X → Vector Conversions

This topic provides a reference table for all automatic type conversions to vector, sorted by merit.

Direct Conversions

This section lists all direct conversions to the vector type. A 'Direct' conversion indicates a relation between very related types, such as integers and numbers, or 2D and 3D points. Though note that even these conversions can fail due to out-of-bounds issues, or be narrowing due to reduction.

From	Explanation
plane	Extracts the Z-axis direction vector of the plane.
point2	Converts the point coordinates into vector components.
point3	Converts the point coordinates into vector components.

Fair Conversions

This section lists all fair conversions to the vector type. A 'Fair' conversion indicates the types involved are closesly related in a data layout sense, though not necessarily in a conceptual sense. For example booleans and integers, or points and vectors. Although these conversions may fail or narrow, it is nevertheless considered decent practice to rely upon them in algorithms.

From	Explanation
arc	Extracts the normal vector of the arc plane.
circle	Extracts the normal vector of the circle plane.
complex number	Maps real and imaginary components to X and Y vector components.
curve	Extracts tangent vector for linear curves, normal vector for planar curves.
ITuple	Convert coordinate tuples to vectors.
line	Creates a vector from the line's direction and length.
polyline	Linear polylines yield tangent vectors, planar polylines yield normal vectors.
rectangle	Extracts the normal vector of the rectangle plane.
triangle	Extracts the normal vector of the triangle plane.
view	Get the camera direction of the view.

Plausible Conversions

This section lists all plausible conversions to the vector type. A 'Plausible' conversion indicates a non-straightforward, but a still reasonable conversion between two types that share a salient quality, or where one is an obvious sub-type of the other. For example curves and intervals, or points and planes. Any plausible conversion can also be achieved through the explicit use of standard components.

From	Explanation
angle	Creates a counter-clockwise vector in XY plane at the specified angle.
brep	Extracts the average surface normal vector.
colour	Maps (R,G,B) values to (X,Y,Z) vector components.
Colour (RGB)	Maps (R,G,B) values to (X,Y,Z) vector components.
integer	Creates a vector with the integer as the Z component.
integer (big)	Creates a vector with the integer as the Z component.
mesh	Computes the average of all vertex normals.
number	Creates a vector with the number as the Z component.
surface	Extracts the average surface normal vector.

Strange Conversions

This section lists all strange conversions to the vector type. A 'Strange' conversion indicates a peculiar, but occasionally sensible, translation between types. However, it is equally likely that the conversion was not intended and thus represents a mistake in the algorithm design, which is why this conversion level is the default for showing conversion warnings in the Grasshopper interface. Examples in this category include the conversion between colours and booleans, or between circles and triangles. Any strange conversion can also be achieved through the explicit use of standard components.

From	Explanation
boolean	Converts false to zero vector, true to unit Z vector.
box	Extracts the diagonal vector of the box.
interval	Creates a vector with the interval length as Z component.
sphere	Extracts the axis direction vector of the sphere.
tube	Extracts the axis direction vector of the tube..