Dynamically Enter A & B parameters

[Anonymous]

Is there any way to enter the A,B, (and ZZYZX) parameters graphically when you insert the GDL object? In other words, can it work like a rectangle tool where you give an insertion point and then the opposite corner with a mouse click?

[Karl Ottenstein]

[Oops.]

[James Murray]

OK, I might have read the question differently.

The third object geometry method button gives a two click rectangle. Side lengths can't be entered. The fourth button is a typical rotated rectangle; first click is insertion point, second gives angle and length of one side, third gives length of second side. Values can be entered for both sides.

This goes for objects that are written with hotspots at A&B extents. If the length and width are stretchy by graphical hotspots instead, then you have to stretch after placement. Only A&B can be set dynamically.

When placing a stretchy object, um, stretchily, as above, a stretchy hotspot must be the insertion spot as shown in the preview window in the settings dialog. Otherwise you get simple or rotated placement.

There's no stretchy Z placement method that I know of.

Unless I misunderstand...

[Karl Ottenstein]

Ah. Thanks for the explanation, Meister James! Now I see why those geometry options never did anything useful for me. You and the online help are clear; my memory was muddy. 😉

Regards,
Karl

[Anonymous]

Can you explain this? Sounds like what I'm looking for...

James wrote:
OK, I might have read the question differently.

The third object geometry method button gives a two click rectangle. Side lengths can't be entered. The fourth button is a typical rotated rectangle; first click is insertion point, second gives angle and length of one side, third gives length of second side. Values can be entered for both sides.

This goes for objects that are written with hotspots at A&B extents. If the length and width are stretchy by graphical hotspots instead, then you have to stretch after placement. Only A&B can be set dynamically.

When placing a stretchy object, um, stretchily, as above, a stretchy hotspot must be the insertion spot as shown in the preview window in the settings dialog. Otherwise you get simple or rotated placement.

There's no stretchy Z placement method that I know of.

Unless I misunderstand...

[James Murray]

Ned wrote:
Can you explain this?

I thought I could.

Attached is an image of the Geometry Methods info Box tile. (Geometry Methods are the ways of making a shape with a tool.) The 'GMs' are only available in the info box, not in the settings.

First is one click placement. The object will be created with the default A, B, and rotation.

Second is rotated placement. Two clicks. First is anchor point, second is angle. A & B will be the defaults.

Third is rectangle placement. Two clicks. First is anchor point. Second is the diagonally opposite point. The same method is available for polygons (slabs, fills, etc.) Not all objects will be placable this way; only stretchy* ones. By this method you can graphically set A & B, but you can't give values.

*Interlude: stretchiness. Objects are stretchy if they have hotspots in their 2D scripts at the 0, A, & B extents, OR "Hotspots on bounding box" is on in their "Details". Don't worry about this now. An example of a stretchy object is Bed 01 in the Furniture folder. The only way to know if an object is stretchy is to try it, or look in the script. Most rectangular objects should be stretchy.

For "stretchy" placement to work, you have to have a corner set as the insertion node in the settings. If a non-stretchy node (e.g., the center) is the insertion node, you get one-click simple placement.

Tip: When you Option-(Alt-)click on an object, the node you clicked becomes the insertion node.

The fourth button is rotated rectangle. Three clicks. First is the anchor point. Second is angle AND length of first side (A). Third is length of second side (B). The same method is available for polygons. If a non-stretchy node (e.g., the center) is the insertion node, you get two-click rotated placement.

The key is not to get hung up on "rotated". I use this method all the time for non-rotated polygons, because you can use R to set the length of both sides on the fly.

Better?

[James Murray]

James wrote:
There's no stretchy Z placement method that I know of.

Strike that.

In the Miscellaneous prefs, there's a checkbox for "Specify Z-Coordinate when placing or editing element in 3D". With this checked, you can set the height on the fly after setting the element position and extent.