[saminator910]

I created a fairly simple program to create a 3d vector field, I want to know how to make it so that you can input equations for x,y,z instead of editing the code each time.

from visual import *
curve(pos=[(-15,-15,15),(-15,15,15),(15,15,15),(15,-15,15),(-15,-15,15)])
curve(pos=[(-15,-15,-15),(-15,15,-15),(15,15,-15),(15,-15,-15),(-15,-15,-15)])
curve(pos=[(15,-15,15),(15,-15,-15)])
curve(pos=[(-15,-15,15),(-15,-15,-15)])
curve(pos=[(-15,15,15),(-15,15,-15)])
curve(pos=[(15,15,15),(15,15,-15)])
points(pos=[(0,0,0)])
label(pos=(15,0,0), text = 'x+')
label(pos=(0,0,15), text = 'z+')
label(pos=(0,15,0), text = 'y+')
label(pos=(0,0,0), text = 'O')

x = -10
y = -10
z = -10


while  z <= 10:
    
    a = .5*x   #the area of interest, this is where you set a,b,c equal to a equations for x, y, z
    b = .5*y
    c = .5*z

    d = arrow(pos = (x,y,z), axis = (a,b,c))

    if x < 10:
        x = x+5
        
    elif y < 10:
        y = y+5
        x = -10

    elif z <= 10:
        z = z+5
        y = -10
        x = -10

So I need to set the individual variables a,b,c equal to different equations of x,y,z. How am I supposed to do this without editing the code each time, if I can assign a some type of variable to these equations, I can easily create an input.I have no idea. I am new to python BTW, picked it up to create a program for vector fields.

[baavgai]

I'm not really following the question. I did have fun playing with this, though.

First, function. Always use functions:

from visual import *

def drawField():
	curve(pos=[(-15,-15,15),(-15,15,15),(15,15,15),(15,-15,15),(-15,-15,15)])
	curve(pos=[(-15,-15,-15),(-15,15,-15),(15,15,-15),(15,-15,-15),(-15,-15,-15)])
	curve(pos=[(15,-15,15),(15,-15,-15)])
	curve(pos=[(-15,-15,15),(-15,-15,-15)])
	curve(pos=[(-15,15,15),(-15,15,-15)])
	curve(pos=[(15,15,15),(15,15,-15)])
	points(pos=[(0,0,0)])
	label(pos=(15,0,0), text = 'x+')
	label(pos=(0,0,15), text = 'z+')
	label(pos=(0,15,0), text = 'y+')
	label(pos=(0,0,0), text = 'O')


def drawArrows():
	x, y, z = -10, -10, -10

	while  z <= 10:
		(a,b,c) = (0.5*x, 0.5*y, 0.5*z)
		arrow(pos = (x,y,z), axis = (a,b,c))

		if x < 10:
			x = x+5
		elif y < 10:
			y = y+5
			x = -10
		elif z <= 10:
			z = z+5
			y = -10
			x = -10

drawField()
drawArrows()

It took me a moment to figure out what kind of pattern drawArrows as aiming for. Then figured out it was this:

def drawArrows():
	for z in range(-10, 10+1, 5):
		for y in range(-10, 10+1, 5):
			for x in range(-10, 10+1, 5):
				(a,b,c) = (0.5*x, 0.5*y, 0.5*z)
				arrow(pos = (x,y,z), axis = (a,b,c))

If the question is how to express that in terms of a,b,c rather than x,y,z, you'd simply reverse it:

def drawArrows():
	steps = [ i*0.5 for i in range(-10, 10+1, 5) ]
	for c in steps:
		for b in steps:
			for a in steps:
				(x,y,z) = 2.0*a, 2.0*b, 2.0*c
				arrow(pos = (x,y,z), axis = (a,b,c))

Perhaps if you had an example of what values you change and why?

This post has been edited by baavgai: 07 October 2012 - 04:50 AM

[saminator910]

Sure, I make equations in terms of x,y,z for a. they change the vector field, for example I may change it to this

    a = .25*z
    b = .25*y
    c = .25*z

or this

    a = .25*y
    b = .25*-2
    c = .25*x

or this

    a = .25*x
    b = .25*y
    c = .25*z

I want to be able to change the equations on the right side without going in an editing it each time, I will create an input, but I have no idea how to set those equations equal to variables, or inputs.