Pyautocad - Intro

Prompt: what do you know about pyautocad

Response:

pyautocad is a Python library used for automating tasks in AutoCAD via ActiveX/COM. It allows Python scripts to interact with AutoCAD drawings, create and modify objects, extract data, and perform repetitive CAD operations programmatically.

Key Features of pyautocad

1. Automate AutoCAD – Create, modify, and manipulate AutoCAD drawings.

2. Access Drawing Objects – Interact with AutoCAD objects like Lines, Circles, Polylines, Blocks, and Layers.

3. Extract Information – Retrieve properties such as coordinates, layer names, text values, etc.

4. Execute Commands – Run AutoCAD commands via Python.

5. Works with DWG Files – Open, edit, and save .dwg files programmatically.

6. Integrates with VBA & COM Objects – Uses AutoCAD's ActiveX/COM interface for automation.

Pre-Requisite

Please have AutoCAD installed on your System

Installation

You can install pyautocad using:

pip install pyautocad

Basic Example

Here’s how you can interact with AutoCAD using Python:

from pyautocad import Autocad, APoint

# Connect to AutoCAD (opens AutoCAD if not already running)
acad = Autocad()

# Print the name of the active drawing
print(acad.doc.Name)

# Add a Line from (0,0) to (100,100)
p1 = APoint(0, 0)
p2 = APoint(100, 100)
line = acad.model.AddLine(p1, p2)

# Add a Circle at (50,50) with radius 25
circle = acad.model.AddCircle(APoint(50, 50), 25)

# Print all objects in the model space
for obj in acad.iter_objects():
    print(obj.ObjectName)

Common Methods

• acad.model.AddLine(start_point, end_point): Adds a line.

• acad.model.AddCircle(center, radius): Adds a circle.

• acad.model.AddText(text, insertion_point, height): Adds a text object.

• acad.iter_objects(): Iterates through objects in the model space.

• acad.ActiveDocument.Save(): Saves the drawing.

Use Cases

• Automating repetitive drawing tasks.

• Extracting data from .dwg files (e.g., coordinates, block attributes).

• Generating CAD drawings programmatically.

• Modifying existing drawings based on external data (e.g., Excel or JSON).

Would you like help integrating pyautocad with your existing project? 🚀

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Prompt in ChatGPT:

could you please create a simple tree in autocad using pyautocad? take trunk as polylines and the canopy as circles.

Response:

Sure! Below is a Python script using pyautocad that creates a simple tree in AutoCAD. The tree consists of:

• Trunk: Created using polylines (a vertical rectangle).

• Canopy: Represented by three overlapping circles.

Tree Structure

• Trunk: A rectangle made using two polylines.

• Canopy: Three circles positioned above the trunk.

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Python Script

from pyautocad import Autocad, APoint

# Connect to AutoCAD
acad = Autocad(create_if_not_exists=True)

# Function to create a tree
def create_tree(base_x=100, base_y=100, trunk_width=10, trunk_height=40, canopy_radius=20):
    """
    Draws a simple tree in AutoCAD with a trunk (polyline) and canopy (circles).
    
    Parameters:
        base_x, base_y: Bottom-left corner of the trunk.
        trunk_width: Width of the trunk.
        trunk_height: Height of the trunk.
        canopy_radius: Radius of canopy circles.
    """
    
    # Trunk Coordinates
    p1 = APoint(base_x, base_y)
    p2 = APoint(base_x + trunk_width, base_y)
    p3 = APoint(base_x + trunk_width, base_y + trunk_height)
    p4 = APoint(base_x, base_y + trunk_height)
    
    # Create trunk using polylines (rectangle shape)
    trunk1 = acad.model.AddLine(p1, p2)
    trunk2 = acad.model.AddLine(p2, p3)
    trunk3 = acad.model.AddLine(p3, p4)
    trunk4 = acad.model.AddLine(p4, p1)
    
    # Canopy center points
    canopy_center1 = APoint(base_x + trunk_width / 2, base_y + trunk_height + canopy_radius)
    canopy_center2 = APoint(base_x + trunk_width / 2 - canopy_radius / 2, base_y + trunk_height + canopy_radius / 2)
    canopy_center3 = APoint(base_x + trunk_width / 2 + canopy_radius / 2, base_y + trunk_height + canopy_radius / 2)
    
    # Create canopy using circles
    canopy1 = acad.model.AddCircle(canopy_center1, canopy_radius)
    canopy2 = acad.model.AddCircle(canopy_center2, canopy_radius * 0.8)
    canopy3 = acad.model.AddCircle(canopy_center3, canopy_radius * 0.8)
    
    print("Tree created successfully in AutoCAD!")

# Call the function to create the tree
create_tree()

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Explanation of Code

1. Connect to AutoCAD (Autocad(create_if_not_exists=True))

   • Opens AutoCAD if not already running.

2. Create the trunk using polylines forming a rectangle.

3. Create the canopy with three overlapping circles.

4. Execute the function to generate the tree.

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Expected Output

This script will generate a tree in AutoCAD with:

• A trunk (rectangle made of four polyline segments).

• A canopy (three overlapping circles).

Would you like to modify the design (e.g., add leaves, adjust proportions)? 🌳🚀

Could You please create 3D cube with 2ooside units in pyautocad

Yes! Below is a Python script using pyautocad to create a 3D cube with a 200-unit side length in AutoCAD. The cube is drawn using lines to represent its edges. Since pyautocad primarily works with 2D objects, this script uses 3D coordinates to create a visual wireframe cube.

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Python Script to Draw a 3D Cube in AutoCAD

from pyautocad import Autocad, APoint

# Connect to AutoCAD
acad = Autocad(create_if_not_exists=True)

# Function to create a 3D cube
def create_3d_cube(base_x=0, base_y=0, base_z=0, side_length=200):
    """
    Creates a 3D wireframe cube in AutoCAD using lines.
    
    Parameters:
        base_x, base_y, base_z: Starting corner of the cube.
        side_length: The length of each cube side.
    """
    
    # Define 3D coordinates of the cube vertices
    p1 = APoint(base_x, base_y, base_z)
    p2 = APoint(base_x + side_length, base_y, base_z)
    p3 = APoint(base_x + side_length, base_y + side_length, base_z)
    p4 = APoint(base_x, base_y + side_length, base_z)

    p5 = APoint(base_x, base_y, base_z + side_length)
    p6 = APoint(base_x + side_length, base_y, base_z + side_length)
    p7 = APoint(base_x + side_length, base_y + side_length, base_z + side_length)
    p8 = APoint(base_x, base_y + side_length, base_z + side_length)

    # Bottom square
    acad.model.AddLine(p1, p2)
    acad.model.AddLine(p2, p3)
    acad.model.AddLine(p3, p4)
    acad.model.AddLine(p4, p1)

    # Top square
    acad.model.AddLine(p5, p6)
    acad.model.AddLine(p6, p7)
    acad.model.AddLine(p7, p8)
    acad.model.AddLine(p8, p5)

    # Vertical edges connecting top and bottom squares
    acad.model.AddLine(p1, p5)
    acad.model.AddLine(p2, p6)
    acad.model.AddLine(p3, p7)
    acad.model.AddLine(p4, p8)

    print("3D Cube created successfully in AutoCAD!")

# Call the function to create the cube
create_3d_cube()

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Explanation

1. Connect to AutoCAD (Autocad(create_if_not_exists=True))

   • Opens AutoCAD if it's not already running.

2. Define 8 vertices of the cube in 3D space.

3. Draw the cube's edges using AddLine()

   • Bottom square

   • Top square

   • Vertical edges connecting the two squares

4. Runs create_3d_cube() to generate the cube.

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Expected Output

The script creates a wireframe 3D cube in AutoCAD with:

• 200-unit side length

• Edges connecting all vertices

• No solid faces (just a wireframe representation)

Next Steps

• Want to create a solid 3D cube instead of a wireframe? That would require AutoCAD's 3D modeling API, which pyautocad doesn't directly support but can be done using AutoLISP, VBA, or ObjectARX.

Would you like to enhance this cube (e.g., change position, add text labels, or use another method)? 🚀🔲

Refer : https://github.com/luzpaz/floor-planner for 2D Floor Planner