The problem of simply copying stuff is that there is often no documentation what a certain function actually does and what the arguments are for. Also there is a high chance that the copied function is not the best way to do a task. I have at least one example of code here in the forum that is not ideal, where at least nowadays better, easier and more robust functions exist to achieve a task. Thus I find it crucial to have the code documented in order to be able to check the quality of pasted code.
Well, I think it is not even documented that the argument is the path? Also it is not documented what the function actually does (does it open the file at the given path? does it set the document to active? etc.)
Ah, found the problem. Above, you said the wrapper used Part::TopoShape, but you apparently meant Part::TopoShapePy. This one has the tesselate function.
The Python documentation generated from the FreeCAD App is much better, for example the class Shape:
Code: Select all
class Shape(Data.ComplexGeoData)
TopoShape is the OpenCasCade topological shape wrapper.
Sub-elements such as vertices, edges or faces are accessible as:
* Vertex#, where # is in range(1, number of vertices)
* Edge#, where # is in range(1, number of edges)
* Face#, where # is in range(1, number of faces)
Method resolution order:
Shape
Data.ComplexGeoData
Base.Persistence
Base.BaseClass
builtins.PyObjectBase
builtins.object
Methods defined here:
__delattr__(self, name, /)
Implement delattr(self, name).
__getattribute__(self, name, /)
Return getattr(self, name).
__getstate__(...)
Serialize the content of this shape to a string in BREP format.
__init__(self, /, *args, **kwargs)
Initialize self. See help(type(self)) for accurate signature.
__new__(*args, **kwargs) from builtins.type
Create and return a new object. See help(type) for accurate signature.
__repr__(self, /)
Return repr(self).
__setattr__(self, name, value, /)
Implement setattr(self, name, value).
__setstate__(...)
Deserialize the content of this shape from a string in BREP format.
ancestorsOfType(...)
ancestorsOfType(shape, shape type) -> list
For a sub-shape of this shape get its ancestors of a type.
check(...)
Checks the shape and report errors in the shape structure.
This is a more detailed check as done in isValid().
myShape.check(runBopCheck = False)
if runBopCheck is True, a BOPCheck analysis is also performed.
childShapes(...)
childShapes([cumOri=True, cumLoc=True]) -> list
Return a list of sub-shapes that are direct children of this shape.
* If cumOri is true, the function composes all
sub-shapes with the orientation of this shape.
* If cumLoc is true, the function multiplies all
sub-shapes by the location of this shape, i.e. it applies to
each sub-shape the transformation that is associated with this shape.
cleaned(...)
This creates a cleaned copy of the shape with the triangulation removed.
This can be useful to reduce file size when exporting as a BREP file.
Warning: Use the cleaned shape with care because certain algorithms may work incorrectly
if the shape has no internal triangulation any more.
common(...)
Intersection of this and a given (list of) topo shape.
common(tool) -> Shape
or
common((tool1,tool2,...),[tolerance=0.0]) -> Shape
Intersection of this and a given list of topo shapes.
Supports:
- Fuzzy Boolean operations (global tolerance for a Boolean operation)
- Support of multiple arguments for a single Boolean operation (s1 AND (s2 OR s3))
- Parallelization of Boolean Operations algorithm
OCC 6.9.0 or later is required.
complement(...)
Computes the complement of the orientation of this shape,
i.e. reverses the interior/exterior status of boundaries of this shape.
copy(...)
Create a copy of this shape
copy(copyGeom=True, copyMesh=False) -> Shape
If copyMesh is True, triangulation contained in original shape will be
copied along with geometry.
If copyGeom is False, only topological objects will be copied, while
geometry and triangulation will be shared with original shape.
cut(...)
Difference of this and a given (list of) topo shape
cut(tool) -> Shape
or
cut((tool1,tool2,...),[tolerance=0.0]) -> Shape
Substraction of this and a given list of topo shapes.
Supports:
- Fuzzy Boolean operations (global tolerance for a Boolean operation)
- Support of multiple arguments for a single Boolean operation
- Parallelization of Boolean Operations algorithm
OCC 6.9.0 or later is required.
defeaturing(...)
Remove a feature defined by supplied faces and return a new shape.
The parameter is a list of faces.
distToShape(...)
Find the minimum distance to another shape.
distToShape(Shape s): Returns a list of minimum distance and solution point pairs.
Returned is a tuple of three: (dist, vectors, infos).
dist is the minimum distance, in mm (float value).
vectors is a list of pairs of App.Vector. Each pair corresponds to solution.
Example: [(Vector (2.0, -1.0, 2.0), Vector (2.0, 0.0, 2.0)), (Vector (2.0,
-1.0, 2.0), Vector (2.0, -1.0, 3.0))] First vector is a point on self, second
vector is a point on s.
infos contains additional info on the solutions. It is a list of tuples:
(topo1, index1, params1, topo2, index2, params2)
topo1, topo2 are strings identifying type of BREP element: 'Vertex',
'Edge', or 'Face'.
index1, index2 are indexes of the elements (zero-based).
params1, params2 are parameters of internal space of the elements. For
vertices, params is None. For edges, params is one float, u. For faces,
params is a tuple (u,v).
dumpToString(...)
Dump information about the shape to a string.
exportBinary(...)
Export the content of this shape in binary format to a file.
exportBrep(...)
Export the content of this shape to an BREP file. BREP is a CasCade native format.
exportBrepToString(...)
Export the content of this shape to a string in BREP format. BREP is a CasCade native format.
exportIges(...)
Export the content of this shape to an IGES file.
exportStep(...)
Export the content of this shape to an STEP file.
exportStl(...)
Export the content of this shape to an STL mesh file.
extrude(...)
Extrude the shape along a direction.
fix(...)
Tries to fix a broken shape. True is returned if the operation succeeded, False otherwise.
fix(working precision, minimum precision, maximum precision)
fixTolerance(...)
fixTolerance(value, ShapeType=Shape)
Sets (enforces) tolerances in a shape to the given value
ShapeType = Vertex : only vertices are set
ShapeType = Edge : only edges are set
ShapeType = Face : only faces are set
ShapeType = Wire : to have edges and their vertices set
ShapeType = other value : all (vertices,edges,faces) are set
fuse(...)
Union of this and a given (list of) topo shape.
fuse(tool) -> Shape
or
fuse((tool1,tool2,...),[tolerance=0.0]) -> Shape
Union of this and a given list of topo shapes.
Supports (OCCT 6.9.0 and above):
- Fuzzy Boolean operations (global tolerance for a Boolean operation)
- Support of multiple arguments for a single Boolean operation
- Parallelization of Boolean Operations algorithm
Beginning from OCCT 6.8.1 a tolerance value can be specified.
generalFuse(...)
generalFuse(list_of_other_shapes, fuzzy_value = 0.0): Run general fuse algorithm (GFA) between this and given shapes.
list_of_other_shapes: shapes to run the algorithm against (the list is
effectively prepended by 'self').
fuzzy_value: extra tolerance to apply when searching for interferences, in
addition to tolerances of the input shapes.
Returns a tuple of 2: (result, map).
result is a compound containing all the pieces generated by the algorithm
(e.g., for two spheres, the pieces are three touching solids). Pieces that
touch share elements.
map is a list of lists of shapes, providing the info on which children of
result came from which argument. The length of list is equal to length of
list_of_other_shapes + 1. First element is a list of pieces that came from
shape of this, and the rest are those that come from corresponding shapes in
list_of_other_shapes.
hint: use isSame method to test shape equality
Parallelization of Boolean Operations algorithm
OCC 6.9.0 or later is required.
getElement(...)
Returns a SubElement
getTolerance(...)
getTolerance(mode, ShapeType=Shape) -> float
Determines a tolerance from the ones stored in a shape
mode = 0 : returns the average value between sub-shapes,
mode > 0 : returns the maximal found,
mode < 0 : returns the minimal found.
ShapeType defines what kinds of sub-shapes to consider:
Shape (default) : all : Vertex, Edge, Face,
Vertex : only vertices,
Edge : only edges,
Face : only faces,
Shell : combined Shell + Face, for each face (and containing
shell), also checks edge and Vertex
globalTolerance(...)
globalTolerance(mode) -> float
Returns the computed tolerance according to the mode
mode = 0 : average
mode > 0 : maximal
mode < 0 : minimal
hashCode(...)
This value is computed from the value of the underlying shape reference and the location.
Orientation is not taken into account.
importBinary(...)
Import the content to this shape of a string in BREP format.
importBrep(...)
Load the shape from a file in BREP format.
importBrepFromString(...)
Load the shape from a string that keeps the content in BREP format.
importBrepFromString(str,False) to not display a progress bar.
inTolerance(...)
inTolerance(value, ShapeType=Shape) -> float
Determines which shapes have a tolerance within a given interval
ShapeType is interpreted as in the method getTolerance
isClosed(...)
Checks if the shape is closed
If the shape is a shell it returns True if it has no free boundaries (edges).
If the shape is a wire it returns True if it has no free ends (vertices).
(Internal and External sub-shepes are ignored in these checks)
If the shape is an edge it returns True if its vertices are the same.
isEqual(...)
Checks if both shapes are equal.
This means geometry, placement and orientation are equal.
isInside(...)
Checks whether a point is inside or outside the shape.
isInside(App.Vector, float, Boolean) => Boolean
The App.Vector is the point you want to check if it's inside or not
float gives the tolerance
Boolean indicates if the point lying directly on a face is considered to be inside or not
isNull(...)
Checks if the shape is null.
isPartner(...)
Checks if both shapes share the same geometry.
Placement and orientation may differ.
isSame(...)
Checks if both shapes share the same geometry
and placement. Orientation may differ.
isValid(...)
Checks if the shape is valid, i.e. neither null, nor empty nor corrupted.
limitTolerance(...)
limitTolerance(tmin, tmax=0, ShapeType=Shape)
Limits tolerances in a shape as follows :
tmin = tmax -> as fixTolerance (forces)
tmin = 0 -> maximum tolerance will be tmax
tmax = 0 or not given (more generally, tmax < tmin) ->
tmax ignored, minimum will be tmin
else, maximum will be max and minimum will be min
ShapeType = Vertex : only vertices are set
ShapeType = Edge : only edges are set
ShapeType = Face : only faces are set
ShapeType = Wire : to have edges and their vertices set
ShapeType = other value : all (vertices,edges,faces) are set
Returns True if at least one tolerance of the sub-shape has
been modified
makeChamfer(...)
Make chamfer.
makeFillet(...)
Make fillet.
makeOffset2D(...)
makeOffset2D(offset, join = 0, fill = False, openResult = false, intersection =
false): makes an offset shape (2d offsetting). The function supports keyword
arguments. Input shape (self) can be edge, wire, face, or a compound of those.
* offset: distance to expand the shape by. Negative value will shrink the
shape.
* join: method of offsetting non-tangent joints. 0 = arcs, 1 = tangent, 2 =
intersection
* fill: if true, the output is a face filling the space covered by offset. If
false, the output is a wire.
* openResult: affects the way open wires are processed. If False, an open wire
is made. If True, a closed wire is made from a double-sided offset, with rounds
around open vertices.
* intersection: affects the way compounds are processed. If False, all children
are offset independently. If True, and children are edges/wires, the children
are offset in a collective manner. If compounding is nested, collectiveness
does not spread across compounds (only direct children of a compound are taken
collectively).
Returns: result of offsetting (wire or face or compound of those). Compounding
structure follows that of source shape.
makeOffsetShape(...)
makeOffsetShape(offset, tolerance, inter = False, self_inter = False,
offsetMode = 0, join = 0, fill = False): makes an offset shape (3d offsetting).
The function supports keyword arguments.
* offset: distance to expand the shape by. Negative value will shrink the
shape.
* tolerance: precision of approximation.
* inter: (parameter to OCC routine; not implemented)
* self_inter: (parameter to OCC routine; not implemented)
* offsetMode: 0 = skin; 1 = pipe; 2 = recto-verso
* join: method of offsetting non-tangent joints. 0 = arcs, 1 = tangent, 2 =
intersection
* fill: if true, offsetting a shell is to yield a solid
Returns: result of offsetting.
makeParallelProjection(...)
Parallel projection of an edge or wire on this shape
makeParallelProjection(shape, dir)
makePerspectiveProjection(...)
Perspective projection of an edge or wire on this shape
makePerspectiveProjection(shape, pnt)
makeShapeFromMesh(...)
Make a compound shape out of mesh data.
Note: This should be used for rather small meshes only.
makeThickness(...)
makeThickness(List of shapes, Offset (Float), Tolerance (Float)) -> Shape
A hollowed solid is built from an initial solid and a set of faces on this solid,
which are to be removed. The remaining faces of the solid become the walls of
the hollowed solid, their thickness defined at the time of construction.
mirror(...)
Mirror this shape on a given plane.
The plane is given with its base point and its normal direction.
multiFuse(...)
multiFuse((tool1,tool2,...),[tolerance=0.0]) -> Shape
Union of this and a given list of topo shapes.
Supports (OCCT 6.9.0 and above):
- Fuzzy Boolean operations (global tolerance for a Boolean operation)
- Support of multiple arguments for a single Boolean operation
- Parallelization of Boolean Operations algorithm
Beginning from OCCT 6.8.1 a tolerance value can be specified.
Deprecated: use fuse() instead.
nullify(...)
Destroys the reference to the underlying shape stored in this shape.
As a result, this shape becomes null.
oldFuse(...)
Union of this and a given topo shape (old algorithm).
optimalBoundingBox(...)
optimalBoundingBox(useTriangulation = True, useShapeTolerance = False) -> bound box
overTolerance(...)
overTolerance(value, ShapeType=Shape) -> float
Determines which shapes have a tolerance over the given value
ShapeType is interpreted as in the method getTolerance
project(...)
Project a list of shapes on this shape
proximity(...)
proximity(Shape s): Returns two lists of Face indexes for the Faces involved in the intersection.
read(...)
Read in an IGES, STEP or BREP file.
reflectLines(...)
Build reflect lines on a shape according to the axes of view.
Reflect lines are represented by edges in 3d.
reflectLines(ViewDir, ViewPos, UpDir) -> Shape
removeInternalWires(...)
Removes internal wires (also holes) from the shape.
removeShape(...)
Remove a sub-shape and return a new shape.
The parameter is a list of shapes.
removeSplitter(...)
Removes redundant edges from the B-REP model
replaceShape(...)
Replace a sub-shape with a new shape and return a new shape.
The parameter is in the form list of tuples with the two shapes.
reverse(...)
Reverses the orientation of this shape.
revolve(...)
Revolve the shape around an Axis to a given degree.
Part.revolve(Vector(0,0,0),Vector(0,0,1),360) - revolves the shape around the Z Axis 360 degree.
Hints: Sometimes you want to create a rotation body out of a closed edge or wire.
Example:
from FreeCAD import Base
import Part
V=Base.Vector
e=Part.Ellipse()
s=e.toShape()
r=s.revolve(V(0,0,0),V(0,1,0), 360)
Part.show(r)
However, you may possibly realize some rendering artifacts or that the mesh
creation seems to hang. This is because this way the surface is created twice.
Since the curve is a full ellipse it is sufficient to do a rotation of 180 degree
only, i.e. r=s.revolve(V(0,0,0),V(0,1,0), 180)
Now when rendering this object you may still see some artifacts at the poles. Now the
problem seems to be that the meshing algorithm doesn't like to rotate around a point
where there is no vertex.
The idea to fix this issue is that you create only half of the ellipse so that its shape
representation has vertexes at its start and end point.
from FreeCAD import Base
import Part
V=Base.Vector
e=Part.Ellipse()
s=e.toShape(e.LastParameter/4,3*e.LastParameter/4)
r=s.revolve(V(0,0,0),V(0,1,0), 360)
Part.show(r)
rotate(...)
Apply the rotation (degree) to the current location of this shape
Shp.rotate(Vector(0,0,0),Vector(0,0,1),180) - rotate the shape around the Z Axis 180 degrees.
scale(...)
Apply scaling with point and factor to this shape.
section(...)
Section of this with a given (list of) topo shape.
section(tool,[approximation=False]) -> Shape
or
section((tool1,tool2,...),[tolerance=0.0, approximation=False]) -> Shape
If approximation is True, section edges are approximated to a C1-continuous BSpline curve.
Section of this and a given list of topo shapes.
Supports:
- Fuzzy Boolean operations (global tolerance for a Boolean operation)
- Support of multiple arguments for a single Boolean operation (s1 AND (s2 OR s3))
- Parallelization of Boolean Operations algorithm
OCC 6.9.0 or later is required.
sewShape(...)
Sew the shape if there is a gap.
slice(...)
Make single slice of this shape.
slices(...)
Make slices of this shape.
tessellate(...)
Tessellate the shape and return a list of vertices and face indices
toNurbs(...)
Conversion of the complete geometry of a shape into NURBS geometry.
For example, all curves supporting edges of the basis shape are converted
into B-spline curves, and all surfaces supporting its faces are converted
into B-spline surfaces.
transformGeometry(...)
Apply geometric transformation on this or a copy the shape.
This method returns a new shape.
The transformation to be applied is defined as a 4x4 matrix.
The underlying geometry of the following shapes may change:
- a curve which supports an edge of the shape, or
- a surface which supports a face of the shape;
For example, a circle may be transformed into an ellipse when
applying an affinity transformation. It may also happen that
the circle then is represented as a B-spline curve.
The transformation is applied to:
- all the curves which support edges of the shape, and
- all the surfaces which support faces of the shape.
Note: If you want to transform a shape without changing the
underlying geometry then use the methods translate or rotate.
transformGeometry(Matrix) -> Shape
transformShape(...)
Apply transformation on a shape without changing
the underlying geometry.
transformShape(Matrix,[boolean copy=False]) -> None
translate(...)
Apply the translation to the current location of this shape.
writeInventor(...)
Write the mesh in OpenInventor format to a string.
Data descriptors defined here:
Area
Total area of the faces of the shape.
CompSolids
List of subsequent shapes in this shape.
Compounds
List of compounds in this shape.
Edges
List of Edges in this shape.
Faces
List of faces in this shape.
Length
Total length of the edges of the shape.
Orientation
Returns the orientation of the shape.
ShapeType
Returns the type of the shape.
Shells
List of subsequent shapes in this shape.
Solids
List of subsequent shapes in this shape.
Vertexes
List of vertexes in this shape.
Volume
Total volume of the solids of the shape.
Wires
List of wires in this shape.
Methods inherited from Data.ComplexGeoData:
getFacesFromSubelement(...)
Return vertexes and faces from a sub-element
Data descriptors inherited from Data.ComplexGeoData:
BoundBox
Get the BoundBox of the object
Matrix
Get the current transformation of the object as matrix
Placement
Get the current transformation of the object as placement
Methods inherited from Base.Persistence:
dumpContent(...)
Dumps the content of the object, both the XML representation as well as the additional datafiles
required, into a byte representation. It will be returned as byte array.
dumpContent() -- returns a byte array with full content
dumpContent(Compression=1-9) -- Sets the data compression from 0 (no) to 9 (max)
restoreContent(...)
Restore the content of the object from a byte representation as stored by "dumpContent".
It could be restored from any python object implementing the buffer protocol.
restoreContent(buffer) -- restores from the given byte array
Data descriptors inherited from Base.Persistence:
Content
Content of the object in XML representation
MemSize
Memory size of the object in byte
Methods inherited from Base.BaseClass:
getAllDerivedFrom(...)
Returns all descendants
isDerivedFrom(...)
Returns true if given type is a father
Data descriptors inherited from Base.BaseClass:
Module
Module in which this class is defined
TypeId
Is the type of the FreeCAD object with module domain
So most of the documentation seems to be already there, but that is not displayed in the FreeCAD API from Doxygen. Since relying on Python for scripting, I think it is more important to have the Python classes documented somewhere. The C++ classes are also good to have, but currently it seems, the complete Python documentation is lacking from Doxygen, correct?