Defining slab geometry using zones!

[Anonymous]

He all, I was wondering if there is a quck way to create single slab for a number of adjacent zones by means other than tracing these zones. I have tried to use the magic wand, but It seems to want to create a single slab element for each individual zone.

Any ideas anyone,
Thanks

[Ignacio Azpiazu]

If the additive process feels like too much because you have too many zones or whatever, one workaround would be to
- drag-duplicate all zones say 100 ft up,
- select them, explode them (you get nice shrinkwrappable fills),
- draw the slab and use Matthew's shrinkwrap method,
- drag the shrinkwrapped slab 100 ft down,
- delete all the temporary exploded clutter up there.

[Anonymous]

Why not use the line tool as a polyline with the "zone boundary" box checked to draw a simple boundary around the entire set and use the magic wand with slab setting to select the line boundary? Am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

gbley wrote:
Why not use the line tool as a polyline with the "zone boundary" box checked to draw a simple boundary around the entire set and use the magic wand with slab setting to select the line boundary? Am I missing something?

...since it is just as easy to draw the slab. Why create extra work and an element that is nor needed?

[Anonymous]

If slabs were as easy as described, there would be no need for the 'shrink wrap' method or moving zones 100' in some direction. The line tool works great as a boundary and can be selected easily with the magic wand and the slab tool active.

Once the slab is created, the boundary may be deleted. Very simple for irregular shaped objects....Just my opinion

[Anonymous]

gbley wrote:
...
Once the slab is created, the boundary may be deleted. Very simple for irregular shaped objects....

I believe what Matthew was saying is that if you are going to use a tool to draw the slab boundary, you might as well use the slab tool. And as far as tracing irregular shaped objects I beleive that the Slab tool and the (poly)Line tool are not any different, each has a similar Pet palette. And actually the Slab palette contain the (+) and (-) options.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Jay. My thoughts exactly.