Function Syntax: VTPCS Version: 1.0 Date: 29.06.2026 08:24:05 Version: 1.1 Date: 01.07.2026 7:49:49PM Description This AutoLISP program creates dynamic parallel pipe bundles between selected boundary curves in AutoCAD or Civil 3D. The program requires the user to select boundary curve objects first, then configure the pipe bundle in a DCL dialog, then move the cursor in modelspace to preview the pipes before placing them. The main purpose is to generate multiple filleted pipe routes with centerlines and left and right pipe edge offsets, using editable pipe count, centerline distance, radii, extensions, layers, and output options. Main Commands • PARAPIPES starts the main ParallelPipes command and opens the configuration dialog. • VTP is a backward-compatible command name that runs the same workflow as PARAPIPES. • MANAGEPIPES opens the pipe profile manager, where pipe profiles can be added, edited, deleted, reordered, and saved. • MANAGERADII opens the radius preset manager, where fillet radius presets can be added, edited, deleted, reordered, and saved. Basic Workflow • The user runs PARAPIPES or VTP. • The DCL dialog opens with pipe profile, geometry, radius, extension, layer, preview, and placement settings. • The user selects boundary curves such as lines, arcs, circles, ellipses, polylines, splines, rays, or xlines. • The user adjusts the number of pipes, centerline spacing, pipe edge offsets, fillet radius, extension lengths, and output layer options. • The user presses Place, Place+Close, or OK to enter modelspace placement mode. • While the cursor moves, the program displays a dynamic virtual preview of the complete pipe bundle. • When the user clicks, the preview is replaced by final real AutoCAD entities. • If repeat mode is enabled, the user can keep placing pipe bundles until pressing Enter or Escape. Boundary Curve Selection • The program uses selected boundary curves as the limits for the pipe route. • For each cursor position, it searches for intersections above and below the pick point. • The route can be based on the closest intersection below and above the pick point, or on the two closest intersections to the pick point. • The vertical direction normally follows the current UCS Y direction, so custom and named UCS systems are supported. • A fixed angle option can override the UCS direction and force placement along a user-defined angle in degrees. Dynamic Modelspace Preview • Dynamic preview shows temporary pipe geometry while the cursor moves. • The preview is virtual because temporary preview entities are deleted and rebuilt at the next cursor position. • The preview includes the full pipe bundle, not only the central construction line. • The preview uses the current pipe count, current centerline distance, current offsets, current radius settings, and current extension settings. • Left-click places the final real geometry at the current preview position. • Enter or Escape exits the placement loop and returns to the dialog when appropriate. Pipe Profile Controls • The pipe profile dropdown selects a saved pipe profile. • Each profile can define a pipe name, pipe count, left offset, right offset, centerline spacing, and output layer behavior. • The user can override the profile values directly in the main dialog. • Pipe count controls how many parallel pipes are generated. • CL spacing controls the distance between adjacent pipe centerlines. • Offset left and Offset right control the pipe edge offsets from each pipe centerline. DCL Schematic Preview • The DCL dialog contains an integrated schematic preview window. • The preview draws a more realistic filleted pipe shape with lower horizontal runs, rounded bends, vertical runs, upper rounded bends, and upper horizontal runs. • The schematic preview updates immediately when the user changes pipe count, CL spacing, or pipe offsets. • This preview is symbolic and is not a true embedded AutoCAD viewport. • The real placement preview still happens in modelspace after the user starts placement. Slider and Min/Max Controls • The dialog includes a pipe count slider for fast adjustment of the number of pipes. • The dialog includes a CL spacing slider for fast adjustment of the centerline distance between pipes. • The Min/Max button opens one combined range dialog for both pipe count and CL spacing. • The user can define minimum pipe count, maximum pipe count, minimum CL spacing, and maximum CL spacing. • After changing Min/Max values, the main dialog is rebuilt so the sliders use the new ranges. Fillet Radius Controls • The program can create filleted pipe routes at both ends of the vertical segment. • The user can turn fillets on or off. • Equal above and below radius mode can force both ends to use the same radius. • Separate below radius and above radius values are supported when equal radius mode is disabled. • Radius presets are available through the preset radius dropdown. • The user can reverse the below direction or above direction when the fillet orientation must be corrected. Extension Controls • The program can extend the route below the lower fillet and above the upper fillet. • Extensions can be enabled or disabled separately for below and above. • Equal extension mode can force both sides to use the same extension length. • Separate below extension and above extension values are supported when equal extension mode is disabled. Layer and Output Controls • The program can place pipe edge offsets on a selected output layer. • The default offset layer is typically VA_Schutzrohr. • The layer filter helps narrow the layer dropdown list. • The user can pick an existing drawing object to copy its layer into the output layer setting. • Pipe centerlines can be placed on _HILFSLINIEN when the centerline option is enabled. • The code can automatically create required layers if they do not already exist. Parallel Placement Options • The program can create an AutoCAD group for each placed pipe bundle. • The program can also place a mirrored copy of the bundle when mirror mode is enabled. • The program can create or suppress centerline polylines. • The program can move original helper geometry to _HILFSLINIEN. • The program can delete or keep original temporary construction geometry depending on the selected option. Dialog Window Behavior • The DCL dialog can be moved by dragging its title bar. • The dialog remembers its last screen position during the AutoCAD session using the Lee Mac style global point pattern. • The dialog can be reopened centered with the Center dialog button. • The dialog size can be changed through Compact, Normal, Wide, and Max width presets. • Native AutoCAD DCL does not support true edge-drag window resizing, so the program rebuilds the dialog with different preset widths. Placement Buttons • Place starts the dynamic placement loop and returns to the dialog after the loop is cancelled or completed. • Place+Close starts placement and then exits the command after placement mode ends. • Copy last copies the last placed pipe bundle to a new picked position. • Undo last deletes the last placed pipe bundle from the internal undo stack. • OK accepts the dialog settings and continues to placement. • Cancel closes the dialog without continuing placement. Entity Creation • For each pipe, the program creates an individual centerline route. • For each pipe centerline, the program creates left and right offset edge polylines. • A single pipe can therefore generate three main entities: one centerline and two edge lines. • Multiple pipes generate repeated parallel route entities based on the selected pipe count and CL spacing. • The route is computed independently for each pipe so the chamfered or filleted path follows the selected boundary geometry. Configuration Persistence • The program saves many dialog settings to a configuration file so the next run can reuse them. • Saved values include geometry options, radius values, extension values, profile selection, pipe count, spacing, offsets, layer choices, and output options. • Dialog screen position is handled separately with a session global variable rather than registry storage. Summary This LSP is a complete DCL-driven AutoCAD tool for configuring, previewing, and placing dynamic multi-pipe bundles between selected boundary curves. Its most important features are dynamic virtual modelspace preview, filleted multi-pipe generation, DCL schematic preview, pipe count and CL spacing sliders, editable Min/Max ranges, and pipe profile management. N/A