lh85 Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Hi there, I would like to duplicate objects along a 2D spiral pathway but I can't do so. When I'm at the duplicate along path window where one has the option 'select a path object', when I want to select a 2D spiral it doesn't allow me to. I'm using VW2008, though it's not possible with VW2011 either. If it is definitely not possible, does anyone know of an alternative method of duplicating objects along a 2D spiral pathway? Thanks very much. Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee Tamsin Slatter Posted September 8, 2011 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted September 8, 2011 Hi Yes - you just need to select the spiral path AND the object together before running Edit > Duplicate Along Path. Vectorworks will then highlight the object it thinks is the path - if it has selected the wrong one, use the Next button to select the correct path. Then set your parameters - either a fixed number of copies of a fixed distance between them. Then click Preview to make sure you are happy with it. When you are happy, click OK! Hope that helps! Quote Link to comment
lh85 Posted September 11, 2011 Author Share Posted September 11, 2011 Hi Tamsin, Unfortunately the method you have outlined doesn't seem to work for 2D spirals, on both VW2008 and VW2011. I have no trouble using the duplicate along path function with geometric shapes, straight lines, polylines, whatever, but for some reason not 2D spirals. Try doing this: Select a 2D locus AND a 2D spiral. Then Edit > Duplicate Along Path. On my VW2008 copy the dialogue box "no path object is selected" appears. Quote Link to comment
bcd Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Select the Spiral (or a duplicate of it) Command K to convert it to a polyline The Duplicate along path should work using this. Quote Link to comment
michaelk Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Ungroup the spiral, then run the Duplicate Along Path command. Ungrouping turns the spiral into a polyline. mk Quote Link to comment
michaelk Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Hi Brian! I've always been amused that in many cases Ungroup and Convert to Group do exactly the same thing. {Really Convert to Group could be called UnSymbol or UnParametric Object. But I enjoy the paradox of the current naming scheme.} mk Quote Link to comment
bcd Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Hey Michael - Yes, it's peculiar - and cmd K usually leaves you with a group which you need to ungroup to work on its contents - but not in the case of the spiral - Quote Link to comment
michaelk Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 The Convert to Group command returns a single object if the result is only one object. If the result is two or more objects, then they are grouped. mk Quote Link to comment
bcd Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 aha - that makes sense Quote Link to comment
lh85 Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Excellent! Thanks very much Quote Link to comment
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