Dimension witness gap settings

[TomWaltz]

I am trying to write an API which create dimensions in various situations, using a default made in the API.

I have most of the settings figured out, but the witnessVal seting in API_DimElem is killing me. It's the setting for the gap between the end of a witness line and the element being dimensioned.

Here is what I have so far:

• API_Element element, mask;
  API_ElementMemo memo;
  GSErrCode err;
  //API_DimElem dimparts;
  
  BNZeroMemory (&element, sizeof (API_Element));
  BNZeroMemory (&memo, sizeof (API_ElementMemo));
  
  element.header.typeID = API_DimensionID;
  
  err = ACAPI_Element_GetDefaults (&element, &memo);
  if (err == NoError)
  
  
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_CLEAR (mask);
  
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimensionType, ed_arrowAng);
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimensionType, textPos);
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimensionType, linPen);
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimensionType, markerData.markerPen);
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimensionType, markerData.markerSize);
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimensionType, markerData.markerType);
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimensionType, defNote.notePen);
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimensionType, defNote.noteFont );
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimensionType, defNote.noteSize);
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimensionType, dimAppear);
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimensionType, defWitnessForm);
  ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimElem, witnessVal);
  
  element.dimension.ed_arrowAng = 2; // 45 degree tickmark
  element.dimension.textPos = API_TextPosID (APIPos_Above);
  element.dimension.linPen = 164; // dimension line pen
  element.dimension.markerData.markerPen = 166 ;// tickmark pen
  element.dimension.markerData.markerSize = 2.6; // tickmark size
  element.dimension.markerData.markerType = API_MarkerID(APIMark_SlashLine45);// tickmark type
  element.dimension.defNote.notePen = element.dimension.linPen; // text pen
  element.dimension.defNote.noteFont = 87; // Tekton Pro
  element.dimension.defNote.noteSize = 2.468265; // 7.00 points
  element.dimension.dimAppear = API_AppearID(APIApp_Normal); // Normal Dimensions
  element.dimension.defWitnessForm = API_WitnessID(APIWtn_Large); // Dynamic Witness Line
  // ----------------------------------------------------
  // Problem Here
  dimparts.witnessVal = 2; // Witness line gap, compiling, but having no effect
  //memo.dimension.witnessVal = API_DimElem(witnessVal, 2); // Not compiling
  // .... to here
  // ----------------------------------------------------
  
  ACAPI_Element_ChangeDefaults (&element, &memo, &mask);[list=]

I feel like there's something simple I'm missing.

I was hoping to work in a variable that checks the scale, and adjusts the witnessVal based on it, but right now I'll be happy just to set tha blasted thing!

[Karl Ottenstein]

Hi Tom,

We'll have to wait for Ralph or Oleg to set us straight (or maybe Ferenc or someone else will join us?) ... but writing as another API newbie, the docs indicate that if you want the witnessVal to be treated as a gap, that you have to set witnessForm to APIWtn_Fix (an enum). Might be related to why setting the value doesn't do anything for you?

I'm not sure what you mean by:

memo.dimension.witnessVal = API_DimElem(witnessVal, 2);

The field of the API_ElementMemo struct is dimElems, not dimension, and that is a ** to an API_DimElem, and you're using API_DimElem as some kind of constructor that I don't recognize. But, I'm really rusty!!

Wish I was more up to speed to help more specifically, and hope I'm not too far off track to steer you in the wrong direction above.

Karl

[TomWaltz]

I'm not sure what you mean by:

Code:
memo.dimension.witnessVal = API_DimElem(witnessVal, 2);

honestly, Karl, I'm not to sure either!! 😉

I'm just having a hard time getting the syntax to set the variable witnessVal, and was trying different things to get it to work. I'm new enought to C++ that the basic syntax on struct and enum is a little confusing sometimes, especially since GS seems a little inconsistant sometimes.

[Oleg]

I am not sure, that I have understood you. Do you want to change dimension tool defaults ?
If you want that it is not required to use API_DimElem and even API_ElementMemo.
( It will be required at dims creation on the floor plan and it is more complex a task )

Try this hints.

err = ACAPI_Element_GetDefaults (&element, 0);

What is it ? Delete this line.
ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimElem, witnessVal);

Add instead of it:
ACAPI_ELEMENT_MASK_SET (mask, API_DimensionType, defWitnessVal);

Also add (I dont remember is it value in meters or mm :
element.dimension.defWitnessVal = 2; // Default gap (APIWtn_Fix) or length (APIWtn_Large)

And then:
ACAPI_Element_ChangeDefaults (&element, 0, &mask);

PS:
By the way, you can use enums just as value (for example):
element.dimension.dimAppear = APIApp_Normal; // Normal Dimensions
element.dimension.defWitnessForm = APIWtn_Large; // Dynamic Witness Line

Instead of:
element.dimension.dimAppear = API_AppearID (APIApp_Normal); // Normal Dimensions
element.dimension.defWitnessForm = API_WitnessID (APIWtn_Large); // Dynamic Witness Line

Good luck

[TomWaltz]

That was it, Oleg. Thanks!!

Yes, I was trying to set the defaults for the dimensions.