Editing a symbol

[Camila85]

Hi, 

 

I've imported a CAD block of a bannister spindle which came in the wrong size. I've resized it to roughly the length I need it to be but I need to trim the ends to make it fit into the bannister itself. I've entered the symbol to try and edit the original but once i'm "inside" the symbol the resized object isn't editable and there is a second tiny spindle which is editable (like the original imported one) but I can't see where it would need trimming as it's too small. Sorry new to VW and apologies for the numerous troubleshooting issues I have! I have looked online on on the online uni course but it doesn't have the answer.. some screenshots below that I hope illustrates what I'm talking about a bit better. In autocad I would have exploded the symbol and edited it but I can't seem to do that here

 

 

 

[markdd]

When you resize an instance of a symbol it should be considered as a one-off alteration. If you go to edit the symbol, then you will be editing all instances of the symbol definition in the same way that AutoCAD does.

 

When you go to the edit Symbol Window, you will be seeing the original unscaled geometry, hence the size difference. 

 

If you want to edit the geometry of a symbol as a one-off, then it is probably best to Convert it to a Group which you can do using the Convert to Group command then the scaled geometry will be disconnected from the Symbol geometry and you can do what you like with it.

 

 

[Camila85]

Hey Mark, thanks for taking the time to reply. I tried converting to group via Modify but it still seems to stay as a symbol and won't let me trim it... Not sure what I'm doing wrong here

[markdd]

There is another command called Convert to Group in the Modify>Convert menu.

 

I think you have activated the Group command.

[Camila85]

Yes I went to Modify>convert to group. The shortcut is command K (this also didn't work). Do you know how else I can convert it to a group instead of it being a symbol?

 

[markdd]

I am not sure what is not working. Are you sure that the object you are selecting before running the Convert to Group Command is a Symbol?

[Camila85]

Symbol issue.vwx

 

Yeah I think so... have attached the file here, maybe I'm missing something really obvious. It's the ornate spindle on the bannister... appreciate any tips 

[markdd]

The objects are already Groups and not Symbols at all. If you double-click on the group you will be taken to the Group geometry where you can edit it at will.

 

It looks to me like you have imported the whole DWG file as a single Symbol. That may be what is confusing you?

[Camila85]

ahhh amazing, I don't know why that didn't seem to work for me before. So grateful thank you!