Move shapes in lockstep with 3D objects derived from them

[P Retondo 47]

Create an extrude from a 2D shape, then move the extrude. When you want to edit the 2D shape, you will find that it did not "move" with the 3D object. This makes it difficult to use the full potential of your 2D-3D interface! If you want to edit your original shape using the spatial context of the 3D object's current position by drawing objects then pasting them in place in the edit window, you're out of luck. This technique is the fastest and most reliable way to work with 3D objects. The same problem plagues the use of boolean solid operations.

It would be a powerful improvement to the program if all objects associated with a 3D entity moved with it, and always occupied the same position with respect to the origin. In other words, if you extrude a square into a cube, then move it 2 inches along the x axis, you should be able to enter the edit window for that cube and find that the square from which it was extruded has also moved 2 inches along the x axis.

[Andrew Bell@NV 0]

quote:

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Originally posted by P Retondo:

It would be a powerful improvement to the program if all objects associated with a 3D entity moved with it, and always occupied the same position with respect to the origin.

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You can rotate an extrude, and even rotate it out of the ground plane, so there are many situations where that simply wouldn't apply. One thing you might consider if you need this is using a "floor" object, which is similar to an extrude, but if rotated or moved its internal 2-D object moves or rotates.

In general, though, I can see the value of having more context information when you're editing objects.

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Andrew Bell

andrewb@nemetschek.net

I am not an official spokesperson for NNA

[P Retondo 47]

Andrew,

Thanks for your response. You point out a challenging aspect of making this aspect of 3D work better, but consider this. If you rotate an object out of it's original axis, then enter the edit window, that window must place the originating object(s) in some point in space. Why not place them at a point that corresponds to the same relative location in the Working Plane currently active? Then, for example, when you are looking at a rotated extrusion from a working plane defined normal to the extrusion face, and enter to edit, you will be looking at a 2D object that relates to the Working Plane in the most useful possible way.

Sure, this will take a couple of days to code and test. But it makes the program REALLY work well.

-Pete