Boolean Method (ActiveX)

Performs a Boolean operation (union, intersect, or subtract) between the object and another 3DSolid or Region object.

Supported platforms: Windows only

Signature

VBA:

object.Boolean(Operation, Object)

object

Type: 3DSolid, Region

The objects this method applies to.

Operation

Access: Input-only

Type: AcBooleanType enum

• acUnion: Performs a union operation.
• acIntersection: Performs an intersection operation.
• acSubtraction: Performs a subtraction operation.

Object

Access: input-only

Type: 3DSolid, Region

The object the operation is performed against.

Return Value (RetVal)

No return value.

Remarks

The first object is modified as a result of the operation.

Solids before Boolean intersection

Resulting solid from Boolean intersection

Note: If there is no result from the operation, the first object is not changed. For example, when finding the intersection between two non-intersecting objects, there is no change to the first object.

Examples

VBA:

Sub Example_Boolean()
    ' This example creates a box and a cylinder in model space.
    ' It then performs a Boolean operation on the two solids.
    
    Dim boxObj As Acad3DSolid
    Dim boxLength As Double, boxWidth As Double, boxHeight As Double
    Dim boxCenter(0 To 2) As Double
    boxCenter(0) = 5#: boxCenter(1) = 5#: boxCenter(2) = 0
    boxLength = 10#: boxWidth = 7: boxHeight = 10#
    
    ' Create the box (3DSolid) object in model space
    Set boxObj = ThisDrawing.ModelSpace.AddBox(boxCenter, boxLength, boxWidth, boxHeight)
    
    ' Define the cylinder
    Dim cylinderObj As Acad3DSolid
    Dim cylinderCenter(0 To 2) As Double
    Dim cylinderRadius As Double
    Dim cylinderHeight As Double
    cylinderCenter(0) = 0#: cylinderCenter(1) = 0#: cylinderCenter(2) = 0#
    cylinderRadius = 5#
    cylinderHeight = 20#
    
    ' Create the Cylinder (3DSolid) object in model space
    Set cylinderObj = ThisDrawing.ModelSpace.AddCylinder(cylinderCenter, cylinderRadius, cylinderHeight)
    
    ' Change the viewing direction of the viewport
    Dim NewDirection(0 To 2) As Double
    NewDirection(0) = -1: NewDirection(1) = -1: NewDirection(2) = 1
    ThisDrawing.ActiveViewport.direction = NewDirection
    ThisDrawing.ActiveViewport = ThisDrawing.ActiveViewport
    ZoomAll
    
    ' Perform an intersection on the two solids
    MsgBox "Perform an intersection on the two solids.", vbOKOnly, "Boolean Example"
    boxObj.Boolean acIntersection, cylinderObj
    ThisDrawing.Regen True
    
    MsgBox "Intersection complete.", , "Boolean Example"
    
End Sub

Visual LISP:

(vl-load-com)
(defun c:Example_Boolean()
    ;; This example creates a box and a cylinder in model space.
    ;; It then performs a Boolean operation on the two solids.
    (setq acadObj (vlax-get-acad-object))
    (setq doc (vla-get-ActiveDocument acadObj))
  
    (setq boxCenter (vlax-3d-point 5 5 0)
          boxLength 10
	         boxWidth 7
	         boxHeight 10)
    
    ;; Create the box (3DSolid) object in model space
    (setq modelSpace (vla-get-ModelSpace doc))  
    (setq boxObj (vla-AddBox modelSpace boxCenter boxLength boxWidth boxHeight))
    
    ;; Define the cylinder
    (setq cylinderCenter (vlax-3d-point 0 0 0)
          cylinderRadius 5
          cylinderHeight 20)
    
    ;; Create the Cylinder (3DSolid) object in model space
    (setq cylinderObj (vla-AddCylinder modelSpace cylinderCenter cylinderRadius cylinderHeight))
    
    ;; Change the viewing direction of the viewport
    (setq NewDirection (vlax-3d-point -1 -1 1))
    (setq activeViewport (vla-get-ActiveViewport doc))
    (vla-put-Direction activeViewport NewDirection)
    (vla-put-ActiveViewport doc activeViewport)
    (vla-ZoomAll acadObj)
    
    ;; Perform an intersection on the two solids
    (alert "Perform an intersection on the two solids.")
    (vla-Boolean boxObj acIntersection cylinderObj)
    (vla-Regen doc :vlax-true)
    
    (alert "Intersection complete.")
)