How to convert x,y coordinates to an angle?

Question

Microsoft provide an excellent SVG gradient maker so IE9 can also have \"CSS3\" gradients (click Custom).

I currently utilise their logic for my Fireworks and Dreamw

Answer 1

This function takes 2 elements and returns the degree between the middle of the elements.

For example, I used it on a world map, to make the image of plane rotate in the direction of a city.

function degFromTwoElements(el1,el2){
    var x1,x2,y1,y2,cx1,xy1,cx2,cy2,deltaX,deltaY,dx,dy,rad,deg,shortest,number;
    x1 = el1.position().left;
    y1 = el1.position().top;
    x2 = el2.position().left;
    y2 = el2.position().top;
    cx1 = x1 - (el1.width() / 2);
    cy1 = y1 - (el1.height() / 2);
    cx2 = x2 - (el2.width() / 2);
    cy2 = y2 - (el2.height() / 2);

    deltaX = cx2 - cx1;
    deltaY = cy2 - cy1;
    y1 = Math.sqrt((Math.abs(deltaY)*Math.abs(deltaY))+(Math.abs(deltaX)*(Math.abs(deltaX))));
    x1 = 0;
    dy = deltaY-y1;
    dx = deltaX-x1;
    rad = Math.atan2(dy, dx);
    deg = rad * (360 / Math.PI);

    shortest;
    number = Math.abs(deg);
    if ((360 - number ) < number){
        shortest = 360 - number;
        console.log('shorter degree: ' + shortest);
        return shortest;
    } 
    else console.log('Angle is: ' + deg);
    return deg;

}