Aligning Points, Edges, and Polygons
on this page: snapping | local
grid tools | setting options | global grid tools
The PEP Editor features layout tools for aligning selected points,
edges, and polygons. These tools include a snap target, a protractor,
and a ruler. You can set preferences for the amount of "snap"
these tools exhibit.
Use the protractor and ruler to move PEPs by increments relative to the
PEP object's location. The Grid and
Angle layout tools are also available in the PEP editor. Use these
layout tools to move PEPs relative to the grid's location.
Set up:
-
Make sure you are in the PEP
editor.
-
Select PEPs that you want to align
using the layout tools.
-
Define the master
selection. Shift-click to deselect and reselect correct
PEPs if necessary.
You can use the Snap Target to align PEPs when moving, rotating, or
scaling them. Examples and How To's follow.
To move selected PEPs and snap to the target:
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Place the snap target in the scene by choosing Layout >
Activate Snap Target and dragging the snap target into position.
-
Move the selected PEPs to the desired location. The PEPs snap to the
plane defined by the target.
For example, the chimney below was created by cutting a new polygon in
the side of the roof, extruding the new polygon, then pushing the
polygon up. However, this creates an angled chimney, because the roof
is angled. To align the lower edge you would first select it, place the
snap target (Shift-drag it until it turns purple, indicating
that it is aligned exactly on the higher edge), then Shift-drag
until the edge snaps to the plane. Three starbursts appear on the edge
to indicate this alignment.

To rotate selected PEPs and snap to the target:
-
Place the snap target in the scene by choosing Layout >
Activate Snap Target and dragging the snap target into
position. Notice that Shift-dragging the snap target
"sticks" it to a PEP object's points, edges, and polygons as
you drag the target across these features. The snap target turns purple
when it is placed at one of these features.
-
Place the PEP Jack. PEPs
rotate around the PEP Jack's center. So, if you want a door to open and
close as if on a hinge, you would place the PEP Jack on the edge that
would have hinges.
-
When you rotate PEPs using the Jack, notice that alignment feedback
appears in the scene. This feedback consists of highlighted lines, as
shown in the following example:

Also, the round balls on the PEP Jack become highlighted when the
Jack's axis snaps to alignment.
The Protractor and Grid help you align PEPs in increments local to the
PEP object. For example, you could rotate a model of a garage door 40
degrees from its previous position.
To rotate PEPs and snap to the
protractor:
-
Open PEP Angle Snap Options by clicking its button on the Layout
palette:

-
Click Enable Snapping To Protractor. Notice that you can
specify the size and units of the protractor in this window.
-
Place the PEP Jack in the
scene. When you rotate, bright tick-marks appear to indicate the
Protractor. The rotation will snap to these ticks.

Notes:
-
Snapping to the Protractor occurs when:
-
you are in PEP editing mode
-
and you turn on Enable Snapping To Protractor in the PEP
Angle Snap Options window
-
and you are using the PEP Jack to rotate selected points, edges, and
polygons.
-
Exception: If you have protractor snapping enabled and you
have activated the Snap Target, the Snap Target overrides the
Protractor.
-
Use PEP Angle Snap Options not only to enable protractor
snapping, but also to set the angular increments of the Protractor.
(For details, see To set protractor
preferences.)
-
Shift and Ctrl have no effect on protractor snapping.
-
Features of the PEP Jack (the green balls, for example) are highlighted
in blue when they snap to the Protractor's tick-marks.
To translate PEPs and snap to the
ruler:
-
Open PEP Distance Snap Options by clicking its button on the Layout
palette:

-
Click Enable Snapping To Grid. Notice that you can specify
the size and units of the grid in this window.
-
Drag selected points, edges, and polygons. As you move the PEPs, they
snap to the tick-marks on a light-blue grid:
Notes:
-
Snapping to the grid occurs in the PEP editor when you have turned on Enable
Snapping To Grid in the PEP Distance Snapping Options
window. Simply drag selected PEPs to use the grid once it has been
enabled.
-
Exception: If you have grid snapping enabled and you have
activated the Snap Target, the Snap Target overrides the Grid.
-
Use PEP Distance Snap Options not only to enable grid
snapping, but also to set the grid's increments and change its
appearance. (For details, see To set ruler
preferences.)
To set protractor preferences:
-
Enable Snapping To Protractor: Click the box to turn on
protractor snapping. A checkmark appears to indicate that snapping is
on. Click again to turn off.
-
Sectors: Set the number and size of the protractor's
sectors.
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Number (default is 24 sectors)
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Size (default is 15 sectors)
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Degrees, Radians, Revolutions (default unit of
measurement is Degrees)
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Length of tick marks: The protractor tick marks appear in 3
lengths. To increase readability, you can change how often the lengths
vary.
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Each nth Tick drawn longer: The default is for every 3rd
tick mark to be drawn at a medium length.
-
Each nth Tick drawn longest: The default is for every
6th tick mark to be drawn at the longest length.
To set ruler preferences:
-
Enable Snapping To Local Grid: Click the box to turn on grid
snapping. A checkmark appears to indicate that snapping is on. Click
again to turn off.
-
X, Y, and Z Snap Increments: Change the distance between
tick marks on the X, Y, and Z axes. The default is 1.
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Length of tick marks: The ruler tick marks appear in 3
lengths. To increase readability, you can change how often the lengths
vary.
-
Each nth Tick drawn longer: The default is for every 5th
tick mark to be drawn at a medium length.
-
Each nth Tick drawn longest: The default is for every
10th tick mark to be drawn at the longest length.
You can use the grid and angle layout tools in the PEP editor. See Layout Tools for details on using
these tools.