Adds IfcPolyline representation for alignment. Also some general cleanup

src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/alignment/create_as_polyline.py

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# IfcOpenShell - IFC toolkit and geometry engine
+# Copyright (C) 2025 Thomas Krijnen <thomas@aecgeeks.com>
+#
+# This file is part of IfcOpenShell.
+#
+# IfcOpenShell is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# IfcOpenShell is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+# along with IfcOpenShell.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+import ifcopenshell
+import ifcopenshell.api.aggregate
+import ifcopenshell.api.alignment
+import ifcopenshell.api.nest
+import ifcopenshell.util.stationing
+
+from ifcopenshell import entity_instance
+
+from ifcopenshell.api.alignment._create_polyline_representation import _create_polyline_representation
+from ifcopenshell.api.alignment._add_zero_length_segment import _add_zero_length_segment
+from collections.abc import Sequence
+
+
+def create_as_polyline(
+    file: ifcopenshell.file,
+    name: str,
+    points: Sequence[entity_instance],
+    start_station: float = 0.0,
+) -> entity_instance:
+    """
+    Creates a new IfcAlignment with an IfcPolyline representation.
+
+    The IfcAlignment is aggreated to IfcProject
+
+    :param file:
+    :param name: name assigned to IfcAlignment.Name
+    :param points: sequence of points defining the polyline
+    :param start_station: station value at the start of the alignment
+    :return: Returns an IfcAlignment
+    """
+    alignment = file.createIfcAlignment(
+        GlobalId=ifcopenshell.guid.new(),
+        Name=name,
+    )
+
+    _create_polyline_representation(file, alignment, points)
+
+    # define stationing
+    name = ifcopenshell.util.stationing.station_as_string(file, start_station)
+    referent = ifcopenshell.api.alignment.add_stationing_referent(
+        file, alignment, 0.0, start_station, name
+    )
+    ifcopenshell.api.nest.reorder_nesting(file, referent, -1, 0)
+
+    # IFC 4.1.4.1.1 Alignment Aggregation To Project
+    project = file.by_type("IfcProject")[0]
+    if project:
+        ifcopenshell.api.aggregate.assign_object(file, products=[alignment], relating_object=project)
+
+    return alignment