Create a stable true rectangle

[Nikon]

Good day everyone!
I've discovered new (old?) the possibilities of a true rectangle. 
It is very convenient to work with him!
The only drawback is that the rectangle is unstable. You can create it and work with it only in the current file. If you then close and open this file, the properties of the true rectangle are lost.
Is it possible to make it stable so that its properties are preserved?

https://autocadtips1.com/2011/11/20/autolisp-make-a-real-rectacgle/

 

AutoLISP: Make a Real Rectangle
Posted on November 20, 2011 by AutoCAD Tips
A long time ago, AutoCAD used to make Rectangles and polygons as their own entities. When you made a rectangle and then did a LIST <enter> on it, it would show as a rectangle. Nowadays, these objects are those objects in their geometry but are made of polyline entities. So modifying these objects is sometimes hard. that’s where this routine steps in to help.

This routine lets you create a rectangle and even after you continue working elsewhere in your drawing, you can come back to that rectangle and modify that object and it acts like how rectangles used to act in AutoCAD.

Here’s how:

TREC <enter> to start “True RECtangle”
Create a rectangle how you normally create one
When needed, this routine will let you drag a single corner and the rest of the rectangle’s geometry will adjust accordingly to keep its geometry as a rectangle.

 

TrueRect.lsp

Edited December 8, 2025 by Nikon

[GLAVCVS]

Hi Nikon

It seems your code is simply performing a scroll.
You don't need Lisp to do that.
Simply, select the grip and press the spacebar.

[GLAVCVS]

Ugh
I think I watched your video too fast.
I haven't had much time to do anything slowly lately

 

I believe object reactors only survive the current drawing session.
You must consider that the reactor was created relative to an object name, and object names change between drawing sessions.

Edited December 8, 2025 by GLAVCVS

[Nikon]

It is a pity that there is no creation of a true rectangle in autocad itself! 

[Lee Mac]

20 minutes ago, Nikon said:

It is a pity that there is no creation of a true rectangle in autocad itself! 

 

It can be done, but it requires creating a custom object using ObjectARX (C++).

[Nikon]

1 hour ago, Lee Mac said:

 

It can be done, but it requires creating a custom object using ObjectARX (C++).

Maybe someone will be able to do it someday.

[pkenewell]

@Nikon FWIW - you can use the midpoint grips to drag the rectangle in straight directions to keep it square.

Edited December 8, 2025 by pkenewell

[Nikon]

1 hour ago, pkenewell said:

FWIW - you can use the midpoint grips to drag the rectangle in straight directions to keep it square.

With a true rectangle, there is much less movement to change the position of the sides.

                  

Edited December 8, 2025 by Nikon

[pkenewell]

@Nikon Like I said - "For What It's Worth". Note also you can shorten the steps slightly by using the PERP object snap.

 

 

[Nikon]

On 12/8/2025 at 7:52 PM, pkenewell said:

@Nikon Like I said - "For What It's Worth". Note also you can shorten the steps slightly by using the PERP object snap.

I agree with you, I use these bindings. But when I found out how easy it is to change a true rectangle, I "fell in love" with it.

I wonder in which version of Autocad was such a command available?

Edited December 14, 2025 by Nikon

[dexus]

38 minutes ago, Nikon said:

With a true rectangle, there is much less movement to change the position of the sides.

                  

 

If you only edit the rectangle with this the rectangle will stay true and the editing will be a bit more intuitive because the preview will be a true rectangle as well:

 

 

[pkenewell]

@Nikon Technically - your example could be done with object reactors. Alternatively, you can also use 2D constraints, which have been in AutoCAD since version 2010.

[troggarf]

Just a follow up. I posted that long before I knew the importance of making sure that the Author of the code is noted as well as where I found the code.

All credit goes to Gilles Chanteau. I have no idea where I found that code... It is probably somewhere here on cadtutor.

 

I have since, started making sure that ifo is included as a header in the file, that way it doesn't look like I am trying to take claim for it and also, if/when something stops working I know where to go to address the issue.

 

~Greg

 

original posting of code:

https://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=29339.msg350137#msg350137

Edited December 8, 2025 by troggarf

[Danielm103]

On 12/8/2025 at 11:29 PM, Nikon said:

Maybe someone will be able to do it someday.

Not too hard to create, a real pain to maintain as it must be compiled every time Autodesk decides to break binary compatibility