Developer: RhinoScript
Summary: Discusses how to create isometric views using RhinoScript.

AutoCAD has a VPOINT command that allows you to create isometric views of the model. Does Rhino have anything similar?

The VPOINT command uses the point entered by the user to create a vector that defines the direction from which the drawing can be viewed. You can do this in Rhino using the ViewportProperties command. In the ViewportProperties dialog, first set the view to parallel projection. Then, set the target location to 0,0,0 and the camera location to where you want to be viewing from.

If this seems too cumbersome, then you can also use the following RhinoScript subroutine:

 Sub VPoint
 
   Dim strView
   strView = Rhino.CurrentView
   If Rhino.ViewProjection(strView) = 2 Then
     Rhino.Print "Viewport must be set for parallel projection."
     Exit Sub
   End If
 
   Dim arrOptions
   arrOptions = Array("NE Isometric", "NW Isometric", "SE Isometric", "SW Isometric", "User Defined")
 
   Dim strOption
   strOption = Rhino.ListBox(arrOptions, "Select viewing direction", "VPoint")
   If IsNull(strOption) Then Exit Sub
 
   Dim arrCamera
   Select Case strOption
     Case "NE Isometric" arrCamera = Array( 1, 1,1)
     Case "NW Isometric" arrCamera = Array(-1, 1,1)
     Case "SE Isometric" arrCamera = Array( 1,-1,1)
     Case "SW Isometric" arrCamera = Array(-1,-1,1)
     Case Else arrCamera = Rhino.GetPoint("View point")
   End Select
 
   If Not IsArray(arrCamera) Then Exit Sub
 
   Dim arrTarget, v
   arrTarget = Array(0,0,0)
   v = Rhino.VectorCreate(arrCamera, arrTarget)
   If Rhino.IsVectorTiny(v) Then Exit Sub
 
   Rhino.EnableRedraw False    
   Rhino.ViewCameraTarget strView, arrCamera, arrTarget
   Rhino.ZoomExtents strView
   Rhino.EnableRedraw True
 
 End Sub