DOC.txt

INTRODUCTION
============

A sketch in SolveSpace consists of three basic elements: parameters,
entities, and constraints.

A parameter (Slvs_Param) is a single real number, represented internally
by a double-precision floating point variable. The parameters are unknown
variables that the solver modifies in order to satisfy the constraints.

An entity (Slvs_Entity) is a geometric thing, like a point or a line
segment or a circle. Entities are defined in terms of parameters,
and in terms of other entities. For example, a point in three-space
is represented by three parameters, corresponding to its x, y, and z
coordinates in our base coordinate frame. A line segment is represented
by two point entities, corresponding to its endpoints.

A constraint (Slvs_Constraint) is a geometric property of an entity,
or a relationship among multiple entities. For example, a point-point
distance constraint will set the distance between two point entities.

Parameters, entities, and constraints are typically referenced by their
handles (Slvs_hParam, Slvs_hEntity, Slvs_hConstraint). These handles are
32-bit integer values starting from 1. The zero handle is reserved. Each
object has a unique handle within its type (but it's acceptable, for
example to have a constraint with an Slvs_hConstraint of 7, and also to
have an entity with an Slvs_hEntity of 7). The use of handles instead
of pointers helps to avoid memory corruption.

Entities and constraints are assigned into groups. A group is a set of
entities and constraints that is solved simultaneously. In a parametric
CAD system, a single group would typically correspond to a single sketch.
Constraints within a group may refer to entities outside that group,
but only the entities within that group will be modified by the solver.

Consider point A in group 1, and point B in group 2. We have a constraint
in group 2 that makes the points coincident. When we solve group 2, the
solver is allowed to move point B to place it on top of point A. It is
not allowed to move point A to put it on top of point B, because point
A is outside the group being solved.

This corresponds to the typical structure of a parametric CAD system. In a
later sketch, we may constrain our entities against existing geometry from
earlier sketches. The constraints will move the entities in our current
sketch, but will not change the geometry from the earlier sketches.

To use the solver, we first define a set of parameters, entities, and
constraints. We provide an initial guess for each parameter; this is
necessary to achieve convergence, and also determines which solution
gets chosen when (finitely many) multiple solutions exist. Typically,
these initial guesses are provided by the initial configuration in which
the user drew the entities before constraining them.

We then run the solver for a given group. The entities within that group
are modified in an attempt to satisfy the constraints.

After running the solver, there are three possible outcomes:

    * All constraints were satisfied to within our numerical
      tolerance (i.e., success). The result is equal to SLVS_RESULT_OKAY,
      and the parameters in param[] have been updated.

    * The solver can prove that two constraints are inconsistent (for
      example, if a line with nonzero length is constrained both
      horizontal and vertical). In that case, a list of inconsistent
      constraints is generated in failed[].

    * The solver cannot prove that two constraints are inconsistent, but
      it cannot find a solution. In that case, the list of unsatisfied
      constraints is generated in failed[].


TYPES OF ENTITIES
=================

SLVS_E_POINT_IN_3D

    A point in 3d. Defined by three parameters:
        
        param[0]    the point's x coordinate
        param[1]                y
        param[1]                z


SLVS_E_POINT_IN_2D

    A point within a workplane. Defined by the workplane

        wrkpl

    and by two parameters

        param[0]    the point's u coordinate
        param[1]                v

    within the coordinate system of the workplane. For example, if the
    workplane is the zx plane, then u = z and v = x. If the workplane is
    parallel to the zx plane, but translated so that the workplane's
    origin is (3, 4, 5), then u = z - 5 and v = x - 3.


SLVS_E_NORMAL_IN_3D

    A normal. In SolveSpace, "normals" represent a 3x3 rotation matrix
    from our base coordinate system to a new frame. Defined by the
    unit quaternion

        param[0]        w
        param[1]        x
        param[2]        y
        param[3]        z

    where the quaternion is given by w + x*i + y*j + z*k.

    It is useful to think of this quaternion as representing a plane
    through the origin. This plane has three associated vectors: basis
    vectors U, V that lie within the plane, and normal N that is
    perpendicular to it. This means that

        [ U V N ]'

    defines a 3x3 rotation matrix. So U, V, and N all have unit length,
    and are orthogonal so that
    
        U cross V = N
        V cross N = U
        N cross U = V

    Convenience functions (Slvs_Quaternion*) are provided to convert
    between this representation as vectors U, V, N and the unit
    quaternion.

    A unit quaternion has only 3 degrees of freedom, but is specified in
    terms of 4 parameters. An extra constraint is therefore generated
    implicitly, that

        w^2 + x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 1


SLVS_E_NORMAL_IN_2D

    A normal within a workplane. This is identical to the workplane's
    normal, so it is simply defined by

        wrkpl

    This entity type is used, for example, to define a circle that lies
    within a workplane. The circle's normal is the same as the workplane's
    normal, so we can use an SLVS_E_NORMAL_IN_2D to copy the workplane's
    normal.


SLVS_E_DISTANCE

    A distance. This entity is used to define the radius of a circle, by
    a single parameter

        param[0]        r


SLVS_E_WORKPLANE

    An oriented plane, somewhere in 3d. This entity therefore has 6
    degrees of freedom: three translational, and three rotational. It is
    specified in terms of its origin

        point[0]        origin

    and a normal

        normal

    The normal describes three vectors U, V, N, as discussed in the
    documentation for SLVS_E_NORMAL_IN_3D. The plane is therefore given
    by the equation

        p = origin + s*U + t*V

    for any scalar s and t.


SLVS_E_LINE_SEGMENT
    
    A line segment between two endpoints

        point[0]
        point[1]


SLVS_E_CUBIC

    A nonrational cubic Bezier segment

        point[0]        starting point P0
        point[1]        control point  P1
        point[2]        control point  P2
        point[3]        ending point   P3

    The curve then has equation

        p(t) = P0*(1 - t)^3 + 3*P1*(1 - t)^2*t + 3*P2*(1 - t)*t^2 + P3*t^3

    as t goes from 0 to 1.


SLVS_E_CIRCLE

    A complete circle. The circle lies within a plane with normal

        normal

    The circle is centered at
        
        point[0]

    The circle's radius is

        distance


SLVS_E_ARC_OF_CIRCLE

    An arc of a circle. An arc must always lie within a workplane; it
    cannot be free in 3d. So it is specified with a workplane

        wrkpl

    It is then defined by three points

        point[0]        center of the circle
        point[1]        beginning of the arc
        point[2]        end of the arc

    and its normal

        normal          identical to the normal of the workplane

    The arc runs counter-clockwise from its beginning to its end (with
    the workplane's normal pointing towards the viewer). If the beginning
    and end of the arc are coincident, then the arc is considered to
    represent a full circle.

    This representation has an extra degree of freedom. An extra
    constraint is therefore generated implicitly, so that

        distance(center, beginning) = distance(center, end)


TYPES OF CONSTRAINTS
====================

Many constraints can apply either in 3d, or in a workplane. This is
determined by the wrkpl member of the constraint. If that member is set
to SLVS_FREE_IN_3D, then the constraint applies in 3d. If that member
is set equal to a workplane, the the constraint applies projected into
that workplane. (For example, a constraint on the distance between two
points actually applies to the projected distance).

Constraints that may be used in 3d or projected into a workplane are
marked with a single star (*). Constraints that must always be used with
a workplane are marked with a double star (**). Constraints that ignore
the wrkpl member are marked with no star.

SLVS_C_PT_PT_DISTANCE*

    The distance between points ptA and ptB is equal to valA. This is an
    unsigned distance, so valA must always be positive.

SLVS_C_PROJ_PT_DISTANCE

    The distance between points ptA and ptB, as projected along the line
    or normal entityA, is equal to valA. This is a signed distance.

SLVS_C_POINTS_COINCIDENT*

    Points ptA and ptB are coincident (i.e., exactly on top of each
    other).

SLVS_C_PT_PLANE_DISTANCE

    The distance from point ptA to workplane entityA is equal to
    valA. This is a signed distance; positive versus negative valA
    correspond to a point that is above vs. below the plane.

SLVS_C_PT_LINE_DISTANCE*

    The distance from point ptA to line segment entityA is equal to valA.

    If the constraint is projected, then valA is a signed distance;
    positive versus negative valA correspond to a point that is above
    vs. below the line.

    If the constraint applies in 3d, then valA must always be positive.

SLVS_C_PT_IN_PLANE

    The point ptA lies in plane entityA.

SLVS_C_PT_ON_LINE*

    The point ptA lies on the line entityA.

    Note that this constraint removes one degree of freedom when projected
    in to the plane, but two degrees of freedom in 3d.

SLVS_C_EQUAL_LENGTH_LINES*

    The lines entityA and entityB have equal length.

SLVS_C_LENGTH_RATIO*

    The length of line entityA divided by the length of line entityB is
    equal to valA.

SLVS_C_LENGTH_DIFFERENCE*

    The lengths of line entityA and line entityB differ by valA.

SLVS_C_EQ_LEN_PT_LINE_D*

    The length of the line entityA is equal to the distance from point
    ptA to line entityB.

SLVS_C_EQ_PT_LN_DISTANCES*

    The distance from the line entityA to the point ptA is equal to the
    distance from the line entityB to the point ptB.

SLVS_C_EQUAL_ANGLE*

    The angle between lines entityA and entityB is equal to the angle
    between lines entityC and entityD.

    If other is true, then the angles are supplementary (i.e., theta1 =
    180 - theta2) instead of equal.

SLVS_C_EQUAL_LINE_ARC_LEN*

    The length of the line entityA is equal to the length of the circular
    arc entityB.

SLVS_C_SYMMETRIC*

    The points ptA and ptB are symmetric about the plane entityA. This
    means that they are on opposite sides of the plane and at equal
    distances from the plane, and that the line connecting ptA and ptB
    is normal to the plane.

SLVS_C_SYMMETRIC_HORIZ
SLVS_C_SYMMETRIC_VERT**

    The points ptA and ptB are symmetric about the horizontal or vertical
    axis of the specified workplane.

SLVS_C_SYMMETRIC_LINE**

    The points ptA and ptB are symmetric about the line entityA.

SLVS_C_AT_MIDPOINT*

    The point ptA lies at the midpoint of the line entityA.
    
SLVS_C_HORIZONTAL
SLVS_C_VERTICAL**

    The line connecting points ptA and ptB is horizontal or vertical. Or,
    the line segment entityA is horizontal or vertical. If points are
    specified then the line segment should be left zero, and if a line
    is specified then the points should be left zero.

SLVS_C_DIAMETER

    The diameter of circle or arc entityA is equal to valA.

SLVS_C_PT_ON_CIRCLE

    The point ptA lies on the right cylinder obtained by extruding circle
    or arc entityA normal to its plane.

SLVS_C_SAME_ORIENTATION

    The normals entityA and entityB describe identical rotations. This
    constraint therefore restricts three degrees of freedom.

SLVS_C_ANGLE*

    The angle between lines entityA and entityB is equal to valA, where
    valA is specified in degrees. This constraint equation is written
    in the form

        (A dot B)/(|A||B|) = cos(valA)

    where A and B are vectors in the directions of lines A and B. This
    equation does not specify the angle unambiguously; for example,
    note that valA = +/- 90 degrees will produce the same equation.

    If other is true, then the constraint is instead that

        (A dot B)/(|A||B|) = -cos(valA)

SLVS_C_PERPENDICULAR*

    Identical to SLVS_C_ANGLE with valA = 90 degrees.

SLVS_C_PARALLEL*

    Lines entityA and entityB are parallel.

    Note that this constraint removes one degree of freedom when projected
    in to the plane, but two degrees of freedom in 3d.

SLVS_C_ARC_LINE_TANGENT**

    The arc entityA is tangent to the line entityB. If other is false,
    then the arc is tangent at its beginning (point[1]). If other is true,
    then the arc is tangent at its end (point[2]).

SLVS_C_CUBIC_LINE_TANGENT*

    The cubic entityA is tangent to the line entityB. The variable
    other indicates:

        if false: the cubic is tangent at its beginning
        if true:  the cubic is tangent at its end

    The beginning of the cubic is point[0], and the end is point[3].

SLVS_C_CURVE_CURVE_TANGENT**

    The two entities entityA and entityB are tangent. These entities can
    each be either an arc or a cubic, in any combination. The flags
    other and other2 indicate which endpoint of the curve is tangent,
    for entityA and entityB respectively:

        if false: the entity is tangent at its beginning
        if true:  the entity is tangent at its end

    For cubics, point[0] is the beginning, and point[3] is the end. For
    arcs, point[1] is the beginning, and point[2] is the end.

SLVS_C_EQUAL_RADIUS

    The circles or arcs entityA and entityB have equal radius.

SLVS_C_WHERE_DRAGGED*

    The point ptA is locked at its initial numerical guess, and cannot
    be moved. This constrains two degrees of freedom in a workplane,
    and three in free space. It's therefore possible for this constraint
    to overconstrain the sketch, for example if it's applied to a point
    with one remaining degree of freedom.


USING THE SOLVER
================

The solver is provided as a DLL, and will be usable with most
Windows-based developement tools. Examples are provided:

    in C/C++        - CDemo.c

    in VB.NET       - VbDemo.vb


Copyright 2009-2013 Jonathan Westhues.