at the level of the point where it is tangent to the
second constraint and turning counterclockwise.
- radius constraint constraint:
arc with a given radius %RADIUS starting at the point where it is
tangent to the first constraint, ending at the point where it
is tangent to the second constraint.
- constraint constraint constraint:
arc tangent to the three
[4] constraint and
linking the three points of tangency in the order of the
constraint.
- IDEM *circle:
creates an arc of angle 2
on each selected circle.
SEGMENT *( <constraint> <constraint> );
Explanation of the various cases (the order is irrelevant).
To construct a SEGMENT, we first create the LINE that has the same
constraints. Then we construct a segment on this line connecting the two
points of tangency to the two constraints if they exist. Otherwise, we use
the state variable %DISTANCE.
Thus for example:
- circle circle:
The segment is tangent to the two circle (at the points closest
to the points used to select the two circle).
- line line:
- if the lines intersect, the segment is the bisecting line of the
two line and is of length %DISTANCE.
- if the two lines are equal, we create a segment that is parallel
to them and at distance %DISTANCE on the side of the selection point. The
segment is of length %DISTANCE or of the same length as line
depending on whether line is a LINE or a SEGMENT.
- otherwise we create a segment parallel to the two line at
the same distance from both. It is of length %DISTANCE.
- line circle:
The segment is parallel to the selected line and is tangent to
the circle at the point closest to the one used to select the circle.
It is of length %DISTANCE and starts at the point of tangency with the
circle.
SPLINE <point> *<point>;
Constructs the cubic spline passing
through the points. We can create a closed spline by making the last
point equal to the first point (by selecting it).
ROTATION , TRANSLAT ,
HOMOTHETY ,
SYMMETRY
all define transformations that can be applied on selected elements.
ROTATION <state modif> ( CENTER | " ) <point_coor> <state modif> *<element>
TRANSLAT <point_coor> <point_coor> *<element>
HOMOTHETY <state modif> CENTER (<point_coor> | " ) <state modif> *<element>
SYMMETRY (<point_coor> | <LINE>| <SEGMENT>) *<element>
- ROTATION
- applies the rotation of center point and angle
%ANGLE to the
[4]elements.
If %NUMBER
1, the elements are moved, otherwise
%NUMBER-1 copies of each element are created. Therefore, after
transformation there are %NUMBER elements on the screen.
- TRANSLAT
- applies to the elements the translation by a vector
defined by the first point and the second point.
If %NUMBER
1, the elements are moved, otherwise
%NUMBER-1 copies of each element are created. Therefore, after
transformation there are %NUMBER elements on the screen.
- HOMOTHETY
- applies the homothety of center point and ratio
%RATIO to the elements. If %NUMBER
1, the elements
are moved, otherwise %NUMBER-1 copies of each element are created.
Therefore, after transformation there are %NUMBER elements on
the screen.
- SYMMETRY
- applies the
symmetry with respect to point or line on all selected
elements. Warning: if %NUMBER is larger than
2, elements will be superimposed on one another.
This command is used to round off angles
between SEGMENTS and ARCS.
ROUND *( <constraint> <constraint> )
We round off an angle between the two constraint with radius
%RADIUS,
the rounded angle will always turn counterclockwise. A rounded angle
is an arc whose supporting circle is tangent to the two constraint. The
arc starts at the first point of tangency and ends at the second point of
tangency, turning counterclockwise. If one of the constraint is an ARC
or a SEGMENT, this constraint is modified in such a way that the
element terminates at the point of tangency with the rounded angle.
CONTOUR (<LINE> | <CIRCLE>) (<LINE> | <CIRCLE>)
(<LINE> | <CIRCLE>) (COMPLE_ARC | ")
*( (<LINE> | <CIRCLE>) (COMPLE_ARC | ") )
This command is used to define a contour
formed by SEGMENTS and ARCS supported by a set of straight lines and
circles. The program functions by calculating the intersection of constraint
i with constraint i+1, which gives point I, then the intersection of
constraint i+1 with constraint i+2, which gives point I+1. I and I+1
form a new portion of the contour and so on.
Let us give an example with straight lines (figure 1.25):
Let us assume that we have five lines
that
intersect at
, and that we wish to define the
contour composed of the segments
,
,
,
and
. We denote by +i the ith selected point.
Figure 1.25: Example of contour definition
We select
at +2 then
at +1 which defines
Then we select
at +4 which defines
(at this point, the
program draws
Then we select
at +3 which defines
(at this point, the
program draws
Then we select
at +5 which defines
(at this point, the
program draws
Then we select
at +2 which defines
(at this point, the
program draws
Then we select
at +1 which defines
(at this point, the
program draws
In the case of circles, we must be careful because the selection points are
used to remove ambiguities of multiple intersections: the selection point of
the i constraint is used to remove the selection ambiguity between
constraints i and i+1.
REVERSE *( <ARC> | <SEGMENT> )
Reverses a SEGMENT or an ARC
- ARC :
- SEGMENT:
(Symmetry
/ P1)
COMPLE_ARC *ARC
Changes an ARC into its complement
if
then
otherwise
INVERT *(<ARC> | <SEGMENT> | <SPLINE>)
Inverts an ARC, SEGMENT or a SPLINE
CUT * ( <point_coor> *(<ARC> | <SEGMENT> | <SPLINE>)
| (<LINE> | <CIRCLE> | <ARC> | <SEGMENT> | <SPLINE>)
(<LINE> | <CIRCLE> | <ARC> | <SEGMENT> | <SPLINE>)
)
If we first select point, we cut an
ARC, a SEGMENT or a SPLINE in two by the projection of point on the
element.
For the SPLINE, we cut at the definition point closest to point
point.
Otherwise we cut the selected elements with one another if
they are divisible (non divisible elements are LINE and CIRCLE).
CHANGE *( ANGLE <ARC> (<VALUE> | IDEM)
| RADIUS <CIRCLE> (<VALUE> | IDEM)
| <POINT> <point_coor>)
This command is used to change :
- the angle of a selected ARC
- the radius of a CIRCLE
- the position of a point (the first point is changed into the
second one. The first point can be the center of an arc or a circle)
- the extremity of a SEGMENT or an ARC.
- a definition point of a SPLINE, thus the shape of the
SPLINE.
ADD *( POINT *( <ARC> | <SEGMENT> | <SPLINE> | <POINT> <POINT> )
| SEGMENT *( <SEGMENT> <SEGMENT> )
| SPLINE *( <SPLINE> ( <SPLINE> | *<POINT> ) )
| ARC *( <ARC> <ARC> )
- If POINT, we add
%NUMBER points with a ratio %RATIO on ARC or SEGMENT or
SPLINE or between the two POINTS.
- If SEGMENT, we add
%NUMBER segments defined by linear interpolation
of ratio %RATIO between the two SEGMENTS.
- If SPLINE
- followed by the selection of two SPLINES, then
we add %NUMBER splines defined by linear interpolation
of ratio %RATIO between the two SPLINES.
- followed by the selection of one SPLINE and one POINT, then
we add new definition POINTS given by
*point to the selected SPLINE.
- If ARC, we add
%NUMBER arcs defined by 3 points (2 extremities and the middle point)
defined by linear interpolation of ratio %RATIO between
the extremities and the middle points of the 2 selected arcs.
MERGE *( <segment> <segment> | <arc> <arc> | <spline> <spline> )
This command is used to merge 2 SEGMENTS, 2
ARCS or 2 SPLINES that have a common extremity into a single element of
the same type. The resulting element has the same orientation as the first
selected element. This instruction is only executed if the following
conditions are met:
- in the case of 2 segments, both segments must be colinear.
- in the case of 2 arcs, both arcs must have the same center and the
same radius.






![[BIG]](../icons/zoom18.gif)
![[Normal]](../icons/zoom14.gif)
![[small]](../icons/zoom10.gif)
Next: The PREP_MESH application
Up: The EMC˛
preprocessor
Prev: 1.5.2 The global menus
Index
Contents