here is are a couple applications of this.
Visio animation:
In the animation template I posted, I included std straight line and arcs....but did not have time
to include ability to trace the path of any arbitratry "line". I have not read this, but assuming it
is either iterative (measurement N = measurement N-1 + some delta) or an array of points, one
could take such a function and apply as increments (find instance m...or....array element m) and
move some shape to that.
Offset of lines:
Assume somebody wants to make an array of lines (think of a PCIe 8X bus shape). June, you could take your iso connectors and extend so that user makes any arbitrary line (set angles and such in custom properties) and use this to make create an array of lines. I am not sure, but I think this is different than say copying the lines and offset them since spacing is not visually uniform.
Poor mans CAD:
Assume somebody wanted to see if two lines crossed, one could use this to follow the paths and see if there is an intersect. Again, I have not looked at this in detail, but assume the measurements are in absolute mm or inches....so some simple math used on the two paths could determine if they cross.
I would think this is more for a reports kind of thing...not so much for drawing since an intersect would spawn a "bump" for visually saying not connected...but that is done be routing today already.
Finally, you could make a 2D to 3D translater.
Since defines the path of a line and thus could be extended to a closed shape, you could do things like copy the shape, offset it, place behind. Then walk both paths and where there is a change direction
(1st or 2nd derivative if I remember my grade school math), you could connect up the points and make a closed shape for the region tying the two paths together. If you make this region a separate subshape in the group, you could then apply color and gradients to show more realistic view of the 3D shape
Since this covers an arbitray path, then any arbitray shape could be morphed (maybe want a suite of standard shapes already converted...visio has some of this already but these std shapres are really odd version of 3D...it seems they were done because they were easy...not because they are realistic).
I did this for some std shapes....though I worked the math for the shape...I did not make the subshapes track the original...I am sure if I could ever understand what loctoloc and loctopar really do, I probably could have save countless hours makeing this work.
