BricksCAD calculator?

Pedro Henrique Lobo · July 2016

pre.cjk { font-family: "Droid Sans Fallback",monospace; }p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }Hello. I have the trial version of BricksCAD16 installed on Ubuntu 14.04. When I tried to use the “cal” command to use a calculator, the program don't do anything. When I open the program via terminal and repeat the process it shows me:

“execvp(calc.exe) failed with error 2!”

The “cal” command is not available for Ubuntu? Only for Windows users?

James Cameron · November 2016

I found galculator handy. I keep it on my panel, it pops onto Bricscad and will copy/paste as easily in this format as the Windows version. It's a more powerful tool as well.

John Hersey · November 2016

I also keep a calculator handy in the tool panel, but for a calculation on the fly, I'll do a command line calculation. I have no idea what the notation system is called, but here are some examples.

to add two numbers like 10 and 12

(+ 10 12)

to multiply

(* 10 12)

to divide

(/ 10 12.0)

Note, include the ".0" or you'll get a whole integer answer.

(sqrt 15.0)

find the area of a room 10'-6 1/2" x 14'-7 3/4"

(* (+ 10 (/ 6.5 12)) (+ 14 (/ 7.75 12)))

Or draw a rectangle and ask.

always fun

Roy Klein Gebbinck · November 2016

@John:
That is Lisp code.
Your last example can rewritten:
[code](* (distof "10'-6 1/2\"") (distof "14'-7 3/4\""))[/code]

Pedro Henrique Lobo · November 2016

p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }

Thanks for reply. I can use a galculator or handheld calculator, but I prefer the CAL command.

It’s a good idea use the autolisp syntax to make calculus. Maybe I can upgrade this for my main objective.

In a AutoCAD program, it’s possible to combine the CAL command with others. For exemple, I can use the OFFSET command and using the apostrophe character (‘) and CAL I can input the a value calculated . See the prompt below:

[code]

OFFSET

specify offset distance or [Through/Erase/Layer] <2148.4547>: ‘cal

CAL >>>> Expression: dist(end,end)/5

[/code]

For me, the cal command is a powerfull tool.

Roy Klein Gebbinck · November 2016

Note that the _Cal command in BricsCAD is not the same as in AutoCAD. In the Windows version just calls the Windows calculator so it is not 'a powerful tool'.

John Hersey · November 2016

Thanks Roy, for the 'distof' function, but I the results must depend on how units are set. I compared our examples and got different answers with the distof function returning the answer in square inches. - Will probably learn to use it anyway because fractional inches are a pain to convert to feet. - John

[code(* (+ 10 (/ 6.5 12)) (+ 14 (/ 7.75 12)))

154.391493055556

: (* (distof "10'-6 1/2\"") (distof "14'-7 3/4\""))

22232.375

: (/ (* (distof "10'-6 1/2\"") (distof "14'-7 3/4\"")) 144.0)

154.391493055556[/code]

Jason Bourhill · November 2016

distof results don't depend on your units settings. It will always convert to the base decimal value.

you can use cvunit to convert to square feet.

[code](cvunit (* (distof "10'-6 1/2\"") (distof "14'-7 3/4\"")) "sq in" "sq ft")[/code]
returns: 154.391493055556

[code](cvunit (* (distof "10'-6 1/2\"") (distof "14'-7 3/4\"")) "sq in" "sq m")[/code]
returns: 14.343439055

cvunit gets its unit conversion factors from the default.unt file, which is customisable.

Regards,

Jason Bourhill

CAD Concepts

Jason Bourhill · November 2016

@Pedro Henrique Lobo:
p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }a:link { }
Thanks for reply. I can use a galculator or handheld calculator, but I prefer the CAL command.

It’s a good idea use the autolisp syntax to make calculus. Maybe I can upgrade this for my main objective.

In a AutoCAD program, it’s possible to combine the CAL command with others. For exemple, I can use the OFFSET command and using the apostrophe character (‘) and CAL I can input the a value calculated . See the prompt below:
    OFFSET    specify offset distance or [Through/Erase/Layer] <2148.4547>: ‘cal    CAL >>>> Expression: dist(end,end)/5    
For me, the cal command is a powerfull tool.

Equivalent in LISP is
[code](/ (distance (getpoint "1st Point: ") (getpoint "2nd point: ")) 5.0)[/code]
: OFFSET
Enter offset distance or [Through point/Erase/Layer] <21.88623>:(/ (distance (getpoint "1st Point: ") (getpoint "2nd point: ")) 5.0)
1st Point:
2nd point: 60.0
Enter offset distance or [Through point/Erase/Layer] <21.88623>:60
Select entity/subentity or [Exit] :

you can make it more universal by prompting for the divisor
[code](/ (distance (getpoint "1st Point: ") (getpoint "2nd point: ")) (getreal "Divide by:"))[/code]
: OFFSET
Enter offset distance or [Through point/Erase/Layer] <61.55106>:(/ (distance (getpoint "1st Point: ") (getpoint "2nd point: ")) (getreal "Divide by:"))
1st Point:
2nd point:
Divide by:4
75.0
Enter offset distance or [Through point/Erase/Layer] <61.55106>:75
Select entity/subentity or [Exit] :

if it is something you use a lot, then you could make a command alias of it using CUSTOMIZE

: OFFSET
Enter offset distance or [Through point/Erase/Layer] <63.58953>:'ddist
1ST POINT:
2ND POINT:
DIVIDE BY:3
100.0
Enter offset distance or [Through point/Erase/Layer] <63.58953>:100
Select entity/subentity or [Exit] :

Regards,

Jason Bourhill

CAD Concepts

DDIST-Alias.png

John Hersey · November 2016

Thanks, Jason and Roy, for the lisp lessons.

BricksCAD calculator?

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