asked on

VB Calculating the distance between a point and a line segment

Hey, I'm trying to calculate the distance between a point and a line segment with a function. The only possible line segments are in 45 degree rotations, eg: _ | / \

I almost have it done, but my last problem is that if the line is in this orientation / it seems to move the line or somehow thing that it is like \ This is what I have so far. THe code at the beginning prevents similar screw ups like this with the other line orientations bu just swaping the pairs of coordinates.

' Calculate the distance between the point and the segment
Public Function DistanceToLine(PX As Single, PY As Single, X1 As Single, Y1 As Single, X2 As Single, Y2 As Single) As Single
Dim TempX As Single, TempY As Single
Dim DX As Single, DY As Single
Dim T As Single
'Swap coords if needed to keep the first one smaller
If (X1 > X2) Or (Y1 > Y2) Then
TempX = X1
TempY = Y1
X1 = X2
Y1 = Y2
X2 = TempX
Y2 = TempY
End If
' Calculate the distance between the point and the segment
DX = Abs(X2 - X1)
DY = Abs(Y2 - Y1)
T = (PX + PY - X1 - Y1) / (DX + DY)
If T < 0 Then
DX = PX - X1
DY = PY - Y1
ElseIf T > 1 Then
DX = PX - X2
DY = PY - Y2
Else
X2 = X1 + T * DX
Y2 = Y1 + T * DY
DX = PX - X2
DY = PY - Y2
End If
DistanceToLine = Sqr(DX * DX + DY * DY)
End Function

Thanks, Jebus

NBrownoh

that little function below will measure the length of any line, is that what you are looking for?

Public Function DistanceToLine(X1 As Double, Y1 As Double, X2 As Double, Y2 As Double) As Double
Dim HLen As Double, WLen As Double, TRoot As Double
HLen = Abs(X1 - X2)
WLen = Abs(Y1 - Y2)
HLen = HLen * HLen
WLen = WLen * WLen
TRoot = Sqr(WLen + HLen)
DistanceToLine = TRoot
End Function

dj__jebus

ASKER

Umm.. no I'm trying to give the function point X,Y and line X1,Y1,X2,Y2 and I want it to tell me the distance between them.

Thanks, Jebus

PS: If what I have doesn't seem to work, I've uped the points for anyone and they can completely rewrite it.

NBrownoh

ok, i am sure i can do this i just need a bit more info, you want to measure the distance from a random point to a line that will always be in 45 degree increments?

This doesnt make much sense because there are an infinite number of points on a line so you have to pick a point to measure to on the line. unless you are trying to measure from a point to the center of line. So where exactly on the line are you measuring to?

Mike Tomlinson

The distance being measured, is the length of the shortest line segment required to connect the point to the line, such that the line segment and the existing line are perpendicular to each other.

Idle_Mind

NBrownoh

ok, right on it.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

oboblpower

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NBrownoh

ah you beat me to it.

oboblpower

sorry, I posted it before I saw the last two comments. Did you get the same thing I got? (wanna make sure I didn't make any stupid mistakes.. I tend to do that)

-- O'Bob

NBrownoh

i was about to post it before i saw yours, but i did double check it and it came out to be correct by my calcs

dj__jebus

ASKER

Ok, that works awsome, the only thing is that it pretends the line carrys on infinately. I'm sure I can easily add some code at the end though to pick up those cases. As soon as I get that working i'll accept the answer.

Thanks, Jebus

dj__jebus

ASKER

Ok, I got it done, thanks so much here it is.

'Calculate the distanDistanceToLinece between the point and the segment
Public Function DistanceToLine(PX As Single, PY As Single, X1 As Single, Y1 As Single, X2 As Single, Y2 As Single, MaxHitDistance As Single) As Single
Dim A As Single, B As Single, C As Single, Distance As Single
A = Y1 - Y2
B = X2 - X1
C = X1 * Y2 - X2 * Y1
Distance = Abs(A * PX + B * PY + C) / (A ^ 2 + B ^ 2) ^ 0.5
'Crop the distance to fit the line segment and not an infinate line
'If the line is running left to right
If Distance < MaxHitDistance Then
If X1 < X2 Then
If PX < X1 Then
DistanceToLine = X1 - PX
ElseIf PX > X2 Then
DistanceToLine = PX - X2
Else
DistanceToLine = Distance
End If
'If the line is running right to left
ElseIf X1 > X2 Then
If PX > X1 Then
DistanceToLine = PX - X1
ElseIf PX < X2 Then
DistanceToLine = X2 - PX
Else
DistanceToLine = Distance
End If
'If the line is vertical
ElseIf X1 = X2 Then
'If the vertical line is top to bottom
If Y1 < Y2 Then
If PY < Y1 Then
DistanceToLine = Y1 - PY
ElseIf PY > Y2 Then
DistanceToLine = PY - Y2
Else
DistanceToLine = Distance
End If
'If the vertical line is bottom to top
ElseIf Y1 > Y2 Then
If PY > Y1 Then
DistanceToLine = PY - Y1
ElseIf PY < Y2 Then
DistanceToLine = Y2 - PY
Else
DistanceToLine = Distance
End If
End If
End If
Else
DistanceToLine = Distance
End If
End Function