Feature request - Scale Tool

[Hugh Chapman]

Can a scale tool be implemented in VW?

 

The Modify>Scale Objects dialogue box feels very clunky compared to the scale command functionality in other CAD software.

 

In Rhino (and as far as I remember in AutoCad also) the scale command has the following functionality -

 

i) invoke the command

ii) choose point to scale from

iii) input scale factor or pick two reference points

 

https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/mac/help/en-us/commands/scale.htm

 

I find having the option to scale to a reference object to in the drawing useful in many cases. The two reference points functionality also works well as a quick way to roughly scale certain elements when precision is not required.

 

Please let me know if I am missing something.

 

Kind regards

 

Hugh Chapman

 

 

Edited May 15, 2025 by Hugh Chapman

[Anders Blomberg]

Scale origin is much missed by me as well!

[markdd]

25 minutes ago, Hugh Chapman said:

Please let me know if I am missing something.

Scale functionality has been added to the 3D Dragger so that objects can now be scaled using the Cursor rather than using the command. This may help with some of your functionality requests.

[Hugh Chapman]

ok I've just found the Fixed Point Resize Tool in the Smart Options View/Draw tool palette. Not sure I was seeing this in the Basic tool palette previously.

 

 

For a moment I thought this might be the Scale with Origin Tool I am looking for, but Fixed Point Resize has some weird quirks:

 

1) it doesn't allow selection of two points with the same x value or y value - 

 

 

2) I don't think there is an option within the tool to constrain x and y transformation values to be proportional. No modifier keys working for me here @Jeff Prince!

[markdd]

The 3D Dragger is part of the Selection Tool. This will do most, if not all, of what you want to do.

 

There is a lot of functionality about the 3D Dragger that you will need to explore using the help files.

[Tom W.]

32 minutes ago, Hugh Chapman said:

Not sure I was seeing this in the Basic tool palette previously.

 

In the stock Workspaces I believe it's nested within the Clip Tool. You can create your own Workspace + customise things like this if needed.

[Hugh Chapman]

On 5/16/2025 at 11:24 AM, markdd said:

There is a lot of functionality about the 3D Dragger that you will need to explore using the help files.

 

Thanks @markdd I'll certainly be exploring the functionality of the 3D dragger when I start working in 3D, but the 3D dragger seems to be of limited use for transforming 2D objects?

 

So I am still hoping that there's some undiscovered way to perform a scale-with-origin operation on 2D objects in VW, or if not that this basic CAD functionality can be added to future releases.

 

Perhaps the functionality of the "3D dragger" could/should be enhanced to enable transformations of 2D as well as 3D objects. I'm a big fan of the Rhino gumball.

 

[Jeff Prince]

On 5/15/2025 at 3:25 AM, Hugh Chapman said:

The Modify>Scale Objects dialogue box feels very clunky compared to the scale command functionality in other CAD software.

 

Perhaps you should go back to your preferred software or invest time in learning Vectorworks instead of trying to change it everyday.

The Scale command, 3D Dragger, and Handles methods of scaling has never left me wanting for more.

At some point, your employer is going to wonder why they are paying you to redesign software instead of doing landscape architecture 🙂

 

Edited May 28, 2025 by Jeff Prince

[Tom W.]

1 hour ago, Hugh Chapman said:

Perhaps the functionality of the "3D dragger" could/should be enhanced to enable transformations of 2D as well as 3D objects.

 

What do you want it to do to 2D objects that it can't already do?

[zoomer]

2 hours ago, Jeff Prince said:

Perhaps you should go back to your preferred software or invest time in learning Vectorworks instead of trying to change it everyday.

 

Well, I have to agree, in VW things like especially Scaling or even Drag or Move Options in VW are really a bit rudimentary until awkward, scattered - or a bit off of "industry standard".
(In Blender's former "right click Select"terms)

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Hugh Chapman said:

Perhaps the functionality of the "3D dragger" could/should be enhanced to enable transformations of 2D as well as 3D objects.

 

Well, I tried to use the Gizmo in 2D for the first time ....

I see you can do mostly  do mostly everything.

But that UX .... i need to switch Mode to reposition the Gizmo ? Switch again to make it impact.

(What is that centered gray Ball for ?)

 

Well, I am still more than happy that the Gizmo exists (in more and more places) .... but all the others Gizmos I experienced before were a bit easier, more self explanatory and consistent over any geometry types ......

 

EDIT :

Thank god I found that pressing CMD - temporarily lets you reposition the Gizmo - while in a translation mode ...

(I will forget that likely until tomorrow though)

[Tom W.]

9 hours ago, zoomer said:

pressing CMD - temporarily lets you reposition the Gizmo - while in a translation mode

 

Or Scale Mode. Yes I'm surprised this isn't included in the tool tips. The main issue preventing me using the Selection Tool in Transform mode more is that I want to be able to switch back to my preferred 'normal' mode of the tool more easily (for me Unrestricted Interactive Scaling Mode). I would love to be able to just toggle between this + Transform mode + not have the 1st + 2nd modes get in the way. I brought this up elsewhere but don't think I ever filed a VE for it...

 

[Clint Alderman]

On 5/16/2025 at 10:24 AM, markdd said:

The 3D Dragger is part of the Selection Tool. This will do most, if not all, of what you want to do.

 

There is a lot of functionality about the 3D Dragger that you will need to explore using the help files.

This is great! Thanks.

[Bluetones]

On 5/29/2025 at 2:05 AM, Tom W. said:

 

Or Scale Mode. Yes I'm surprised this isn't included in the tool tips. The main issue preventing me using the Selection Tool in Transform mode more is that I want to be able to switch back to my preferred 'normal' mode of the tool more easily (for me Unrestricted Interactive Scaling Mode). I would love to be able to just toggle between this + Transform mode + not have the 1st + 2nd modes get in the way. I brought this up elsewhere but don't think I ever filed a VE for it...

 

Just click the "U" key and it will change between the modes. 3 times the charm!  👍

[Tom W.]

23 minutes ago, Bluetones said:

Just click the "U" key and it will change between the modes. 3 times the charm!  👍

 

Well aware of that but it's not what I want... I'm asking for something else.

[cberg]

On 5/28/2025 at 4:20 PM, zoomer said:

Thank god I found that pressing CMD - temporarily lets you reposition the Gizmo - while in a translation mode ...

(I will forget that likely until tomorrow though)

I would never have figured that out on my own!

[Hugh Chapman]

On 5/28/2025 at 7:27 PM, Tom W. said:

What do you want it to do to 2D objects that it can't already do?

Maybe needs its own thread but I'll respond here for now -

 

The Rhino Gumball has a couple of very useful features that afaik the VW 3D Dragger doesn't have at this point:

 

i) You can click on any of the move arrows/rotation arcs/scale handles of the Rhino GB and enter a numerical value for the amount you want to move/rotate/scale. The Rhino GB remembers the last entered values for all of these transformations which is v handy.

 

ii) Holding Alt when performing any transformation with the Rhino GB creates a copy of the selected object.

[markdd]

20 minutes ago, Hugh Chapman said:

ii) Holding Alt when performing any transformation with the Rhino GB creates a copy of the selected object.

If it's a complete object that you are transforming, then holding down the option key (on a Mac) (ctrl on a PC?) will duplicate the object as well as do the transformation.

Edited June 19, 2025 by markdd

[Tom W.]

19 minutes ago, Hugh Chapman said:

i) You can click on any of the move arrows/rotation arcs/scale handles of the Rhino GB and enter a numerical value for the amount you want to move/rotate/scale.

 

You can do this can't you? Have you checked your Data Bar settings?

 

20 minutes ago, Hugh Chapman said:

ii) Holding Alt when performing any transformation with the Rhino GB creates a copy of the selected object.

 

Doesn't the Option key already do this?

[Jeff Prince]

24 minutes ago, Hugh Chapman said:

The Rhino Gumball has a couple of very useful features that afaik the VW 3D Dragger doesn't have at this point:

Train instead of post, imagine the possibilities.

[Hugh Chapman]

9 minutes ago, markdd said:

If it's a complete object that you are transforming, then holding down the option key (on a Mac) (ctrl on a PC?) will duplicate the object as well as do the transformation.

 

8 minutes ago, Tom W. said:

Doesn't the Option key already do this?

 

I'm on a PC. Holding Ctrl whilst dragging, a little + appears but the object is not duplicated...

 

Am I missing something? Is this a bug..?

[markdd]

Release the ctrl key after the transform is complete.

[Hugh Chapman]

11 minutes ago, Tom W. said:

Have you checked your Data Bar settings?

Ah! - thank you

 

In terms of the memory of last entered values I find that the last entered value does appear the next time I click on the drag arrow e.g. but I don't know how to then execute the move with this value.

 

I have the same issue with Move by Points and other tools.

 

Guidance appreciated!

 

 

[Hugh Chapman]

5 minutes ago, markdd said:

Release the ctrl key after the transform is complete.

Aha! Thank you! For some reason this didn't/doesn't feel intuitive but I'm sure I'll get used to it with practice.

 

Fwiw my favourite implementation of a modifier key to drag-move-copy is in Indesign where you can hold Alt even after starting to drag-move something to turn a straightforward move into a duplicate and move

Edited June 19, 2025 by Hugh Chapman

[markdd]

1 minute ago, Hugh Chapman said:

where you can hold Alt even after starting to drag-move something to turn a straightforward move into a duplicate and move

As you can in Vectorworks.

[Hugh Chapman]

1 minute ago, markdd said:

As you can in Vectorworks.

Excellent!

 

Many thanks

[Tom W.]

32 minutes ago, Hugh Chapman said:

In terms of the memory of last entered values I find that the last entered value does appear the next time I click on the drag arrow

 

I don't see this + am not sure I've ever seen it so perhaps I'm missing something...? Whenever I move an object using the Selection Tool or Move by Points it always reverts to zero if I repeat the operation, which is kind of what I want to be honest. Interested to know why you're seeing something different or perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you're describing.