Trans XYZ

The location of an object is defined by points in space. A point is defined by three coordinates on the Cartesian axes x, y, and z. When you move an object, you are changing its xyz coordinate values.

The TransXYZ menu cells, available in all modules except Tools, allow you to move objects or points interactively with the mouse or numerically with a dialogue box (see Changing Values). Objects translate along the three axes, but translate differently depending on the Translation mode set (LCL, GBL, PAR, REF, or DRG - see Translation Modes). Points translate along the global axes (of the world).

Translating an Object

1. Select an object and choose the entire TransXYZ menu cell collection or one of its axis cells (TransX, TransY, or TransZ).
2. Select one of the Translation modes (see Translation Modes).
3. Choose a way to change the translation values for the object as described in Changing Values.

Translating Points

1. Select an object and choose Show->Point to display its points.
2. Activate the tagged point mode by selecting the TAG manipulation mode (see Translation Modes).
3. Tag the points you want to translate (press the t Supra key or refer to the Tag commands).
4. Choose the entire TransXYZ command or one of its axis cells (TransX, TransY, or TransZ).
5. Choose a way to change the translation values for the object as described in Changing Values.

Note:

Note that transformations on points are additive only; clicking Set in the Translation dialogue box has the same effect as Add.

Changing Values

You can change the values in the Translation menu cells using the mouse or the keyboard.

Using the Mouse

• Choose one of the three individual axis cells (TransX, TransY, or TransZ) for a translation to affect only that axis. This configures the mouse buttons so that when you drag the object or points the:
  
  • Left mouse button applies a small increment on that axis.
  • Middle mouse button applies a medium increment.
  • Right mouse button applies a large increment.
    
• Click at the right edge (light grey area) of the Translation menu cell to activate the transformation for all three axes. This configures the mouse buttons so that when you drag the object or points the:
  
  • Left mouse button controls translations in x.
  • Middle mouse button controls translations in y.
  • Right mouse button controls translations in z.

The mouse buttons can be used individually or simultaneously.

Using the Keyboard

• Choose one of the three axis menu cells and directly change the numbers in the text boxes in the menu cell. Doing this has the same effect as when you click Set in the Translation dialogue box (described next).
• Click the small triangular tab in the upper-left corner of one of the axis menu cells to display the Translation dialogue box in which you can set translations numerically.
  
  Type the value in the corresponding text box and then click either Add or Set:

• Add increases or decreases the translation by the value in the X, Y, Z text boxes. For example, if the default for X is 1, you change the value to 2 and click Add, 2 is added to the value of 1 so that the result is 3.
• Set: sets the translation to the value you specify in the X, Y, Z text boxes.

You can also use negative values, which are added or set accordingly.

Math Operations

The text boxes in the TransXYZ menu cells allow you to use the four basic math operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).

If you have the Multi menu cell selected, the math operation is added to each object's current values, which has the same effect as when you click Add in the Translation dialogue box. For example, if two objects are selected (one with a translation value of 45, the other with 90), the number in the Translation text box is displayed with a "d" at the beginning to show that the values for the two objects are different. If you add +45 to the end of the menu cell's value, the first model changes to 90 and the second to 135. This is different than if you specify 90 in the Translation text box, which would make both objects have a translation of 90 units.

Note:

If you delete the number currently displayed and replace it with another, all objects are set to that value.

Translation Modes

There are five translation modes: Local (LCL), Global (GBL), Parent Axis (PAR), Reference (REF), and Drag (DRG). All five can be used in conjunction with any of the manipulation modes (see the Manipulation Modes section).

LCL

Local Translation mode allows you to translate an object along its own axis using its own centre as its orientation. The centre of the object shows you the orientation with vectors: red for the x-axis, green for the y-axis, and blue for the z-axis.

The left mouse button translates along the x-axis, the middle mouse button translate along the y-axis, and the right mouse button translates along the z-axis.

GBL

Global Translation mode allows you to translate according to the global axes.

The left mouse button translates along the x-axis, the middle mouse button translates along the y-axis, and the right mouse button translates along the z-axis.

PAR

Parent Axis mode allows you to translate an object according to the axis direction of the object's parent. For example, a series of cylinders forming a telescopic device should all move on the same axis, regardless of the orientation. This ensures that the child cylinders all slide in the same orientation as the parent.

The left mouse button translates along the x-axis, the middle mouse button translates along the y-axis, and the right mouse button translates along the z-axis.

REF

Referential mode allows you to translate according to the axes orientation of a reference object. Pick a reference object according to the mouse button instructions displayed in the status bar.

The left mouse button translates along the x-axis, the middle mouse button translates along the y-axis, and the right mouse button translates along the z-axis.

DRG

Drag mode is activated by default. In this mode, the translation of the object follows the movement of the cursor in any window.

To drag an object, move the mouse cursor over the desired object, hold down any of the three mouse buttons, and drag in any direction.

Last updated 02-apr-1998