Instance

The Duplicate->Instance command is available in all modules except Tools. It allows you to create a single instance of a selected object or hierarchy of objects. An instance is a duplication of a master object, but without repeating all object information as is done with a typical duplication. For an overview of object instantiation, see the Creating Instances of Objects section of the Modelling User's Guide.

The instance is created at the same location as the original and the instance or instance hierarchy becomes the currently selected item.

You can instantiate null objects, faces, polygon mesh objects, curves and surfaces, but you cannot instantiate lights, cameras, waves, textures, materials, and animations.

Instances are affected by the following settings in the Duplicate Setup dialogue box (see Duplicate->Setup):

• Hierarchy control settings.
• The setting for Transformation Animation. Instances follows the transformation animations of their masters if this option is selected.

Procedure

1. Select one or more objects or hierarchies. You can create instances only from root models; that is, you cannot select an object node within a hierarchy and instantiate it alone. By selecting the root of a hierarchy, you instantiate the entire hierarchy.
2. Choose the Duplicate->Instance command.
3. The object or hierarchy is instantiated in the same location as the original. They can be translated away from the master.

Last updated 02-apr-1998